The Times Sowetan Retail Awards announces SA's Top Shops for 2013

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       The Times Sowetan Retail Awards announces SA’s Top Shops for 2013
Johannesburg, Friday, 18th October 2013 – The 2013 Times Sowetan Retail Awards Survey, conducted by
independent research agency TNS, has revealed which retail outlets are succeeding as front-runners in
securing spend from South African consumers. To provide greater insight into what drives South African
consumerism, this year’s TNS survey was extended to measure the influence of advertising in shaping brand
loyalty and shopping habits, particularly when consumer-budgets are tight. Print inserts placed in newspapers
were shown to be significant in converting consumers towards making purchases at stores they may previously
have been unaware of, or neutral towards.

“Ultimately the power of conversion is what sets the winning retailers apart from its competitors. With the
majority of consumers reading through newspaper inserts, and 36% taking them in-store, retailers have the
power to broaden their sphere of influence and attracting new customers by investing in consumer reach,”
says Esmé Deken, Head of Market Intelligence at Times Media.

While many of the retailers retained their top positions in the 2013 survey, there were some interesting shifts
in consumer activity.

Shoprite maintained its position as the top retailer in South Africa, winning the Overall Grand Prix for the fifth
consecutive year. Once again Pick ‘n Pay followed in second place, with Edgars in third. Shoprite also claimed
the award for providing the best Overall Customer Experience in the Supermarket & Hypermarket category.

In the Telecoms sector, the MTN Store beat rival cellular network Vodacom Shop to secure first place. Menlyn
Park Shopping Centre earned top spot as the favourite Gauteng Shopping Mall and was awarded Top Shopping
Centre nationwide as well.

In the luxury purchase categories, American Swiss claimed first place among the Jewellery retailers out-shining
Sterns. Hi Fi Corp moved into first place in the Electronic, Computer and Gadget category for the first time
while Musica took top spot in the Entertainment category.

Sheet Street trumped major retailer Mr Price Home in the Home Accessory and Décor category pushing them
down to third position. Woolworths shifted up into second place.

In the specialist furniture store category, Geen & Richards retained their first position, followed by Morkels
who climbed from 3rd place last year. House & Home, previously in 9th position, took a giant leap into third
spot in 2013.

Trevor Ormerod, GM for Advertising Sales and Strategic Communications at Times Media says that, “the
results of The Times Sowetan Retail Awards Survey continue to increase retailers’ insights into their market.
Combined with the intelligence we glean on a daily basis as a result of our high circulation, high reach
publications, we believe Times Media is in a prime position to offer businesses the most solid and strategic
insights around.”
        PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE IS UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE IS UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER

“Overall, newspaper adverts were found to have the greatest value of any medium when planning grocery,
clothing, furniture and appliance shopping,” confirms Deken adding that, “it wouldn’t hurt South African
retailers to invest in conversion tactics that will position them favourably with consumers.”

– Ends –

Notes to Editor:

TNS enhanced its consumer sample by increasing the size of its non-metropolitan sample and conducting the
Retail research separately to Top Brands for the first time. 2,750 interviews were conducted with South African
adults aged 18 years and over with 2,000 interviews in metropolitan SA and 750 interviews in non-
metropolitan areas.

The 2013 Retail Awards supplement will be available in both The Times and Sowetan editions on Friday 18
October, and in a limited run of this weekend's Sunday Times.

A full breakdown of the winners and results will also be available on the Times Media AdRoom Facebook page
and website www.TMAdroom.co.za for download.

2013 Times Sowetan Retail Awards Survey Results

           Children and Baby clothing
 1         Woolworths
 2         Ackermans
 3         Edgars

           Women's clothing
 1         Edgars
 2         Woolworths
 3         Truworths

           Men's clothing
 1         Edgars
 2         Woolworths
 3         Truworths

           Liquor
 1         Tops at Spar
 2         Pick n Pay Liquor
 3         Shoprite Liquor Shop

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      Health and beauty
1     Clicks
2     Dischem
3     Medirite (Shoprite/ Checkers)

      Household appliances
1     Game
2     Makro
3     Shoprite

      Furniture
1     Geen & Richards
2     Morkels
3     House & Home

      Telecoms
1     MTN store
2     Vodacom shop
3     Pepcell

      Wholesalers
1     Makro
2     Metro Cash & Carry and Metro Hyper
3     Kit Kat Cash & Carry

      Jewellery
1     American Swiss
2     Sterns
3     NWJ Fine Jewellery

      Shoes
1     Spitz
2     Rage
3     Nine West

      Specialist sports and outdoor
1     Totalsports
2     Mr Price Sports
3     Sportmans Warehouse

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      Electronic, computer and gadget
1     Hi-Fi Corporation
2     Incredible Connection
3     Dion Wired

      Entertainment
1     Musica
2     Look & Listen
3     Top CD

      Home accessories and décor
1     Sheet Street
2     Woolworths
3     Mr Price Home

      Hardware and building
1     Cashbuild
2     Build It
3     Timbercity

      Tyre and autofitment centres
1     Tiger Wheel and Tyre
2     Supaquick
3     Kwik-Fit

      Eastern Cape shopping malls
1     Greenacres (incl The Bridge and Shoprite Mall)
2     Hemingways Mall
3     Vincent Park Shopping Centre

      Western Cape shopping malls
1     Victoria & Albert Waterfront
2     Canal Walk
3     Cavendish

      Gauteng shopping malls
1     Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
2     East Rand Mall & Galleria
3     Eastgate Shopping Centre

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              Free State shopping malls
 1            Mimosa Mall
 2            Loch Logan Waterfront

              KwaZulu Natal shopping malls
 1            Gateway Theatre of Shopping
 2            The Pavilion
 3            Musgrave Centre

              Top shopping centre
 1            Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
 2            East Rand Mall & Galleria
 3            Eastgate Shopping Centre

              Supermarkets & Hypermarkets - overall customer
              experience
 1            Shoprite
              Pick n Pay (Supermarket/Hypermarket/ Family
 2            Store)
 3            Spar/KwikSpar/Super Spar

              Grand Prix Award
 1            Shoprite
 2            Pick n Pay
 3            Edgars

-Ends-

Please contact Zeenat Ebrahim to facilitate interviews with:

         Trevor Ormerod, GM Advertising Sales & Strategic Communications, Times Media Group –to discuss how these awards and
          the research behind them can be employed by retailers in improving their brand offerings and consumer advertising.
         Debbie Booth, TNS Research – to expand on the detailed research methodology employed, as well as valuable insights about
          trends witnessed in the results.

     Issued by:              Zeenat Ebrahim,
                             PR Account Executive
                             Ogilvy Public Relations
                             Tel: 021 467 1115
                             Email: Zeenat.Ebrahim@Ogilvy.co.za

     Issued on behalf of:    Natalie Stephan, Head Trade Marketing & CRM, Times Media Group

         PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE IS UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER