The 2008 Western Cape Special Star Awards gala event took place last week at the Grand West Casino in Cape Town, showing off the best that shopping centres in the Cape have to offer. Introduced by the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) in 2006, the awards honour those retailers and service providers in each region which deliver an exceptional level of customer service and contribute to the South African shopping centre industry.
(From left) Ivor Fischer (Area Manager - Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre) accepts the award for the overall winner in the Retailer Category of the Special Star Awards from Tracey Fowler (General Manager - media and marketing - SACSC).
Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre in the V&A Waterfront was the overall winner on Tuesday, 22 July 2008, in the Retailer Category of the Special Star Awards. In total there were six retailer sub-categories and the winners were as follows:
- National retailer (501m² and larger): Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre (V&A Waterfront)
- National retailer (500m² and smaller): Build a Bear (Canal Walk)
- Independent retailer: Pastimes (Willowbridge South)
- Restaurant/Coffee Shop/Bistro: Primi Wharf (V&A Waterfront)
- Fast Food: Raith Gourmet (Garden Centre) and Bun On The Run (Golden Acre)
- Supermarket: Willowbridge Food Lovers Market (Willowbridge North)
The Service Provider of the Year is Berco, which was rewarded for its cleaning services in the Howard Centre. The winners in the various Service Provider sub-categories were:
- Cleaning: Berco (Howard Centre)
- Security: Fidelity Security Services (Paarl Mall)
- Parking Management: Interpark (Cavendish Square)
Retailers were judged on their customer service, store design, store merchandise, signage, window displays, stock availability, appearance of staff, shopping experience and extra available services; and Service Providers were judged on customer service, professional image, knowledge of shopping centre, management support, staff training, tenant service and community/social responsibility.
