Clicks opens 400th store, more to come

Clicks retail chain is aiming to reach 500 stores in South Africa in the next three to five years, as it opens its 400th store in the Tiffany Shopping Centre in Umhlali on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. It has 20-30 planned for 2012. It also has stores in Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland.

Clicks management and staff celebrate the opening of the 400th Clicks store.

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Clicks MD, Michael Harvey, said the long-term success of the retailer showed it was a strong brand, with good people, that offered value for money to its customers in health, home and beauty. Already the chain employs 6500 people, and mostly promotes management from within, training and developing staff for senior management positions, in procurement and for its stores.

He said the team constantly researched international trends and had developed a unique formula for southern Africa that incorporated the best of pharmacy, health and beauty retail internationally.

Every town and suburb could eventually have a Clicks' store and, with each one creating 15 to 20 jobs, it was an employer that was touching the lives of ordinary South Africans.

A pharmacy will be opening at the Umhlali store before the end of the year, benefitting from the experience of pharmacist, Tony Burningham, who was at the helm of Umhlali Pharmacy for 34 years. His colleague at Umhlali Pharmacy, Shireen Reddy, is also joining the team.