SINGAPORE – In Singapore’s notoriously demanding retail climate, it seems only the deep-pocketed survive. For many brands, it is a cycle of recalibrating, renovating and reopening to stay competitive to consumers.
In the past month, beauty retailer Sephora Singapore celebrated the reopening of two revamped stores – at Ion Orchard and VivoCity.
Meanwhile, Japanese lifestyle and apparel retailer Lumine opened a new outlet at Raffles City, relocating from its former Clarke Quay location.
Coincidentally, both opened with “shop-in-shop” concepts to create more immersive brand experiences – bringing to mind the department store model that in recent years has fallen out of favour with shoppers.
The Straits Times checks out what is new at both.
Elevated brand stations, better shopping flow at Sephora Ion Orchard
The next time you step into Sephora’s Ion Orchard store, look out for these new additions.
Mobile payment corners for cashless payments. Elevated brand stations to get more hands-on with popular make-up brands Fenty Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury and Benefit Cosmetics. And dedicated areas for skincare brands Estee Lauder and Kiehl’s to offer quick pampering sessions – a 30-minute mini facial and eye treatment and a 15-minute skin consultation respectively.
The almost 9,400 sq ft flagship store, officially reopened on Sept 5, has also been reconfigured to optimise customers’ shopping flow.
Japanese crafts, debut Blue Bottle Coffee for Lumine’s second act in Raffles City
Frequent visitors to Japan will likely recognise Lumine. With 15 stores in the country, the fashion retail chain is found peppered around Tokyo, sometimes occupying entire buildings and linked to train stations underground.
Now, you can find it anchoring Raffles City Shopping Centre.
On Aug 27, Lumine unveiled a 7,000 sq ft flagship store in the mall – taking over the space department store Robinsons used to occupy. It opened with nine Japanese fashion brands, including three showcased via shop-in-shop concepts.
