Local retailers go big in Ion

July 24, 2008

Local retailers go big in Ion

Plus: Over 45% of Orchard Turn malI's retail space taken up by new-to-market concepts

By Michelle Tay

LOCAL retailers are so sold on the new Ion Orchard they have snapped up big chunks of space for flagship stores and lined up new fashion brands to entice shoppers.

The firms have already signed deals for at least 40,000 sq ft in the upcoming Orchard Turn mega mall, almost a year ahead of its opening.

Club 21, Kwang Sia Fashion and Wing Tai Retail will open boutiques for global brands, while jewellers from here and overseas are nailing down leasing deals.

'Ion Orchard is the first major retail development on Orchard Road in some 15 years to redefine the retail landscape,' said Dr Kenny Chan, managing director of watch chain The Hour Glass. 'This gives rise to opportunities for retailers to expand their prime retail network.'

Singapore luxury fashion group Club 21 has tied up the largest space so far, with about 22,000 sq ft secured for its four stores. It will open duplex shops for Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana and boutiques for Marc Jacobs and Armani Exchange.

Kwang Sia, which manages the Hugo Boss franchise here, will open Max Mara, Max & Co, Dsquared and Boss Selection in Ion.

Wing Tai will close its Topshop/Topman outlet in Wisma next Thursday and re-open the store in the form of a 12,000 sq ft, double-storey flagship in Ion next year.

Ion Orchard said the retailer is also 'in advanced talks' to open a sizeable store for Japanese casualwear chain Uniqlo.

Wing Tai will manage the brand under a joint venture with Uniqlo's parent, Japan-based Fast Retailing.

'We have been... preparing for opportunities arising from a new retail landscape,'' Wing Tai Retail executive director Helen Khoo said. 'Ion Orchard will complement our strong brand identity.'

Local timepiece retailer Sincere Watch will open Sincere Haute Horlogerie and The Hour Glass will open L'Atelier and Rolex - taking up a total of about 4,200 sq ft on the first floor.

Ms Soon Su Lin, chief executive of Orchard Turn Developments, said the mall has surpassed its aim of achieving up to 60 per cent of space leased to flagships, and new-to-market and new concepts.

Of the 325,000 sq ft or so of retail space already leased at $20 to $80 per sq ft, more than 30 per cent are flagships and more than 45 per cent are new-to-market concepts, she added.

Ion Orchard, which boasts themed clusters for easy shopping, also unveiled the new-to-Singapore brands in some of these groups.

The high-end jewellery and watch cluster on the first and second floors will include boutiques for Harry Winston, Chaumet, Boucheron and IWC, as well as a large beauty department.

The third floor will house contemporary fashion labels, including CNC Costume National, GF Ferre and Byblos, all in a multi-label boutique called 6five Barcode. Celebrity hairstylist Kim Robinson will also open a salon.

On basement one, younger shoppers will find standalone stores for global brands like Lucky Brand Jeans, Hilfiger Denim, Steve Madden and Fred Perry.

Basement two will house 'three superstores', including Topshop, while 'successful local brands', telecommunications outlets and casual restaurants will fill up basement three.

Ms Soon dismissed the idea that local brands were being shoved out of prime space by international labels.

She told The Straits Times: 'Every inch of every space is prime. We are carefully selecting the best and most successful of our local brands and clustering them together.'

michtay@sph.com.sg


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Expect these brands in Ion

New in S'pore:

· Marc Jacobs standalone boutique

· Harry Winston

· Chaumet

· Boucheron

· IWC

· Dsquared

· Boss Selection

· Lucky Brand Jeans

· Hilfiger Denim

· Steve Madden

Others:

· Armani Exchange

· Giorgio Armani

· Dolce & Gabbana

· Max Mara

· Max & Co

· Topshop/Topman

· Sincere Haute Horlogerie

· L'Atelier by The Hour Glass

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