Madison Beer’s support saved this S’porean nail salon, how’s it doing a month later?
Some believe that everyone has their own “lady luck”, whether they are a family member or a mentor at work.
For 21-year-old Hazel Wah, owner of nail salon Eden’s Atelier Co., her “lady luck” turned out to be global pop sensation Madison Beer, who made headlines for paying S$3,460 for the salon’s monthly rental on top of the manicure she received for her concert in Singapore.
It’s been about a month since Hazel’s story went viral. How is the salon doing now?
From a poly dropout at 18 to opening a nail salon
But first, we need to go back to the beginning, when Hazel boldly decided to drop out of school at 18—something that not many people her age dare to do.
“I only dropped out early on as I wanted to be financially independent to support myself!” Hazel exclaimed. She went on to work multiple part-time jobs, such as cashiering, performing admin tasks at an office, and even teaching children at a childcare centre.
Despite juggling many roles, Hazel lacked an avenue to generate immediate cash and figured that becoming a nail technician could allow her to get paid after providing her services.
This spurred her to hone her skills, and together with a business partner, they invested S$3,000 to open a small nail art studio at the end of 2022 named berrybearynails, which was eventually renamed to totonailstudio.
The path that led to Madison Beer
Getting their name out was the biggest challenge for small nail art businesses like Hazel’s, which led her to collaborate with a local content creator to spread awareness and help her gain traction.
The growing support from her clients eventually gave Hazel the confidence to “take a leap of faith” to move to a bigger location, offering more services and hiring more nail technicians. She also renamed the business from totonailstudio to Eden’s Atelier Co. earlier this April.
However, things were not as rosy when her relationship with her business partner started to sour.
While Hazel stated that she does not want to divulge too many details as she does not want him to be “affiliated with any form of a bad reputation”, she shared that it was due to her partner’s lack of financial support.
“To cut it short, he wasn’t present when financial troubles arose, which caused me to struggle,” she stated, having since parted ways with him a few months later.
The split only left Hazel financially strapped, and she lost over S$20,000 to keep up with the monthly rental fees and other expenses, including electricity bills and monthly salaries for her team.
“My fiance and friends [also] aided me by helping me out slightly with finances. They loaned me money here and there to help me keep the business afloat,” lamented Hazel. She also received a S$500 loan from another content creator friend she made on TikTok to make ends meet.
As Hazel continued to tide through and even debated moving back into a smaller studio to make ends meet, she received a DM on Instagram from, surprise, surprise, Madison Beer!
In an Instagram carousel, Hazel explained that upon learning about Hazel’s predicament, the starlet paid for her nails and her rental for the month! Ultimately, this became a lifeline for Hazel, and even a month later, she remains in awe of the experience.
It felt really surreal and I am still, really in disbelief by what happened. She was genuinely so nice and I’ll eternally be grateful for her actions! I never thought people could be so nice to others and I would like to pass it on after I manage to succeed.
Hazel Wah, founder of Eden’s Atelier Co.
A month later, how is the business doing now?
Since sharing her story, Eden’s Atelier Co.’s Instagram account grew by over 4,000 followers to 9,120 total at the time of writing. All their nail technicians, including Hazel, have been fully booked for appointments.
“Bookings have definitely picked up! For instance, we could have one to two appointments per day last time, but now, we have three to four per day!” she excitedly shared.
While Hazel is delighted at the support she has received, she admitted that the business was not prepared for the sudden influx of customers. She explained that she and her team had to work overtime to fit in more appointments and simultaneously fulfil multiple orders for press-on nails.
To sustain the momentum, Hazel set a routine for her nail technicians to follow that allowed them to help each other when they were in need.
“For instance, we help each other complete the presson orders [and] prep customer’s nails if the admin in charge is busy. Everyone is really helpful towards each other!”
Aside from maintaining its current momentum, the salon is looking to bring in more services in the next year or so. This includes doing lash extensions and facials and conducting live sales on TikTok for their press-ons to interact more with their followers.
Hazel also shared her ambition to open a chain of salons to cater to various needs and remains extremely grateful for the opportunities presented to her and her business.
Everyone at Eden’s Atelier Co. is extremely grateful for the opportunity presented to us. This was pure luck, and I am forever thankful [that] I am the chosen one for her kind act. To our family and friends who supported us, I love all of you and thank you for always being here for me.
Hazel Wah, founder of Eden’s Atelier Co.
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Also Read: Will Singapore become a Web3 hub? Coinbase, Ripple execs weigh in at TOKEN2049.
Featured Image Credit: Eden’s Atelier Co.
SDEC 2024 will explore the latest trends in semicon, AI & ecommerce, here’s how to join
[This is a sponsored article with Sidec.]
Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) is hosting their 9th annual Smart City & Digital Economy Convention (SDEC) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this year.
The annual Smart City & Digital Economy Convention (SDEC) is back for its ninth year in October 2024. Hosted by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec), the conference will focus on themes in burgeoning industries.
From semiconductors and AI to ecommerce, SDEC 2024 will bring you four days of non-stop insights, and it’s all part of what they’re calling their 3-in-1 Tech Conference of the Year.
Happening October 16-19, 2024, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Sidec is expecting to attract over 18,000 visitors and feature 200 exhibitor booths, showcasing both international and local companies.
Here’s what you can learn there.
Day 1: Surf the semiconductor tsunami
Semiconductors (or SC, or semicon) is a massive industry that Malaysia is at the heart of.
The industry’s growth is expected to reach an output of US$46 billion or RM212.52 billion by 2028. It’s no wonder Malaysia is considered an electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor powerhouse—which convinced Tesla to set up shop here.
“The industry has grown at an impressive CAGR of 16% since 1972, and while the last seven years have seen a slightly moderated growth of 10%, the sector remains a cornerstone of Malaysia’s economic landscape,” said Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) President Dato’ Seri Siew Hai Wong at the Tech In Asia 2024 conference.
And that’s exactly what SDEC 2024 wants to explore on the first day.
Between 10AM to 5PM on October 16, you’ll get access to conferences diving into Malaysia’s IC Design industry, the convergence of AI and semiconductors, and the cultivation of semiconductor talent.
Hear from local and global leaders from QES Group Berhad, STMicroelectronics, Weeroc, and AMD on these sessions planned for the day:
- Unlocking the Potential: Malaysia’s IC Design Industry and its Impact on Southeast Asia
- Powering the Future: Breakthroughs at the Convergence of AI and Semiconductors
- Transforming Semiconductor Design: The Role of EDA and IP in the AI Era
- Navigating the Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Market Trends and Impact on Malaysia
- Building a Resilient Semiconductor Test & Assembly Supply Chain in Greater Klang Valley
- Cultivating Semiconductor Talent in Malaysia: Bridging Education, Industry, and Technology
Day 2: Activate AI for advancement
The world is recognising Malaysia as an emerging data centre powerhouse in SEA, as demand surges for cloud computing and AI.
Malaysia has attracted billions of dollars in data centre investments, including those from Microsoft’s US$2.2 billion (RM10.5 billion), Google’s US$2 billion investment (RM9.4 billion), and ByteDance’s RM10 billion (US$2.13 billion).
And these are just in 2024 alone.
AI isn’t just a buzzword; some would argue it’s a key driver of societal progress. Embracing it can help build a skilled workforce and give people access to diverse tech skills. This shift equips individuals to thrive in a digital world, boosting job prospects and fueling national growth.
On October 17, SDEC 2024 will have a full day dedicated to educating you on the potential of AI. They’ve brought together speakers from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, SNS Network, and Taiwan AI Academy to speak on:
- Battle of the AI Minds: A Global Talent Competition
- Powering the Robotics Revolution with AI
- Generative AI Development and Deployment in Cloud
- The Impact of AI on Industries: A Deep Dive
- Driving Business Growth with AI: Copilot for SMEs
- Leveraging AI for Advanced Healthcare Solutions
- Building a Smart Mobility Ecosystem with AI
Day 3: Zoom into the ecommerce explosion
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) reported a 5.4% year-on-year increase in ecommerce revenue in Q3 2023, rising from RM274.6 million to RM289.5 billion. With over 30 million internet users in 2022, enhanced connectivity has paved the way for this digital shopping revolution, bolstered by a dynamic economy and rising digital literacy.
So, what does this mean for you as a retail business owner? Huge opportunities. And the newer yet already booming ecommerce platform, TikTok Shop, should not be overlooked.
TikTok reported that nearly 83% of Malaysian consumers turn to social entertainment platforms for shopping, prompting brands to engage their audiences with entertaining and educational content.
TikTok also revealed that 59% of users indulge in retail therapy weekly, and 89% participated in Mega Sales Events last year. High-spending shoppers averaged US$265 (about RM1,100) during these events, driving a sixfold increase in conversions from discovery to purchase in Q2 2023.
If you’re unsure how to leverage this opportunity, SDEC 2024 has you covered.
Day three (October 18) features a TikTok Shop SME Digitalisation Conference, where SMEs can discover innovative ecommerce strategies and creative advertising solutions on TikTok Shop:
- TikTok Shop shoppertainment: Leading the Global E-commerce Trend Wave
- TikTok Shop in Malaysia: Unleashing Business Growth and Positive Social Impact
- E-Commerce Revolution: Harnessing TikTok Shop Ads for Impactful E-Commerce Growth
- From “Unknown’ to “Sold-out”: Unleashing the Power of E-commerce Potentials Through TikTok Shop Creators
- Innovate to Elevate: How to Gain Business Success Riding the TikTok Shop Wave
- TikTok Shop Partner (TSP): Unleashing the Power of E-commerce Business
- TikTok Shop MCN: Innovative Branding by Entertaining Engagement
Day 4: Hear from featured Malaysian startups
The final day of SDEC 2024 will highlight the top 20 local startups specialising in AI, biotech, and sustainability, presenting their innovations to venture capitalists and industry experts.
These startups have been part of Sidec’s Selangor Accelerator Programme (SAP), and the final day of SDEC 2024 marks their much anticipated Demo Day.
Some of the startups that have previously been part of SAP include names familiar to Vulcan Post, such as Entomal Biotech, iMotorbike, and Virtualtech Frontier.
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Much like Sidec’s previous conventions, SDEC 2024 offers a valuable opportunity to drive innovation by showcasing cutting-edge technologies and their applications across various industries.
Attending the convention means you’ll get to network with influential leaders, policymakers, and innovators from around the world, facilitating meaningful business matching sessions and collaborations.
For those looking to visit SDEC 2024 this October 18-19, early bird tickets start from RM179. Note that the conferences you can attend are based on your passes. Get your tickets to SDEC 2024 here.
Also Read: Sidec aims to nurture 300 startups and SMEs to grow Malaysia’s GDP, here’s the game plan
Featured Image Credit: Sidec
This S’pore family has built up a vegetarian empire in the nation with 5 brands & counting
Growing up with a vegetarian father, Ai Lin and Ee Ren were more than familiar with Singapore’s vegetarian F&B landscape. Even as kids, it was clear to them that the options were limited.
Whether that be a hawker centre or coffee shop, it wasn’t easy for them to find a place to dine at. So when the siblings wanted to start a business together as adults, they decided to address this problem with Saute Group.
“As food enthusiasts, we recognised a gap in the market for innovative and flavourful vegetarian cuisine,” Ai Lin explained to us.
“Our goal was to create a cafe that offered interesting, wholesome, and modern vegetarian dishes that would challenge the perception of vegetarian food as boring, limited, and bland.”
Who knew that 12 years later, this passion project of theirs would become a vegetarian F&B group with five brands under its belt?
A leap of faith
Looking back, Ai Lin realised that their decision to start Saute Group was rather bold. Neither herself nor Ee Ren had any kind of F&B experience, yet they still left their full-time careers for this.
Not to mention the fact that Ai Lin just had a newborn baby at the time. Talk about taking a leap of faith, right?
But the siblings were driven by a shared vision to disrupt the market with their offerings. It also helped that each of their spouses, Shah (Ai Lin’s husband) and Soek Hui (Ee Ren’s wife), were encouraging and assisted in the R&D process.
The four of them would frequently meet up at Ee Ren’s place to experiment on new dishes and curate a menu. During an interview with Lifestyle Guide in 2019, Shah revealed that they were trying every meatless dish they saw on YouTube.
“Once we spot a dish we like, we’d try many variations and different combinations before eventually deciding on one,” he shared.
A time-consuming endeavour, the whole process took roughly six months before their menu was finalised. Part of this was due to them avoiding the use of mock meat. Instead, they focused on natural ingredients, such as nuts and mushrooms in their raw form.
March 2016 marked the beginning of Saute Group with the opening of their first outlet called Saute at Bugis Cube.
On a roll
If you’ve been to Bugis Cube, you probably know that the retail space there isn’t the largest. Saute stood at a relatively small space of 517 sq ft, but the four co-founders didn’t mind.
The rent there was more affordable, which allowed them to test their restaurant’s concept without significant financial risks.
Patrons of this outlet were in for a diverse range of offerings encompassing both Western and Asian delicacies. You could get dishes like vegetarian pizza, pasta, ramen, and fried rice all under one roof.
Over time, they also introduced more comfort food like orh luak using the sibling’s own family recipe, which proved to be a bestseller.
It became clear within two years that the founders were onto something big with Saute. Encouraged by the customers, they left Bugis Cube for a bigger space that would also increase brand visibility.
By April 2018, the family opened a new outlet at City Square Mall and launched their new concept, Saute-san.
This was also the same time they considered the possibility of expanding into a vegetarian F&B group. Fast forward to 2024 and they now have four other F&B brands:
- Flavours by Saute, a local and Western fusion plant-based restaurant at Funan Mall (opened June 2019)
- Saute Sushi, the first plant-based sushi train concept in Singapore at Paya Lebar Square (opened June 2021)
- Saute Saranghae, a Korean plant-based restaurant at Tampines 1 (opened February 2024)
- Saute & Mee, a plant-based noodle restaurant at Anchorvale Village (opened May 2024)
Living a veggie-infused dream
You might be wondering, why did they choose to start so many brands?
While all of these restaurants stay true to Saute Group’s plant-based approach, each of them offer unique dining experiences and focus on a specific culinary concept and cuisine.
Ai Lin acknowledged that consolidating the five restaurants under one concept would be simpler. It would make replicating them across multiple locations less of a hassle as well, from store design to marketing and menu development.
Besides that, she shared that this choice makes them unable to fully benefit from economies of scale. They can’t always leverage the same suppliers or enjoy the cost savings associated with large-scale operations.
However, “We believe that offering diverse culinary experiences is essential for providing our customers with unique and exciting dining options,” she stated. Introducing new dining concepts with each brand is a distinct part of Saute Group’s offerings.
This ensures that customers of one brand get a new experience at its other sister restaurants.
Another aspect that sets Saute Group apart from others in the market is their commitment to being halal-certified. Of the five brands, only Saute & Mee hasn’t gotten the certification yet but they’re in the midst of the halal application process.
Becoming trendsetters while starting an empire?
With the rise in public awareness regarding sustainability and health, it’s not really surprising that more people are being health-conscious.
Even if they don’t convert to a fully vegetarian diet, there’s a positive trend of consumers looking for healthier alternatives. The growth in flexitarian consumers was a main factor in the group’s pursuit of a halal certification, all to make customers feel more comfortable dining there.
Ai Lin also noticed more non-vegetarian restaurants including vegetarian options in their menus now than before.
To meet this growing global demand, Saute Group is passively looking for opportunities to expand beyond Singapore. “Our long-term goal is for Saute to be recognised as a leading vegetarian F&B group that delivers high-quality, innovative, and wholesome food,” she stated.
Seeing as how there’s been an increase in the number of vegetarian F&B brands, we’re excited to see how Saute Group will continue to increase their market share.
- Learn more about Saute Group here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.
Also Read: Think you have a winning company culture? Get awarded & recognised by TalentCorp Malaysia.
Featured Image Credit: Saute Group
People aren’t sending enough mail, so SingPost has shut down 12 branches in 2 yrs
Singapore Post (SingPost) has closed 12 of its post office branches in the last two years, amounting to one in five of its locations, according to The Straits Times.
This move comes as part of the company’s effort to stay relevant in a rapidly digitalising world where fewer people rely on traditional mail.
With 44 branches still in operation, SingPost is pivoting its business to meet changing customer needs and ensure its services remain cost-effective.
So, what’s really going on with all these closures?
Declining mail volumes
The most significant reason behind these closures is a sharp drop in mail volumes.
As more people opt for electronic communication, whether it’s emails, WhatsApp messages, or Zoom calls, fewer letters are being sent the traditional way. This has led to reduced demand for physical postal services.
The news portal reported that Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How mentioned in Parliament that the average consumer sends less than one letter per month.
Most businesses, which make up over 80% of mail users, have also shifted to digital platforms.
With fewer letters being posted, it makes sense that SingPost would need to reassess the number of physical branches it operates.
Where have the post offices gone?
Of the 12 branches that have closed, five were located in popular malls like Suntec City, Northpoint City, and Westgate. The rest were scattered across standalone branches, community clubs, office buildings, and Housing Board blocks.
One of the most recent closures was the branch at The Clementi Mall, which had been operating for 11 years before its doors shut for good on September 20.
Customers who relied on this branch now have to travel to Clementi West Street 2, a 15-minute bus ride away, to access the nearest alternative.
What’s next?
Although fewer post offices are around, SingPost is not abandoning its customers. In fact, the company is expanding other customer service options.
SingPost’s POPStation (Parcel Locker Network) is now available at over 100 locations and 300 condominiums, allowing customers to collect their parcels anytime, day or night.
To meet the growing needs of ecommerce users, SingPost has also introduced services like POPStop for dropping off parcels and POPDrop for bill payments and purchasing shipping labels.
There are even plans to expand these services to more convenient locations, like heartland stores and train stations.
According to The Straits Times, SingPost’s spokesperson explained that the company aims to create a “comprehensive network of accessible touchpoints that deliver essential postal services to the community,” ensuring they remain useful and cost-efficient.
Postal services in the age of digitalisation
As digitalisation rapidly transforms how we communicate and conduct business, SingPost has had to rethink its business model.
While traditional mail services are declining, the company has seen a rise in revenue from its Singapore and Australia operations, thanks to increased parcel delivery and ecommerce services.
For the first quarter of 2024, SingPost reported an operating profit of S$24.4 million, more than double the amount from the same period the previous year.
Despite this growth, letter mail and printed paper volumes in Singapore dropped by 8.1% over the past year.
To keep up with rising costs and its obligations as Singapore’s national postal service, SingPost raised postage rates in October 2023—the first major increase in nearly a decade.
As more businesses and government agencies move towards online communication, the role of traditional post offices will likely continue to shrink.
In response, Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority is evaluating the relevance of postal service obligations in today’s context, aiming to ensure they adapt to the needs of modern consumers.
With the expansion of self-service options like parcel lockers and drop-off points, it’s clear that SingPost is focused on finding new ways to provide value to its customers.
While physical post offices may be fewer in number, the company is making sure postal services remain accessible as people embrace the digital age.
Also Read: A ClassPass competitor? This new app lets you access nearly 300 fitness studios in M’sia.
Featured Image Credit: KrASIA
MOM: Higher-income workers in S’pore get twice as many days of paid leave as the bottom ones
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.
In a response to a parliamentary query earlier this month, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) revealed that there are distinct differences in average and median days off between different income groups of resident (citizen and PR) workers in the economy.
Higher pay tends to correlate with longer paid leave allowance. By law, employees in Singapore are entitled to up to 14 days of paid leave after eight years of service or more with your company, starting with seven days in year one.
However, it is up to employers to provide more days off, as a part of the overall job package.
This is one the reasons for the differences between income groups reported by MOM:
| Salary | Average no. of days of paid leave | Median no. of days of paid leave |
| below S$2,000 a month | 12 | 14 |
| between S$2,000 to S$4,999 per month | 17 | 15 |
| S$5,000 and above per month | 21 | 21 |
As you can see, on average the lowest paid workers receive only 57 per cent of the days of the top paid ones. Very nearly half, though in many specific cases, the difference will be even larger than 2x.
It’s important to note, however, that compared against the median income of S$5,197, it suggests that about half of the local resident workforce enjoys an average of 21 days of paid vacations.
It’s also important to remember that those in the bottom 50 per cent are typically workers with fewer years of experience, who may not yet be entitled to their full leave under law, let alone a part of voluntary benefit packages offered by employers.
In other words, these disparities should not be seen as some sort of unequal treatment of the poor but rather a result of companies rewarding loyal employees with time.
How does the world compare?
While I don’t have a specific breakdown by income groups in each country, we can at least take a look at how Singapore’s averages compare to what workers are typically entitled to elsewhere:
For the reputation that Singapore has for overwork, it doesn’t actually look so bad in comparison to other countries.
With the exception of France, most of Europe offers around 20 to 25 days of paid leave, and it’s less likely for employers to add significantly more over that, given the relatively high basic minimums stated by law.
Canada, for instance, guarantees only 15, Japan between 10 and 20 and the US, famously, has no laws that would mandate any paid leave, though 77 per cent of private employers offer it anyway, according to official statistics.
It seems then that most Singaporeans are enjoying comparable standards to the rest of the developed world, give or take a few days in certain cases.
Also Read: Unexpected job survey: Nearly 70% of Singapore employers believe 4-day work week is feasible
Featured Image Credit: flowertiare / depositphotos
5 strategies that have helped Sunway Pyramid thrive, according to the mall’s GM
When Malakat Mall (AKA the viral “ghost mall”) in Cyberjaya announced their closure, we were curious to learn how it met that fate.
Its Muslim-friendly concept is unique and can’t easily be found elsewhere. Theoretically speaking, shouldn’t it have been a big hit since Malaysia has such a large Muslim population?
But after speaking to the mall’s tenants, we learnt that a plausible reason why it didn’t work out was that the management team fell short in marketing the space.
This got us wondering, how exactly do you build up a mall and have it continuously thrive?
We reached out to a few malls that met these key criterias that signified a thriving mall:
- Having a steady flow of foot traffic on a day-to-day basis
- Having tenants of good quality (such as chain brands)
- Having a high occupancy rate of long-term tenants
We reached out to five malls in the Klang Valley to get answers, but only one of them got back to us.
Here are some of the insights shared by Jason Chin, the Senior General Manager of Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Giza, and Sunway Square. The article will be focusing on Sunway Pyramid as it is one of the more popular malls under Sunway Malls.
Some background: Jason’s career at Sunway Pyramid spans 22 years and he has a strong portfolio in the company. An example is how he turned the mall’s ice-rink into a profitable business and rebranded it into a popular attraction in Malaysia.
1. Brand identity could make or break your mall
“For a mall to sustain, it is imperative that the mall has a strong brand identity that resonates well with the communities it is targeting,” Jason stated.
For context, brand identity is the combination of visual and content choices that represent your company’s personality.
Essentially, it’s how the business is perceived by the public and becomes what you’re known for. A simple example is how Sunway Pyramid is the Egyptian-inspired shopping mall with a replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza.
So despite undergoing major refurbishments in 2007, 2015, and 2024, they’ve kept to this theme. It’s been part of their brand identity for 27 years and there’s no reason to change it now.
Beyond just physical appearance, the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPKM) stated that brand identity also encompasses retail mix. What stores do you have, and do they match what your target consumer market are looking for?
It’s crucial to select the right anchor tenant fitting to your consumers as well because they lease a large space and draw in consistent crowds. Examples of this include AEON in Mid Valley Megamall and Jaya Grocer in The Starling.
2. Location, location, location
It’s no secret that where a shopping mall chooses to set up shop is one of the top reasons that determines its success or failure.
Why? Because this factors in various key aspects like accessibility to consumers, consistency of foot traffic, and scalability. A contributor at Forbes added that location determines consumer demographics as well, which is crucial in making the mall a success.
According to Jason, “Smaller community malls are challenged by the lack of space; hence the key is to precisely target what the immediate catchment requires. Medium to large malls have to keep the footfall above average to encourage transactions and sales for its retailers.”
He credited Sunway Pyramid’s continued success to Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah’s well-planned township and the Sunway Malls team. Being within Sunway City’s integrated township has benefited the mall all these years.
“Its prime location within a self-contained community ensures consistent footfall from both residents and visitors,” Jason explained.
Another example is 1 Utama Shopping Centre that’s located in the residential township of Bandar Utama Damansara and has a strong community.
3. Throw out the rule book, it can’t keep up
Trends in consumer preferences evolve so often that what keeps people visiting your mall today won’t be the same reasons they return in a couple months.
So sometimes it’s better to throw out what the rulebook says and allow your team to come up with fresh ideas. Or in other words, practise thinking out of the box. This belief is what led to entertainment options like Sunway Lagoon and its in-house ice-skating rink.
Other innovative concepts that Sunway Pyramid introduced include Malaysia’s first Smart Parking and Smart Washroom, as well as a Food Waste Composter to minimise waste to landfill.
Of course, you still need to be aware of changes in consumer preferences and deliver on those desires accordingly. From Jason’s observations, the recent trend in malls show a shift in preference for F&B operators.
Phang Sau Lian, the president of Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPKM), shared similar insights during an Al Jazeera interview in July. The organisation has found the most significant shift in consumer trends in recent years to be the emergence of F&B outlets as the key driver of foot traffic in malls.
“Their percentage of total leased space [has] soared to nearly 30 percent, compared to a single-digit share a decade ago,” she said. She believes the trend will likely continue for now.
This brings us to our next point…
4. The rumours are true, it’s all about experiences now
“Malls are shifting towards providing unique, immersive experiences that can’t be replicated online on top of value retailing,” Jason stated.
People don’t go to malls just to buy more groceries or new furniture anymore. If you’ve been paying attention to the scene, you’ll notice that malls are evolving into lifestyle hubs offering entertainment, dining, and community events.
From our personal observations as consumers, the malls that tend to be crowded on weekends have a good combination of these lifestyle offerings. This comes back to providing customers with convenience because you have it all in one place.
Whether that’s an arcade to de-stress, restaurants serving a variety of cuisine, or even just interactive festive events, these offerings keep a steady flow of customers walking in. It’s also recommended to keep different generations in mind when curating your retail mix so that the old and young will enjoy themselves.
One way to adapt to this trend is by adjusting your tenant mix to be more diverse. For example, Jason shared that Sunway Pyramid is in the midst of expanding its “Oasis” section to have more local brands and flagship stores.
“The goal is to create destinations where people want to spend time, beyond just shopping,” he affirmed.
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There are surely many other factors that contribute to whether or not a mall thrives, and some of these insights might apply better to certain malls than others.
But the learnings shared by Jason from his experience being a part of Sunway Pyramid’s management team shed more light on what mall developers should keep in mind.
Seeing as how Malaysia has over 1,000 malls but not all of them are successful, we should all be more critical on how they can become a thriving community hub.
Otherwise, is it really worth developing more land just to erect another cookie-cutter mall, when we could perhaps have a more diverse third space?
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: 5 scenarios in which you would appreciate having the reliable ASUS Vivobook 16 for work
Featured Image Credit: Sunway Malls / Selangor.travel
