e-spaces

09 May 2007

By David Abrahamse

There are more opportunities beckoning on the back of the economy’s growth and infrastructure spending. The government has said it would spend more than R 400-billion to up grade infrastructure. Billions more will also be spent on preparing for the World Cup.

This means that not only will engineering and construction related industries benefit, there are going to be lots of opportunities for retail as well.

Take the Gautrain for example, not only are there going to be ten stations that require shopping centers but it will also transform the public transport system. Other benefits are the projected time savings by commuters using the Gautrain of R 933-million annually, as well as savings in accident costs of R 15-million a year. There will also be environmental savings: a massive reduction in carbon dioxide emissions each year. Not to mention creating jobs in the interim and in the long term. Thus consumers are going to have more time on their hands and more cash, and they will shop!

So essentially the Guatrain is a contribution to Green Design and certainly not a white elephant and a waste of money!

Then there is the world cup in three years, with an estimated 350 000 visitors contributing about R 9.8-billion to the tourism industry, who knows what the retail spin off will be? Then there are the footballer’s wives who are renowned for going on spending sprees and we all know that they have money and lots of it! There are also going to be ten stadiums, some new and some revamped. All are going to have a food and drink offering, wouldn’t it be nice to have something better than what our current stadiums have.

The retail industry is far from being saturated says Richard F Eggleton president of Explorebiz entrepreneurial options.

So if you have an idea for a new retail concept, it would be a good idea to get in early!