LC Waikiki: Turkish clothing retailer opens its first store in Mombasa bringing to total three outlets in Kenya

Turkish clothing retailer LC Waikiki opened its first store in the coastal city of Mombasa over the weekend hoping to attract Mombasa’s middle-class shoppers.
The Mombasa outlet, located at City Mall in the affluent Nyali suburb, is LC Waikiki’s third store in the country and the first outside Kenya’s capital.

Turkish clothing retailer LC Waikiki opened its first store in the coastal city of Mombasa over the weekend hoping to attract Mombasa’s middle-class shoppers.

“We have invested one million US dollars (Sh100 million) in every store and currently we have three branches, two in Nairobi and the one we have opened in Mombasa,” country manager Kremena Pencheva said.

The Mombasa outlet, located at City Mall in the affluent Nyali suburb, is LC Waikiki’s third store in the country and the first outside Kenya’s capital.

The international clothes chain opened its first store in Kenya at the Two Rivers Mall, the largest mall in Sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa, last February before later opening another store at the Karen Hub in Nairobi.

Ms Pencheva added that the retailer was also planning to open more stores in Nairobi before the end of the year.

Also read: 10 FUN AND MEMORABLE ACTIVITIES YOU CAN INDULGE IN AT MOMBASA

The plan to set up more stores signals more jobs for Kenyans, with the Turkish retailer saying it currently employs 150 Kenyans.

“We want to at least have employed 300 Kenyans by the end of the year after we open the other three branches as we strive to sell high quality Turkish clothing ranging from shoes, clothes for men, women and kids in all our stores,” Ms Pencheva said.

LC Waikiki, which currently operates 850 stores in 38 countries, says Kenya’s stable economy, low market saturation and a fast-growing retail oriented middle class is what attracted and made the chain settle for the East Africa’s biggest economy as its entry point to the region.

“Soon we are venturing into South Africa...Kenya was our entrance to the Sub Saharan market. I can say that one year later, we are not regretting since this is the best business decision,” she added.