I am sure you have noticed these new Typo stores popping up in all our South African malls. It’s just so different from anything we have locally and its definitely causing a stir. My visit in the Somerset mall store this week was a great new experience going through lots of product I have never seen before. The store was really busy and certainly attracts the teen market. Prices are reasonable with great value for money items. I bought a cover for my notebook for R150 on sale, very cheap…
Firstly let me say to Cotton On congratulations you have achieved amazing progression in a foreign country and taught the local retailers a lesson in thier back yard! Cotton On is a global brand with its roots in Australia. In 2011 it opened its first store in South Africa with a range of merchandise and price points the local consumers fell in love with. It was not long before the rapid expansion started, into top malls dominating the young fashion gap missed by SA retail stores such as Mr Price,…
The oldest and most exciting toy shop in the world is open and trading in the V& A Waterfront mall. Even if you don’t have kids, this store is a must for a visit for all. The amazing range of merchandise from traditional to hi tech offers something for everyone. You may not buy but the experience of walking through this environment and interacting with the product is fun for free! From Lego to play doh to cuddly toys to look alike babies, this store has it all. Get down…
I’m not sure how many people know Top Shop in the waterfront have a facility offered to customers called “Personal Shopper”. Essentially you as the customer can make an appointment to visit the store at a pre arranged time convenient to you and a dedicated personal shopper will spend time with you to assist you in choosing a wardrobe. Example. You make the appointment at 10am on a Saturday for mother and daughter. You arrive and meet the PS in a custom build private room which is designed for your…
It’s always exciting when new retail concepts open in our South African malls. This is especially so when the new store has also managed to create a unique experience you won’t find from its competitors. Tread + Miller is in this category opening it’s doors in the Canal Walk shopping mall downstairs next to Foschini. The store is focused on a range of men’s footwear and also offers a small selection of Ladies shoes . It definitely has a masculine feel when you enter the store driven by the rich…
As not everyone has the opportunity to visit the exciting new H&M store at the V&A waterfront in Capetown I thought I would do a little shopping and show you some items I bought. Firstly I just want to mention unlike shopping in Edgar’s, H&M have an abundance of sales associates. In fact they possibly have far too many however it confirms the attitude of this retailer, customer service is very important to them. Summer is arriving so a pair of new shorts would be a requirement. After browsing through a…
Not too long ago, consumers were excited with the arrival of Zara on our shores. Red carpet openings from Sandton to Durban and then Capetown. Good opening price points and fresh fashion from the largest retailer in the world. Although a few mistakes were made, especially in the size curve offered to the local consumer, this was soon rectified and larger garments became available.( Note: the XL Zara item will always be much smaller than what we are use to in SA. ) Unfortunately prices stared to creep as time…
As more and more global retailers arrive in South Africa to offer new ranges of merchandise, the local retail businesses are continually put under pressure to increase performance. A jewel in the crown of local retailers, Cape Union Mart stands out as a very together business. The range of product and quality of merchandise pushes them to the top of the customers Shopping list. Living in Capetown and going to outdoor events during the winter months, I am always amazed by the amount of people I see wearing the locally…
If you asked me what retailer in South Africa cares the least about its customers, I would immediately say Edgar’s. A business which is so arrogant it expects consumers to support them by spending in their stores but it offers absolutely no service, very little staff presence, except when they want you to pay, then someone will be available to operate a terminal. A store which forces unknown brands on the SA public and expects us to pay priemium prices for the product. Who wants to buy a pair of…
On the 17th October 2015 H&M opened the doors of its first store in South Africa in the V&A waterfront. This was no ordinary new store opening, this is the start of a significant change to the retail landscape in South Africa. Never before has the South African consumer been afforded the opportunity to shop in an international branded store offering brilliant merchandise at really affordable prices. Quality is much better than Cotton On or Mr Price and the price points are very similar. The store design and aumbiance beats…