Sandton City continues not only to be a premium retail centre but also a destination of choice for locals and international visitors.
Speaking at a media roundtable event, executives from Liberty Two Degrees unveiled developments at its prime assets, including Sandton City.
SANDTON CITY: A DESTINATION
Locals, visitors to Johannesburg, and even travellers from abroad have for decades considered Sandton City to be one of the finest malls in the country.
However, the mall is not just a place to do shopping. Sandton City and the adjoining Nelson Mandela Square are a destination in itself.
LUXURY BRANDS AT SANDTON CITY
While it is known for its large collection of retailers, Sandton City is equally well known for its ultra-luxury brands.
The Diamond Walk is home to a collection of some of Africa’s most exclusive and luxurious brands.
Last year, Sandton City launched its AI-enhanced ‘City of Icons’ campaign, profiling iconic fashion staples.
DELISTING FROM JSE
Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) was delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in November last year and now forms part of the greater Standard Bank Group.
Since delisting, L2D continues to lead in terms of retail asset management.
Chief Financial Officer at L2D, Barbara Makhudu said, “We remain a key player in terms of our portfolio performance.”
CUSTOMER FOCUS IS KEY FOR SANDTON CITY
Sandton City is not just a pleasant retail space by chance.
Visitors to the centre are assured of excellence, whether they engage in shopping, dining, entertainment, or use its hotels and the convention centre.
L2D is acutely aware of its responsibility to provide efficient spaces for both customers and retailers.
This is key to the iconic Sandton City maintaining its leading position as a centre of choice for both customers and retailers.
Jose Snyders, Chief Commercial Officer at L2D, said, “We need retailers to be successful, for us to be successful.”
Moreover, Sandton City is working on further enhancements including the digitalized management of parking spaces, enhanced WiFi connectivity as well as a customer loyalty programme.
And, to improve customer experience, the grouping of similar types of retailers helps customers navigate their activities at Sandton City.
ONLINE SHOPPING TREND
While Covid-19 might have ushered in a new way of shopping – shifting from physical shopping to online purchases, there has again been a significant shift in 2024.
Shalia Naidoo, Head of Behavioural Science and Innovation, said that there has been a shift back to traditional physical purchases.
“The convenience market has grown exponentially but the hybrid market is rising. Consumers want convenience but they crave the tangible experience of shopping.” Naidoo said.
She said that many consumers are looking at products online and coming into brick-and-mortar spaces to inspect and then purchase products.
This is why it is important for retailers to offer interactive experiences to customers, who are becoming increasingly more conscious and align consumption with their personal values and choices.
DOING GOOD BUSINESS
L2D is aware of the need to do things differently.
With its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework L2D is already doing things that make a difference.
Brian Ulsted, Lead Sustainability Specialist at L2D, said that the company is “doing things and trying things now”. This is preferrable to putting off important initiatives that are key to achieving sustainability targets.
L2D spent over R700 million in capital investment over the past three years, to help it reach these targets.
However, such initiatives also facilitate cost and environmental efficiencies.
NET ZERO TARGETS
Large retail centres require many resources, and thus have significant impacts on the environment.
Of particular concern is reductions in the use of energy, and water consumption.
Malls are guzzlers of energy and water.
Hence retail centres like Sandton City are shifting away from electricity provided by the national grid.
In fact, Sandton City will start to produce clean energy.
The centre will roll out solar power generation by the end of next year.
“At the end of our solar rollout, we’ll be sitting on 17 megawatts of solar power. This will take us off the grid by around 16 to 17% of our energy supply.” Ulsted said.
REDUCING CONSUMPTION
Not only is Sandton City conscious of its energy consumption.
The centre has moved away from water-cooled air conditioning systems to air-cooled conditioning systems, enabling reductions in water consumption by up to 20 percent.
L2D is also focused on its waste generation. In fact, over 90% of the waste generated at its sites are being diverted away from landfill sites.
Ulsted said that when developing initiatives, dialogue with tenants and shoppers is important as both parties can learn from each other.
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