Vaal Mall, the shopping capital of the Vaal Triangle, situated in the heart of Vanderbijlpark, has been named a 2021 Footprint Marketing Awards winner, taking home two of the country’s leading awards for shopping centre marketing.
The awards were presented by the South African Council of Shopping Centres this November to celebrate excellence in shopping centre marketing.
Vaal Mall earned a bronze Footprint Award in the Sales Promotion and Events category for its festive season campaign, which saw shoppers create their own Christmas Trees and unique table decorations in a much-loved annual tradition. The joyful, creative and beautiful submissions are displayed at the mall, and the top three designs in both categories win their entrants prizes of big gift voucher amounts to spend at the mall. Based on the enthusiastic response from its customers, Vaal Mall will once again be adding flair to the festive season in this manner in 2021.
What is more, it won a bronze Footprint Award in the Community Relations category for its “Denims for a Mile” campaign. Vaal Mall shoppers opened their hearts and their wardrobes and generously donated a whopping 388 pairs of pre-loved jeans to keep the most vulnerable in their community warm this winter. In doing their bit for those in need, they also notched up enormous carbon offset benefits and environmental sustainability advantages by extending the use of this clothing.
Commenting on this stand-out performance, Carla de Villiers-Malan of Marketing Concepts, who is Regional Marketing Manager for Vaal Mall, says, “This is a fantastic result. We are very proud of our team, tenants and shoppers because we achieved this respected recognition together. Both of Vaal Mall’s award-winning campaigns are deeply connected to our community, and we thank everyone who participated.”
She adds, “The success of any marketing initiative rests on an authentic relevance and resonance with its customers and community. Vaal Mall’s owners, Growthpoint Properties and Flanagan & Gerard Group, really understand this. This powerful shared passion clearly shines through in Vaal Mall’s marketing, and it is wonderful that this excellence has been acknowledged by a respected industry body like the SACSC.”
The SACSC points out that marketing is a fundamental element of any successful business, and the skill and creative process of implementing the “perfect” promotion or publicity are often underestimated and overlooked. This is why the SACSC recognises the contribution made by marketers and centres to the dynamic retailing industry with its Footprint Marketing Awards, which are judged to a global standard so its winners can stand proud with top shopping campaigns worldwide.
