CHARTER FOR CHANGE
Customer feedback helped Westfield to redevelop a 1970s shopping centre in Hamilton into an entertainment and retail hub for the fast-expanding community
THE OLD ADAGE about the customer always being right is as true today as it's always been especially when you're about to invest millions in upgrading a city's main shopping centre.
With Hamilton growing fast, especially in the northern suburbs, its retail centre was ready for a makeover.
"The centre opened for trading in 1974 and was last refurbished on a large scale in 1992," says Westfield's deputy director Justin Lynch. "When we took over the centre we knew we wanted to bring it up to our international standards as part of our nationwide billion-dollar redevelopment programme. Our research indicated that customers wanted more entertainment facilities, better car parking and more retail choice."
Given the importance of the Christmas trading season, the construction programme for the $40 million project was condensed to 14 months starting from November 2005, says David Cosgrove, Westfield's development executive.
"This ensured that all aspects of the project, including the ambience upgrade to the existing areas of the centre, were completed by 7 December 2006."
Rebranded Westfield Chartwell, the centre's footprint has expanded from 14,000m² and will eventually reach 21,000m². The upgrade has added 20 new stores, a new food court with 450 seats, underground car parking for 270 vehicles, and new entrances. The redevelopment includes new comfort rest zones, and improved lighting and air conditioning, as well as upgrades to the balustrading, paintwork and flooring. A fit-out for the SkyCity six-screen multiplex is underway, ready for opening in mid 2007.
For details, contact Westfield New Zealand Ltd, phone (09) 978 5050. Website: www.westfield.com.
Story by: Trendsideas
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