Q & A RETAILABILITY
IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT DOES A SUSTAINABLE, FUTURE-READY EDGARS LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
A future-ready Edgars is customer-led, digitally integrated and profitable. It’ s a brand with fewer but stronger stores, a dominant beauty offering, efficient operations that are able to deal with the volatility in markets today, and the flexibility to evolve as consumer behaviour continues to change.
ARE THERE ANY LEADERSHIP LESSONS THAT HAVE EMERGED WHILE STEERING THIS
TRANSFORMATION?
Clarity and consistency are critical. Transformation requires making difficult decisions and communicating them clearly for execution to take place. It also reinforces the importance of data-led decision-making, discipline, and resilience – the latter, because nothing ever works out perfectly the first time. Having great teams consistently aligned around the shared long-term vision and fixated on execution is what drove our turnaround.
HOW HAS RIGHT-SIZING STRENGTHENED EDGARS’ COMPETITIVE POSITION IN THE LOCAL RETAIL SECTOR?
It has improved profitability, sharpened our proposition and allowed us to invest where it matters most, particularly in customer experience and beauty. It positions Edgars as a more agile, resilient retailer, one better equipped to compete in a demanding South African market. IB
JANUARY 2026 / INBOUND SA 13