New malls faired best over the festive season

DESPITE muted growth in retail sales, new shopping centres in the provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo reported their highest trade figures for the festive season.

One such is Middelburg Mall in Mpumalanga, which reported brisk trade during its first festive season. Footfall at the mall increased about 38% last month, with an average rise in turnover of 48%.

The regional mall recorded its busiest holiday shopping day on Friday December 21 when it was open until 9pm. About 30,000 shoppers visited the centre on this record trading day.

Besides the convenience of comprehensive festive shopping under one-roof, shoppers flocked to the mall to take advantage of its longer shopping hours.

“Extended shopping times during the festive season gave shoppers all-important convenience, which is reflected in the support received,” Middelburg Mall centre manager Mike Tammadge says. “In fact, many of our retailers have suggested trading even longer next festive season.

“There were queues outside shop doors before opening in the morning.”

Top on shoppers’ Christmas lists were electronic goods, with fashion also in high demand.

“Retailers offering fashion recorded record sales,” he says. “Jewellery, sportswear, outdoor and electronic goods experienced phenomenal trading. In some cases, retailers met monthly targets as early as mid-December.”

Books and stationery retailers also traded exceptionally well.

As the largest shopping centre in Limpopo, Mall of the North saw shoppers flock to the mall throughout the season. Festive shopper numbers rose about 16% at the mall.

But the Mall of the North’s impressive festive season growth was not without its challenges. Traffic congestion due to roadworks on the main road approaching the mall caused problems.

Intervention from the mall’s management resulted in the road’s main intersection upgrade receiving priority. It was completed by mid-December.

“We also launched a strong communication campaign, telling shoppers of alternative routes to the centre and highlighting the future benefits of the improved roads,” Mall of the North general manager Sumari de Ridder said.

“We made sure we let shoppers know when the intersection had opened.”

Access is essential to the Mall of the North’s trading success, especially with its convenient location as the final large shopping stop for tourists headed north, including those going across SA’s borders.

“Having all the major retail anchors and brands under one roof in a modern, safe, clean, airconditioned setting gives Mall of the North its competitive advantage,” Ms de Ridder says.

In addition to gift vouchers, festive bestsellers at the mall included perfumes, health and beauty items, and music and DVDs. “Buying clothing was also a high priority for shoppers,” Ms de Ridder said.

In Gauteng, Nicolway Bryanston peaked on Saturday, December 1. Fridays were the busiest day of every week at the centre in the build-up to Christmas. While the centre’s retailers reported strong trade across the board, it was restaurants that outperformed everyone.

“Our restaurants were fully booked almost every night,” centre manager Jandemie Olwage said. The centre’s exceptional food offering proved a huge consumer attraction, with its selection of restaurants and trio of top anchor tenants: Woolworths, Checkers and Food Lover’s Market.

“Besides this attractive variety, the convenience of the centre and higher levels of customer service make Nicolway Bryanston enormously competitive and extremely popular with shoppers,” Mr Olwage says.