Late night shopping catches on with malls and retailers
Thu, Apr 26, 2007
AsiaOne
Four months after the first Friday Late Night Shopping kicked in Orchard Road, two more shopping malls - Cathay Cineleisure Orchard and The Cathay - are joining the programme.
This makes a total of 300 retailers who will extend their operating hours up until midnight on the last Friday of each month, up from 52 retailers when the programme started last year between July and November.
Shopping malls such as Far East Plaza, Pacific Plaza, Tangs @ Orchard, Wheelock Place, Wisma Atria, Paragon and The Centrepoint are already participating.
Mr Andrew Phua, Director, Cluster Development (Tourism Shopping & Dining) at the Singapore Tourism Board , said: "Friday Late Night Shopping has been a resounding success. The positive feedback we have been receiving from retailers, the growing number of participating malls and their tenants, as well as sales, are testimony of the potential of the late night economy and Singapore's positive retail climate."
Friday Late Night Shopping was launched by STB to allow business travellers who have limited time to shop more access to the malls during the day.
Shopping accounted for S$3.26 billion in tourism receipts in 2005, or about half of visitor expenditure. For many of the participating retailers, Friday Late Night Shopping last month (March 2007) recorded one of the best sales contributions since the initiative was launched, said the Singapore Tourism Board.
Ms Ellen Yeo, Vice President of Store Management at TANGS, said the store saw an improvement of 3.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent in sales contribution during extended shopping hours.
Retailers will continue to offer special in-store promotions and activities when Friday Late Night Shopping is held this week on April 27. Public transport hours will continue to be extended to complement Friday Late Night Shopping.
