MAR 2019 FEATURE:
Retail Business Development Mission to New York
Jointly organised by Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Retailers Association and Singapore Furniture Industries Council, 13 SFIC delegates flew to the Big Apple in January for a one-week learning journey that included visits to Crate & Barrel, Macy’s and Facebook.
The retail scene doesn’t get much more exciting than in New York, the shopping capital of America.
For retailers keen to keep abreast of the latest retail technology and trends, Retail’s BIG Show, the flagship industry event of the National Retail Federation (NRF), is not to be missed.
Attendees have the opportunity to attend education sessions on the latest retail topics, network with the industry’s best, tour innovative stores for a first-hand experience and attend many more events.
Jointly organised by Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) and Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), 13 SFIC delegates flew to the Big Apple in January for a one-week learning journey that included visits to Crate & Barrel, Macy’s and Facebook.
Some of our industry players such as Commune, Scanteak and Star Living have participated in previous trips and have benefited from the experience, a similarity shared by first-timers such as Alan Kueh from AK+, a new SFIC member.
“The trip is very good (for us) to see the overall picture on how different elements can come together to make the customer experience, in all forms of retail, better.” says Alan.
Keynote presentations by retail experts from the major retail brands offer inspiration and a morale boost amidst a challenging economy. Participants were also impressed with the wide array of technological tools available that can make running a retail operation more efficient.
Completing the learning journey, the store visit itinerary with its balanced mix of furniture and other retail brands, gave a holistic view of the current retail landscape.
Customer-centric experiences are a defining feature at these retail outlets, such as Levi’s Tailor Shop that provides customisation services while furniture retailer Crate & Barrel has made a deep impression with its strong visual merchandising prowess.
Product trials are not new – whether for software applications or food samples – but mattress specialist Casper’s “sleep factory” that lets potential customers rest on the mattresses at its store premises is a novel idea. The service has helped the brand grown to become a market leader in the product category.
Boasting users in the millions, the social media giant that is Facebook has strengthened its product offerings when it bought over Instagram and Whatsapp. Participants were given an insightful sharing at Facebook’s New York office on how to harness the power of its platforms for maximum outreach.
Mission leader Mr Ernie Koh, who is the Executive Director of Koda Ltd and SFIC Presidential Advisor, is a firm believer in the programme:
“Learning journeys offer our industry players a first-hand view on the latest technologies and trends. This year’s trip is a cross-TAC collaboration between SFIC and SRA, which is a good opportunity for our furniture retailers to network with retailers from other industries.’’
More overseas business development and learning missions will be launched throughout the year. Interested parties can contact Alvin Tan from SFIC Institute at alvin@sficinstitute.com for more information.
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