Black Friday Good Deals Hunt: Mauritius Malls Anticipate Up to 2x Visitor Surge

Mauritian retailers are antipating a massive turnout for Black Friday this week, with consumers prioritising “good deals” despite persistent inflation and a squeezed cost of living. Stores and shopping centres have already experienced heavy crowds since mid-November, confirming the event’s solid footing in end-of-year shopping habits.

Early Rush and Extended Sales

The strong attendance expectation comes despite economic pressures, suggesting that Black Friday remains a crucial date for Mauritian households seeking to maximise their budgets.

• Major stores and shopping centres have reported significant crowds already, with this “effervescence” cementing Black Friday as an established year-end consumer tradition.
• Furniture retailer TFP launched its promotions exceptionally early this year, starting on November 14th, a decision its director, Mousheerl Maharaullee, stated was made to allow customers more time to benefit fully from the discounts.
• “A few days are no longer enough,” Maharaullee explained, adding that the sale period has been extended until November 30th.
• TFP is offering discounts of up to 75% on a wide range of products, including mattresses, dining tables, children’s furniture, and sofa sets.

Sales Surge and Tradition

TFP reports observing a strong flow of customers since the early start of its promotional period.

• Maharaullee confirmed that while Mauritians acknowledge the high cost of living, buying new furniture before the New Year remains a tradition in many families.
• The retailer is seeing a 15% increase in sales compared to other periods of the year, which the director believes confirms that Black Friday is a strategic opportunity for many to make significant purchases at the best possible price.

Malls Gear Up for Visitor Spike

Shopping centres across the island are preparing for a notable increase in foot traffic, driven by promotions and extended hours.

• Tribeca Mall management predicted an equivalent or slightly higher level of visitor flow than the “very strong turnout” observed last year, particularly on Friday and Saturday.
• Pamela Bhuruth, Director of Strategy & Marketing for Tribeca Mall, noted that while inflation changes consumer behaviour, this trend reverses during Black Friday, with customers “looking for more good deals” and prioritising essential or well-thought-out purchases.
• Ascencia malls (including Bagatelle Mall, Phoenix Mall, and others) are expecting a particularly busy atmosphere from November 28th to 30th.
• Ascencia is launching an interactive game, the “Black Friday Top Chrono,” offering attractive prizes such as an iPhone 17 Pro Max, an electric scooter, and vouchers up to Rs 25,000.
• Sophie Audibert, Portfolio Marketing and Communication Manager for Ascencia, stated that the malls anticipate a rise in attendance and are ready to welcome a large flow of visitors with various promotions and activities.

Logistics and Measures for Crowd Control

To handle the expected crowds, both Tribeca Mall and Ascencia centres are implementing extensive operational measures.

• Tribeca Mall is extending its opening hours for smoother shopping and has:
• Optimised its parking circulation plan.
• Reinforced its on-site teams.
• Ensured close coordination with stores to manage stock and queues efficiently.
• Planned real-time monitoring of common areas to allow for rapid intervention if needed.
• Ascencia malls are deploying reinforced security and offering a free shuttle service connecting Rose Hill to Bagatelle Mall to improve accessibility and manage the expected high attendance.
• Some of these malls will remain open until midnight.

Source: Defi Media