SouqExtra! Ewan Residences, the first outlet of the national chain of community supercenters which opened in the last quarter of 2009 in Dubai Investment Park, launched an activity calendar starting January 2010, aimed at strengthening the community spirit among members of local residential developments.
“Our aim with SouqExtra! has always been to go beyond a superior retail concept to encompass a more complete lifestyle offering. The activity calendar launched at the start of 2010 aims at building this community spirit among residents through activities such as Saturday Fun Day aimed at families with young kids, and the upcoming SouqExtra! Community Bazaar which promotes a more authentic, community market experience,” said Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Managing Director of SouqExtra!, “The first Saturday Fun Day event saw footfall to SouqExtra! increase by 30%, and we expect participation in other planned activities to receive a similar positive response,” added Lootah.
The supercenter held the Saturday Fun Day on January 23 on the premises, offering free activities aimed at increasing interaction between local children. With a bouncy castle, clowns, free face painting and a host of other fun offerings, the Saturday Fun Day enjoyed a very positive response from local families whose kids engaged in various activities during the full day event.
Building on the activity calendar for February, SouqExtra! announced the launch of the SouqExtra! Community Bazaar – a new initiative to be held on February 6, which aims at offering customers an authentic souq experience. Customers will be able to browse through, sell and buy new and used goods – from books and DVDs, to home-made goods, handicrafts, antiques and electrical appliances – while meeting neighbors and getting to know more people from the community.
“SouqExtra! is firmly committed to increasing local participation in the retail trade sector and the Community Bazaar contributes to that goal. In addition, the initiative is expected to strengthen relationships among community residents, as well as strengthen the relationship between SouqExtra! and the local residents,” said Mustafa Jassem, Head of Marketing.
Customers interested in selling any products at the Community Bazaar can approach the supercenter to book space at the event. Interested parties can call +971 50 8676623 from 10am-10pm by Wednesday, February 3, 2010. All space reservations will be made on a first-come-first-served basis.
SouqExtra! is a pioneering lifestyle supercenter model, representing an innovative retail concept shaped by extensive research into outlet positioning as well as the quality and variety of services offered. It offers an innovative program that encourages local entrepreneurs to enter the exciting retail scene, and focuses on providing access to amenities and services that connect consumers' professional and family life to the larger community, adding something Extra! to life.
SouqExtra! has put in place a strategic plan to open 75 outlets across the UAE and the Middle East over the next 10 years. The decision follows the positive reception of the concept within the local retail sector and among target consumer groups.
The confidence in this new retail concept is confirmed by the number of reputed investors who have invested in SouqExtra!, which include the Lootah Group, Emirates Post Group, National Bonds Corporation, Bonyan Holding, Abbasi Group and a number of high net worth individuals.
