More than million shoppers hit mall

Over one million people shopped at Mall of the North in December last year, breaking all previous records at the mall.
The super-regional mall in the heart of Polokwane attracted 1 022 996 visitors in December, a full 5% higher than in December 2014.
This exceptional popularity was not limited to the Festive Season. Shopper numbers at Mall of the North were higher throughout the year, increasing by 3%, with over 8,5 million people shopping at the mall last year.
The mall’s strong shopper appeal also reflected in its sales; both annual and Festive Season trade increased by double digits.
Mall of the North’s turnover grew by 13% year-on-year in 2015. December trade was up 14%. Besides more people visiting the mall, each person visiting the Mall of the North also spent more money. In December 2014 the spending amount per shopper was R257. In December 2015, this amount went up to R281 per shopper.
Enhancing its festive shopping allure, Mall of the North hosted several appealing events, including late-night shopping on 18 December, which drew nearly 45,000 visitors to the mall. Mall of the North also kept guests intrigued with the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! exhibition.
Meticulous Festive Season preparation, working closely with Urban African Security and Bidvest Prestige, created a clean, pleasant shopping experience, despite the large number of shoppers, and ensured there were no major security incidents.
“The tremendous support we receive from our shoppers is truly wonderful,” says Sumari de Ridder, General Manager of Mall of the North.
“We thank our regular customers and visitors for shopping with us and wish them all the best for 2016. This year we will continue to find new ways to give our shoppers the experience, stores, service, brands and entertainment they really want.”
Mall of the North will host its second annual Mall of the North Marathon on 9 April, which is a qualifier race for the Comrades Marathon. With routes of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, as well as the full marathon distance of 42 km, it is an event the entire family can enjoy.