I’m not sure how companies think they are customer orientated and make out they are giving their customers a gift, when all the time they are really just trying to clear old stock at the customers expense. On 13th December 2024, I received an email from Sunglass Hut offering me a gift of R600 off a pair of their sunglasses. That’s worth looking at I thought, I could do with a new pair of Ray-Ban glasses. Not the case, when you read the offers small print you realise you can’t…
Long time since the page Retailadvice has posted new content. The good news is we are back with a vengeance with the intention to put South African retailers in the spot light and highlight the stores which are genuinely customer friendly, and point out the stores which are only interested in taking from your wallet with no real concern for you the customer or the service they provide. Let’s start with some updated comments on the supermarket business at this time (September 2024). Many, many years ago, I would only…
It’s December 13th 2020 and Covid is going through a second wave in South Africa and also in many countries around the globe. It’s important people are cautious and although life goes on its good to make the right choices. So I wanted to do some Xmas shopping and decided to check out what the festive trading times are in operation at Tygervalley mall. Below is what I found on the malls webpage. You can see for Sunday 13th December 2020 the stores will trade until 19h00. Perfect I thought,…
I was walking past a Mr Price Sport today and decided to quickly pop in to buy a pair of shorts for early morning walks on the beach. Within 5 minutes I had selected a pair of shorts and was at the point of sale. “R199” the cashier announced “and “would you like a packet?” “Yes” was my polite reply “Then that will be 20 cents for the plastic bag” This made me immediately think, when did Mr Price start charging its customers for a plastic bag to take away…
Over the past ten years or so a form of arrogance has crept into many of our retail business’s. It is almost as if an attitude has been adopted which says to the customer “You should be grateful to us for providing you with such a great store and amazing product”. In the past most retailers could rent a location in a mall, shopfit the interior, fill with merchandise and the customer would come and buy. Now circumstances have changed and changed significantly. Following the major wake up call brought…
Wow, another non South African retail business leaves our shores. Over the past few years we have seen the departure from our malls, Nine West, Mango, River Island, and Forever 21, just to mention a few. Now Covit19 has arrived to excert more pressure on our retail businesses sending many global retailers out of the country. L C Waikiki have now decided to join the list of international brands to pack up and flee the SA landscape. A fashion retailer who should in reality be a huge success in our…
Its so sad, to walk through a shopping mall in South Africa today. Not only do you get a sense of emptiness with little foot traffic and not much buying taking place, but the amount of closed stores tell you the virus is taking its toll. Job losses, salary cuts, and concern over the future, impacts the buying habits of our population. When you no longer have a steady income, the last thing you are thinking about is buying a new pair of shoes! Unfortunately all retail businesses work on…
Thought I would pay a visit to our local LC Waikiki store in Tygervalley, always worth a look. It was around the 15th of February 2020 in the middle of Capetowns hottest month, reaching temperatures of 34 degrees outside. This business has decided to go against the trend of every other fashion retailer in SA and launch a winter sale. The majority of merchandise at the entrance to the store were heavy flannel shirts, thick warm hoodies, and winter jackets. I am sorry, I just don’t get the logic or…
It is always refreshing when you hear a South African start-up story especially when it is woman-led. Hey Gorgeous is one such company with a franchise store as well as an online presence. The companies owner and cosmetic scientist, Phoebe Williams says much of the inspiration behind the products came from the Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick with her use of natural products. “As I aged I was inspired to utilise products derived from conscious, sustainable ingredients, and as my daughters grew up I also knew I wanted them to be…
It’s not really complicated if you grasp the basic theory of what retail is about. It’s a business of buying product at the best price you can negotiate. Display the merchandise in an environment your client enjoys shopping in and assist them by offering service above what the consumer would expect. Sell the product at the best price you can command in the current economic landscape and produce the maximum profit you can achieve from doing the above. Add to this a business phylophosy of spending as little cash as…