Shopping like it wasn't 2009

Shopping centre managers interviewed by The Times said that, though figures were still preliminary, the number of visitors and shoppers over the holidays was satisfactory.

Sales at some malls compared well with those of previous years.

Chantelle Kidd, marketing manager at the V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town, said domestic tourists outnumbered international visitors this year.

"In terms of consumer spending, the national retail index is down by 27% compared with 2008, but we are much better than the national average," she said.

The Waterfront attracted more than 2.3 million visitors last month alone, with the highest numbers on Boxing Day, she said.

An increase in people parking

"On average, we had about 95 000 visitors a day. There was a 7% increase in the number of people parking."

Jiminy Bosman, of Greenacres shopping centre in Port Elizabeth, said bargain hunters thronged the mall during the holidays.

"Retailing has always been an industry that exceeds forecasts and this year was no exception. Differentiation in terms of great services and offerings is essential in capturing a share of the market.

"Fortunately, as an established centre, our figures in terms of spending and foot traffic have looked good.

"The sales target was surpassed by more than 4% for December," Bosman said.

Shoppers used more discretion

The manager of Soweto's Maponya Mall, Mdu Ndawo, said: "We found that there was less impulsive buying this season, with customers spending a little more wisely.

"However, there were fewer cash sales and an increase in the number of customers using credit was noticeable."

For those who didn't make it to the coast, water festivals, soccer-related activities and promotions and live shows were popular attractions.

"The year was filled with lots of excitement and the build-up to 2010 [and the soccer World Cup], so we realised that 2009 was a dry run for 2010 and got local soccer clubs involved," Ndawo said.

The result was a 20% increase on the 850 000 customers who visited the mall in December 2008.

Louise Ketterer, marketing manager at Menlyn Park Mall in Pretoria, said: "We do not yet have the full figures, but we've already seen an increase in foot-count this season compared with the past two years, partly because of some new activities we launched.

"Most important, our tenants all came back after the holidays satisfied with December business, especially our food outlets, who experienced an increase in trade."

Source: The Times

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