Words: Zena le Roux | Images: Supplied
The Cosmetic and Dental Emporium has six outlets nationally and offers a variety of high-end dental and cosmetic procedures. Dr Michelle Karl (cosmetic dentist and part owner) tells us more about the Menlyn Maine branch.
How did your business start?
Founder Dr Zak Schabort started the Cosmetic and Dental Emporium in 2010 in Cape Town. He wanted to create a boutique dental brand serving the specific aesthetic needs of the higher-income group – an environment where experts could offer sustainable long-term solutions to patients. We felt the up-and-coming area of Menlyn Maine contained our target market, which would benefit from our service. We thus chose to open up here.
Why did you choose this area to set up shop?
Our Pretoria practice is situated in Menlyn Maine Central Square. Menlyn Maine is the ultimate in convenient living and is located in the hub of Pretoria East. This is the new and upcoming city centre of Pretoria, which is vibrant and will energise the entire area to become the address of choice for o ices, shopping, living and entertainment. Because of the great retail space and location, we found that our target market are people who live in this area or visit this centre regularly. Other businesses in this centre offer products and services that complement our brand perfectly.
How did you find your premises?
Menlyn Maine is the new hot spot for trendy and upmarket businesses in Pretoria. We, as a dental brand, were waiting for such a development in Pretoria before we opened in the city. We contacted a few developers early in 2014 and they told us that such a development was on the way. We, therefore, secured our spot in the Central Square so we wouldn’t miss out on this very ideally located lifestyle centre.
Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?
The premises provide many facilities under one roof specialising in wellness. The Cosmetic and Dental Emporium is a unique boutique and the only suite of its kind in the Central Square.
Who are your neighbours?
We share the upper floor of the square with wellness suites that include Waxit, The Laser Beautique, Spa De La Veille, Euro Bride and a premier Virgin Active branch.
What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area?
This is an upmarket area of Pretoria, but rentals are competitively priced.
How many people visit your business each day?
This depends on the number of cases and varies from day to day. Complicated cases will demand more chair time. Our diary is dictated by patient appointments.
Do you have any expansion plans?
The Cosmetic and Dental Emporium as a brand name has shown to be very successful in its specific industry and has the capacity to expand in the future.
Do you operate online as well?
We rely solely on in-office procedures. However, we have a website for patient enquiries and treatment options available.
What’s your most popular service?
Our most popular treatment to date is the smile makeover. This varies from enhancing natural teeth with whitening procedures or aligning/correcting smiles with orthodontic treatment, to adding dental veneers to natural teeth. This changes a smile completely with the newest luxury veneers and technologies.
For more information you can visit The Cosmetic and Dental Emporium Menlyn Maine website or phone 012 348 4627.