Polite conversation shops obsessively follow around (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
small talk
'polite conversation' is the definition.
'small talk' can be an answer for 'conversation' (small talk is a kind of conversation). I am not certain of the 'polite' bit.
'shops obsessively follow around' is the wordplay.
'shops obsessively' becomes 'mall' (I am not sure about the 'obsessively' bit.).
'follow' becomes 'stalk' (stalk is a kind of follow).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'mall' inserted inside 'stalk' is 'SMALL-TALK'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for small talk that I've seen before include "Informal conversation" , "Social conversation on unimportant matters" , "Social conversation on unimportant subjects" , "Unimportant prattle" , "Light conversation" .)