Facilities management company, Broll, presents eye-opening results from their Retail Consumer Survey done in 2014.  

Johannesburg, South Africa – Apart from clean and safe shopping centres, South African consumers want an overall experience of visiting the shopping destination. This is according to the Broll Retail Consumer Survey 2014 launched on the 20th of August 2014 at the 18th Annual Congress of the South African Council of Shopping Centres in Cape Town.  

The survey was conducted by a third party, IPSOS and was based on a sample size of 1 000 individuals undertaken throughout South Africa in order to understand the retail consumer market in the country.  

Of those surveyed, 38% strongly agree that an overall shopping experience is important when thinking about where to shop, while some use social media to keep up to date on special offers, events and new shops at shopping centres.  

“Security is a major aspect in shopping centres, because when a robbery takes place for example, shoppers are weary of visiting that centre and may not visit the centre for a while thus impacting on centre foot traffic,” says Elaine Wilson, Divisional Director of Research and Marketing at Broll Property Group, which is part of the CBRE affiliate network.  

Wilson explains that when it comes to shopping, consumers are spoilt for choice, whether they choose to visit a regional or community shopping centre remains a matter of personal preference.  

For example, while consumers want clean, and safe shopping centres, (factors that rank high when considering where to shop), South African consumers also want shopping centres that offer ample parking facilities, a range of product and service offerings, presence of independent shops and entertainment facilities among others, says Wilson.  

Furthermore, the report shows that consumers have seen improvements in most frequented centres over the last three years, with 36% noting that these centres have got a lot better while 3% did not use the same shopping centre over the past three years.

Survey respondents noted five main areas of improvement and these are:        

• Renovation of retail property (47%)       
• Increased sizes of shopping centres with more shops (39%)        
• More and improved catering facilities (29%)      
• Addition of new international brands (28%)         
• More entertainment facilities (18%)

In terms of “shopping research”, South African consumers make use of online methods when browsing for products, looking for something specific and when checking prices or product details. However, notes Wilson, the majority of consumers still prefer to visit the physical bricks and mortar to buy and compare product prices. That said, according to the survey, online shopping is expected to increase in the near future as consumers get used to the idea.

About Broll Property Group

Over the years serving some of South Africa’s largest listed property portfolios, Broll has earned a formidable reputation for delivering quality, effectiveness and value. The ability to cross-reference information from an enormous database compiled from years of experience and exacting market research enables Broll to provide unique, cost-effective solutions. Broll is South Africa’s leading multi-disciplinary property services company specialising in commercial, retail, industrial and investment property.

For more information, visit: http://www.broll.co.za/.

The second development phase at Somerset Lakes, a 42-hectare residential estate in Somerset West, will be released to the market in mid September. The first phase sold out rapidly, with 114 sales being recorded within just six weeks of the launch. Construction of the first phase is well under way and occupation is expected to take place in mid 2015.

The new phase, Waterford Green, comprises 48 freestanding double-storey houses, selling from R1,3 million including VAT, no transfer duty. These two and three bedroom homes offer spacious, contemporary, open-plan living areas and private gardens. All homes include at least two bathrooms, one being en suite, and the three-bedroom design offers a garage and an optional guest toilet.

According to Dave Harris, Sales and Marketing Manager of Somerset Lakes, the new product has been specifically designed to help meet the growing demand for affordable, quality housing in the popular Somerset West area.

“We’ve been inundated with requests from buyers looking for houses,” Harris said. “People want freestanding homes with gardens, views and security, in close proximity to the centre of Somerset West, and that’s exactly what our latest product at Somerset Lakes has to offer.”

Designed by Schabort Associates Architects, the new development phase is located alongside the six-hectare lake that gives the estate its name.

“This unique feature is a huge attraction,” Harris commented. “It’s ideal for swimming, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, and home to a rich variety of water birds. A magnificent community clubhouse on the shores of the lake, The Summer Club, will enhance the appeal of this fantastic recreational asset, providing residents with play areas, boat sheds, a sandy white beach, and a swimming pool and deck area with stunning views of False Bay and the Hottentots Holland mountains.”

The developers, Omwieco (Pty) Ltd, a consortium of highly experienced development professionals backed by financial giant Investec, have devoted no less than 40% of the estate’s total area to green, open space for the recreation of residents. This includes the lakes and other water features, a mature forest of stone pine trees, landscaped parks and gardens, and kilometres of walking trails and mountain biking tracks.

An indigenous fynbos nursery has been established on the estate, which was recently awarded the prized 2014 SALI Gold Award for landscape design by the South African Landscapers Institute.“No expense has been spared to implement the most technically advanced security system at Somerset Lakes,” said Harris. "These measures include electrified perimeter fencing with 70 high-definition surveillance cameras, which are monitored around the clock from the hi-tech guardhouse, 24-hour guarding and patrols, and an on-site rapid response team. Other advanced features include biometric fingerprint access control."

All homes in the estate will be hardwired with fibre-optic cabling for superfast internet access, DStv and VOIP telephone connectivity, which will allow free telephone calls within the estate.

A Curro Castle School is being constructed on the estate and is due to open its doors in 2015.

Convenient access to the Somerset West village has been provided by the developers through the R16 million construction of Reunion Drive, which links the main entrance of Somerset Lakes to Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Road under a specially constructed railway bridge. Just a few hundred metres from this entrance, an upmarket new shopping centre is now under construction, where Checkers, Woolworths Foods and Clicks will be the anchor tenants.The Vergelegen Mediclinic and the Somerset West CBD are less than two kilometres away, while popular Somerset Mall shopping centre is just 3,5 kilometres from the estate.

“When you consider the amazing lifestyle advantages Somerset Lakes offers, the security, the convenience of the surrounding amenities, and the incredible natural beauty of the estate, I have no doubt our second phase will sell as fast as the first one,” said Harris.“I strongly advise anyone interested to register online for an invitation to a pre-launch sales opportunity, ahead of our public launch in mid September, to avoid disappointment.”

For further information visit www.somersetlakes.co.za or phone 021 202 2200.

Great opportunity to be unlocked for South African real estate professionals

South Africa, 15/07/14 - Thousand Fish announces its launch in South Africa with the aim of creating a common space for local real estate professionals to connect, interact and work. This will also offer them a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with the global real estate industry, since Thousand Fish operates on an international, predominantly in the United Kingdom and Australia, as a social networking joint exclusively for property experts.

Thousand Fish has been constantly trying to break borders to make the real estate industry a close-knit world where professionals can learn, share and grow. With this aim in mind, their concept has been entering key markets such as South Africa and enhancing the scope of interaction between real estate professionals from diverse backgrounds. It offers the following benefits to its members:  

• Cost-effective online marketing channel
• One-stop solution for communication, interaction and business transaction
• A medium of sharing success stories and other achievements 

Following its aims to create a real estate industry without boundaries, Thousand Fish is slated to step into South Africa by mid-2014.

About Thousand Fish   

Thousand Fish is a professional networking site specifically designed for the real estate professionals. Based in Australia, it not only gathers buyers and sellers under one roof but also gives its members the advantage of being heard, seen and spoken about in the global real estate industry. 

Thousand Fish is driven by its mission to go beyond conventional ideas in building a platform that allows real estate professionals to showcase their achievements on a global scale. This reflects in its latest venture to penetrate the real estate market of South Africa.

For more information, visit: https://www.thousandfish.net/about-us 

Contact details:

Samantha MacDonald
Tel: 21-200-9942
Thousand Fish
www.thousandfish.net
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{pp}With the 2010 World Cup soccer being held in South Africa in 2010 property investors, speculators and property owners are keen to see what will be happening to property prices in the run up to the cup.