Spar, which services independent retailers trading under the Spar, Tops at Spar, Build It and Savemore brands, plans to open 35 new Spar stores in the year ahead and renovate 180, CEO Graham O'Connor said in the group's latest annual report, released last week. 5 Jan 2015
Speciality products such as well-priced tablets and smartphones and digital toys will dominate Christmas sales. 22 Dec 2014
PARIS, FRANCE: French retail giant Carrefour said on Thursday, 18 December 2014, it has sold 10% of its Brazilian subsidiary to local billionaire Abilio Diniz for 525 million euros ($650 million). 22 Dec 2014
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) eased to 5.8% year-on-year in November in line with market expectation. 17 Dec 2014
Woolworths has opened a new store in Accra's upmarket West Hills Mall, the retailer's second store in Ghana. At 555sqm, the new store is large enough to meet growing Ghana's demand for Woolworths modern product offerings. The West Hills Mall store stocks a comprehensive range of men's, women's and children's clothing as well as beauty, footwear and accessories. 15 Dec 2014
Following the success of the Orange Online Store, introduced to South Africa earlier this year, telecommunications services provider Orange will launch its first branded retail store in South Africa, situated in Claremont, Cape Town. The store is expected to start trading in January 2015. 12 Dec 2014
If Woolworths' cold chain is broken for eight consecutive minutes, the retailer considers the products waste and dumps them. For Pick n Pay the "down time" is seven minutes... 12 Dec 2014
While initially anticipating festive retail sales would only grow marginally in 2014, Growthpoint Properties Retail Portfolio Divisional Director Stephan le Roux believes the added stumbling block of load shedding, which is often unscheduled, has become major obstacle for retail sales growth during this important season and the continuation of load shedding has made even slight growth for retailers, restaurants and malls unlikely. 10 Dec 2014
As Cotton On continues to grow its global footprint, the Australian-based retailer remains committed and invested in expanding its South African fleet, opening its largest global store this Friday in KwaZulu-Natal's Gateway Theatre of Shopping. At 2,368sqm, it offers collections from a number of brands within the group, including Cotton On, Cotton On Body, FREE by Cotton On, Cotton On Kids and Rubi Shoes. The new store will reflect the brand's updated brand look and will represent its future direction in store design. 10 Dec 2014
Retailers are complaining that they are having to bear the brunt of Eskom's load-shedding over successive weekends during their peak trading season ahead of Christmas. 8 Dec 2014
After the launch of its first store in Zambia in 2010, Pick n Pay opened its 9th store in Chingola yesterday, 4 December 2014. 5 Dec 2014
Retailers are unlikely to experience much festive cheer this year as the strain on disposable income persists... 2 Dec 2014
Nigeria, where most of the people live on less than US$2 a day, is the fastest growing markets in the world for French champagne and digital TVs and could be the next big growth frontier for luxury goods. 28 Nov 2014
November through to February means increased time in the malls either for shopping, entertainment or simply catching up with friends and family over a meal or coffee for many consumers. The challenge for shopping centres and landlords is to drive traffic to their malls and hold the attention and interest of their shoppers during a time that has many distractions. 28 Nov 2014
In addition to being an official One Direction (1D) World partner, Edgars is launching the 'Edgars 1D World', the ultimate fan experience leading up to the local leg of the One Direction tour in early 2015. It includes in-store activations, a number of social media campaigns to engage local One Direction fans and plenty of opportunities to win merchandise and tickets to the One Direction concerts in March and April 2015. 28 Nov 2014
For the first time in South Africa, Checkers joins the world in Black Friday, the world's biggest retail sales promotion, with bargains of up to 50% off a range of selected general merchandise, food and liquor items on Friday 28 November 2014. 27 Nov 2014
Although physical stores are far from dead, retailers continue to adapt their business models. For example, Makro is trialling the use of online shopping pick-up lockers at garage forecourts, making it even easier to buy online and collect the goods at a convenient location. 26 Nov 2014
Jean-Christophe Garbino's naming as Michael Mark's successor as Truworths' CE raises the question: Is SA retail running out of local senior executive talent? 24 Nov 2014
Edcon, the owner of Edgars and CNA, is still in talks to find an alternative credit provider to shoppers, a move that will allow the retail group to grow sales in a tough cycle, when its rivals are curbing credit extension due to high levels of consumer debt. 24 Nov 2014
'KitchenAid' by Maryke & Reuben opened earlier this week in Franschhoek to a warm reception by media and friends in the culinary industry. This is the first stand-alone KitchenAid retail space on the African continent and is situated adjacent to the original Reuben's Restaurant in Franschhoek within the courtyard. 20 Nov 2014
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