According to the agency, it has proven after an unprecedented period in retail history that has seen this industry require more agile thinking and innovation than ever before that it has the talent and tenacity to empower its clients to shine regardless of the circumstances. 

Based in Johannesburg, EBM is a specialised agency — with a team of creative, free-thinking individuals, marketers, sales, designers, innovators and ideologists — driven by a passion to make a difference in the retail property space.

EBM's 58 Footprint Awards in 2022 include the following:
  • 11 Gold
  • 20 Silver, and
  • 26 Bronze Awards.

Additionally, the group won the highly coveted Spectrum Award for work done on Gateway Theatre of Shopping's 'Stronger Together' project in the Community Relations category. This initiative saw over 31 tons of food supplies being distributed to affected communities in KwaZulu-Natal following the devastating riots in July 2021.

EBM is no stranger to awards. Over the past two years, the agency has won:
  • two Spectrums
  • 23 Gold
  • 42 Silver Awards, and
  • 56 Bronze Awards.

This has totalled 122 Footprint Awards. Additionally, various centres marketed by the group, such as Sandton City, for instance, have won the Spectrum Award in 2021 and Best of Johannesburg Award in 2022.

The awards won in 2022 were split across two main property portfolios marketed by EBM. The co-owned malls of Liberty Two Degrees won 29 awards, for projects executed across:
  • Eastgate
  • Liberty Midlands Mall
  • Liberty Promenade Mall
  • Nelson Mandela Square, and
  • Sandton City.

An additional 29 awards were won for initiatives at various Old Mutual Property centres, which include:
  • Gateway
  • Bedford Centre
  • Cavendish Square
  • Kagiso
  • Phumlani
  • Riverside Mall
  • Vincent Park, and
  • The Zone @ Rosebank.

"One of the major goals the agency has set itself is enhancing integration across marketing and non-GLA (gross lettable area) management through carefully defined brand strategies for each property, and as a result, improving efficiencies and increasing revenue streams for the property owners," says Darren Katz, managing director of Excellerate Brand Management.

"Everything we do is driven by our philosophy 'to be unsame', meaning our aim is always to find a single-minded proposition for every project that differentiates it from any others in its category. No duplication, no copycats. This allows us to own something that will completely disrupt the category and leave our customers with a lasting memorable journey that results in talkability and constant engagement. We are proud to house a team of experts, who deliver their best," Katz concludes.

For more information, visit www.excelleratebrandmanagement.co.za.