With the proliferation of technology in our lives, businesses are slowing shifting online. We have all witnessed the rise of online shopping and e-commerce in Singapore: companies such as Zalora, Taobao, Rakuten, qoo10, and many more are reporting strong growth.
To combat the fall in shopper numbers, shopping mall JCube has just introduced a whole new retail concept called J.Avenue equipped with a few digital innovations.
Created specially with the needs of young shoppers in mind, J.Avenue houses some 70 shops offering a diverse selection of chic and affordable merchandise in a hip street shopping environment. For a start, shoppers can look forward to about 40 fashion and accessories shops offering the latest styles, and another 23 shops specialising in gadgets, hobbies and stationery and gifts. Additional offerings are in store as more shops open progressively in the coming weeks.
Digital Innovations For The Social Media Enthusiasts
Other than the Japanese and Korean retail flavour in the tenant mix, once you step foot into J.Avenue, located at the second floor of JCube, the first thing you would notice is a huge J.Avenue Social Wall. A huge LED screen measuring 4 metres by 3 metres, the social wall aims to become the centre of social recommendation submitted by J.Avenue’s community of shoppers. The social wall also caters to those who like to take selfies.
Shoppers can take photos at two designated kiosks and decorate them with themed frames before uploading them onto the Social Wall for all to see. Shoppers can also use the official hashtag #JAvenueSG on Instagram to share their special moments at J.Avenue. These images will also be screened “live” on the Social Wall.
The social wall is developed by CapitaMall Labs, the innovation arm for CapitaMall.
Singapore’s Very First Flipbooth
Other than the social wall, there is also what is believed to be the first flipbooth in Singapore. The flipbooth allows shoppers to take a 15-second fun video of themselves, after which they will receive an exclusive limited edition 60-page flipbook that replays the action in print. Shoppers will be able to redeem a free pictorial flipbook when they spend a minimum of $70 in JCube from 8th of September to 26th of October 2014.
Partnership With Easy Taxi
Other than that, JCube has also partnered with Easy Taxi, one of the main taxi booking apps in Singapore, to offer a 50% cash rebate on all taxi trips that end at JCube. From 11am to 8pm every Saturday and Sunday in the month of September, Easy Taxi will offer passengers a 50% discount off their cab fares when they book their cabs and drop off at JCube. What’s more, these passengers will get a 100% rebate off their taxi fares when they spend a minimum of $40 in J.Avenue. Redemptions can be made at a designated counter located in J.Avenue.
When asked why choose Easy Taxi over GrabTaxi, Gushcloud Singapore, the marketing partner for JCube shared that Easy Taxi had a faster response time, and the whole partnership took around two weeks to be concluded.
To further engage young shoppers who are tech-savvy, the retail zone also has an online portal JAvenue.sg, which is available in both desktop and mobile versions. Over and above a typical mall directory, J.Avenue.sg is positioned as a “searchable mall” and features in detail selected merchandise of J.Avenue tenants. In addition, the portal doles out styling tips with a section that features the season’s latest looks curated from the merchandise of J.Avenue tenants. Users of the portal can also have fun creating and sharing their own “lookbook” by pairing outfits from the featured merchandise.
Singapore’s Retail Goes Digital
JCube is not the first company that is focusing on digital outreach. Earlier in June, Bugis, another popular shopping area in Singapore, has also launched its online version for shoppers to get more information when and wherever they need it. FairPrice, a popular grocer chain in Singapore, also revamped its online site to ensure better experience to its shoppers on top of boosting its online revenue.
All of these signs shows that physical shopping malls and retail incumbents are slowly catching up with digital innovation and actively leveraging on them in bid to draw more shoppers and customers to their shopfront.
And we expect to hear more from other companies soon.
Here are some other photos from J.Avenue you might be interested in:
Also Read:
As Singapore’s Online Grocery Shopping Heats Up, FairPrice Launches A Revamped Site!
Singapore’s Bugis Street Goes Virtual With New Online Shopping Site!
As S’pore’s Online Grocery Shopping Heats Up, FairPrice Launches A Revamped Site!
