Start shopping late on the last Friday of the month

A four-month pilot project, the 'Friday Late Night Shopping' initiative, started on July 28, to enable shoppers to shop till midnight on the last Friday of each month in the Orchard Road area.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will lend support to retailers by undertaking an umbrella marketing campaign to create greater awareness of this initiative. If the response is good, late-night shopping may become a regular feature.

Dr Chan Tat Hon, Assistant Chief Executive of Leisure with the STB said: 'This initiative taps on the increasing demand for extended operating hours, especially from busy working professionals as well as business travellers who have limited time to shop due to their busy schedules.’

At the time of launch, the initiative had 52 participants, including Tangs and retailers in Wisma Atria, Wheelock Place, Pacific Plaza and Scotts Shopping Centre. Many are offering special promotions. For example, with a minimum spend of $150 at any of the participating shops at Wisma Atria, shoppers will receive a $20 Wisma Atria gift voucher.

‘We hope to see more retailers joining in to extend their operating hours and making ‘Friday Late Night Shopping’ a part of our Uniquely Singapore shopping offering, enhancing our image as a shopping lifestyle destination,’ said Dr Chan.

Late night shopping usually only comes around during the Great Singapore Sale and at Christmas. For Tangs, however, it’s nothing new. They responded to customer feedback and introduced end-of-month midnight shopping a year ago and have no plans to stop.

Ms Ellen Yeo, Assistant Vice-President of Store Management with Tangs said: ‘Results so far have been encouraging. We are very pleased that STB will be launching an initiative to promote late night shopping along the Orchard Junction.

‘Together with other participating retailers, Tangs hopes to bring vibrancy and excitement every last Friday of the month to Singapore's most popular shopping destination!’