The Great Singapore Sayonara

RETAIL needs a bit of therapy. Two more fashion brands are calling it quits. By the end of the year, British brand New Look and French menswear chain Celio will close shop, said its distributor Jay Gee Melwani Group.

The decision follows the recent announcement of another retail giant Al-Futtaim Group to shutter at least 10 of its loss-making shops here. Al-Futtaim did not say which brands it would close but its portfolio includes Marks & Spencer (M&S), Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Ted Baker. Last year, the group shut down the M&S outlet at Centrepoint, John Little at Marina Square and Tiong Bahru Plaza, and several Royal Sporting House shops.

Tangs is still hanging on. It hopes a revamp of its website, with a new feature that lets customers to shop using their measurements and an avatar, will win back customers. Called Metail, the feature will be offered to only women for some brands. This new feature will be introduced next month.

Amid the retail shake-up, 77th Street founder Elim Chew is hoping to go the distance with a new logistics venture. The streetwear fashion brand founder has created FastFast, a service that lets drivers act as couriers. 77th Street, which had 16 stores here at its peak, is down to two outlets – one at Bugis Junction, and another in Ang Mo Kio Hub.

One retail company that’s making a comeback is Japanese skincare brand Fancl. After closing down its 13 shops and exiting Singapore in 2014, it has teamed up with a Singapore company to open about 25 counters and shops here. One of its first counters opened in Isetan Scotts last Friday.

Let’s finish off by browsing through some of the highlights from yesterday’s Budget debate.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat defended the Budget yesterday (April 6) asking Singaporeans not to think about personal gain but the greater good in the long run. Asking businesses in particular to draw on the “spirit of enterprise”, he reiterated the challenges ahead to grow the sluggish economy through innovation and increased productivity while caring for the vulnerable in society.

Increased surveillance is a necessary counterterrorism measure, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, responding to questions from the House about possible data abuse in allowing the Home Team to access Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) data and public transport cameras. The possibility of abuse should not automatically mean “we don’t collect the data or use it in the first place,” he said.

Police numbers will also be ramped up, and more automated and self-service screening measures are to be installed at major checkpoints, including Changi Airport.

So, at least spending is up for the Ministry of Home Affairs this year – its total expenditure is expected to increase by 10.1 per cent, to $5.34 billion.

 

Featured image from TMG file. 

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