Takealot House of Beauty

We attended the Takealot House of Beauty event on the 28th March 2025. I surprised my mum with VIP tickets, expecting a premium experience, but instead, we felt like nothing more than part of a trial run. We were so excited and eagerly looking forward to the Takealot Beauty Fair, only to leave feeling completely disappointed. The venue was far too small for the number of attendees, making the entire experience uncomfortable. The fair was supposed to start at 4 PM, yet we were stuck waiting in long, chaotic queues outside just to enter, collect our wristbands, and receive maps. Once inside, things only got worse. We do not drink alcohol, yet that was the only option offered—no water, no juice, nothing else. How could an event of this scale fail to provide basic beverage options? As for snacks, the selection was limited to popcorn, cupcakes, and ice cream. By the time we reached the station, only popcorn was left. How was there not enough for all attendees? Collecting samples became another frustrating ordeal—cramped, overcrowded queues, people pushing us just to get through, and no proper crowd control. We didn’t even get to visit all the brands because of the disorganized mess. As if that weren’t enough, the experience ended on an even worse note. Before leaving, we weren’t even allowed to use the toilets because security was aggressively rushing to clear the venue. The security staff were extremely rude and dismissive. I wasn’t even given the chance to call my husband inside. I was abruptly and disrespectfully told to stand outside by a woman at the exit who showed no regard for common decency. What was supposed to be a special and memorable experience for my daughter and me turned into nothing but frustration and disappointment. It costs absolutely nothing to treat people with respect, yet this event failed to provide even that—let alone the VIP experience we paid for.