Brave face for competition
THE dominant shopping centre in its area for more than a decade, Ballito Lifestyle has lost 26 tenants to the R1.6 billion Ballito Junction, which is scheduled to open on Thursday.
But Lifestyle’s owners remain optimistic about the centre.
“We are mostly losing fashion retailers who have been with the centre for years, but we choose to view this as an opportunity to reinvent the centre focusing on family, fine dining and a unique boutique-shopping experience,” said the centre’s marketing manager, Tessa Woodley.
She was confident that the centre would be able to retain the majority of its loyal customers and attract new ones as new retailers would come in from next month.
Among core tenants moving across the road to the Junction are Edgars, Mr Price Apparel, Foschini, CNA, Cardies, Identity, @Home and Truworths.
Ballito Lifestyle is not the only shopping centre under pressure from Ballito Junction as the Ballito Bay Mall is also losing major retailer Checkers.
Lifestyle co-owner Bruce Rencken confirmed 30% of the national tenants would be vacating the centre today, adding it would retain anchor tenants such as Super Spar, Woolworths Food, Mica Home and Garden Centre and Alpha Pharmacy.
Rencken said the team had been hard at work for the past year and a half to redefine, reinvent and reposition the Lifestyle Centre.
“We were the dominant shopping centre in Ballito for 13 years, but now the Ballito Junction is a reality and will play the role of a regional shopping centre. We will now differentiate ourselves. We will not become a value centre; instead we will provide the discerning Ballito shopper with an upmarket, unique and experiential offering.”
To complement the existing key tenants, Rencken revealed the big brands that would be opening at Lifestyle Centre this year included Dis-chem, Baby City, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Toy Zone.
“The combined turnover of these four big brands will exceed the total turnover of fashion retailers leaving Lifestyle Centre.
“Furthermore, a number of other deals have been concluded and negotiations are advanced to ensure Lifestyle Centre retains its position as the neighbourhood