#News
A RETAIL OVERVIEW
By Gavin Tagg: CEO of Retail Network Services
This overview was first published in the SACSC Retailer Directory 2025.
Retail is one of the most exciting industries in the world, and in spite of having worked in the shopping centre sector for more than 35 years, as far as I’m concerned ‘custom still cannot stale retail’s infinite variety’! (with apologies to William Shakespeare)
From meeting with a national brand’s team of representatives and introducing them to a new centre concept, to driving to a far-flung rural area for a discussion with a tribal queen about a modern shopping mall being built on her land – well, it’s all in a day’s work and no two days are ever the same.
Getting retail right. It’s what we do.
​A definition* of what the result of a strategy should be, caught my eye recently and has resonated with me ever since. It was defined as being ‘a coherent approach to doing business’ and offered a refreshing perspective on what we do at Retail Network Services (RNS).
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The more I thought about it, the more I realised that this is precisely what we aim for in the numerous strategies we have devised for new shopping centre developments over the past 35 years. We provide our developer clients and centre tenants with a coherent approach to doing business – and not just doing business, but establishing successful businesses for the long-term.
Gavin Tagg: CEO of Retail Network Services
This article first appeared in Shopping SA: August 2025.
PROJECT WATCH: NEWMARKET LIFESTYLE CENTRE, ALBERTON
This article was published in Architect and Builder: July 2023.
Newmarket Lifestyle Centre, a 35,000m² lifestyle centre located on the corner of Heidelberg Road and Ring Road East in Alberton, will bring even more modern retail
‘flavour’ to the busy Newmarket Precinct when it opens in 2024.
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Developers Rejem-Linton(Nedbank), in conjunction with Jonker Evolution, aims to offer outstanding convenience shopping as well as value branded fashion outlets, a
strong homeware category and a selection of popular eateries at this modern lifestyle centre. Retail Network Services has been appointed as retail strategist and
leasing specialist on the project.
AN EXCITING TIME IN RETAIL
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May 2024.
The first few months of 2024 have passed in a flash, and the pace shows little sign of abating. Don’t get me wrong, we’re certainly not complaining. Our pipeline of retail development work is fully in place for the months ahead, and the future looks equally good – for which we’re very grateful.
Gavin Tagg: CEO of Retail Network Services
A GREAT RETAIL OPPORTUNITY
September 2023.
Gavin Tagg, CEO of RNS, was part of the panel which selected five businesses to each open a store in a mall owned by Exemplar: rent-free for a year and supported by expert mentorship. What an opportunity! Lekau Sehoana, Founder of lifestyle sneaker brand, Drip, was also a judge, as were Asanda Maqabula, Founder of Chicken Bar, and Jason McCormick, CEO of Exemplar and McCormick Properties.
It’s a great opportunity to help bridge the gap between malls that are established in townships and backyard businesses which have potential. CONGRATULATIONS to the selected businesses – a bakery, a sneaker brand, a clothing business, a smart farming initiative and a ‘kota sandwich’ business. “We look forward to welcoming you to the world of formal retail and helping you build a future!” says Gavin.
Gavin Tagg with Lekau Sehoana, Founder of lifestyle sneaker brand, Drip
“...tried-and-trusted developers and experienced retail strategists choose to break ground near busy CBDs time and time again.”
Article published in Asset: June 2023.
Read an interesting unpacking of the economic power of CBDs – even if they are rundown and somewhat chaotic – by our CEO Gavin Tagg. In the June issue of Asset magazine he writes that developing a new shopping centre alongside CBDs can pay enormous dividends for retailers.
Follow the link to the full article: https://assetmag.co.za/issue115/index.html?page=226
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GETTING TOWNSHIP RETAIL RIGHT - Part 2
Article by Gavin Tagg: CEO of RNS
Published on LinkedIn on 15th November 2022.
At RNS we’ve operated in the township retail sector for many years, and in the insights I shared with you last week (‘Getting Township Retail Right Part 1’), I emphasised the importance of offering quality product in a quality environment.
Article by Gavin Tagg: CEO of RNS
Published on LinkedIn on 9 November 2022.
GETTING TOWNSHIP RETAIL RIGHT - Part 1
This time last week, my team and I were at Elim Mall in Limpopo celebrating the launch of a fantastic new extension. What a wonderful day! The next day we were at sparkling new Hebron Mall in North West to see our handpicked tenant mix doing everyone proud: great shopfronts, stunning interiors, appealing merchandise and staff armed with huge smiles and heaps of energy. Top-quality retail in a top-quality environment was on show for all the world to see.
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Article published in Shopping SA: October 2022.
RNS - CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
When Gavin Tagg established Retail Network Services as a retail strategy and specialist leasing company in 1992, he brought extensive experience in the industry, as well as a strongly instinctive feel for retail, to his work. That instinct seemed ‘embedded’ in his DNA, and John McCormick of McCormick Property Development sheds some light on the matter.
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“My earliest recollections of Retail Network Services begin with Gavin Tagg’s mother. She worked with the JD Group, and was my go-to person in my early days as a developer, when she and I did all the leasing.”
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John continues: “Our relationship with Retail Network Services goes back many years. We continue to work with Gavin and enjoy his skillset and understanding of the business of retail. It has been a pleasure to work with him and Retail Network Services.”
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GAVIN TAGG OF RNS:
30 YEARS AS A RETAIL ROCKSTAR
Article published in Asset: September 2022.
In celebration of RNS’s 30th birthday, our ‘retail rockstar’ CEO Gavin Tagg was interviewed in the September 2022 issue of Asset - SA’s leading commercial property magazine. Click the link to read the whole article on Page 82.
https://lnkd.in/d6sWbctA