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Edgars forges ahead with its no-frills Express Stores concept in Zimbabwe

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

More outlets open to give Zimbabwean consumers access to low-cost new clothes and take on the growing second-hand apparel market.

The Edgars clothing retail group in Zimbabwe is continuing to forge ahead with efforts to re-establish its Express Stores offering aimed at lower-income consumers wanting to buy new clothes rather than second-hand items.

A new Express Store opens in Harare. Photo: LinkedIn

An Express Store opened in Hogerty Hill in Harare this week, with several more planned before the end of the year. 

 

As the country’s middle class shrinks and an increasing number of people opt to buy second-hand clothes, often imported, from informal traders, the modern trade clothing stores such as Edgars and Truworths have been struggling.  

 

Edgars sees the Express Stores concept, which is no-frills and cash-only, as meeting a market need for low-cost good-quality clothing selling for between US$1 and US$10. Some of the outlets will be mobile stores or in containers to keep prices down. 

 

The supply chain is being localised within Zimbabwe, with products manufactured in Bulawayo at the company’s Carousel plant. According to a report in NewsDay newspaper, the facility is being retooled to increase production volumes from 45,000 to 100,000 units per month. 

 

More competitive in local and regional markets 

 

“This is expected to reduce production costs and make Edgars’ merchandise more competitive in both local and regional markets,” NewsDay says. 

 

Edgars Group CEO, Sevious Mushosho, is already on record as saying the group intends to export clothes made at the Carousel plant into South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania. 

 

Zimbabwean economist Chenayimoyo Mutambasere, in an interview with NewsDay, said the shrinking middle class in Zimbabwe made it harder for businesses like Edgars to thrive.  

 

“The middle class, which typically drives demand in retail, is often caught between high-end markets and lower-income segments dominated by second-hand goods,” she is quoted as saying. 

 

“Without this income group, Edgars may struggle to gain traction even with its lower-cost stores. Zimbabwe’s economic challenges, including drought and rising fuel costs, continue to squeeze household incomes, leaving little disposable income for non-essential goods like clothing and accessories.” 

 

Edgars Stores Limited, which is currently listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, previously operated the Express Mart brand in Zimbabwe between 1984-2011, when it was rebranded as Jet Stores.

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.