Johannesburg is a shopper's paradise, with a huge choice of options from upmarket fashion boutiques and giant malls to street markets, vendors and curios shops. Whether you're after designer clothes, the latest books or DVDs, high-quality African art, or glamorous gifts, Johannesburg offers a variety of great shopping opportunities around every corner. That said, the upcoming Joburg Shopping Festival in September offers all shopaholics the perfect opportunity to literally 'shop till they drop'.

Johannesburg has more than 80 shopping nodes and during the Festival visitors will be offered huge discounts at selected stores and an assortment of Joburg culture and arts, cuisine, fashion and other commodities to enjoy. The month long, city wide shopping festival will turn Johannesburg into a consumer heaven. All participating major retail and wholesale shopping areas in the city will offer shoppers huge discounts of all merchandise.

A shopping festival of this sort is unique to Africa, and will be strategically hosted in September to coincide with Heritage Month activities, including Arts Alive, Soweto Festival and national Tourism Month. The festival is only the start of some big plan to turn Joburg into Africa's shopping hub; it would also encourage growth and promote investment in the retail sector. It is based on an idea used in world shopping centers like Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Dubai. As far as fashion festivals go Dubai's festival is the biggest money-spinner, with consumers in the Middle Eastern country splashing out more than $3-billion over the month.

All shoppers can safely make purchases as organizers in conjunctions with one of the banking sponsors have created branded smart cards that will give shoppers a safe means to pay for their goods. People will easily be able to get their purchases shipped to their homes or hotels with co-ordinated shipping and logistical offers. There will also be safe and secure transport which will ferry shoppers between their hotels and shopping malls.

September is national tourism month and national heritage month in South Africa. Also in the Southern hemisphere September marks the beginning of Spring and end of winter close out sales. The Joburg Shopping Festival will introduce both domestic and international visitors to the many tourist and retail focused venues that Johannesburg has to offer.

"Spring into Joburg and Shop in the City of Gold" - September months will never be the same again! We look forward to seeing you at the Joburg Shopping Festival.