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Week old Giftland Mall met with positive reception
Patrons indulging in the Giftland Mall’s shopping outlets
Just over one week after its official opening, the Giftland Mall is reporting generally positive responses from its consumer base.
In a recent walkabout in the new shopping centre, Kaieteur News gained some perspective on the operations of the highly anticipated and “revolutionary” complex.
From a managerial point of view, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mall, Ian Ramdeo, said that he has seen a definite change in the shopping patterns of the public. “There has been a lot of traffic and a definite change in the hours/trends in terms of people’s shopping habits,” said Ramdeo.
He added that the shopping centre sees most of its traffic in the evenings; the mornings are much quieter when compared to Giftland’s former Water Street location.
In comparison to the company’s now abandoned Water Street location, Ramdeo explained that initial projections show that sales have been consistent. However, as most of the stocks are still being shipped in, the CEO expressed confidence that sales will continue to grow.
The Giftland Mall currently has four concessions in operation as well as the Caribbean Cinemas Guyana branch. Included in the Mall concessions are its electronics store, GL Giftronics; its sports supplies outlet, GL Sportsmaxx; its multipurpose Giftland Megastore as well as the establishment’s food court.
As the 6.3 acre complex continues its operations, in the coming months more concessions will be coming on board and will factor into increased sales. Ramdeo said that since the July 2 opening a number of Guyanese businesses have applied to fill in the over 120 concessions offered by the Mall.
“Come early August we would have signed on more stores which will open once they have cleared our screening process,” said the Mall’s CEO.
Adding to the changing shopping habits, Ramdeo has seen more families coming to complex.
“People are walking around with their families and children which is one of the goals we were aiming for. We want to provide a wholesome family entertainment and retail environment. In that sense the traffic was much heavier than expected,” he shared. One father commended the Mall as a feat of business ingenuity and a family getaway.
However, the Mall’s initial days were not met without some hiccups. Ramdeo, as well as some of the staff, said that due to the new operating system at the Mall there have been some glitches in the purchases customers made.
The CEO said that this had to do with the sheer volume of purchases which had to be processed as well as staff adjusting to the novel system. In relation to staff, Ramdeo said that the Mall also has an influx of applicants, which he posited is a result of Giftland’s longer opening hours. The Mall, he added, has changed the employment opportunities for those who wish to work part time while pursuing their studies.
Although change has been a significant feature of the Mall, Ramdeo maintained that the company will not change how it treats its customer base. “It’s important that we maintain our reputation since our pricing hasn’t changed,” he said.
To this end, it was pointed out that the company will be launching a promotion whereby costumers coming to the new location will be refunded their bus fare as long as they make purchases above $2000 and possess a special coupon.
“We are very aware that there are people in the Georgetown area who will not find our new location as convenient… so we are working on ensuring that no matter what income bracket you fall in, you are in an affordable environment,” Ramdeo explained.
Meanwhile staff members, such as Shavine Vyphuis, Team Leader of the Mall’s sports store, said that customer response has been overwhelming and that staff has been coping “fairly okay” with the changes.
Supervisor of the Megastore, Jennifer Marks, shared that customers have been responding especially well to the space and “freedom” the latest shopping centre provides.
As for costumers, those which this publication spoke to were pleased that such standard in shopping had arrived in Guyana.
Krysta Yan, a Guyanese back home from studying in England, said that the Mall was very much like the shopping centres she’s been to in East London. She added that while the stores are limited she is looking forward to the other businesses that are slated to come on board in the coming months.
“It’s a move in the right direction,” said the 21-year-old student.
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