westgate
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Shop
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Westgate focus RETAIL
Westgate Super Regional Shopping Centre is the Johannesburg metropolitan area’s third-largest shopping centre.
By Ian Armitage
D
espite running the risk of being labelled sexist I’m going to make a statement: It is often said women love to shop (I can already hear the gasps). But why? Why do they like shopping so much? Scientists say it is hard-wired in our DNA and that dating back to our lovely hunter-gatherer days we are genetically programmed to “gather”. Me, I’m not a women, and I love shopping. Its great fun. And I have a recommendation for you: check out Westgate Super Regional Shopping Centre. It is absolutely massive, a shoppers’ Mecca. The people of Joburg love it, which isn’t much of a surprise considering the city’s unofficial motto is “Go big or go home”. “Westgate is the metropolitan area’s thirdlargest centre after Sandton City and Eastgate. Our vast size and spread of stores means that it plays host to shoppers from all over the region,” says Westgate’s Rob van Dongen. The super regional shopping centre opened its doors in 1985 and started life as a small 45,000m² regional centre with just five anchor stores: Checkers, Dion, Edgars, Woolworths and Ster Kinekor. Westage has more than doubled in size since. It hasn’t looked back. And now it is entering an exciting new phase, with a huge infrastructure improvement project underway. “As part of that we are currently investing R6 million to build a new taxi rank designed to enhance commuter’s experience at the centre,” says van Dongen. “It’s part of our strategic vision of meeting the needs of our core target market.” The Westgate Shopping Centre taxi rank, which is due to be completed by the end of October, will become the first fully formalised operational taxi rank at a shopping centre on the West Rand. “We’re relocating the taxi rank and the project forms part of continued www.southafricamag.com
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Westgate focus RETAIL
Kamo Architects Kamo Architect’s wealth of intellectual ability, years of experience and strong background (including innovative and ‘green’ architectural design) is steering our vision to become one of the leading firms in South Africa. We are also gaining a lot of experience and success from our associations with large and much more experienced architectural and project management firms on various projects. We hope to pool this collective experience and expertise so as to create a platform to advance previously disadvantaged professionals and create a culture in the construction industry that corrects the imbalances of the past. Kamo architects has been evaluated in terms of section 9 (1) of the Broad-Based Empowerment Act 53 of 2003 and has a Level Three Contributor Status.
As part of that we are currently investing R6 million to build a new taxi rank designed to enhance commuter’s experience at the centre
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infrastructure improvement efforts and follows closely on the heels of a waterproofing project,” van Dongen explains. He says the local taxi association Dorljota was extensively involved in the planning and design phases of the taxi rank relocation project. “Our research show that a significant proportion of shoppers travel by taxi to the centre. We feel that by providing a structured taxi rank we would be enhancing the overall shopping experience of shoppers.” Facilities at the new taxi rank include taxi rank offices; ablution facilities; seating areas; canteen and pause areas, featuring formal and informal trading stalls. Along with formalised lanes, provision has also been made to accommodate metered taxis in the new structure.
Kamo Architects (Pty) Ltd
Proposed Fairlands Office Park
New Westgate Taxi Rank
New Langaville Library
Proposed Fairlands Office Park
Westgate Mall toilets refurb
New Langaville Library
Unit 121A, First Floor Building 4, Midrand Business Park 563 Main Road, Halfway House Midrand,1682
Tel: +27 11 805 1611 Fax: +27 11 315 4606 E-mail: kamoarchitects@telkomsa.net Website: www.kamoarchitects.co.za Kamo Architects (Pty) Ltd is co-owned by Mr Alex Katete Pr.Arch and Mr Rantopo Boikanyo Pr.Arch.Tech
“It’s something we are excited by and look forward to the completion,” says van Dongen. “Anything that can help Westgate standout in this difficult trading environment is a good thing “A lot of our visitors are commuters and this is definitely the way forward. We want people to experience the convenience of the upgrade and we feel it’s important to offer this new experience.” The latest stats show that growth in South Africa’s retail sales slowed in July, increasing 4.2 percent year-on-year at constant prices, compared with 8.6 percent rise in June According to Statistics South Africa sales were up by a marginal 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in July from June, and increased by 6.2 percent in the three months ended July compared with the same period a year ago. There are fears retail sales could fall further in coming months with consumer spending expected to lose momentum in the
months ahead as a poor economic outlook, both locally and globally, hurts consumer confidence and higher prices of essential goods such as food and fuel weigh on disposable income. Unemployment is also weighing on consumer spending. Van Dongen says some retailers are suffering and have left the shopping centre as a result. “We have an action group and we’re looking at all the elements. Is it branding? Staff communication? We’re taking the lead to see what we can do positively to get there sales up. Generally the stores are doing quite well but there has been a slump over the past few months.” He thinks the future is bright. “We’re excited. There’s going to be a big overhaul here and we’re getting two new super stores, Dischem and Food lovers market. The future is positive.” END To learn more visit www.westgate.co.za. www.southafricamag.com
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