More brands here mean shoppers are increasingly spoilt for choice, but is more necessarily better?

Anybody who subscribes to retail therapy will know that a whole slew of stores and brands — some of which are making their debut in Singapore — have sprouted up. Or they will be by the end of the year.

These include luxury brands Alexander McQueen, Delvaux and Moncler, which are slated to open later this year. Others looking to establish flagship stores here are American jeans brand American Eagle Outfitters and Skechers, as well as beauty brands Sulwhasoo (which will open next month at Capitol Piazza), Lancome (also at Capitol Piazza) and Clarins, which already has a store at ION Orchard.

More brands mean shopping malls here have also had to revamp their spaces to accommodate the increase in offerings and, naturally, shoppers. VivoCity is one such example. The popular mall, which is run by Mapletree Commercial Property Management, unveiled its new retail space at Basement 1 — previously a carpark — in April with nine new retailers. Takashimaya Shopping Centre re-worked itself when popular bookstore Books Kinokuniya literally made the step up after 15 years (moving from the third to the fourth floor), opening up a new space of over 30,000 sqf on Level 3 that added vibrancy to its current retail mix.

On the surface, it appears shoppers here now have a wider choice. But in reality, has it added any real value? Joanna Lee, head of retail management at Mapletree Commercial Property Management, believes it has.

“We are optimistic about the shoppers’ responses towards the new Basement 1 retail space, which boasts a cohort of coveted brands. These popular retailers complement our current tenant mix and reinforce our leading position as a lifestyle destination mall in Singapore,” she said. She added that the new retail space “will take advantage of a constant stream of traffic” thanks to the main thoroughfare that connects HarbourFront MRT Station to the main shopping areas in the mall as well as the Sentosa Express Station at Level 3.

“The addition will create a seamless shopping experience for our customers across all levels of the mall,” Lee added.

Fashion boutiques here also have an edge compared with their South-east Asian counterparts.

Marina Bay Sands is a good example. Its Moschino store at The Shoppes is the second store after the one in Los Angeles to boast a brand-new store concept by creative director Jeremy Scott. Meanwhile, Diane von Furstenberg’s third store at the mega mall offers an exclusive parka that can only be found at The Shoppes in Singapore.

This definitely adds vibrancy to the retail landscape, but survivability is another factor to think of when one considers how the e-commerce boom does not show any signs of slowing down. Indications show that people shop more online than going to brick-and-mortar stores here. I know I do, but it may also be due to my eclectic taste in fashion — my wardrobe is mostly made up of Swedish brands that can’t be found in Singapore, apart from COS — and the seemingly irresistible compulsion to shop while overseas to complete that touristy experience.

But I may belong to the minority, based on a recent survey by CBRE Research, which suggested that the majority of local consumers are more comfortable with traditional shopping at physical stores where they can touch and feel the products and experience the service — something online shops are unable to provide. Regardless, many retailers have both physical and online presence, which complement each other to cater to the needs and convenience of the shoppers.

That is something that Toshin Development Singapore, which manages Takashimaya Shopping Centre, has taken into consideration. The revamped Level 3 at Takashimaya offers a healthy mix of retailers across lifestyle, men’s and women’s fashion, food and beverage, and accessories.

“(We) recognise the fact that majority of the shoppers in Singapore still value the experience of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores,” said Elaine Chew, general manager of Shopping Centre Management for Toshin Development Singapore. “With every retail experience within Takashimaya Shopping Centre, there are considerations made to enhance the shopping experience that is dependent on the whole retail mix and not based on only one category of the business.”

This boost in retail therapy opportunities, coupled with the ongoing Great Singapore Sale, can mean only one thing: Shop till you drop isn’t just an age-old adage any more.