1. INTRODUCTION

SPP is a commercial property company that is 100% owned by the Industrial Development Company of Eswatini (IDCE). It is the largest shopping centre in Eswatini, boasting approximately 43 000 square metres of retail and office space, located in the CBD of the capital city of Mbabane.

The shopping centre houses small local retailers and national retailers and extends to corporate rental for consultants in legal, construction, finance and creative industries, as well as head offices and service centres for some of the largest corporations and service providers in Eswatini.

2. BACKGROUND

SPP operates within a competitive and rapidly evolving retail environment. Changing consumer behaviours, digital transformation, and emerging retail trends underscore the need for a comprehensive and forward-looking company strategy. These Terms of Reference outline the purpose, scope, responsibilities, deliverables, and timelines for the development of the new strategic plan.

3. PURPOSE

The purpose of this assignment is to develop a five-year company strategy that positions SPP for sustainable growth, improved operational performance, stronger tenant mix optimisation, enhanced customer experience, and long-term commercial success.
SPP is looking for the services of an experienced consulting company in the shopping centre industry to assist with the diagnostic review of the existing five (5) year strategy, which was for the period 2023-2027, and from the review develop a five (5) year strategy.

4. OBJECTIVES

The key objectives are to:

4.1 Assess the current performance, market position, and competitive landscape of Swazi Plaza.

4.2 Identify opportunities for revenue growth, tenant retention and diversification.

4.3 Evaluate internal operations, customer experience, marketing effectiveness, and brand positioning.

4.4 Define a strategic direction—including vision, mission, and strategic priorities.

4.5 Propose actionable initiatives, KPIs, and implementation plans.

5. SCOPE OF WORKS AND TERMS OF REFERENCE

The strategy development shall cover, but is not limited to the following components:

5.1 Market & Environmental Analysis
5.1.1 Retail industry and consumer trend analysis.
5.1.2 Competitor benchmarking.
5.1.3 Economic and demographic assessment.
5.1.4 SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).

5.2 Operational & Financial Review
5.2.1 Asset performance review.
5.2.2 Rental income, occupancy, and footfall trends.
5.2.3 Cost structure and operational efficiencies
5.2.4 Review the financial plan & viability of the centre.
5.2.5 Maintenance, security and facilities management evaluation.

5.3 Tenant Mix & Leasing Strategy
5.3.1 Profile of current tenants.
5.3.2 Gap analysis for future tenant categories.
5.3.3 Anchor tenant strategy.
5.3.4 Short, medium and long-term leasing plans.

5.4 Marketing & Customer Experience Strategy
5.4.1 Brand positioning review.
5.4.2 Digital engagement (social media, website, loyalty systems).
5.4.3 Event and promotional strategy.
5.4.4 Customer journey mapping.

5.5 Strategic Framework Development
5.5.1 Vision and mission statements.
5.5.2 Strategic pillars and focus areas.
5.5.3 Key performance indicators (KPIs).

5.6 Implementation & Monitoring Plan
5.6.1 Phased action plan.
5.6.2 Resource and budget requirements.
5.6.3 Risk register review and mitigation measures.
5.6.4 Monitoring and evaluation framework.

6. DELIVERABLES

The Consultant shall deliver:

6.1 Provide a report on the review of the current 5-year company strategy (2023-2027).

6.2 Inception Report – description of approach, methodology, work plan and timelines to the terms of reference.

6.3 Market & Operational Assessment Report.

6.4 Draft Company Strategy – including strategic priorities, KPIs, and financial projections.

6.5 Final Strategy Document – incorporating feedback and executive summary.

6.6 Presentation to Management/Board – Report every milestone to Management. Draft strategy document to be presented to the Finance & Administration Committee highlighting key findings and recommendations and final strategy document to be presented to the Board.

7. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Consultant/Strategy Development Team shall:

7.1 Conduct research, analysis, and stakeholder engagements.

7.2 Develop all strategic documents and presentations.

7.3 Maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional standards.

7.4 Ensure deliverables are completed within agreed timelines.

8. PROJECT TIMELINE
The project is expected to take 12 weeks from commencement. A detailed work plan with milestones will be submitted in the inception report.

9. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The consultant shall report to Centre Management and provide:

9.1 Weekly or bi-weekly progress updates.

9.2 Drafts of each deliverable for review.

9.3 Draft strategy presentation to Centre Management and the Finance & Administration Committee.

9.4 Final strategy presentation to the Board for approval.

10. PAYMENT TERMS
The payment intervals from inception to presentation and approval shall be stated in the contract and shall be made against deliverables specified and agreed to by both parties. The payments will be made within 30 days from the presentation of invoices.

11. CONFIDENTIALITY
All information gathered and documents produced under this assignment are confidential and shall not be shared without written consent from the Centre Manager.

12. QUALIFICATIONS

12.1 Tertiary Qualifications

The consultant should demonstrate one or more qualifications in the following fields:
• Urban planning.
• Property, real estate or construction management.
• Business strategy or marketing.
• Architecture or urban design.

12.2 Postgraduate qualifications or professional certifications in property development, retail economics, or strategic planning will be highly regarded.

13. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

The consultant should have demonstrated experience in:

13.1 Developing strategic plans for shopping centres, town centres, or mixed-use retail precincts, including short, medium, and long-term positioning.

13.2  Retail market analysis, including:
• Catchment analysis.
• Retail demand and supply assessment.
• Tenant mix and merchandising strategies.

13.3 Advising on revitalisation, repositioning, or redevelopment of existing shopping centres, particularly in response to changing retail trends and consumer behaviour.

13.4 Preparing evidence-based recommendations that integrate commercial, planning, design, and economic considerations.

13.5 Engaging with key stakeholders such as asset owners, local government, retailers, developers, and community representatives.

13.6 Assessing financial and commercial feasibility, including high-level cost–benefit analysis and investment prioritisation.

13.7 Aligning shopping centre strategies with broader place-making, economic development, and urban renewal objectives.

13.8 Delivering clear, practical, and implementable strategies, supported by staged action plans and performance measures.

14. CAPABILITY AND APPROACH

The consultant should also demonstrate:

14.1 A strong understanding of retail trends, including omnichannel retailing, experiential retail, and changing consumer expectations.

14.2 Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.

14.3 Strong analytical, report-writing, and presentation skills.

14.4 Proven ability to deliver complex strategic projects on time and within budget.

15. RELEVANT MEMBERSHIP AND REQUIREMENT
Only consultant(s) who are members of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) with shopping centre experience are required.

16. REFERENCES
The consultant(s) is required to provide three (3) references where similar projects have been undertaken.

17. EVALUATION CRITERIA
SPP will use a selected competitive tendering process, and the evaluation of the proposals shall be done in accordance with the procurement policy of the company.

18. CONDITIONS OF TENDER

18.1 SPP reserves the right to interview a tenderer and investigate their qualifications, office address and contradictory history.

18.2 A bidder is requested to treat the details of this enquiry as private and confidential. Proposals received will also be treated as private and confidential. No aspect of the tender will be disclosed to third parties.

18.3 SPP does not bind herself to accept the lowest or any proposal but reserves the right to accept the proposal it deems to be the best.

19. APPLICATION DATES

19.1 The closing date for the submission of tender is Friday, 10 April 2026.

20. APPLICATION PROCESS

20.1 Interested consultants may show their interest by clicking and following the link below, written “Apply Now”. You will be redirected to the official tender bid submission form.