Magazines Archives - 2007 October

Robinsons opens a world-class store in Kuala Lumpur
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SINGAPORE’S iconic retailer Robinsons has opened its first store outside of the republic. The new department store, which opened for business last month, is located at The Gardens, Mid Valley City in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The store, spanning over 110,000sqf across three levels, was fitted out at a cost of RM30 million (US$8.8 million).

Operated by the Robinson Group, the KL department store aims to offer “a world-class shopping experience in a world-class store”.

Said John Cheston, CEO of Robinson Group at the media event, in conjunction with the opening of the store: “We are happy and pleased with the store and it is our hope that the shoppers will enjoy our exclusive products as well as the new brands within the store.”

Other than the quality merchandise, Robinsons takes pride in providing quality customer service. Renowned for this aspect in Singapore, Robinsons intends to duplicate this proven formula for the Malaysian market.

Robinsons will have in-store personal stylists, lingerie advisors, and nursery and sleep advisors to guide shoppers in making the right decisions when making purchases.

The department store features a wide selection of fashionable labels for women, men and children.

Fashion for the cosmopolitan woman includes chic brands such as Coast (UK), Trucco (Spain), Fenn Wright Manson ( UK) , InWear (Denmark), Jessica (Hong Kong), and Episode (Hong Kong) while the Robinsons Men’s Department offers a collection of both international and local labels, including 4You (Denmark), Matinique (Denmark), Blend (Denmark), Casualist (Thailand), Oscar Jacobson (Sweden) and Basille (Italy).

The store also has a section offering lifestyle products for the modern homemaker, from luxury tableware and kitchenware to soft furnishings. The Robinsons Home Department showcases international brands such ASA, WMF, Henkels, Bodum, Jasper Conran, Pintinox and Filli Gnalli.

Meanwhile, the Robinsons Bedshop offers a comprehensive range of topbrand quality beds and exclusive models from Simmons, Sealy, Dorma, Slumberland and Dunlopillo in a sensory- conducive ambience complete with an exquisite bedding collection from Lulu Guinness, Margaret Muir, CK Home, Dorma and more. The store’s team of ‘sleep advisors’ will be on hand to guide and help customers choose the right bedding.

At the media event, Robinsons also launched the OCBC Robinsons Visa Platinum Card. A collaboration between

OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad and Robinson & Co (Singapore), it is the first retailer co-branded platinum card in Kuala Lumpur. On hand to launch the card were Robinson’s Cheston and Dato’ Albert Yeoh, director and CEO of OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad.

The OCBC Robinsons Visa Platinum Card offers several privileges for patrons of Robinsons and Marks & Spencer in Malaysia. The card will also offer members unique cross-border privileges at Robinsons, Marks & Spencer and John Little in Singapore.

Announcing this at the launch, Dato’ Yeoh said: “The OCBC Robinsons Visa Platinum Card is the product of a quest to respond to the increasingly sophisticated needs of today’s discerning customer.

The card captures the essence of the persona of this group, that is, [who tends] to appreciate superior shopping experiences and the finer points of customer service. These are evidently available in vast measure at Robinsons.”