Magazines Archives - 2007 March

Courts Sets Up Its Largest Asian Store In Singapore
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LEADING furniture, electronics and IT retailer Courts launched its first largeformat retail outlet — and the group’s largest store in Asia — in Singapore last December.

It is sited in Singapore’s first retail park known as the Warehouse Retail Scheme (WRS). The store spans a total of 116,000sqf over three floors of retail space.

“Having studied the proposition carefully with our retail partners, we believe that the Singapore market is now ready for out-of-town destination retailing,” said Terry O’Connor, managing director of Courts (Singapore).

“The retail park offers us an opportunity to create a shopping destination by combining our respective strengths to create a totally new and unique shopping experience.”

The store’s 8,000sqf first floor is fully dedicated to value retail, and houses special promotions and exclusive deals.

It features concept corners such as Hot off the Docks, where products are literally brought straight into the store once shipment arrives, and Countdown Corner, which retails offers available for a limited period of time.

Courts Megastore will also see the retailer expanding its product categories.

For the first time, Courts is offering build-to-order personal computers, health and fitness equipment, car audio and a full range of refurbishment and decorative items. It is also offering a wider range of pro-sumer cameras and accessories, meant for avid photographers.

Consumers to the store will also find designer/signature pieces at affordable prices at a section called Fuze located on the second floor. In addition, customers can get their dream home designed and the entire project managed by a one-stop design consultancy, Design Solutions Hub, all under one roof.

As an added service, Courts has introduced ‘Dr Digital’ — professional IT and technical consultants on the floor — to give impartial technical advice. To top it off, its technology floor will house an impressive 45.5m flat-panel television wall.

The company has also situated F&B outlets — Box Bistro, Café Connect and MegaPicks — within the store to allow tired customers a chance to rest, eat and recharge.

“Courts Megastore combines the experience of innovative, new retail concepts at value price points. We are very proud of our flagship store and will work closely with our partners, Ikea and Giant [the other two participating retailers], to promote this as a retail destination,” said O’Connor. Courts is one of the three pioneer retailers participating in Singapore Economic Development Board’s WRS, launched in April 2004.

The scheme sought to encourage companies to make sizeable investments and establish regional responsibilities in Singapore by allowing greater flexibility in industrial land use.