And, of course, there is the opulent and exceptional residential
component. Vivian recently did a radio interview about the
development. On the way home in the car after the Interview,
he got 40 phone calls from prospective buyers, and it hasn’t
stopped. There will be 412 apartments in total, with prices
ranging from R 1.6 million for a studio apartment to R 65 million
for the large penthouse. (There are smaller penthouses for a mere
R 45 million.) So far, he has 18,600 registered, qualified buyers.
The launch is set for 3rd April, when the units go on sale.
Even if, somehow, Oceans Umhlanga doesn’t break records
King Shaka Mall
for design, it certainly is setting a whole new benchmark for
marketing residential property. You can view the apartments
on a digitally created drone-style video, and, if you want one,
you have to pre-register and pay a deposit, Then you’ll turn up
to the April launch with your identifying barcode and join in the
automated auction. At the end of April, they will break ground.
The mall is being targeted to open within 24 months, and the
hotel and apartments soon after that.
And after that? Then what?
Vivian has no plans for retiring, he claims. He’s just having too
much fun. There are other projects in the pipeline – at least one
in Cape Town, one in Pretoria, one in Bloemfontein, one in
KwaDukuza (Stanger) – but you’ll have to wait for details of those.
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And a few final words of advice to wouldbe entrepreneurs?
Be unreasonable about the demands you make on yourself.
Set high goals. And ask yourself, every day, “How CAN I
improve?” Every day strive to be better – not only in business
but also in relationships with people. Pick up the phone, SMS.
Say thank you. Control your time – commit yourself to your
diary every day, and always allow a bit of in-between time for
yourself. Create good habits.
Business success is not just about business. It’s about overall life.
Dress smart, be positive, look in the mirror and like what you
see. He adds, Optimism, pursuit of excellence and operating
off the beaten track is the beacon of the Edison world. “It
Port Shepstone Marina 2
has always been, and will continue to be the driving ethos of
our existence and operation. I have no fear of the doomsday
soothsayers who apply modernistic and text-book economic
prognostications to business outlook. They have nothing else to
do. I believe in the philosophy that an idea should be allowed
to germinate into its full potential and nothing should stand in
the way of success. Thinking out of the box has become a
well-worn cliché. I do not just think out of the box – I dream, I
experiment, I innovate, I fear no physical or perceived barriers”.
Can anyone argue against this?