Generation Next votes 'coolest mall', brands

The annual Sunday Times Generation Next Awards has voted Sandton City as the 'Coolest Shopping Mall', with the mall including many of the top 'cool' brands. Cape Town's Canal Walk and V&A Waterfront took second and third place respectively.

The Sunday Times Generation Next survey is an annual study that provides insights on how the local youth market perceives brands. It is acknowledged as the leading youth brand survey in the country.

This is the second year in a row that the mall has been voted Coolest Mall in the survey and comes straight after the Best Shopping Mall award the centre won in the Leisure Options Best of Joburg Readers' Choice Awards at the end of 2012.

The mall has a number of stores and entertainment offerings that appeal to Gauteng's young shoppers and numerous brands within the centre were acknowledged as the coolest in their categories:

Bank - FNB
Clothing brand - Nike
Clothing store - Mr Price
Coffee shop - Mugg & Bean
Computer brand - Apple Mac
Fast food place - McDonald's
Fragrance - Guess
Grocery store - Woolworths Food
Hi-tech gadget - iPhone
Music retailer - Musica
Shoe/footwear brand - Nike
Shopping mall - Sandton City
Specialist health and beauty store - Clicks
Telecoms provider - Vodacom
BlackBerry was voted the Coolest Brand overall and the mall has a BlackBerry stand

That so many mall tenants were category winners is no coincidence, it is well aware of the spending power of the youth and the influence they have over their parents when it comes to purchasing decisions. Its leasing strategy ensures Gauteng's young shoppers are well catered for when it comes to signing up new shops.