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Tag: Donki

  • Don Don Donki to Bid Farewell to HarbourFront Centre Location amid Singapore Malls Redevelopment Plan

    Don Don Donki to Bid Farewell to HarbourFront Centre Location amid Singapore Malls Redevelopment Plan

    The Japanese retail giant, Don Don Donki, has disclosed plans to close its outlet at HarbourFront Centre in Singapore this July. Shoppers will be in for a treat as select items will be sold at clearance discounts, some with up to 70% off.

    The store, popular amongst commuters, visitors venturing to Sentosa, and late-night shoppers eager for sushi, bentos, and Japanese snacks, is due to shut its doors for the last time on July 19. The imminent closure aligns with the anticipated redevelopment of the mall. The outlet is strategically located on the third floor of the mall, just above the bustling cruise center.

    A Transformation for HarbourFront Centre

    HarbourFront Centre has a storied past and is on the brink of another major transformation. Initially opened in 1978 as the World Trade Centre, the centre underwent renovations and was relaunched as HarbourFront Centre in 2003. The current redevelopment plans aim to transform the centre into a 33-storey mixed-use development, integrating retail and office spaces along with an elevated waterfront park.

    The redevelopment project ties into the larger Greater Southern Waterfront initiative, a visionary plan to revolutionize Singapore’s southern coastline into a lifestyle and recreational hub.

    Business as Usual for Other Outlets

    Despite the closure, Don Don Donki continues to operate its remaining 16 outlets across Singapore. These include locations at Orchard Central, Jem, Tampines 1, Suntec City, Waterway Point, and 100 AM. The chain was first introduced to the local market at Orchard Central in December 2017. Since then, it has flourished, with one exception – the Downtown East mall outlet, which closed this March after nearly five years in operation.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the current discount available at the Don Don Donki outlet at HarbourFront Centre?
    There are clearance discounts on selected items, with some discounted by up to 70%.

    What is the future plan for HarbourFront Centre?
    The centre is set to be redeveloped into a mixed-use development, comprising retail and office spaces, along with an elevated waterfront park.

    What will happen to other Don Don Donki outlets in Singapore?
    Don Don Donki’s remaining 16 outlets in Singapore, including those at Orchard Central, Jem, Tampines 1, Suntec City, Waterway Point, and 100 AM, will continue to operate as usual.

  • ‘Donki’ to bring ceiling to floor mega discounts to Asia

    ‘Donki’ to bring ceiling to floor mega discounts to Asia

    Don Quijote, a chain of neon-lit emporiums filled ceiling to floor with discounted goods, is opening its first store in Southeast Asia, where it expects to further expand.

    The chain — now with over 300 stores across Japan — is a must-visit among tourists to Japan. There is much to like — duty-free shopping and a vast selection of discounted products, ranging from packaged food, alcohol and consumer electronics to luxury brand items and cosplay costumes.

    Now shoppers in Singapore can get a taste of “Donki,” as it is commonly known, with a store opening in the city’s Orchard area, the company said this week.

    The branch will be developed by Donki’s holding company for overseas operations, Pan Pacific International Holdings, which was established in the city-state in 2013 to headquarter the group’s overseas operations.

    In Singapore, Donki will offer a range of Japanese pop culture products. But other details — like the store’s opening date, its operating hours and what kind of prices to expect — have yet to be announced.

    This isn’t the first time Donki has ventured overseas. It currently operates three stores in Hawaii. In 2013, it acquired Marukai, a small chain of Japanese grocery stores in the U.S. state of California.

    But the Singapore emporium will be the retailer’s first in Southeast Asia, and the group is looking at opening more stores in the region, a Donki spokesman said, without elaborating on details or strategy.

    In Japan, Donki is also known for its long opening hours, with around 10% of its stores open 24 hours. A typical store offers a selection of around 45,000 goods, stacked on shelves so high that shopping can be a mazelike experience. Thanks to their low prices and multilingual displays, the mazes have seen a surge in overseas customers. The number of foreign visitors to the stores soared 62.4% in 2016, the company said.

    Peek shopping hours for domestic customers are 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The number of overseas visitors, though, tends to peak around 10 p.m., the spokesman said, with many visiting the stores after dinner or after spending the day sightseeing. He said South Koreans account for nearly 40% of its overseas customers, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese and Thais.

    Japan has been experiencing a tourism boom. Last year, it welcomed 24 million visitors, an increase of 21.8%. Of the total, over 20 million came from Asia, led by tourists from South Korea, China and Taiwan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s goal is to increase the number of foreign visitors to 40 million by 2020, when Tokyo will host the Olympics.

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