Goodbye Robinsons: A look at the department store's 160 years in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Robinsons announced on Friday (Oct 30) that it will close its last two department stores in Singapore, subsequently more than than 160 years in the country.
Robinsons said information technology has begun the liquidation process for its stores at The Heeren and Raffles City Shopping Centre, following "meaning shifts from offline to online spending" among customers and weakened demand exacerbated by the COVID-xix pandemic.
The company volition too close 2 stores in Malaysia.
Here are some things you lot may non know almost Robinsons:
READ: Robinsons to close final ii stores in Singapore due to weak need
ROBINSONS WASN'T ITS ORIGINAL Proper name
Originally known as Spicer and Robinson, it was founded in 1858 by Australian immigrant Philip Robinson and former jailkeeper in Singapore James Gaborian Spicer.
The 2 men opened the business organization equally a "family warehouse" at Commercial Square, now known as Raffles Identify, according to an article in the National Library Board (NLB) digital library.
It initially sold nutrient items such every bit tea, rice, sugar, oatmeal, biscuits, crackers, cheese and preserved meats, too as women'due south hats and dressmaking items.
Robinson inverse the proper name to Robinson and Company after Spicer left the business concern in 1859 and a new partner, George Rappa, was brought in.
Robinson's son Stamford Raffles Robinson took over the company after his begetter's decease in 1886.
In 1891, the store was moved to its new premises at 26 and 27 Raffles Place, and was registered as a limited liability visitor in 1920.
It later on relocated to a bigger site at Raffles Chambers in 1941, and offered an air-conditioned cafe, hairdressing salons and merchandise such as men and women's vesture, leather goods, confectionery and silverware.
ROYALTY FROM THE REGION Amongst EARLY CUSTOMERS
Robinson had employed salesmen to travel the Malay Archipelago and Borneo to bring in customers, instead of opening stores in the region.
Presently, aristocrats similar the rulers of the Malay Archipelago and King Mongkut of Siam joined a growing list of clientele.
By 1881, the company had become a popular meeting identify for the European customs in Singapore.
TWO BOMBINGS AND A MAJOR FIRE
Bombs hit the building twice during the Japanese invasion simply the department shop resumed business concern the next day.
However, it remained closed throughout the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, resuming trade in 1946.
On Nov 21, 1972, a massive fire caused past a short circuit on the ground floor destroyed the Raffles Identify building.
The blaze also damaged the roof of neighbouring Overseas Wedlock Banking concern building and forced the stock commutation to end trading for the twenty-four hour period.
Nine people were killed - eight of whom were trapped in the lifts - and S$21 million worth of property was lost in the burn down.
THE EXPANSION IN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA
After the fire, Robinsons opened a new store at the Specialists Shopping Eye on Orchard Road on December 11, 1972 and added a branch at Clifford Centre in July 1977.
In June 1983, the company moved the main Orchard Road store to The Centrepoint and closed down its Clifford Middle branch in November the same twelvemonth.
New stores were opened at Raffles City Shopping Middle in 2001 and at JEM in Jurong East in 2013. A new flagship store at The Heeren as well opened its doors in Nov 2013.
Information technology also has two stores in Kuala Lumpur – at The Gardens at Mid Valley mall and The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place.
In 2008, the store'due south ownership changed later the United Arab Emirates-based Al Futtaim Group bought 88 per cent of the company'south shares. Al Futtaim Group also operates Marks & Spencer, Zara and Ted Bakery in Singapore.
Robinsons closed its The Centrepoint shop at the end of its lease in March 2014, subsequently 31 years of being the anchor tenant, and its JEM store in August 2020.
On Oct xxx, 2020, the visitor appear that it is closing its final two section stores in Singapore over irresolute retail buying patterns and weak demand made worse by the COVID-xix pandemic.
READ: Robinsons to close Jem outlet by the end of August
ROBINSONS SALES
Since 2018, Robinsons has offered huge discounts for swell shoppers at its Blackness Friday Auction, a 24-hour shopping event held the day after Thanksgiving in November.
Customers would expect in line for hours before doors would open at the stroke of midnight, hoping to snatch deals with discounts up to 80 per cent across all stores.
In 2018, the company handed out bottles of chicken essence to early birds in the queue and free java from 9am.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/goodbye-robinsons-close-down-stores-history-heeren-raffles-city-189876
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