Factors influencing patronage and spending patterns at Bayside and Tyger Valley shopping centres

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2020-12
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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The shopping centre is a powerful symbol of American consumerism that forms part of the global urban fabric. Despite its decline and redundancy in many regions of the world, its widespread consumer support and developments have positioned South Africa’s shopping centre industry as one of the largest in the world. Since 1994 South Africa has undergone significant political and social transformations. The process changed the formal economy and introduced a diverse group of consumers. The growth of the black middle-income consumer created a demand for products and services that were almost exclusive to the white consumer. During 2008 the growth of a black middleincome had a combined annual spending power of approximately R 130 billion. It had dramatically changed the target market characteristics of the South African consumer. Research in shopping centre patronage is scant, particularly in post-apartheid South Africa. The study aimed to determine the factors that influence patronage and spending patterns at Bayside and Tyger Valley shopping centres in Cape Town. This was achieved through semi structures interviews with centre management, store owners/management as well as rapid appraisals with patrons. The key findings showed that shopping centre patronage is not guaranteed however it was a result of centre managements and tenants’ cooperation and their implementation of various marketing strategies. Furthermore, patrons were motivated by convenience in terms of shopping centre location and a well-balanced tenant mix to satisfy their consumer needs. Although the majority of patrons were satisfied with their shopping experiences aspects such as poor customer service and the absence of facilities such as trolleys and fitting rooms created a poor retail image and resulted in the abandonment of sales.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Winkelsentrums dien as ‘n sterk simbool van Amerikaanse verbruikers dienste wat deel vorm van ‘n wêreldwye stedelike leefstylen helm. Ten spyte van die afname en oortolligheid in baie dele regoor die wêreld, het dit ‘n wydverspreide en volgehoue aantal verbruikers en ondersteuning in die SuidAfrikaanse winkelsentrum-bedryf. Sodoene het dit Suid-Afrika se winkelsentrum-bedryf in een van die grootstes ter wêreld ontwikkel. Sedert die aanvangs van demokrasie in 1994 het Suid-Afrika ‘n radikale bedryfs tranformasie ondergaan van beide polities en sosiaal. Hierdie proses het nie net die ekonomie verbeter nie, maar ook die diversiteit van die verbruikers klas. Die groei in die swart gemiddelde-inkomste het ‘n groter aanvraag veroorsaak vir produkte en dienste wat voor 1994 tradisioneel vir blanke verbruikers geproduseer was. Gedurende 2008 het die gemiddelde jaarlikse koopkrag vir swart verbruikers tot ‘n geraamde R130 miljard gegroei. Dít het die eienskappe van die Suid-Afrikaanse teiken-mark drasties verander. Navorsing toon dat die ondersteuning van winkelsentrums drasties afgeneem het, veral na apartheid. Die mikpunt van die studie is om die faktore wat die verbruikers en hul bestedings patrone beïnvloed vas te stel en is by Bayside en Tyger Valley sentrums in Kaapstad afgelê deur middel van onderhoude met die bestuurders van die sentrums, winkeleienaars en ook verbruikers. Die resultate toon dat verbruikers in winkelsentrums nie gewaarborg is nie, maar dat dit ‘n uitlopende resultaat van verskeie bemarking strategieë is. Verdere resultate bewys ook dat verbruikers die winkelsentrums gemaklik en bereikbaar vir talle woonbuurte vind. Alhoewel die meerderheid van verbruikers tevrede is met hul ervaring in winkelsentrums is daar wel faktore wat die verkope en aankope kan affekteer. Hierdie faktore sluit in swak klantediens en ‘n tekort aan dienste soos aanpashokkies en winkel trollies wat die proses van aankope vergemaklik.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2020
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