Special Feature: Great Singapore Sale

Quick, grab your bags, it's the Great Singapore Sale

If you live in Singapore, you know something big is happening when you suddenly get a flood of visitors from out of town.

Well, expect the flood to continue for the next eight weeks as the Great Singapore Sale kicked off in late May.

Bargains galore await eager shoppers from all over the world as Singapore’s retail industry steps up to the mission of making this 13th Great Singapore Sale the biggest and best ever.

The highlights? More late night shopping, a bigger and better Singapore Shopping Challenge, new product launches at the Singapore Showcase, island-wide discounts, exclusive tourist privileges and dream prizes to be given away everyday.

P@SSPORT was at Wisma Atria on May 25, the day the Great Singapore Sale kicked off, and crowds of shoppers were out, bargain hunting till midnight.

A visitor from Kuching, Sarawak told P@SSPORT, “I went into (a branded shop) and all the best items had been snapped up – the first day!”

It is evident that, with this Sale, the early shopper gets the goods.

Said Dato Dr Jannie Tay, President, Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) and Chairperson, Great Singapore Sale 2006 Steering Committee, “Our strategy this year was to build on the past successes of the Great Singapore Sale and focus on giving consumers what they really want. So for eight whole weeks, shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 70% off on just about anything, anywhere, on Orchard Road and Marina Bay to the shops in the heartlands.”

“Serious shopaholics who can't get enough of the Sale and visitors who want to make the most of their time here will have even more opportunity to shop as the highly popular late night shopping introduced last year will be extended to more malls and more weekends this year.

“To add to the excitement, the Sale’s Official Card, Mastercard, will be giving shoppers daily opportunities to win a year-long travel pass.”

The Great Singapore Challenge, organized by The Association of Shopping Centres (Singapore), kicked off May 27 with a record number of eight local teams and 17 international teams vying for top honours in the Singapore and International category respectively.

Teams of three were given S$1,000 for a three-hour shopping spree at designated malls. A twist this year was the teams also ventured to Little India and Chinatown for a Uniquely Singapore experience.

The Singapore Showcase will feature the latest range of Uniquely Singapore lifestyle products and collectibles.

Shopping is one of the main reasons visitors travel to Singapore, and is one of the key components of the tourism industry.

Said Joceyln Ng, Deputy Director, Leisure Marketing & Events Management, STB, “Tourism expenditure from shopping alone amounts to over S$3 billion annually, with approximately one-fifth or S$650 million spent during the Great Singapore Sale last year.

“This shows that the Great Singapore Sale has clearly established itself as a major event on the travel calendars of many of our foreign visitors. We hope that the new service initiatives this year will also enhance the overall shopping experience for tourists, who will return home with fond memories and good reviews of their stay here.”