Monday, October 23, 2006
Today I went to Vivocity! Okay, let me talk more about that place, the opening of Vivocity on 7th October has brought about much excitement amongst the local population, why? After a long lull period of new shopping complexes in stagnation, there is finally a new place to go to. Singapore is a small country, pretty much rather boring and most if not all of the general population have been to every hype-shopping centre there is to go to. As a result, Singapore has become rather boring. Almost every other shopping centre has to go through a revamp in one way or another to entice shoppers to return. Sentosa, Paragon, Wisma Atria etc. In other words, Singapore has become rather boring without its own theme parks or places of geographical interests due to land-space constraints.
With every new shopping centre that is opened to the public brings about much chatter. Vivocity is no different, it's opening unveils Singapore's newest and largest shopping complex with over 1million square feet (larger than the Suntec City, currently the largest-shopping complex in Singapore, and boasting over 450 shops, (Takashimaya has only 300). It is situated beside the Harbour Front World Trade Centre and promises a fresh new theme to shopping.
My first impression of the place that of a futuristic future. There were THRONGS of people! It's like a scene out of "minority report" in a not too distant future where cities are suffering from overpopulation and everyone is crammed up in a shopping centre. But nevertheless, the place had a very nice and spacious ambience that is comparable to Malaysia's JUSCO Tebrau City.
Vivocity has a very spacious and brightly-lit interior, the first floor boasts all sorts of imported foreign fashion boutiques offering all manner of luxurious apparel and clothing, something like Paragon. The 2nd floor has a mixture of tech shops amongst others and the much-touted GV VIVOCITY. Which is GV's newest and biggest Cineplex in Singapore with 15 screens spanning 2 floors, it's larger than GV Grand (Great world City), tickets are at the usual price, but for the GV GOLD it's $30 per ticket, and you're pampered with a private lounge and plush electronic recliner seats comparable to First Class airline seats. The place is extremely luxurious with it's own lounging area while you wait for your movie to start.
You are also offered high-class food and beverage (including a top wine list) and a private dining room and every seat is equipped with call buttons for faster and more of concierge-style service, all for $25. Wth? Haha, that's if you can afford it. Just imagine $9.50 for an "economy-class" seat and $30 for the Gold Class Seat (First Class). It's madness, but hey, you've got 2 other new cinemas to choose from! GV Vivocity also boasts the Europa and GVmax class. All giving Cathay Cineleisure a run for it's money. Now the competition between the Cinema-providers have really heated up! Who will be the next best Cinema? Cathay Cineleisure EZmax? Or GV Vivocity?
Besides the shops, I noted many interesting marketing gimmicks, which includes the promoters on Segways, a group of promoters dressed in bright costumes toting a portable speaker playing pro-shopping broadcasts and music and prancing around the shopping centre grounds and last but not least, "traffic-policemen" or should I say "Vivo-men" on pedestals in green uniform with a helmet "directing" traffic, or more like advertisements for selected shops with their make-shift makers lettered "shop! Shop!", I must say it's a very eye-catching advertising gimmick and they have to act like robots moving about entertaining the crowd, always under the limelight and many patrons came forward to take photos with these mascots! Haha.
The one thing many of my friends complained about is that many shops are not open, but I find it a very good marketing ploy, the move that Vivocity has employed is to stagger the opening of the shops so that people will continue to visit Vivocity periodically to ensure that the shopping centre is not a mere facade with temporal hype about it's unveiling.
Vivocity also boasts a new open-roof concept with the 3rd floor dedicated to a open-spaced amphitheatre, aesthetically pleasing water displays that allows the public to waddle about in a pool of knee-deep water and just enjoy the scenery that Harbour Front has. This open-air concept is not new, but it's nice to see a refreshing change. The shopping complex also has 3 Culture-oriented food cuisine concept food courts which comprises of the Chinese-oriented Food Republic, Halal Banquet and the famous Kopitiam. When I went to eat at Food Republic, attention to detail was so intricate that I felt I had stepped into another time zone! I felt as if I had stepped into a late Ming Dynasty, complete with traditional Chinese furniture, stall-signs and paper lanterns. One gripe, the food is extremely expensive, $5.40 for a simple bowl of Ban Mian. I guess you just have to pay for the ambience.
Vivocity actually makes the whole IR-theme much clearer, with open sea-view concepts, family-oriented playgrounds, professional-audience fashion boutiques, fast-food restaurants coupled with specialty Chinese cuisines, Entertainment such as the GV Cineplex and Ezone arcade, there's something for everyone at Vivocity. 2009 will be a year to look forward to when the Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa Integrated Resorts open. I will talk more about why the IR resorts are so important and vital to singapore's economy in the next entry or so. But for Singaporeans, if you liked Vivocity, you'll love the new IRs!
12:53 AM
