H&M opens 30th SA store in Paarl

Global fashion retailer H&M has reached a milestone of 30 stores in South Africa following the launch of its new location at Paarl Mall in the Western Cape.

The 1 831-square-metre store began trading on 31 October, marking the brand’s continued expansion into the Cape Winelands.

The opening created 22 direct jobs locally, adding to the retailer’s presence built over an 11-year period since entering South Africa in 2015.

Expanding its regional footprint

The store is located at Shop 32 within the recently upgraded Paarl Mall on Cecilia Street in Southern Paarl.

The shopping centre serves as a regional retail hub, attracting shoppers from surrounding areas, including Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek and Worcester, as well as the broader Cape Winelands.

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Ricardo Valente da Conceicao, H&M South Africa general manager, said the expansion reflected the retailer’s commitment to the local market. “Opening our 30th store in South Africa is a proud milestone for H&M and reflects our continued commitment to investing in the country,” he said.

Da Conceicao added that the group wanted to make its stores more accessible to shoppers across the country.

Management was also pleased to “create more jobs and bring our fashion offering closer to customers across the Cape Winelands”, he said.

The store stocks womenswear, menswear, children’s clothing and seasonal ranges, as well as a dedicated fragrance selection, with products positioned across different price points.

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Ahead of the official opening, H&M hosted a promotional coffee pop-up at the mall throughout the preceding week.

Opening celebrations included live performances by Jimmy Nevis, Loki and Margot Rothman, followed by DJ sets from Fizz and Shai-A.

Da Conceicao said the retailer looked forward to welcoming local shoppers to the new outlet.

“We look forward to welcoming the community into an inspiring new store and making great fashion and strong value accessible to even more people,” he said.