Big things growing with Stockland S Connect Starter Program

From little things big things are growing for The Cacti Folk with Stockland's S Connect Starter program.

Local cacti purveyor, The Cacti Folk, is the third business from the S Connect Starter Program and is already seeing the benefits in opening at Stockland Green Hills Town Centre.

In-store shopping is on the rise as consumers gravitate for that in-person experience that they’ve missed in recent years.¹

Having a physical retail presence provides an avenue to build connection and community and allows businesses to attract more local customers. However, for a retailer who has not operated in a bricks-and-mortar retail environment before, this can be a daunting business proposition.

This is one of the reasons why we’ve created our S Connect Starter program. It’s an exciting opportunity for businesses who have little to no experience in operating in a bricks-and-mortar space to trial a curated retail space in a Stockland shopping centre with industry-leading support in operations, marketing, and finance provided along the way.

The Starter program is already operational in three of our NSW Retail Town Centre’s, Merrylands, Shellharbour and Green Hills, with plans to expand the program nationally.

The support and guidance offered as part of the program has allowed The Cacti Folk to enter the market with a stunning physical retail space, which was custom built as part of their Starter program.

Tapping into your business potential

When Kim Daly, owner of The Cacti Folk, first enquired about the program, she was provided with data such as foot traffic statistics and shopper demographics which allowed her to make an informed decision on whether this was the right move for her business.

“Being able to tap into valuable data and insider knowledge has been amazing!” Kim said. “Understanding the potential audience that we could attract at Stockland Green Hills was an opportunity to good to pass up.

We have seen our customer base expand and our business grow 10-fold. Our online sales have also increased as our local business becomes more known in the community.”

Big dreams coming true

Stockland Executive General Manager, Retail Town Centres, Michelle Abbey says she was especially delighted to welcome The Cacti Folk to Stockland Green Hills.

“S Connect Starter is about a commitment between our entrepreneurs and retail partners working together for mutual success,” says Michelle.

“We know that people dream business ideas, as we do. We share that dream, too, and this is one of the things that helps our partnerships grow. Seeing The Cacti Folk already seeing such positive business success reaffirms that we are on the right partnership path with them.”

Kim said that the tailored business support that the team has been able to provide has unlocked new potential for The Cacti Folk.

“The program has given our small business a massive chance in the market. Being under the same roof as some of Australia’s largest retail chains is something we never imagined was possible.”

No time like the present

“Change for any business can feel scary, but my advice would be to embrace this opportunity and go and do it. The support from Stockland is there to help you take your business to the next level.”

If you have big dreams for your business and want to understand how our Starter program can help you achieve them, our Retail Incubator Manager Phebe Chan is ready to answer your questions and help you take the first steps into a retail space.

Enquire today

References:

1 - Shopify eCommerce Market Credibility Study, 2021