Espace Maison Cap Tamarin reopens its doors this month after a major makeover. Twice as large, the store offers an optimum choice for the home and garden. Benoit Béchard, General Manager of Espace Maison outlets, gives us some details.
What is the total surface area of the store? What is planned for the site still under construction?
We’re doubling the surface area! The total surface area is 4308m2, including the “espace Pro”, mainly dedicated to building professionals. Still under construction, it will open in the second phase, in the first half of 2024.
What new features are planned?
The “garden” section is more extensive, with 2,000 different species of plants, as well as a wider choice of outdoor furnishings. The Pro area also brings a real plus to the region, in terms of structural work and hardware. 20,000 product references are available in store, along with more decoration and lighting. We’re also opening a “pet shop” area, with a nice selection of aquariums and animals. We’ve also added an aluminum branch to our shelves, and extended our joinery range.
What ideas or brands would you like to highlight?
We’re keeping the flagship brands that have been with us for years and made our reputation, such as Weber for barbecues, Gardena for gardening accessories, Berling for paint, and so on. We don’t really have any new brands, but rather new types of products. Our philosophy is based on supporting local producers, to help them grow. We want to remove chemicals as much as possible to make way for organic products. For example, we have chosen to work with a local start-up that produces seaweed-based fertilizers. From now on, our priority is to promote this eco-responsible trend and avoid pesticides and herbicides, replacing them with ecological fertilizers.
What innovations commercial innovations ?
We have introduced Scan & Go, a payment system where customers scan and pay for their chosen products, without having to go to the checkout. Automatic checkouts will also be introduced in 2024, and our mobile application will be updated to include an improved after-sales service history, so that customers can track the warranties of products purchased and the history of repairs carried out at Espace Maison. This technique is totally innovative in Mauritius.
What year did the first Espace Maison open, and how has it evolved over the years?
The first store opened in 2002 in Trianon. We celebrated our 20th anniversary last year. Today, we offer 6 outlets across the island, which have been enriched by a host of services over the years.