Johannesburg showcases new look mall

Tina Milton

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The opening of the revamped duty-free mall at Johannesburg International airport is designed to coincide with its latest promotion for Christmas

Airport authority Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has unveiled its refurbished duty-free mall at Johannesburg International airport. The completion of the renovation coincides with the airport's Come Early for Christmas promotion in which R700,000 ($104,633) can be won at Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban airports. The Johannesburg revamp included the 1,571sq m (16,903sq ft) flagship store operated by Big Five Duty Free, the airport's main duty-free retailer.

The refurbishment was designed to replace fixtures that had acted as barriers to footfall, such as artificial walls, product islands and split level sections, with a single-level retail space that gives easy access to the store with improved floor layout, design and lighting.
 
The core duty-free categories of liquor, tobacco and fragrances form the cornerstones of the revamped shop and special offers are signposted at a "promotional court" opposite the shop, to showcase promotions and sales discounts. Stand-alone Lacoste and The Body stores have been added to the retail mix at the mall to boost its international brand portfolio.

ACSA group executive commercial Rory Mackey said of the refurbishment: "We purposefully completed the refurbishment in time for Christmas to demonstrate our commitment to our South African customer base, our dominant international travel market. We are confident that the South African travelling public will be pleased with the dramatic enhancements to favourite South African brands such as News Café and Cape Union Mart, while sales already point to them approving of the arrival of sought-after international brand Lacoste."