Big retailers cannot be complacent

[abbby]

Not even Robinsons who has been operating for more than 160 years. I think they have been killed by online competition where most of us already can get what we need from clothing to electronics, there's no longer much a need to buy at the physical stores. And online stores can also match value like discounts.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/si ... n-13431114

[PNGMK]

Actually they failed to pivot to new tastes and stayed in extremely expensive real estate at the same time. Couple that to no marketing or promotion that I can recall seeing for a decade and the inevitable happens. The last time I was in a Robinsons was probably 15 years ago. No great loss.

They won't be the last retailer to fall on the sword of expensive real estate and declining sales.

[abbby]

Yes, I think the rental must have killed them..and lack on online shopping presence as well. Many do not sell their goods online and look at Metro's website, it looks half dead with only a few products on sale..not sure why only a few pathetic products.

[Max Headroom]

They only opened a website in 2016! That's barely 4 years ago! When you're this blinkered, really, you deserve to go the way of the horse and carriage.

Seriously, how do you miss the online sales wave for nearly 2 decades? They had everything already in place. All they needed to complete their infrastructure was a back end.

I can't help but think of the countless virtual platform providers' advances Robinson's management imperiously waved off, thinking they were untouchable.

From once posh warehouse to just another smelly road kill on the virtual highway.

Next: banks.

[PNGMK]

An interesting aspect of Robinson's is that it was a 'tent making' initiative by a Christian Missionary. I never realized that and now I understand why it's folded. A very interesting legacy.

https://saltandlight.sg/news/robinsons- ... -than-one/

[x9200]

Could be they got to some extent mislead by the Singapore market specifics. While in Europe and US the online shopping industry was in a full bloom already before 2010 in Singapore it even didn't really start to pick up at that time. People still preferred to go to the physical shops to touch the things before buying. I myself actually preferred that - with almost non-existent consumer protecting laws you hardly had any practical means to address potential issues, like receiving used or defective goods or having substantial delays in delivery.

[Max Headroom]

That's quite true and likely that was a factor in their decision, x9200.

[stanley81ng]

the only constant is change.

all companies need to think a step ahead of themselves to survive.

even in online retail, there are many small players around that try to get their market share through price competition.

in conclusion, every business is not easy and need to constantly rethink their strategy to stay on top of competition.

[Lisafuller]

It’s really unfortunate. I miss going to the department stores like Robinsons and BHG with my family on weekends. Now, I do almost all my shopping online because most of these stores have closed for good. While I do appreciate the convenience, the experience is rather impersonal and I miss getting to try out products before buying and interacting with others.