Global retail solutions company the Smollan Group (Smollan) has bought a majority stake in South Africa’s Student Village.
Smollan and Student Village have formed a strategic partnership with the youth marketing and graduate development company, that will foster a collaboration to deliver solutions to brand owners looking to activate their brands in the South African youth market and beyond.
“By partnering with Student Village, Smollan will be able to offer unique solutions to brand owners targeting the most important growth market, the youth. Student Village amplifies our capability in the youth market from recruitment, to engagement, to activation of brands,” said David Smollan, CEO of Smollan, in a press statement.
Student Village specialises in connecting brands and youth since 2001, today reaching in excess of a million students across South Africa. The company will benefit from Smollan’s longstanding international vision and history of expanding its model across borders, into complex high-growth markets.
Student Village CEO, Ronen Aires, said the opportunity lay in how the businesses collaborate to amplify their offerings. “Because of our shared values and interests, Smollan stood out as a partner that could add value to Student Village. We have a similar passion for enhancing our offerings and are excited to have Smollan on board as our partner. We look forward to reaching new heights together,” he said.
Smollan added that their businesses will also work together to develop an even greater connection with the youth market in South Africa by connecting the youth with great companies through talent development and recruitment programmes. Student Village would act as a pipeline for emerging talent, making the partnership a natural extension of how both these businesses deliver growth. Smollan is one of the largest youth employers in South Africa with just over 24 000 employees locally.
