Sharing her deeply entrenched love for the North Coast, Collins Residential marketing and communications manager, Melanie Clarkson, tells us why she believes there is no better place to live in the world than right here.
Mel has spent most of her career casting a spotlight on all that is positive about investing and living on the North Coast of KZN. More than that, though, she and her family have lived this reality every single day too. Like so many North Coast families, Mel, her architect husband Andrew and their two children, Jack (14) and Lois (11) are happiest when they are on the beach, in the bush, or spending time together in their Dunkirk Estate home.
Heading up all marketing and communications for the residential arm of the Collins Group (which has various business interests in KZN and across Southern Africa), Mel’s job combines her strong belief in the value of property investment with her ardent passion for marketing. But Mel’s connection to the North Coast began long before her children, or even she, was born. In fact, it started when her Mauritian farming father met her then 17-year-old English mother at the Salt Rock Hotel. “That’s how far back our love for the North Coast goes,” Mel laughs. “Even though we’ve all lived in different countries and parts of South Africa, somehow it has come full circle, and we all live here again.”
Starting her career in the hospitality industry, Mel’s first job was for a hotel group in Umhlanga, where her role as an account executive in the hotel and property expansion division opened her eyes to the world of property development. After that, Mel worked for two big property groups, where she learned a great deal about entrepreneurship and got invaluable insight into macro development, town planning and large-scale perspective on developing precincts. But it was when she joined the Collins Group in 2019 that Mel truly discovered her happy place. “I absolutely love what I do now. Mostly because it’s playing a small part in building a legacy. You see the developer’s vision become a reality and you see the families and people who end up calling this place home. I love property, so combining property with lifestyle is my passion.”
Mel heads up marketing and communications for the entire Collins Residential portfolio, which includes Zululami, Seaton, Lalela, Manor House and Club Med Tinley on the North Coast – as well as Mount Edgecombe Retirement Village, Emberton Estate and Annandale Country Estate further inland.
Strategising, overseeing and executing all marketing (including digital, print, exhibitions, on-site activations and national advertising), Mel says the recent ground-breaking collaboration between Club Med and Collins is very exciting. “It’s been great working with our French partners and has given me some insight into marketing and PR on a global level. We are busy, and we achieve a lot, but I work with a wonderful team. We laugh a lot, we celebrate a lot and I have incredible people to lean on,” she says. “When you are marketing a development, you are selling people the ‘dream’ of something to come. You are inviting them to come with you on a journey that is their future. It’s extremely rewarding and exciting.”
With busy jobs and school-going kids, Mel says she and Andrew work hard to keep their weekends as simple as possible. “We love being at home, in the garden, spending time with our kids and dog, or going to the beach. There is always a braai (or Mauritian curry) and a few card games with family, as well!”
Although she’s extremely optimistic by nature, “I am a ‘glass overflowing’ person,” she laughs, Mel says she believes this is the best place to live and invest in South Africa. “The North Coast is growing every day. It’s still small enough to feel like a village, but big enough to run a successful business. There is no other place like it anywhere in the world!”
Photographs: Chris Allan Photo
