Sandton City Shopping Centre, South Africa’s premier shopping destination, will soon provide even more cutting-edge retail with the addition of vibrant new tenants, and a substantial number of stores enhancing both their premises and branded collections.

“Refreshing the tenant mix is essential to ensure that Sandton City’s retailers remain current with the trends, maintaining Sandton City’s reputation for being the first location for leading international retailers entering the South African market,” says Simon Latilla-Campbell, head of retail leasing for Liberty Life Properties. The fashion industry is performing at a peak and, according to the Retailers’ Liaison Committee, clothing and footwear sales surged 13.4 percent in the year to May.

“Worldwide, consumers want more and more brands and Sandton City will continue to be proactive in this respect to meet the needs of the increasingly sophisticated South African shopper,” say Latilla-Campbell. “Sandton City is the place to meet, to shop and to be seen and the strategic leasing update will ensure that the centre retains its trendy edge,” explains Latilla-Campbell. There is currently an abundance of new store openings, refurbishments and relocations, creating complementary shopping nodes at Sandton City, the uncontested place to meet, to shop and to be seen. A new fashion and lifestyle haven is being created, extending from Woolworths on the Lower Level all the way to the Fountain Court which will echo the tenant mix on the Upper Level mall -- home to major fashion brands such as Guess, Diesel, Pringle of Scotland, Dunhill, La Senza and Marion and Lindie.

For the fashionistas, the prestigious multinational Spanish brand Mango, with clothing for the young urban woman, will be opening in October. Mango stores embody a dynamic atmosphere that is the result of the harmonisation of space, and the Sandton City store will be no different. The all-new Cross Trainer has relocated to this area with its sporty fashion brands which include Adidas, Puma, K Swiff, Reebok and Nike.

Loads of Living is also moving to this trendy strip and will be located near the Clicks entrance, complementing the current lifestyle retailers comprising Mr Price Home, @Home, Chefs ‘n Icers and the homeware and décor departments of Clicks and Woolworths. “Significant changes will be made to this area between now and Christmas 2006, creating a comprehensive lifestyle offering through providing a focused tenant mix,” says Latilla-Campbell.

Carrol Boyes has opened in Sandton City’s Banking Mall with innovative, contemporary functional art designs for the kitchen and home and a select furniture line. With the same owners as Felicity’s Gifts in the Food Court, you will now only find Carrol Boyes items in the official store and a selection of other beautiful designs in Felicity’s Gifts including crystal from Belgium, Murano glass from Italy as well as a collection of beautiful jewellery.

Just around the corner richness, sensual textures, and remarkable flavours will soon be yours to savour! The first Häagen-Dazs in South Africa is coming to Sandton City on 20 September 2006 and will be located in the Banking Mall next to Carrol Boyes. The Häagen-Dazs brand has attained the distinction of global leadership in the super premium ice cream segment, synonymous with luxury and exquisite taste.

For the ‘thumb’ generation, two new cell phone stores have been introduced in the Banking Mall. Virgin Mobile, is the collaboration between local telecommunications company Cell C and Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile and provides a refreshing alternative from the offerings of other players. Chatz Cellular holds strategic alliances and exclusivity with Vodacom and Cell C and offers quality products at competitive prices from its new Sandton City store.

Identity has introduced its brand of cutting edge fashion on the Upper Level. Pumpkin Patch – the New Zealand children’s fashion brand -- is also a new edition to this level and stocks stylish, funky designer label clothing for young ones. One of the most successful hairdressing groups in the UK, Harringtons, joins Sandton City on the Lower Level.

Edgars has stepped up its branded fashion offering and is now the sole distributor of the sexy Caprice Lingerie brand. They have also recently revamped the Sandton City store and launched the new Designers at Edgars range. The collection showcases the work of seven of South Africa’s trendiest fashion designers, as well a stylish in-house label. The first three-storey KFC in the world recently opened with great appeal in the Sandton City Food Court. The relocation and expansion of this restaurant was due to strong customer demand.

Many of the existing stores in Sandton City have also refurbished and updated their shops to keep ahead of current trends including X-Cessory Mix, The French Shop, Replay Jeans, Hugo Boss and Cardies. Soon to begin refurbishing are Spitz, Frasers, The Connoisseur, Spilhaus, Drifters Adventure Centre and Phonosound. There is also a substantial demand for office space at Sandton City with the Office Tower and East and West Twin Towers all effectively fully occupied. The R18 million Sandton City Office Tower upgrade is currently in progress and includes fully refurbished core areas and public facilities. Liberty Life Properties also has great plans for the Cinema Level and anticipate that the whole level may be transformed into one single store, with the exception of Ster Kinekor.

Sandton City Centre Manager Gary Vipond explains this extensive leasing project was undertaken after Sandton City conducted extensive market research which took into account the trading success of various retailers and trade categories, customer comments about popular stores and those retailers which consumers suggested should be added to the Sandton City mix. “Based on the outcome of this research, a strategic plan was implemented to maximise the existing tenant mix and target new retailers which complement and enhance the Sandton City shopping experience,” says Vipond. "Getting the right tenant mix is vital to the success of any shopping centre and needs to be given continuous top priority. Tenant mix should be constantly evaluated and adjusted to meet market needs," explains Vipond.