Clicks’ current footprint also includes 387 pharmacies and 189 clinics, with plans to expand to over 600 stores in the medium term.
“To have our 500th store open at such an iconic hub such as the innovative Waterfall precinct, is a culmination of our founding vision and a fitting tribute to the brand’s enormous heritage,” says Vikesh Ramsunder, COO of Clicks.
Clicks was originally conceived as a drugstore. The first store opened in 1968 in St George’s Mall, Cape Town. At the time, legislation prevented corporate ownership of pharmacies in South Africa. This meant that Clicks operated as a drugstore without drugs, until legislation changed in 2003 and the first Clicks pharmacy opened in March 2004.
“For close on fifty years, Clicks has been offering customers a wide range of health and beauty products, and, more recently, pharmacy and clinic services. This has made us South Africa’s leading health and beauty retailer, with an incredible heritage that offers customers great value every day,” Ramsunder says.
The Clicks Mall of Africa store offers the ‘same feel-good experience’ and ‘exceptional customer care’, as well as a wide range of health and beauty products, traditionally found at Clicks’ stores. This also includes Clicks’ private label and exclusive franchise brands Sorbet, The Body Shop, GNC and Claire’s.
The store features a pharmacy and a primary care clinic. “The Pharmacy allows us to engage with our customers and elevate the ‘feel-good experience’ within a store environment,” he adds. Pharmacy forms part of Clicks’ commitment to bringing affordable healthcare and convenience to customers, whatever their lifestyle and life stage.
Customers can also benefit from the Clicks ClubCard loyalty programme, which continues to be a key pillar of the brand, with over 5.7 million active members.
“Last year’s modernisation of ClubCard, where customers get cashback directly on their ClubCard, has provided a great sense of excitement and driven increased customer engagement at till points,” he says.
Going forward, Ramsunder says that the brand is continuously looking at innovative ways to ensure the customer ‘feels good and pays less’, with a focus on enhancing the customer experience, continued product differentiation, improved ClubCard offerings and customer distribution channels.
The Clicks Mall of Africa is located on the lower retail level between Checkers and Woolworths.
For more information, visit www.clicks.co.za or call 0860 254 257.
