On the morning of September 26, 2024, the Ortiz Business Group unveiled their latest project: Mall del Alto, a new shopping center currently under construction in Cuenca.

The mall will be located across from Mall del Río on a 16-hectare plot. Six hectares will be used for the mall's construction, while the remaining ten hectares will be dedicated to green spaces.

One of the standout features of Mall del Alto is its commitment to green energy. The mall will have 5,000 solar panels, along with a water treatment plant and a system to collect rainwater.

Commercial Spaces

Mall del Alto will feature 180 stores and around 100 kiosks spread across the five levels of the mall. The first two levels will house parking areas as well as various service-oriented commercial spaces.

It has been confirmed that Hipermercados Coral, a major retail chain, will open a store in the mall.

The grand opening is scheduled for October 2025, with commercial spaces expected to be handed over to tenants a month prior.

Next Thursday, September 26, the Ortiz Group will present the ambitious Mall del Alto project, set to become the largest shopping center in Cuenca. Located on a 16-hectare plot next to Mall del Río, but across the highway, the development will feature 6 hectares of construction and 10 hectares of green space.

With a total investment of $100 million, Mall del Alto will offer 180 commercial spaces and about 100 kiosks dispersed throughout its corridors. The project is expected to generate roughly 3,000 direct jobs and create numerous indirect employment opportunities in the region.

The mall will also include 1,200 parking spaces distributed across two levels, with three levels dedicated to retail, dining, and entertainment.

Source: RED Informativa

The e-commerce platform Temu offers products at incredibly low prices, positioning itself as a strong competitor to Shein. Temu's orders are now directly available in Ecuador.

If you've been on social media recently, you've likely encountered ads for Temu, the Chinese e-commerce app that has become a major player in Latin America. Owned by PDD Holdings, which also owns Pinduoduo, Temu was launched in 2022 and has expanded across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, offering ultra-cheap products shipped from China.

Huge Discounts

Like its counterpart Pinduoduo in China, Temu attracts customers with deep discounts and a wide range of products. Upon first opening the app, users are offered a 90% discount on an item, with most products marked down by over 50%. It also offers "free gifts" and "giveaways." Categories include home goods, clothing, beauty, technology, and more.

Temu explains that its low prices come from eliminating middlemen and shipping directly from factories to consumers. With the rise of Chinese e-commerce, courier shipments to Ecuador under the '4x4' service (allowing packages under 4kg and $400) have increased significantly, with 2023 imports reaching $327.7 million.

How to Order from Temu in Ecuador

Ecuadorian customers can place orders on Temu, pay with international cards or PayPal, and receive their packages through courier services like Crossborderly and Skypostal. These logistics partners collaborate with local couriers such as Grupo Tramaco, Geomil, and Servientrega for final delivery.

Packages are typically collected from courier offices depending on your city, though Tramaco and Servientrega offer home delivery in certain cases. Delivery usually takes 20 to 30 days, though some delays have been reported. Customers generally do not incur additional shipping costs.

El Nuevo Tiempo reports that during a press conference Cuenca's Mayor Cristian Zamora, has invited professionals, associations, and consortiums to present projects for the remodeling of the Feria Libre market.

The market currently lacks order and optimal conditions for the sale of products. It also suffers from insecurity and environmental pollution.

The referential budget for the space's recovery is $8,000,000. The municipality plans to remodel the market in three stages. Proposals can be submitted until next October. Investors are also welcome to submit proposals.

The next Amazon Prime Days will take place on July 16 and 17, 2024, marking a significant date for online shopping enthusiasts. While primarily designed for Amazon Prime subscribers, there will also be discounts available to general users.

This annual event has become a major summer shopping event just before the Black Friday and Christmas seasons.

What does Amazon offer during these days?

For 48 hours, thousands of products will be available at lower prices, ranging from technology to home goods, fashion, beauty, and toys. The offers are primarily accessible to Prime subscribers, who also enjoy free shipping during these days. However, often both external sellers and Amazon itself open their offers to the general public.

How to take advantage of the offers?

You can visit the Amazon website to find all discounted items. Additionally, the mobile app, available on the App Store and Play Store, often features exclusive deals not found on the website.

To make purchases, you need an Amazon Prime account, with memberships varying in price:

• Monthly Prime: $14.99

• Annual Prime: $139.00

• Student Prime: $7.49 (for students aged 18-24)

The first 30 days of subscription are free, and you can cancel before the month ends at no cost.

How to use it in Ecuador?

If you have an Ecuadorian ID card (cédula), you can shop on Amazon and have your purchases sent to your address in Ecuador. The so-called Category B 4x4 system allows importing packages without paying import duties and VAT. The requirements are that your shipment does not weigh more than 4 kg and does not have a value (including shipping costs) of more than USD 400. The total value per fiscal year cannot exceed USD 1,600.

Grupo Ortiz's forthcoming project will transform Cuenca's retail scene. The new 120,000 square meters mall will house top international brands.

Key facts:

• Construction of the mall is planned to start in January 2024.
• The opening is planned for the end of 2025.
• It will be located next to the Mall del Río (which is also owned by Grupo Ortiz) but on the other side of the highway that runs along this mall.
• The investment for this project is $ 40 million.
• The building will have an area of 120,000 square meters. For comparison: the Mall del Río has an area of 75,000 square meters.
• The mall will house large, international retailers. These retailers need large spaces that the existing malls in Cuenca cannot provide.
• The following retailers and restaurant are already confirmed: Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Victoria Secret, Bath & Body Works, MAC, Miniso, GMO, PASA, Roland, Steve Madden, The North Face, Tous, Areldi, Vatex, Gap, Old Navy, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Aldo, Bimba & Lola, Esprit, Parfois, Marathon, Explorer, Bike Shop, TLC Store, RCA Store, Samsung Store, L'Occitane, LC Waikiki, H&M, Mango, US Polo, Pandora, DePratti, Piccadilly Shoe Store, Adidas, Nike, Puma, Reebok, Starbucks, Sweet & Coffee, JUAN VALDEZ, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Cajun, American Deli, Papa John's, Domino's, Pity's, Mayflower, Negroni, Fogo de Chao and Sports Planet.
• To be confirmed are: Cinemark, American Eagle, Baskin Robbins, Cinabbon, Mr. Joy, Call it Spring, Casa Res, Clarks, Claire's, Converse, El Corral, Penguin, The Athlete's Foot and Under Armour.
• The mall will also house a store of Hipermercados Coral, a chain of hypermarkets that is owned by Grupo Ortiz.