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How Many Still Remember These Closed Down Departmental Store?


Chestnut

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Closed-Down-Departmental-Store.jpg

 

Now we are in 2019 but we are now looking back at the 6 departmental store that used to exist previously that our po po or gung gung used to go one! Bet most of us don’t remember these store anymore. Bet maybe even our mom and dad also couldn’t remember 😅

This is all thanks to Singapore Atrium Sale for reminding us of these departmental store. So here is the 7 nostalgic departmental store that used to be the big boys in Singapore:

Yaohan

yaohan.jpegThis used to be big back in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Some background history …. in 1974, the Yaohan Department Store opened its maiden Singapore store at the newly built Plaza Singapura shopping centre. It opened its second Singapore store in 1977 at Katong and its third store in 1979 at Thomson Plaza. It ended operations in 1997.

2. John Little

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Nobody don’t remember John Little as they have only officially closed down in 2017. In case you don’t know, John Little is basically the oldest department store in Singapore and has operated since 1842. The Plaza Singapura branch has existed since 1979 and John Little ended this last branch in 2017.

 

3. Sogo

sogo.jpg

 

Sogo really got history in Singapore. The open their  first store at Raffles City in 1986, Sogo expanded to Tampines and Paragon before going into judicial management in Singapore in 2000. Sogo is basically the favourite Japanese department store that used to be a crowd champion in Singapore.

3. Daimaru

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If you’re staying near the vicinity of Clarke Quay, then you should familiar with Daimaru or maybe you’re too young to know. Basically Daimaru was the anchor tenant in Liang Court for 20 years and closed its doors in 2003.

 

4. The Emporium

Emporium.jpgThis is a Singapore pride where The Emporium was started by a Chinese entrepreneur, Lim Tow Yong. We should be familiar with Emporium in many heartland locations. The even have their presence in Penang Malaysia when they started! Would say it’s big.

5. Fitzpatrick’s Supermarket

Fitzpatricks-Supermarket.jpgNot exactly a department store but Fitzpatrick’s Supermarket operated at Orchard Road, between 1958 and 1963, an era where departmental stores have not really existed. Guess maybe even our daddy mummy also cannot remember it.

6. Cortina Department Store

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Cortina Department Store used to operated in Colombo Court before downsizing to Funan Shopping Centre but subsequently ended its operations. Maybe this is too young for those youngster to know that this departmental store even exist.

If you see these day, where got such people go mall? People rather sit at home and shop online … Lazada, Shopee, Zalora and so many more.. they are so convenient nowaday…

So there you have it. These are the old school department store that used to rock Singapore. How many do you know? Tell us if we have missed any out!

 

https://sg.everydayonsales.com/news/3788/tbt-how-many-still-remember-these-closed-down-departmental-store/

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Shalala lala la la ~ 🌠

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1 minute ago, Chestnut said:

 

Yea. Acquire by bhg liao. 

And we still got kmart. I rmb my labu bring me there to see some slivery sparky chio shoes

 

Seiyu actually owned by Walmart.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiyu_Group

 

BHG merely took over the stores, not acquired the brand itself.

 

 

 

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Bad content = Clickbaits, brag posts and social media news feed that nobody gives a flying fuck about + waste of server storage space

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2 minutes ago, Cynical Ape said:

 

Seiyu actually owned by Walmart.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiyu_Group

 

BHG merely took over the stores, not acquired the brand itself.

 

 

 

 

Waa.. interesting. I never knew was own by Walmart 

 

Didnt know bhg is beijing huilian group https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Hualian_Group

Shalala lala la la ~ 🌠

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6 minutes ago, Chestnut said:

 

Wat is 2nd chance?

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If-you-remember-2nd-Chance.jpg

 

If you remember 2nd Chance, you’re an old person. Here’s what happened to it now

March 8, 2016

Unless you’re born before 1980, you would most likely not have heard of 2nd Chance clothing line. It was basically a brand that used to be as hot as H&M now, catering mainly to boys.

Many old boys would have the impression of it as a hipster brand that came from overseas, since many of its advertisements comprised ang mo boys looking cool. Apparently, it’s a local brand that was established in 1975, and expanded rapidly in the early 80s.  In its peak, it had eighteen outlets in Singapore and seven outlets in Malaysia. Back in the 80s and 90s then, it was the in thing to wear.

 

So, what happened to it?

Apparently, somewhere in the 1990s and 2000s, the sales of the brand seemed to have declined. In 1997, during the Asian Financial Crisis, prices of commercial properties dropped, and the owner of 2nd Chance took the chance to buy retail properties at low prices, and therefore changing the name to Second Chance Properties and focusing on its property business that is more lucrative.

At this moment, the company still sell clothes, but with its First Lady brand—a traditional Malay apparel. This time, it has three outlets in Singapore and forty-one outlets in Malaysia.

The company, as of 2014, holds fifty-six properties in Singapore and one in Malaysia. And here’s the interesting part: despite us not seeing the 2nd Chance brand anywhere now, Second Chance Properties is now a listed company.

In other words, the company that made the clothes we used to wear as a kid is now making money by renting out properties. It’s interesting how the world works, eh? Maybe a few years down the road, we might just see H&M renting properties as well? Who knows?

 

https://goodyfeed.com/if-you-remember-2nd-chance-youre-an-old-person-heres-what-happened-to-it-now/

 

 

A Successful Serial Entrepreneur, Second Chance CEO Is Now Running For Singapore Presidency

Zafirah Salim

Last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that this year’s presidential election will be reserved for Malay candidates.

Mohamed Salleh Marican – the chief executive of Second Chance Properties – has since stepped forward as a candidate, and officially announced that he will be running for Singapore’s first-ever reserved election.

The 67-year-old president hopeful is also the first Malay-Muslim owner of a company to be listed on the Singapore Exchange Board.

“I have done very well in business and I feel I want to give back to society in a much larger way,” he told The Straits Time

 

According to him, his business experience puts him in good stead to be Singapore’s eighth president, as it has cultivated in him traits such as good judgment and strong emotional intelligence.

“In business, one bad mistake can set you back many years or even wipe you out. So good judgment is important.” 

This is especially so when the president has to decide whether to approve the Government’s request to use the national reserves for the people’s well-being, he added.

Another quality Mr Salleh identified as crucial in a president is “high EQ“, as he or she has to interact with Singaporeans from all walks of life as well as deal with foreign dignitaries.

“In business, you are used to dealing with different types of people, whether they’re your customers, employees, bankers or suppliers.”

His Life As A Serial Entrepreneur

For those unacquainted, Mr Salleh actually has over 40 years of retail business experience under his belt.

Following in his late father’s footsteps, Mr Salleh made his first entrepreneurial foray into menswear tailoring in 1975, which unfortunately failed a mere four months later.

Undeterred, he decided to try again five months later, aptly naming his business Second Chance. This time, he specialised into readymade men’s clothing as he noted that tailoring is not very profitable.

Back then, readymade men’s clothing was extremely popular in Singapore and Malaysia due to foreign brands such as Lee.

Riding on the popularity, Mr Salleh decided to embrace a Western image for Second Chance when advertising.

With its affordable pricing and Western branding, Second Chance soon became a household name.

By 1988, Second Chance had opened 25 outlets through franchising, with 18 in Singapore and seven in Malaysia.

However, Mr Salleh faced his toughest challenge after he won his first big award and customers realised that Second Chance was a local brand. Sales declined sharply in a short period of time.

Many outlets became unprofitable and Mr Salleh was forced to change his strategy to revive the business, closing 21 out of 25 stores.

In 1992, he identified a niche and diversified into Malay women’s traditional clothing with the launch of First Lady. It proved to be a hit, and remains highly popular today.

 

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Its resounding success led him to venture into retailing gold jewellery under the name Golden Chance.

To differentiate Golden Chance, he allowed customers to weigh the gold before making any purchase. This was a new concept in the market that helped to gain customers’ trust.

 

goldenchance.jpeg

When the Asian financial crisis struck, he spotted an opportunity again. As people started to let go of commercial properties, he snapped them up at low prices, marking the company’s venture into the property sector. This proved to be his most successful business diversification to date.

As the Group purchased prime retail properties at good value, the company’s name was also changed to Second Chance Properties to reflect its serious intention of making property its main core activity.

Today, the company’s property arm is the top contributor to the Group’s bottomline.

The company, as of 2014, holds 56 properties in Singapore and one in Malaysia.

And here’s the interesting part: despite us not seeing the Second Chance brand anywhere now, Second Chance Properties is now a listed company.

The retail-cum-property group was listed on SESDAQ in 1997 and made it to the SGX Main Board in February 2004.

This Man Never Gives Up

I guess when Mr Salleh started the business of tailoring men’s garment in 1975, no one really expected him to be able to grow his private tailoring shop into the multimillion-dollar company it is today.

The route to success is never easy, and it was no exception for him. In fact, his early attempts at entrepreneurship threatened to bankrupt him more than once.

Despite the inauspicious start, Mr Salleh did not give up and instead restrategised time and again to eventually build Second Chance into a household name. He has proven that with determination and the ability to seize opportunities, one can easily find success.

It is certainly rare for an entrepreneur to change his business model again and again but still managed to achieve a great success. But as they say, third time’s a charm!

But just because he is a good businessman does not necessarily make him a good president. Go figure.

Is He Qualified To Be The Next President? 

mothership-768x432.jpeg

Salleh Marican and wife / Image Credit: Mothership

Recent changes to the eligibility criteria for standing in the presidential election state that candidates with private sector experience must have run a company with at least $500 million in shareholder equity, to automatically qualify.

According to the ST report, Second Chance Properties had shareholder equity of between $254.3 million and $263.25 million in the past three financial years.

However, it was said in Parliament that the Presidential Elections Committee has the discretion to certify that a candidate who does not automatically meet the criteria can stand, if it is satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of the President.

Mr Salleh said while he may not automatically qualify as a candidate for the upcoming election in September, he is “optimistic” he can convince the Presidential Elections Committee he is deserving as he has the necessary experience and ability for presidential duties.

He added that he “can’t be worried if he will fail” before he starts.

“When it comes to a $2 million or $20 million shop, my thinking process and how I evaluate the purchase is the same. It does not mean I must have 10 times the ability (to buy the $20 million shop).”

Featured Image Credit: Redwire Singapore

 

https://vulcanpost.com/612919/second-chance-ceo-salleh-marican/

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12 hours ago, ManOfTheHour said:

I like to go Oriental Emporium. Can find hard to find toys there cos not many go there for toys

 

Last time like to go their toy department beo those big boxes of transformer toys which my parents never buy.

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9 hours ago, ManOfTheHour said:

I buy cheap wwf toys. Never owned transformers or lego. No interest

 

i remember there was a hulk hogan with a switch on his back.

when u click the switch, the hulk hogan will swing his arms...

and other wrestlers doing their signature move.

got british bulldog and ultimate warrior also

 

my hao lian cousin got a ring for wrestling

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2 minutes ago, meng.huat said:

 

i remember there was a hulk hogan with a switch on his back.

when u click the switch, the hulk hogan will swing his arms...

and other wrestlers doing their signature move.

got british bulldog and ultimate warrior also

 

my hao lian cousin got a ring for wrestling

Those days wwf toy damn cheap. Nowadays $40-60 for one figure. Heng I dont watch anymore. 
 

hated Hulk Hogan. I bought his toy for the sake of making him lose to my other figures lol

  • Wahaha 1

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