02 Mar 2020

Two fashion stores, Miladys and Mr Price opened at Mafenyatlala Mall in Molepolole recently .

The two stores add variety with specific targeted consumers to the already few clothing stores in Molepolole.

The arrival of the new stores is expected to cut the distance travelled by residents to Gaborone for shopping.

In an interview, Miladys area manager Ms Amanda Wepener said the company, owned by Mr Price Group, wanted to increase its footprint in Botswana.

She said the Molepolole store was the third in the country with the fourth store set to open soon in Francistown at Galo Mall.

Miladys, is a fashion store that caters to a fashion sense of a woman aged 40 and above.

However, Ms Wepener said their company was looking to attract younger women as well.

She dismissed any doubts of low sales or business failure especially that Molepolole, though close to the capital city, remained a village with many unemployed people.

She said her company had done extensive research that informed them that Molepolole boasted a large population which put it at an advantage and provided a niche for its products.

She further stressed that they did not focus on cash flow but rather giving their customers value for their money.

Further, she assured customers that they were price conscious and wanted to make sure that their product quality was good.

She, however, mentioned that Molepolole residents were happy to have the store opened in their village because they would no longer have to travel a long distance to Gaborone.

The opening of the store would also boost the local economy as four local women had been hired.

Meanwhile, Mr Price store also opened next to Miladys, catering to youthful customers.

The store manager, Mr Onneile Lentswe said they opened a branch in Molepolole to reduce travelling expenses incurred by their customers and also to create employment for the youth in Molepolole to meet government halfway.

Another reason, he said, was to reduce congestion in their stores in Gaborone because Mr Price was a popular store.

Currently, he said they had hired 12 youths out of which nine were local while only three were from other areas. He also said they would engage casual labourers locally from time to time.

The opening of the two stores realised a lot of foot traffic and excitement from shoppers.

Ms Mmasebopiwa Mmatli, aged 60 and a Miladys customer said she was happy that the new shops opened at Mafenyatlala Mall.

She said although she did not travel to Gaborone regularly, to her and many others, Mafenyatlala Mall brought a piece of the city to Molepolole.

Mr Moses Sebetlela, 24, a Mr Price customer appreciated the opening of the Molepolole branch, adding they would no longer have to travel to the city. Ends