Home Lifestyle Local retailer Edgars is starting to test in-store coffee shops

Local retailer Edgars is starting to test in-store coffee shops

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Edgars

Retailers embedding restaurants and coffee shops within their walls aren’t a new idea. Locally, Woolworths has successfully made their coffee shops a part of the Woolworths experience. Exclusive books and Seattle Coffee Company have enjoyed a long history of partnership.

The latest retailer to try this out is Edgars. The historically beleaguered retailer is trying its hand at embedding coffee shops within its stores. In a partnership with Famous Brands (The folks behind Steers, Mugg and Bean, Wimpy and more), Edcon is testing an in-store café concept called MADE.

“The concept of MADE Café was inspired by the desire to enhance the customer shopping experience, and offer them a space to pause and connect while buying the latest fashion, beauty and home items, all while enjoying a delicious meal and great ambience,” said an Edcon spokesperson. (via Fast Moving)

“This concept was inspired to enhance the shopping experience for our customers, where they have a space to refuel and refresh. If this contributes to an increase in sales and foot traffic, it is a win-win for the customer and Edgars.”

It’s piloting at the Eastgate branch of Edgars, and serves typical café fare: Coffee, pastries, light lunches, sandwiches and the like.

“It’s potentially a logical progression … for non-food retailers that already have a strong investment in their stores … a food offering pulls customers back on a constant basis,” says Chris Wilkinson, Managing director of Australia’s First Retail Group on the trend of traditionally non-food retailers offering things to eat.

“You are putting people past your merchandise on a daily basis, so they can get lunches or meet people … that constant connection with the product means there is a much higher likelihood that people are going to buy the product.”

He added that while people need not shop for clothing on a daily basis, “people certainly buy coffee every day.”

I don’t want to play into gender stereotypes here, but this is obviously just not for me. When I step into a shop, I tend to know exactly what it is I want, grab it, and get the hell out. Spending hours within the confines of a clothing retailer is not my idea of a good time. That said, it could give some welcome respite to weary shoppers whose partners are prone to extended shopping excursions.

Last Updated: August 1, 2017

13 Comments

  1. DaxterZA

    August 1, 2017 at 15:45

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/98ec3a693d2f25498c4442bc24de3ce743c2bee6e78fd0ace201eb80e46a1177.jpg

    But I have to agree what was said, I grab my stuff I want to buy and leave…

    Reply

  2. Gardos

    August 2, 2017 at 10:45

    The Seattle/Exclusive Books partnership seems to have dried up. The few stores still next each other (in Cape Town) have been permanently partitioned and the only one that I can think of that still has access from the coffee shop to the book shop is Cavendish. I’d love to know what happened there because, while I don’t buy books every day, enjoying a cup of coffee in a bookshop is far better than enjoying one in a clothing store!

    Also, shout out to Seattle Coffee for creating a cosy, comforting vibe rather than the high energy speed run feel of Vida and others.

    Reply

    • miaau

      August 2, 2017 at 11:15

      Before I got married (10 year ago !!!) I used to buy a book from Exclusive books and go to the nearest QUIET coffee, order tea and read. If the book was gripping, order lunch. And more tea. A few times, finish book, go back to Exclusive books and buy the next book in series or another book. Great Saturdays for me, early morning start, read with Tea in quiet coffee shop as long as I liked.

      Reply

  3. miaau

    August 2, 2017 at 11:07

    I hope they apply different quality criteria to coffe / tea and muffins than they do to, for example, socks.

    I bought 100% cotton socks for a price that matched other stores 3 months ago. Not one pair is whole now, most fell holes through in the first month. That is poor buying, in my opinion, they stuffed that up. I would be cautious to drink cut-price purchased coffee

    BUT, a coffee shop can work: I go shopping with my wife for clothing, she wants to look an try on and match. I want to scream and run away. So, drop me and the kids at the coffee shop and move on. Could work. Chamberlains in Pretoria, the BEEEG one in Montana, has a coffe shop. As do some of the tile selling places.

    Reply

  4. Chuckles von Clausewitz III

    August 2, 2017 at 11:42

    Why? Dear heavens why? I don’t want to linger in a clothing store. I just want to go in, grab what I need, fight the mutants at the till, and bugger off.

    What is this nonsense about staying in a store and lounging?

    Reply

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