Kuching retail sector’s rapid development in recent years has garnered polarising views, with optimists believing that it signifies economic growth and pessimists expecting retailers to struggle under intense competition. As consumers ready themselves for new shopping experiences, BizHive Weekly takes a stroll down memory lane to look at the evolution of the retail sector over the past three decades and what the sector is to deliver in the coming years.
The easiest way for laymen to gauge how developed their city is, is to take note of the number of high rise buildings around them and the availability of amenities around them.
With the countless construction works scattered all across Kuching city, it is undeniably ‘booming’ rapidly.
With the unequivocal increase in the number of high-rise offices, residences, hotels and shopping malls, Kuchingites can anticipate more jobs being created, which would ultimately mean a step forward for the city towards becoming ‘developed’.
Among the many construction works taking place are a large number of shopping malls, each larger and grander than the one before.
With ST3, Plaza Merdeka, CityONE Megamall, The Summer as well as Eastern Mall located in the nearby town of Siburan all expecting to welcome shoppers by year end, in time for the many festive seasons, Kuchingites can look forward to a much more vibrant consumer sector landscape come 2013.
However, Kuching’s retail sector might not be defined entirely by these new modern malls as many pioneering malls have stood the test of time and are able to adapt to the ever-evolving retail landscape to find their own niches and speciality.
From the first mall in Kuching, the Electra House to the current ‘crowd puller’, tHe Spring, most of them have found their strengths and zeroed in on them to join in the game of attracting consumers.
As Kuchingites anticipate the exciting new shopping experience in town, BizHive Weekly takes a look at the pioneering and existing shopping malls here and their take on the increasingly competitive sector.