Retailers News South Africa

Scoin opens two new outlets, doubles operations

The South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE), operator of Scoin, which claims to be the only retail chain of coin stores in the world, has opened two additional outlets, raising its global total to 18 stores. The two new outlets can be found in Johannesburg's Clearwater and Pretoria's Menlyn Mall.
Scoin opens two new outlets, doubles operations

This doubles its number of outlets over the past two years.

Alan Demby, SAGCE's executive chairman, says a second London Scoin store has been scheduled to open in the Bluewater Mall in September this year. He says that Scoin has been well received by the foreign market - leading to its further expansion.

"During the course of an economic recession that has witnessed the closure of a great many stores in a host of industries, our business activity has blossomed, prompting us to open the doors of as many as nine new outlets," he says.

Demby ascribes SAGCE's buoyancy to several factors, among them:

  • The advancing gold price, which has generated heightened demand for Krugerrands, gold medallions and rare precious metals coins collectors' items;
  • The soaring price of silver;
  • First-time demand for World Cup coins - demand that has been building up over the past few months, domestically and internationally;
  • A growing awareness among the public that Krugerrands, being legal tender coins, do not attract VAT, thereby affording the purchaser an effective discount on the ruling gold price, versus other forms of gold bullion;
  • The European debt crisis, which has enhanced the role of gold as a buffer against global financial uncertainty;
  • The magical aura of Nelson Mandela, which has resulted in steadily growing demand for Mandela gold coins and medallions;
  • Inflationary fears occasioned by the several trillions of dollars that have been created to bail out troubled banks the world over; and
  • The prominence and appearance of Scoin's stores, that re-enforces the demand for the product.

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