12 million visit new Ballito Junction mall
KZN shoppers make up 77 percent of Ballito Junction's customers.
Twelve million people visited the Ballito Junction Regional Mall during its first year, becoming a firm favourite destination for locals as well as shoppers from Durban and beyond.
Open in March 2017, the 80 000 sq m centre attracted half its shoppers from the greater Ballito area but a third have come from the Durban area, says CEO Geraldine Jorgensen.
A breakdown of its Durban shoppers shows that while it is some 62km away from the mall, Durban itself accounts for 16 percent of Ballito Junction’s shopper market.
Around 13% of its customer pool drive the 28kms from Verulam to the new mall.
Umhlanga, which is 31kms away, represents four percent of its total shoppers.
Another 12 percent come from even further away – the Midlands, Zululand and Highway areas.
All-in-all, KZN shoppers make up 77 percent of Ballito Junction’s customers, but holidaymakers have also flocked to the new mall. Over the last year, Gauteng visitors accounted for 19% of Ballito Junction’s shoppers.
Turnover for its businesses has topped the R2bn mark, outperforming other, more established, comparative retail elsewhere in the region, says Jorgensen.
“The vision for Ballito Junction was always to be a mall that is designed for and sustained by its regional shoppers, with spend from holidaymakers being a bonus.
“Our shopper figures show that this has, in fact, proven to be the case. We are very pleased with the positive trends that we are seeing.”
With an average of nearly one million visitors a month, its best performing month so far was December 2017 when it attracted some 1.4 million shoppers.
Jorgensen is optimistic that the trend will continue upwards as this is a growing community, with residential developments representing over 3,000 new homes under construction or planned for development in its immediate catchment market.
“Looking back on the past year, we have embodied our commitment to making a positive contribution to Ballito and the Dolphin Coast, not only with the best shopping and entertainment, but also by supporting community, cultural, sporting, welfare and business organisations and events. Ballito Junction is incredibly proud to be a member of this community and will continue to lend our support to the area and its people,” she said.
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