RIYADH: The newly opened Lulu Hypermarket in Riyadh has broken all footfall records with about one million customers visiting the store in the first three weeks.
"Interestingly, the excitement hasn't stopped as people have continued to flock in greater numbers to the new destination -- the super Avenue Mall in which Lulu Hypermarket is located with 99 retailers and dozens of dining options," said Shehim Mohammed Unni, commercial manager of Lulu Hypermarket on Thursday night.
"Huge crowds of customers are still swarming daily at Lulu store," said Shehim, adding that the media blitz, generating millions of riyals of national and international print and TV coverage, has really helped the store to be known across the Kingdom within a few days.
The excitement was justified as Lulu has brought some of the finest products and retailers from around the world to this location to create a national shopping destination for the first time in Riyadh.
Lulu's Regional Director Packer Koya P. Ali and Leasing Manager Nemil TN were also present with Shehim at the event.
Shehim said Lulu Hypermarket had launched a major promotion under which customers get a 50 percent refund on their total purchases. "If a customer buys SR400 worth of grocery items, we instantly refund SR200 in the form of shopping vouchers," Lulu's commercial chief said, adding that strict quality control practices were being followed by Lulu at all levels including products and prices.
Shehim said the Lulu Hypermarket chain won the Dubai quality appreciation award in trading category last week.
He pointed out that Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makhtoum handed over the award to Yusuffali MA, managing director of Lulu Hypermarkets in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makhtoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
Referring to the ambience of the store and the whole range of offers at Lulu Hypermarket, Shehim said that Lulu had brought "a truly international shopping experience at the most reasonable prices" to customers.
"Also, the aesthetics of this hypermarket is truly phenomenal," Ali said, adding that the systematically arranged sections at Lulu help the customers an easy and hassle-free shopping experience.
Extra wide aisles, super fast checkouts, escalators, and elevators to enable trolley shopping throughout the store and to the car park are some of the distinguishing features of this unique store, said Koya Ali. In fact, the grand opening of Lulu by Prince Saud Bin Abdullah, son of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, attracted crowds of visitors eager to see Avenue Mall's Lulu, and the mall's leisure and entertainment options on a day that set a new benchmark for shopping mall openings in the region.
"With over 150,000 products to choose from, Lulu provides the widest range of quality and value-for-money in the country," said Koya Ali.
"Since opening its doors on April 27, the Lulu Hypermarket and the Avenue Mall have been praised for the retail mix," said Nemil.
"Both Saudis and residents are looking for a shopping experience in Lulu, which includes compelling foreign and local brands as well as a commitment to outstanding customer service, and we have delivered these elements in our three weeks of operation," Nemil added.
© Arab News 2011
