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SINGAPORE – After Robinsons announced on Friday morning (October 30) that it will be closing its last two stores here at The Heeren and Raffles City Mall, shoppers flocked to the outlets, unsure of when. the blinds will finally close.
Some buyers, like 48-year-old housewife Suyan Hong, were “totally stunned” when they were told that Robinsons was on provisional sale.
“I knew they were downsizing after announcing their (Jem) store closing. But generally when downsizing occurs, it’s a cost-cutting measure that will help improve the company’s margins. I didn’t expect them to close,” he added . she said.
“I will miss the spontaneous experience of being able to find anything from clothing, household items and children’s items in one place at Robinsons. Robinsons is the place I would go for last minute shopping during the holiday season.”
In the third quarter of this year, Robinsons closed its Jem store in Jurong East, which opened in 2013.
A meandering queue quickly moved outside Heeren’s store when The Straits Times visited her around 3 p.m., with about 20 people safely separated in line. Up to 25 people lined up to try on clothes for a fitting room at the Heeren store.
At the Robinsons store in Raffles City, a queue of about 15 people could be seen at the cashier. Some customers were also seen carrying luggage at the Raffles City shopping center to store their purchases at the department stores.
Many of the shoppers who came to both outlets were middle-aged, some with their young children in tow. There were also several senior citizens in the crowd.
Retailers ‘sales promoters, including Hush Puppies and Samsonite, were seen packing their wares to ship back to their warehouses after being told to do so by the brands that hired them in light of Robinsons’ announcement on Friday.
Some buyers said they saw the writing on Robinsons’ wall.
Michelle Khoo, 34, who works in the e-commerce industry, said department stores like Robinsons are past their prime.
Robinsons noted that more people are turning to online shopping and lower demand from department stores for retail sales to decline, a problem exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Said Ms. Khoo: “During our parents’ days, department stores would be the first places they would shop. But now there are so many avenues that going online would be my first choice.”
Still, he had gone to the Robinsons store in Raffles City to check out the sale items with his friends after lunch.
Another buyer, Patrick Zheng, 35, was also not surprised that Robinsons closed.
“With tourists unable to enter the country, Orchard Road, where many department stores are located, has lost much of its presence,” said Zheng, who works in the financial industry.
Still, many people showed up at Robinsons on Friday afternoon, with some shopping for holiday gifts.
For example, human resources manager Joyce Chan had 50 thermos flasks in her shopping cart that she wanted to buy as gifts for her colleagues using her Robinsons vouchers.
Explaining why she went to Robinsons, Ms Chan said: “We are not sure when Robinsons will close and … some in-store retailers are going out of stock.”
Robinsons said the appointed liquidators are in negotiations with the owners, but “we expect the stores to remain open for the next week.”
But Ms. Chan had to cancel her plans after discovering that for every transaction made by a customer, the coupons can only be used if the purchase is at least double the value of the coupons. Therefore, a $ 20 coupon can only be used for a minimum spend of $ 40.
Many buyers such as Ms. M. Sidhu, who is in her 50s, were saddened to learn of the closings. Ms. Sidhu said she has fond memories of the Robinsons and that reminds her two adult sons, who are in their 20s, of their childhood.
“Robinsons used to be at The Centrepoint with Marks & Spencer. During Christmas the whole area would light up and we would go shopping as a family,” he said.
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