Alon Sachs, co-owner of Mobelli Outdoor Furniture, opened a new Pretoria showroom at the Menlyn Piazza, a central business area of Pretoria, opposite Menlyn Park Shopping Centre on 1 September. We spoke with him to find out more.
How did your business start?
Mobelli Outdoor Furniture was born out of my frustration with the high prices and poor offerings of outdoor furniture. My brother Aviv and I agreed that there must be a better option for people to enjoy beautifully designed, good quality, decent priced furniture, requiring little maintenance that looks good in years to come, so Mobelli Outdoor Furniture was born in September 2006.
Why did you choose this area to set up shop?
Pretoria has the best weather for outdoor living in the country so we wanted to ensure prospective clients wouldn’t have to travel from Pretoria to Johannesburg to see and feel our products. The Menlyn location was brilliant because we could have a well-sized premises in a wealthy suburb which is also a central business district.
How did you find your premises?
I consulted with many of our loyal interior decorator customers who live in Pretoria, and then drove around Brooklyn and Menlyn and eventually stumbled across our current premises which was occupied by another furniture shop.
Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?
The size and location of our property is key as our property is well-sized at 1,032m2 and is in one of the busiest areas in Pretoria. The showroom has high ceilings and lots of natural light entering the property allowing customers to get a real feeling of what the furniture will be like in their homes.
Who are your neighbours?
A collection of restaurants including News Cafe and Cubana is located at the Menlyn Piazza and Menlyn Mall is situated across the street.
What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area?
Rentals are around R180/m2.
What is your shop footprint?
The Mobelli Outdoor Furniture showroom in Pretoria began trading on 1 September. Around seven people per day have come into the store thus far.
Do you have any expansion plans?
Opening the showroom in Pretoria was the beginning of our expansion. We will in the near future have more shops in other major centers so people can feel the quality of Mobelli furniture and learn about our philosophy of enjoying great quality furniture that is easy to maintain.
Do you operate online as well?
Visit, mobelli.co.za to see our extensive offering of quality outdoor furniture and accessories.
What’s your most popular item/service?
It depends on the region but in Pretoria extension tables and lounge suites are favourite items.
Mobelli Outdoor Furniture
086 166 2355
Words: Lisa Dewberry | Images: Supplied
