THE formation of a CBD Retailers Association announced by the Cape Town Partership last month, took a step forward Friday when retail researchers took to the streets of the CBD to gather information on the number, extent and variety of retail operations in the city.
The Cape Town Partnership's efforts to brand and market the city of Cape Town, both nationally and internationally, in accordance with international best practice, includes a plan to promote the city as a prime retail destination, with increased involvement and participation from the small business sector and the right mix of tenants.
To that end, and with the involvement of the Central City Improvement District, a Retailers' Association will be established shortly, with the compilation of a comprehensive database, which contains details of all retail facilities in the central city, being one of the first steps towards forming such a body.
The information gathering process, commencing this Friday, will be conducted by researchers Douglas Parker and Associates this Friday who will be calling on retailers throughout the central city to collect data such as type of business, store ownership, merchandise mix and the like.
Says Partnership CEO, Michael Farr, "Information on retailers occupying the central city is important for informing our marketing and branding exercise, as it will put us in a better position to accurately identify those assets which differentiate Cape Town from other South African cities.
"We ask that all central city retailers support us in gathering this information, and urge their co-operation in this important exercise. "
The Partnership sees the primary objectives of the Retailers' Association to be a body which acts in the interest of promoting trade in the Cape Town central city and promotes small business growth as well as the retail product offering in the CBD.
Importantly, the Retailers' Association will be a body which communicates retailers' interests and concerns directly to the Partnership and the City of Cape Town.