Hide and seek: Retailers ditch giant malls for obscure niche locations

They’re relying on social media for customers.

More retailers are choosing to ditch ubiquitous shopping complexes for quieter and more obscure niche locations, a report by Colliers revealed.

Colliers noted that Singapore’s retail landscape is slowly but steadily changing, as more operators choose to set up shop in alternative locations such as shophouse enclaves, beneath HDB blocks in quiet neighbourhoods, and in the ancillary retail space of obscure industrial building.

Some even choose to operate from remote and private sites removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life and rely on social media and the internet to attract walk-in customers.

“Many of these “hidden gems” are not fazed by the fact that their shop fronts are not located in the middle of heavily trafficked pedestrian flows.. Some of these alternative retail options provide an uncommon ethnic atmosphere or relaxed ambience, such as the F&B shophouse locations of Tanjong Pagar, Kampong Glam, Jalan Riang and Joo Chiat, while others in non-typical retail space benefit from lower occupation costs when compared to malls,” stated Colliers.