South african retailers | Retail Advice

Senior Retail Managers – Can destroy a business!

January 14, 2016February 13, 2016 admin

I have always said the most difficult function in any retail business is that of the staff on the shop floor in the stores. Compare this job to the merchandise planner based in Head Office. The planner has a desk, computer, chair and status. Working hours of 8h30 to 17hoo Monday to Friday. Staff kitchen facilities 1 minute walk from your desk, with coffee on offer 24/7. The store sales assistant works on her feet all day sometimes 12 hour shifts, merchandising product, unpacking boxes, checking in merchandise, assisting customers,…

National Retailers – Tardy window displays!

January 8, 2016 admin

Casually window shopping yesterday, I was shocked to see just how Tardy some of the big national retailers are with regards to window displays. Edgars were on January sale, the only window dedicated to this had four spotlights above the mannequins but only two were working the other two were out. In the men’s window the window dresser had left the medium size sticker still on the front of the t shirt. Just too lazy or no attention to detail. Truworths had launched sale by hanging a “Sale ” banner in…

Typo – What a different exciting store!

January 7, 2016January 8, 2016 admin

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…

Edgar’s – No improvement!

January 6, 2016September 22, 2016 admin

On 1/11/2015 I wrote a blog “Edgars – an unwanted shopping experience”. My main point was the extremely poor customer service with very few untrained staff members to be found in any Edgars store. Yesterday I read the below post from a friend on Facebook…….(5/01/2016) “How Edgars expects to survive this economy with thier shocking service and retailers like H&M around is beyond me. I currently have +/- R800 of merchandise and cosmetics in my hand and have spent 15 minutes trying to pay cash for it. Now at the…

Cotton On – Congratulations you have done a great job.

December 16, 2015January 8, 2016 admin

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,…

Hamleys – The oldest toy store in the world now at the V&A Waterfront

December 8, 2015January 8, 2016 admin

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…

Top Shop – Did you know?

December 4, 2015June 28, 2017 admin

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…

Truworths – looks like my kids bedroom!

November 21, 2015December 8, 2015 admin

If one retailer has a merchandising policy that no one understands it’s Truworths. Go into any Truworths store and see if you feel at home! It won’t happen!. Normally you will arrive in a national retail store and understand where the casual department is, where the smart dept is, and what’s on offer for the young consumer. Go into a Truworths store and it’s like a basket of washing, all product mixed around everywhere. The more I look at it the more I think the issue is the wide assortment.…

Shoes. – A simple tip for Men!

November 11, 2015November 11, 2015 admin

Over the years I have traveled on many domestic flights to most cities in South Africa. While in the business class lounge, or standing on the bus on the way to the aircraft, I should probably have been doing what everyone else was…..checking my mobile phone. I must admit I wasn’t. What I was doing was checking out what passengers were wearing on their feet. This became an obsession with me as I was so shocked at the style of footwear especially men, which were being worn by guys in…

Tread + Miller – latest footwear retailer in Canal Walk

November 8, 2015November 11, 2015 admin

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…