Last Wednesday the latest retail figures indicated an increase of 2%. However, these were the growth figures for February 2020. This is a clear reflection of the old normal. On the same day more than 100 000 new corona cases were recorded worldwide, which was a new record. In total there are already more than 5.5 million people infected by the virus. The South African graph is different to that of most other countries where of all closed cases, 96.4% has recovered compared to 3.6% deaths. The world trend on closed cases at this stage is 87% recovered and 13% deaths.
LOCKDOWN SHOPPING: WHAT WILL SHOPPING BE LIKE ONCE THE LOCKDOWN IS OVER?
In online surveys conducted by Urban Studies during lockdown, 74% of shoppers indicated that they immediately will return to their centre to shop. Two clear behavioural trends emerged from this research: Almost half of the respondents in different surveys indicated that shopping should be allowed like before the lockdown period started.
"The research clearly confirms a dual tendency of the old normal and a new way of living and shopping"
By the end of 2017 retail sales in South Africa reached the R1 trillion mark for a calendar year. Online shopping increased to 1.8% of total retail spend up, from 1.2% in 2016. This increase in total spend online represents an increase of 22% year-on-year since 2016, or an extra R8 billion.
During 2017 the retail sales figures in South Africa for the first time exceeded R1 trillion. Based on current values, retail sales increased from R939 billion in 2016 to just over R1 trillion in 2017.
It is an interesting time for retail property in South Africa at the moment, with a number of challenges facing shopping centre owners and developers. Yet with certain opportunities still present in the market. Dr Dirk Prinsloo, MD of specialist research firm Urban Studies, highlights a few of these for Shopping SA.
One of the most asked questions at this point in time is: “How saturated is the retail shopping industry in South Africa and what new opportunities still exist?”
South Africa’s commercial property industry is facing a number of challenges – yet it is also an extremely innovative industry full of people with great ideas and entrepreneurial spirit who continually find ways to counter new challenges.
Dr Dirk Prinsloo, MD of specialist research firm Urban Studies, was this year’s recipient of the South African Council of Shopping Centres’ Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to professionals in the retail property industry who have made a significant contribution to the industry and who are considered to have built a legacy for the next generation.
JHI has partnered with leading property research company Urban Studies, to produce its first Africa Property Report. The publication covers property markets in Angola, Botswana, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Revised and Extended retail classification 2016
SACSC: Online vs in-store shopping, 2016
What does the mall of the future look like?
Urbanisation and the impact on future shopping centre development
SACSC Multi Channel Retailing Report – SA Is Far Behind And Will Have To Catch Up (July 2013)
South African shopping centre directory 2012 addition (2012)
New Retail Classification (2010, 2011)
Cannibalisation amongst retailers and shopping centres in SA (2010)
Retail Cannibalisation – All are guilty (2010)
Shopping Centre benchmark indicators (1998-2009)
Retailer trends – what does the future hold? (2008)
Research conducted in 240 of SA's shopping centres (2008)
Past and Future Changes In Shopping Patterns, Behaviour and Centre Development (2006)
Summit Television Interview (2006)
Market trends: 2005 (November / December 2005)
A retailers Market: What does it mean? (September 2005)
A New Era of Retail Centres Aimed at the Changing Consumer and Community Needs (2005)
Pedestrian Malls and the future (July 2005)
Promech Publishing : Trends In Retail Development (2005)
Office market in SA: Why so slow and where to in the future? (May 2005)
IPD Retail Benchmark Figures (March 2004 / March 2005)
More good news! Great potential in township residential market (March 2005)
Shop 'Till You Drop: At What Time is this? (2005)
Ten years of Democracy: Changes in former "whites only" suburbs in Pretoria (Jan 2005)
Good news and bad news: an emerging middle market or a top end market? (July 2004)
Shopping centre benchmark indicators (2004)
Retail Trends in a Very Dynamic South African Market (2004)
Good News/ Bad News Unemployment – Our Country's Greatest Economic Challenge (March 2004)
Shopping Centre Benchmark Indicators And New Market Trends (2003)
The Fundamentals of Market Research in Shopping Centre Marketing (2003)