IMM Beckons with Branded Bargains

IMM underwent a S$30 million make-over and is now a value-focused mall with 50 outlet stores

Bargain-hunters, stand up and cheer because now you don’t have to look too far to enjoy great discounts at outlet malls. Travelling to foreign lands will no longer be your only option to buy branded goods on the cheap. Singapore’s own western region now has the island’s largest outlet mall. Hail IMM Building, with its wide selection of 38 outlet stores, a number that will increase to 50 by the middle of this year.

IMM now houses premium brands such as Agnes B, Coach, Timberland, Sacoor, Esprit, Hush Puppies Apparel, adidas, Samsonite, and Coldwear; plus Naf Naf, McNelly, Tila March and French Connection carried by La Boutique; and FJ Benjamin, which has brands such as Gap, Banana Republic, Guess, Raoul, La Senza and time pieces. Add to these, first in Singapore outlet stores such as ECCO, Premier Football Outlet, Body Shop, Sunglass Hut, Clarks, City Chain, Bata, Converse and Minoshe. What you have at IMM is a potent mix of luxury and necessity shopping at irresistible prices that no discerning shopper can overlook.

Ideal for an Outlet Mall

Following its year-long S$30-million make-over, IMM is now ready to take on its role as a value-focused mall in the tripartite of CapitaMalls in Jurong East that also includes: the ultra-hip JCube, with Singapore’s only Olympic-size ice rink and first IMAX cinema in the suburbs, and the family and lifestyle mall Westgate, which will open by Christmas 2013. Together, the three malls offer the equivalent of a mega mall with more than one million square feet of retail space, over 2,200 car park spaces, and something to offer every shopper.

“Outlet malls require a bigger shop front to house everything and therefore space was the main criteria to realise the outlet store. IMM has the ideal space, location and appropriate crowd which fit the bill,” explained Chew Hock Chye, General Manager, IMM and JCube.

Because of the success of IMM’s first outlet stores such as Esprit and Timberland which opened in 2007, other retailers such as Giordano, Hang Ten and Bossini decided to convert their stores at the mall into outlets. That was a sign that demand for an outlet mall in Singapore is strong.

“Outlet stores combine the two loves of Singaporeans – shopping and good value. They offer people the convenience of outlet shopping without them having to leave the country,” added Chew.

Seizing the opportunity, CapitaMalls Asia leveraged on its extensive network to draw big brands to IMM to open outlet stores.

“We have a great deal of respect for and confidence in CapitaMalls Asia. When it does something, it does it well. While every retailer plans to run its business cleanly, there will always be some level of inventory to clear. Historically, we have used other avenues such as off-site sales. While these avenues have been effective, we wanted to trade in a better and more conventional format for our customers. A right environment meets a right developer at a right time,” explained an F J Benjamin spokesman of their move into IMM.

Best Bang for Your Buck

The discounts at IMM’s outlet stores are exceptional, going as high as 70 per cent. The items on offer are either from past seasons or direct from the factory. Some retailers even have specially designed outlet collections that are sold exclusively at IMM.

With so many brand names offering great bargains under one roof right at IMM, not only will local shoppers not have to travel to other countries for that discount experience, tourists will now have a new shopping destination. IMM the outlet destination is surely redefining Singapore’s shopping scene as we know it.