Magazines Archives - 2012 May

Stores in Malaysia stepping up on merchandise display and fittings
Story 2 - Focus -

Two ‘new’ stores facing each other stand out in the Old Wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, both having undergone complete facelifts. They are Candylicious and iwannagohome!, owned and managed by Shopping Bag (M) Sdn Bhd. Each store occupies 10,000sqf of space.

Candylicious, reputedly the largest candy store in Asia, is a Singapore concept that saw the opening of its first store in Dubai in 2009, followed by its own Singapore store at Resorts World Sentosa. The group has two outlets in Malaysia with its 4,000sqf flagship store in Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur.
<

The signature display in the 1 Utama store is the Candylicious lollipop tree. Made up of some 5,000 varieties of sweets, chocolates and lollipops in an assortment of forms, flavours and colours, this eye-catching sweet sensation attracts both children and adults. The store also stocks up on sweet “accessories” such as candy-inspired T-shirts, tanks, cushions and bags.

Signboards that change colour, walls of chocolates and candies, a Pucker Powder dispenser, “smile” slogans in and outside the store, as well as windows with multi-coloured lights are a visual boost. There are also child-sized shopping carts, mascot ambassadors and activities, such as colouring contests, as part of the “retail-tainment”.

“Our customers don’t just shop. They embark on an adventure, explore and experience the entire store, and emerge with chests of sweet treasures,” Kan maintains. This is enhanced by lots of interactive features such as self-help candy and chocolate dispensers, and repeat displays on one or more fixtures in different parts of the store.

“Merchandise is also placed close to or on the checkout counter for lastminute impulse buys,” says Kan.

The visual displays at Candylicious change with the seasons, with festive merchandise and decorations at the entrances and inside the store. The window displays are changed as often as every week at both Candylicious and iwannagohome! as “a fresh look and new merchandise will increase repeat visits, like in fast fashion”, Kan explains.

Garrett Popcorn, with its delicious aromas and different popcorn varieties, and Loco Gelato, with its myriad flavours, are located within Candylicious, one on each side of the entrance, adding to this “one-stop [candy] heaven on earth”.

To view full story, get a copy of Retail Asia. To subscribe, please download the subscription form from http://www.retailasiaonline.com/subscription.html