Placemaking in Practice How the 1 on First Spring Market Supports Community and Local Enterprise
On Saturday, 3 October 2026, 1 on First will welcome residents, families, shoppers and local entrepreneurs to its Spring Market in Dunvegan, Edenvale.
The event will bring together food, refreshments, handmade products, lifestyle offerings and family-friendly activities in a relaxed community setting. Entry is free, making the market an accessible opportunity for visitors to discover local vendors, support established tenants and experience more of what 1 on First has to offer.
Visitors can also follow the official 1 on First Spring Market Facebook event for event updates.
While the Spring Market promises an enjoyable day out, it also reflects a wider commercial property principle: successful destinations are shaped not only by their buildings, but by the experiences, relationships and economic activity created within them.
Creating a Destination Rather Than Only a Retail Address
Modern retail centres must offer customers more than a place to complete transactions. They need to create reasons for people to visit, spend time in the space, discover businesses and return.
This is where placemaking becomes important. Placemaking involves creating environments that feel useful, welcoming and connected to the communities around them. Markets, activations and local events help transform shared areas into places where people can interact, explore and build a stronger relationship with the destination.
Located in Dunvegan and strategically positioned near the N12 highway and OR Tambo International Airport, 1 on First forms part of Orion Real Estate’s diversified property portfolio. Its combination of retail, services and residential accommodation provides a natural foundation for a community-focused event.
The Spring Market allows the property to use this mixed environment in a practical way by bringing residents, tenants, local businesses and visitors together in one shared experience.
This approach aligns with Orion Real Estate’s broader focus on developing and managing retail properties that respond to the everyday needs of their surrounding communities.
Supporting Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Markets provide emerging businesses with something that is often difficult and expensive to secure: direct access to customers.
Instead of relying only on online marketing, participating vendors can introduce their products in person, answer questions, receive immediate feedback and build relationships with potential customers.
This opportunity is particularly valuable in South Africa, where smaller businesses and informal enterprises play an important role in employment and household income.
Statistics South Africa has highlighted the informal sector’s contribution to employment and livelihoods. Research published by Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies also demonstrates the contribution formal small businesses make to South African employment and economic activity.
Internationally, the OECD’s work on SMEs and entrepreneurship identifies smaller enterprises as important contributors to employment, value creation and the strength of local communities.
By providing a visible and organised setting for vendors, the 1 on First Spring Market creates opportunities for local entrepreneurs to:
- Introduce their businesses to new audiences.
- Test products and customer demand.
- Generate direct sales.
- Build brand awareness.
- Network with other business owners.
- Create customer relationships that may continue after the market.
For visitors, the event offers an opportunity to discover products and services that may not always be available through conventional retail channels.
Creating Value for Existing Tenants
Community events can also benefit the established businesses operating within a centre.
The Spring Market will introduce additional activity to 1 on First and encourage visitors to explore the broader tenant offering while attending the event. Existing tenants have been invited to participate through stalls, special offers, discounts and promotional activities.
The event’s MC will also provide opportunities to acknowledge participating tenants and communicate their offers to visitors throughout the day.
This approach gives tenants several ways to become involved. A business may choose to trade from a market stall, promote an in-store special, demonstrate a service or use the additional activity to introduce itself to new customers.
For Orion Real Estate, this is an important part of active property management. Supporting tenants involves more than providing premises. It also means creating opportunities for visibility, engagement and customer discovery.
When an event is integrated with the existing tenant mix, the benefits can extend beyond the day itself. A first-time visitor may discover a restaurant, salon, retailer or professional service that becomes part of their regular routine.
Connecting Retail and Residential Communities
The mixed-use character of 1 on First adds another layer to the Spring Market.
Residents have convenient access to an event taking place close to home, while retailers and vendors gain access to an existing community within the property. Visitors from the surrounding Dunvegan and Edenvale areas can also experience how retail, services and residential living come together at the destination.
This relationship between residents and businesses can contribute to a more active and connected environment. It supports convenience for residents while creating a regular customer base for tenants.
The market therefore represents more than a once-off event. It demonstrates how mixed-use properties can encourage interaction between the different people who live, work, shop and operate businesses within the same place.
Visitors interested in the residential component can learn more through Orion Real Estate’s residential portfolio.
Building Stronger Relationships Through Experience
Commercial property is ultimately experienced by people. Customers remember whether a centre felt welcoming, whether there was something interesting to discover and whether the businesses within it were relevant to their needs. Tenants remember whether property management created opportunities for them to participate and connect with customers.
Community events help build these relationships naturally. They give a property a stronger identity and allow visitors to experience it outside the normal routine of completing an errand.
For property owners and managers, this can support longer-term objectives such as:
- Increasing awareness of the destination.
- Encouraging repeat visits.
- Supporting tenant visibility.
- Strengthening community relationships.
- Showcasing available products and services.
- Creating a more active property environment.
These outcomes are not created by an event alone. They develop through consistent property management, relevant tenant participation and experiences that respond to the surrounding community.
Businesses looking for premises can explore Orion Real Estate’s current listings to view available retail, office and industrial opportunities.
What Visitors Can Expect
The 1 on First Spring Market will offer a curated mix of local food, refreshments, handmade items, lifestyle products and family-friendly experiences.
Visitors will be able to browse the stalls, meet the people behind the businesses, support local entrepreneurs and explore the permanent tenants at 1 on First.
The market is designed to be relaxed and accessible, allowing families, residents and members of the wider Edenvale community to enjoy the start of spring together.
Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Venue: 1 on First, Dunvegan, Edenvale
Entry: Free
A Practical Example of Community Focused Property Management
The Spring Market reflects Orion Real Estate’s approach to creating properties that serve both commercial and community needs.
By activating shared space, involving existing tenants and providing a platform for local vendors, 1 on First can support business exposure while offering visitors an enjoyable and relevant experience.
The commercial value of a property is shaped by more than its location and physical structure. It is also influenced by how effectively the space connects people, supports its tenants and responds to the community around it.
The 1 on First Spring Market is a practical example of that principle in action.
Explore 1 on First online, view the property through the Orion Real Estate portfolio or contact Orion Real Estate for more information.
