Press
WESTGATE FULFILLED EXPECTATIONS OF VISITORS AND INVESTORS
Center with the best and the largest offer in Croatia
Exactly one year after the opening and approaching the grand celebration of the first birthday, Westgate Shopping City is demonstrating impressive results: 50% sale increase compared to spring period and continuous increase in the number of visitors, especially through the weekend. Hendal’s research on shopping centers, according to which only a year after the commencement of business operations Westgate is perceived as one of the most favorite shopping centers in Croatia, just proves the success of its positioning as the best and the largest Croatian shopping center with large and diverse offer available on one place. “The first year showed that the path we chose is good, and Hendal’s research published today only proves it. Westgate is the most visited shopping center within its category for the last two months, exactly because it offers what shoppers want: great offer and the best value for money. The most important thing is that besides shoppers, tenants are also exceptionally satisfied with Westgate”, highlights Stjepan Iveljic, Westgate’s Managing Director.
Fashion center and family center in one
As the largest shopping center in Croatia, Westgate has focused on fashion and families. One-year investment in the center’s decor, directed at the experience of pleasant shopping, as well as the entire Westgate’s offer including about 240 stores and over 22 restaurants, bars and coffee shops, makes Westgate particularly appealing to shoppers. “Shoppers want quality offer with fair prices. That is why Westgate has focused on large offer, good prices and extra entertainment for the entire family”, Iveljic explained.
Focus on customers
Services like inline skating school are a part of Westgate’s regular offer. Focus on needs of entire families is proven by recently refurbished Kid’s World, largest closed playground in Croatia, spreading on 4,000 square meters. According to Iveljic “a strong focus on fashion and lifestyle and large offer of services are grounds for Westgate Shopping City’s success. As we like to say it, we are focused on fulfilling the needs of wide variety of customers”.
Hosting Cro A Porter and a number of events
As the host of the most important fashion happening in Croatia Cro A Porter, Late Night Shopping events, first event for men Only Men Stuff and the largest car fair in Croatia Zagreb Autoweek, Westgate has positioned itself as the host of most important events in fashion and entertainment industries. “We are proud that the largest fashion event in Croatia has found its new home in the largest shopping center in the country. Highlight on fashion and exceptional happenings differentiate us from our competition”, states Iveljic.
Out-of-city location as Westgate’s advantage
Continuing increase in the number of visitors and strong sales increase confirms Westgate’s great potential. Since the beginning of spring Westgate is recording constant increase of visitors, which has not changed even during summer period. Moreover, Westgate’s location near the Zagreb-Macelj highway, with the annual frequency of about 9,500.000 cars, ensured the arrival of the large number of visitors during summer months.
Plans for the future
In accordance with Westgate’s policy focused on further development of the largest shopping center in Croatia, the offer is continuously being complemented. The soon opening of Magic Baby store and the arrival of renowned German underwear brand Schiesser are further efforts to the realization of that goal. This is, however, only a small part of future plans for the center: “Westgate is constantly negotiating with a large number of international companies so we expect the arrival of new international chains in Westgate with Croatia’s accession to the EU. Besides widening the offer of different stores, we plan to build an entertainment center”.
First year – a reason to celebrate
On the occasion of its anniversary celebration, Westgate decided to gratify visitors with one-month celebration: from a big prize-winning game with Audi A1 as the grand prize, thematic discount weeks, opening of the refurbished Kid’s World playground and Late Night Shopping event to the final ceremony with well-known singers and entertainers.
Within its first anniversary celebration Westgate will also host Zagreb Autoweek, the largest car fair held in Croatia since 2008 which will take place November 6-14 in Westgate.
ABOUT Westgate Shopping City
Located west of Zagreb, Westgate Shopping City is the largest shopping mall in Croatia with 226,000 m2 of gross area and 100,000 m2 of sale localities. Investor groups FOCUS INVEST GmbH, Braunsberger Holding and Plus City/ Shopping Center WESTGATE Zagreb Beteiligungs GmbH invested 270 million euro in this international project and Westgate was built in record time – only 15 months. Shopping mega-center Westgate opened in November 2009 and represents a true fashion center with about 240 stores: within 3.3 kilometers of shop-windows large chains are present: Zara (with five fashion lines), P&C, Marks & Spencer, C&A, New Yorker, Humanic, Drogeriemarkt Müller, Intersport, Technomarket (6,000 m2) and Mercator (6,000 m2). Center is located 2.5 kilometers west of Zagreb and is known by a strong focus on services and exceptional infrastructure: 7,250 parking lots, direct exit to A2 highway and free bus lines for visitors. In the wide variety of entertainment offer there is a large children’s playground on 4,000 m2, 22 restaurants and bars, free inner inline skating for kids and a bowling center.
IT’S TIME FOR FASHION!
It's time for fashion. New & fresh advertising campaign demonstrates the Center's focus on this season. The most exclusive and most famous fashion happening in Croatia is to be held in Westgate from 22 to 28 March: NIVEA CRO A PORTER – WESTGATE FASHION EXCHANGE INTERNATIONAL. Besides exclusive fashion shows which will be held within NIVEA Cro A Porter in the evenings, all visitors of Westgate will get a chance to experience fashion on Open Day on Sunday, March 28th.
When fashion is concerned, Westgate is definitely the right choice. 3.3 kilometers of shop-windows provide fashionistas and shoppingoholics a unique mixture of renowned international designer names – Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius, New Yorker, P&C, Marks & Spencer, Sportina, C&A, Humanic, Carnaby, Parfois, Högl, Models Fashion Store, Benetton, Sisley, Gant and Broadway. Many popular Croatian brands can also be found, like X-nation, Skandal or Diadema.
NIVEA Cro A Porter in Westgate
Westgate as the largest and the most interesting center in this part of Europe has become a home of the largest fashion event in the region. With its architectural design and logistic possibilities, Westgate Shopping City is more than a shopping venue. Due to that fact, our guests will be quite surprised when they discover a new place, Cro A Porter venue, so far hidden from the Center’s visitors. Amphitheatric shape of the hall, on whose 120 m of catwalk well-known designers and guests and renowned brands will display new collections, will give outstanding experience to all who visit Nivea Cro A Porter.
Stjepan Iveljic, Westgate Shopping City General Director, on the upcoming event: “We are very happy to have NIVEA Cro A Porter as our fashion partner. These great fashion shows will be the beginning of fashion spring in Westgate. Fashion shows will be shown on 30 large screens in the Center during the whole week. Of course, the show will be accompanied by very attractive offers - our visitors can choose among more than 200 fashion stores offering wide selection – from inexpensive fashion to top designer brands”.
Viktor Drago, Producer and Art Director of the fashion event, on cooperation with Westgate: “Searching for new and exciting locations, we have finally found the perfect one. We are happy and excited about it as we believe that this location will offer the most to designers and visitors. Because of its architecture, it offers much to production while architects themselves already had an idea of events of this kind while designing Westgate. We are sure that the grandness and additional happenings will thrill the visitors of NIVEA Cro A Porter”.
Open Day on March 28th
During Open Day Westgate’s visitors will be able to watch Sportina Group, Models Fashion Store, OVS, One Green Elephant, Only, Jack&Jones, C&A, Zipper Rinascimento fashion shows which will be held every 1,5 hours, beginning at 15.00 h, and will present brands like Adidas, Nike, Kappa, Humanic, Guliver and others.
Perfect connection – new bus lines
“Besides large offer of brands and appealing stores, we want to offer our visitors excellent service and perfect infrastructure”, says Iveljic. That implies direct exit on A2 highway (direction Pojatno) and 7,250 free parking slots. Travel from Zagreb’s center to Westgate lasts only about 10 minutes, and as of this month, four new bus lines are introduced, circulating 40 times per day – from Ljubljanica, Crnomerec, Stjepan Radic Dorm and Zapresic – and back.
Westgate’s new advertising campaign
Westgate’s new campaign is focused on large offer of top level brands - at affordable prices. While showcasing elegant new spring styles, a mood for new style is encouraged.
Entertainment for kids and long working hours of bars and restaurants
While parents enjoy fashion, kids can also have a good time in Westgate – on 4,000 m2 of free Kid’s World. Gigantic closed playground offers its youngest visitors the attractions constructed to motivate them to practice and develop their motor skills.
The ultimate shopping experience – WESTGATE opens
Croatia’s largest shopping centre is opening on 12 November with a mega event lasting several days
With a magnificent, four-day opening event WESTGATE Shopping City near Zaprešić, west of Zagreb, is opening this week. 240 shops, 22 restaurants and bars, a 4,000 m² children’s fun park and many other attractive offers for the whole family guarantee the ultimate shopping experience.
Zagreb, 11 November. After a record construction time of only 15 months, the mega mall WESTGATE is opening with a celebration lasting several days. During the spectacular opening days from 12 to 15 November, everything will revolve around the centre’s diversity and strong focus on fashion. Visitors can expect fantastic fashion shows, game shows with top prizes and a comprehensive programme of events for children.
3.3 km of shop windows
Ernst Kirchmayr, member and spokesman of the owner and investor group, says the following about the unique mix of shops at WESTGATE: “Walking along 3.3 km of shop windows, customers will find a real who’s who of international and Croatian brands.” As well as flagship stores such as Zara, New Yorker, P&C, Marks&Spencer, C & A, Humanic, Drogerie Müller, Intersport, Technomarket and Mercator, the brands Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Parfois, Högl, Coin Casa, Crocs, Sportina with a multi-brand store and also the children’s fun park Kid's World will be represented for the first time in the Croatian market. Many popular local brands will also be found in the centre.
Perfect infrastructure
“As well as the wide choice of brands and the attractiveness of the shops, we also want to offer the customers outstanding service and the perfect infrastructure,” says centre manager Robert Petric. This includes an own exit on the A2 motorway, 7,250 free parking spaces (with 2,500 of these roofed-over), a rail connection with shuttle bus and an own bus terminal. Long opening hours, a wide range of food and drink establishments and entertainment and, not least, a huge children’s fun park make WESTGATE a world of leisure for the whole family that is unparalleled in the entire region.
Top food and drink establishments & entertainment
Before, during and after shopping, WESTGATE visitors are offered a wide range of culinary delights from a total of 32 restaurants, bars and cafés – including Croatia´s first running sushi restaurant, local dishes with a Mediterranean flair and cool, highly stylish cocktail lounges. In the mall, chill-out zones provide visitors with comfortable seating so they can have a rest. Natural stone floors, fountain landscapes, vital greenery and natural daylight give a real feel-good atmosphere.
An absolute magnet for children is the 4,000 m² Kid's World, a very special kind of fun park. The indoor playground provides its young visitors with attractions designed to encourage them to exercise and therefore promotes the health and motor functions of the kids. Other highlights are a – free to use – 400 m² indoor ice rink with state-of-the-art technology, a bowling centre with 12 alleys, and an Admiral automated casino.
Mega opening days
From 12 to 15 November, visitors in the three main squares of the centre will be presented with a highly-varied programme of events for all ages which will tell them more about the wide range of shops and services available at WESTGATE. Every hour between 11.30 and 20.30 hrs, catwalk shows will be held in cooperation with the centre’s fashion stores; the shows will be presented by TV lady Ida Prester. People taking part in the WESTGATE game show – presented by the popular TV presenter Mario Petrekovic – can win many prizes from the shops and also WESTGATE vouchers. The radio station 101 will also be there broadcasting live from the centre. While parents check out the shops in the new centre, children will be provided with the perfect entertainment: games & action are available from the kids entertainment professionals at Kid's World.
3 x BMW X1 cars to win
A huge red box in the design of WESTGATE set up in the best city centre locations in Zagreb (Cvjetni trg and in front of the railway station) has announced in the last few weeks that the opening of WESTGATE will be accompanied by a fantastic prize draw. On the first Sunday (15 Nov.) and on the two following Sundays (22 and 29 Nov.) visitors can win a brand new BMW X1 on each of these days. The three lucky winners will therefore be among the first BMW X1 owners in Croatia.
Shopping in a new dimension
WESTGATE Shopping City northwest of Zagreb is opening on 12 November
240 shops, 226,000 m² gross floor area, 100,000 m² sales surface, 7,250 parking spaces, 4,000 m² children’s fun park, 3,500 new jobs: WESTGATE Shopping City is by far the biggest shopping centre in Croatia – and at the same time an international showcase model that sets new standards.
Zagreb, 22 October 2009. On the finishing straight: at the moment up to 3,800 people are busy doing the finishing work in WESTGATE Shopping City near Zaprešić, northwest of Zagreb, directly on the A2 motorway. On 12 November the mega mall, which will focus on fashion in particular, will open with a spectacular celebration lasting several days.
WESTGATE Shopping City was built in a record construction time of only fifteen months with an investment volume of 270 million Euro. The unique shop mix, which can be discovered by customers walking along 3.3 km of shop windows, is a real who’s who of international and Croatian brands: As well as flagship stores such as Zara, New Yorker, P&C, Marks&Spencer, C & A, Humanic, drugstore Müller, Intersport, Technomarket and Mercator, the brands Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Högl, Coin Casa and Crocs and also the children’s fun park Kid's World will be represented for the first time in the Croatian market. An own exit on the A2 motorway, 7,250 free parking spaces (with 2,500 of these roofed-over), a rail connection with shuttle bus and an own bus terminal guarantee perfect infrastructure. Long opening hours, a wide range of food and drink establishments and the huge children’s indoor fun park Kid's World make WESTGATE a world of leisure which is unparalleled in the entire region. Additional entertainment highlights are a 400 m² indoor ice rink with state-of-the-art technology, a bowling centre with 12 alleys and an automated casino.
Surprising mega box at Cvjetni trg
From 12 to 15 November visitors will be able to see an attractive programme: this includes catwalk red carpet shows, game shows with immediate prizes and a whole lot of games & action for youngsters.
But now WESTGATE is giving people something to talk about in the Zagreb city centre: a huge red box in the design of WESTGATE which – as an innovative form of advertising presented for the first time in Croatia – has been placed at Cvjetni trg. To the surprise of all, on October 22 an exclusive fashion photo shoot lead by no lesser than Damir Hoyka was staged in front of the mega box – the models in trendy Sportina fashion left a first and at the same time permanent impression of WESTGATE. The red box advertises not only the new centre but also a fantastic prize draw. This is because, as a top highlight of the WESTGATE opening, on the first Sunday (15.11.) and on the two following Sundays (22. and 29.11.) a brand new BMW X1 can be won in a prize draw on each of these days.
Fact Sheet:
WESTGATE Shopping City
Croatia’s largest shopping centre opens
Location: Northwest of Zagreb (Zapresic), directly on the A2 motorway
WESTGATE Shopping City area: 250,000 m²
Gross floor area: 226,000 m²
Sales surface: 100,000 m²
Investment volume: 270 million Euro
Owner: FOCUS INVEST GmbH, Braunsberger Holding, Shopping Center WESTGATE Zagreb Beteiligungs GmbH
Number of shops: More than 240 shops, national & international top brands
Number of food & drink establishments: Over 22 restaurants, bars & cafés
Transport connection: Direct connection to the A2 motorway, rail connection with shuttle bus, own bus terminal with free bus lines to Črnomerec, Savskom most, Ljubljanica, Zaprešić
Parking: 7,250 parking spaces, with 2,500 of these roofed-over
Childcare: free entrance in 4,000 m² children’s adventure world KID'S WORLD, biggest children's park in Croatia
Entertainment: Indoor in-line skating for kids, bowling, casino and many other attractions for the whole family
Opening hours of centre: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 21:00 hrs, food and drink establishments open 09:00 – 24.00 hrs, supermarket 09:00 – 21:00 hrs
WESTGATE Press Office:
Vocor media, Martina Andrijević
E: martina@vocor-media.hr
