http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/breakin...alls-colin-tan/

The Malaysian Insider
Breaking Views
Downtown malls vs suburban malls — Colin Tan
Apr 22, 2011

APRIL 22 — The results of a recent survey of tourist destinations released by the Association of Singapore Attractions last week were an eye-opener.

In spite of our island city receiving a record 11.6 million visitors last year — due in no small part to the debut of our two integrated resorts — nearly half of the 31 attractions surveyed reported a fall in the number of visitors — by up to 28 per cent in some cases.

With the exception of the China market, a closer look at our tourism statistics shows that it was the regional markets — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam — which registered the strongest growth rates.

A former student intern from Bandung, Indonesia, told me it was much more convenient for her and her friends to come to Singapore via the budget airlines than for them to go to Jakarta for their entertainment and shopping. The flight time was also shorter. Budget airlines have certainly brought the regional markets a lot closer to Singapore, which is conveniently positioned in a central location.

The uneven performance of tourist destinations in Singapore is also probably true for our downtown malls. Some are doing very well, while others are fast losing their allure. Aside from the booming suburban shopping centres, it appears that the rest of the industry is going through a shake-out. And it appears that no downtown mall is spared, even the seemingly-successful new ones.

Landlords of suburban malls have found the winning formula for pulling in the crowds within their catchment areas. Find a location, preferably adjacent to, or better still, atop an MRT station. Next, put in a cineplex, food court and a huge supermarket. Any other attraction or anchor tenant is a bonus.

However, what works for suburban malls does not necessarily hold true for the downtown ones.

Two of the more successful downtown malls in my opinion — Takashimaya and Centrepoint - are not the closest to the MRT stations in their locations. And you can certainly pick malls which disappoint although they are the nearest to the exit points of the train stations.

In the past, downtown malls attracted the affluent and a stream of local shoppers from all corners of the island. Today, they have lost a significant proportion of their domestic market to suburban malls. Local shoppers need a good reason to visit the city malls. One of these is to meet friends and that is why there are a lot more F&B outlets and fine dining restaurants in the downtown malls. However, meeting friends is most convenient only in the evenings and at weekends.

Compared to a decade ago, there has also been a tripling or quadrupling of shop space in the downtown areas. So, there is definitely more competition. Frequent traffic jams and high parking charges are also limiting the number of trips made by the affluent segment. The pool of resident city shoppers is definitely smaller.

Fortunately, our integrated resorts have come to the rescue. Because of them, there are a lot more visitors to Singapore. Take a train in the city during working hours and you will find foreigners outnumbering locals by at least four to one. Besides English, I have overheard chatter in Bahasa, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, French and the odd African and Eastern European language.

I understand that well-to-do Indonesians like Takashimaya and shops in Ngee Ann City. Many are repeat customers. Once in Singapore, they waste no time and head straight to their favourite malls and shops. This is because they already know the service standards and the quality of the merchandise. However, this can only happen if there is stability of tenants. These shoppers do not have much time to window shop or look around elsewhere.

There are no detailed statistics to show it but I believe most of our recent arrivals from the region are frequent visitors, which may explain the drop or fluctuations in attendance for some tourist destinations.

I think downtown malls need to recognise that finding a market niche — which is tough in itself — is no longer enough but stability of tenants is just as important with the current profile of visitor arrivals.

So maximising rentals today — by quickly replacing existing tenants with higher paying ones - may be working wonders for suburban malls but it is counter-productive to the longer term success of the downtown mall. — Today

* Colin Tan is head of research and consultancy at Chesterton Suntec International.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

This post has been edited by kh8668: Apr 22 2011, 02:09 PM

Let us discuss also, how to turn/make SSTWO Mall alive.

Any idea?

kekekeke

Q: Where did you go?

A: SSTWO Mall in SS2.

challenging job huh...

Imaging you own SSTWO Mall now, what should/will you do to revive the activities in the mall?

i don't the mall is designed for cineplex space.

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Added on April 22, 2011, 4:45 pmWhat make Centre Point @ Bandar utama happening?

This post has been edited by kh8668: Apr 22 2011, 04:45 PM

yeah yeah yeah..i see some positive contributions.

keep it guys, I believe the management is trying to make some changes.

A lot more retail centres are coming in Klang Valley.

Actually lot of us think that it is unnecessary to have so many malls.

hehehe, if this SSTwo Mall was not ready now, it maybe will also part of ETP, to create more JOBS for people....(who knows) kekekeke

I hope I be their agent la.....got money to earn dun want meh...but just curiuos what to do to make the mall happening. Since it is already built, have to make it happening lo, otherwise, turn it to be warehouse a?

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Added on April 22, 2011, 5:27 pmhmmm...if this happened, what will be the destiny of those ss2 commercial shoplots?

This post has been edited by kh8668: Apr 22 2011, 05:27 PM

hmmm....specialist mall will not work in Malaysia.

Same fate like Viva Mall (UE3 Mall before)? before I heard that mall will be also a bridal Mall, biggest electric appliances mall or furniture mall...kekeke if I am not wrong.

http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyScene/P...Scene/11580/0/0
By LIVING MATTERS
By ANGIE NG | Apr 23, 2011
Attraction of average-size residential, shopping projects

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The built environment in the Klang Valley, Penang and other parts of the country is poised for major changes going by the ambitious infrastructure and development projects that have been planned to boost the liveability and growth potential of our major cities.

Projects such as the mass rapid transit in the Klang Valley and the light rail transit and monorail projects in Penang will certainly herald many new changes in the property landscape.

These infrastructure projects will undoubtedly spawn opportunities for other types of development such as housing, office buildings, shopping malls, industrial parks and public facilities.

With all the big plans under way, there may be a tendency to pay too much attention on building mega buildings and structures, and neglect the basic, simple needs and necessities of the common folks.

Many Klang Valley folks consider it unnecessary to spend too much resources on gigantic structures and projects just to add to the city’s skyline.

In fact, the debate on whether there is a need to build the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka tower in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, is still on.

Personally, I believe there are many worthwhile projects that can be pursued, such as cultural and art centres that should be planned based on traditional architecture and using local and indigenous designs and materials. They present opportunities to liven up our cities with more holistic activities and showcase the rich local culture and heritage to visitors.

So it makes sense to incorporate Malaysia’s multi-culture and multi-ethnic heritage into the new commercial projects in our major cities.

We must remember that foreign visitors and tourists to the country are here to savour and experience the living heritage of the people in our cities, towns and villages, instead of gazing at the skyscrapers and concrete jungle which they can find in their own countries. In many ways, what they hope to experience is the simple, yet rich and original way of life of the local people.

Likewise, new residential projects should also look into the basic needs of potential buyers and should be functional instead of over-emphasising the aesthetics. There is a growing number of people who want to live in the city centre but find the prices of the property way beyond their reach.

There should be more effort to build smaller “starter” units in the urban conurbations in order to attract and retain young talent and workforce in cities, particularly Kuala Lumpur.

A review of planning laws and incentives should be considered to encourage developers to build more such entry-level properties for first-time homeowners.

These developments can be integrated with some nice lifestyle food and beverage outlets and retail centres.

Since a number of condominium projects have yet to be fully sold or occupied, perhaps the developers can look at redesigning the layout plans and turn some of the overly spacious units to smaller homes.

Developers of such starter homes have reported brisk sales and there is still a long waiting list for these smaller residences.

In fact, there is also tremendous opportunity to further liven up the Klang Valley’s retail landscape with more average size lifestyle outlets and centres.

The plan to link major retail destinations in Kuala Lumpur’s main shopping hub will help promote the city as a favourite shopping destination.

Walking around shopping malls that are well spaced out, safe and not overcrowded has proven to be therapeutic and relaxing.

It is not only the fairer gender who are taking to shopping as a favourite past-time but their male counterparts have also caught up with this habit. Whether it is to look for something to buy or just taking a stroll, shopping complexes have become favourite haunts for many Klang Valley folks.

The scorching sun has made walking a chore these days and setting up shaded pedestrian walkways in major shopping streets will do well to promote the city’s shopping potential.



Deputy news editor Angie Ng knows that in many ways, simplicity and originality is highly desirable as far as living environment is concerned.

I went to eat chiken Hot Pot last weekend....wow..very very spicy...but taste good

This post has been edited by kh8668: May 5 2011, 06:19 PM

Monday May 9, 2011
Hot weather drives people to malls and pools
By QISHIN TARIQ
qishin.tariq@thestar.com.my


KUALA LUMPUR: The recent scorching weather has turned public pools and air-conditioned malls into cool havens for families looking to escape the heat.

“This is only the second time my family has come to the pool at KLCC Park. We usually go to the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam,” said Haripin Tauhid, 49, who brought his family all the way from Klang.


Can’t stand the heat: Families taking a break from the hot weather to cool off at Wet World in Shah Alam. “Although it's farther for us than the aquatic centre, there is more to do at KLCC. Earlier, we had stayed in the mall because the weather was too hot,” said the father of five.

German backpacker Agnes Fischer said it had seem sunnier in Malaysia since her last visit.

“But that's why I like it here,” she said.

Malaccan Gopal Subramaniam said he did not mind the heat as he was used to even hotter weather in his home town.

“I do miss having a good cendol to cool down on a day like this, though,” joked Gopal.


Bangsar residents taking a bath on a hot day next to a water tanker after being without water for two weeks.
In Bangsar, residents of the Seri Pahang public housing have had to cope with a water cut for the past two weeks on top of the hot weather.

Residents said they had been lugging pails of water from a tanker to their homes. Children were also seen taking their showers by the tanker as they filled pails with water.

“We have to keep coming down to the parking lot to get water,” said resident Thavamoney Murugasu, 45, adding that they had lodged complaints with Syabas (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd) and City Hall.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...4372&sec=nation



ONE OF THE CRUCIAL FACTOR TO REVIVE SSTWO MALL....KLEKEKEKE

mai siao.....they used RM180mil to build the mall....now you ask them to knock it down? kekeke

give it 3 years time..kekekeke

f&b takes the lead

hahaha...One Utama is good. The Curve luckily got ikano power centre and ikea connecting each others, otherwise, I don't think it will survive.

furthermore, one utama and the curve clustered with ikano power centre and ikea are BIG BIG MALLs

agreed on that part

New Proposed got la...but dunno when only will be realised.


Attached thumbnail(s)

MR DIY is on the way

Not easy...eggs and chickens issue.

retailers: no crowd = no business; wait and see

shoppers: no good retailers = nothing to see; next station

This post has been edited by kh8668: Aug 3 2012, 12:33 AM