Innovation should underpin every touchpoint, says Yeo, pointing out that Decathlon uses RFID inventory robots and two-hour islandwide delivery, while Love Bonito integrates real-time stock visibility across its stores and online channels. Furniture retailer Gain City offers AI-generated 3D home layouts, and Scanteak employs chatbots for customer service and logistics.
Meanwhile, malls like ION Orchard are layering exclusivity with eco-conscious initiatives. For example, their Green Points reward scheme encourages shoppers to make environmentally responsible choices — such as bringing reusable bags and containers, or purchasing sustainable products. The mall’s first-of-its-kind Sustainable Takeaway programme helps to reduce single-use waste by allowing shoppers to borrow reusable cups from six participating cafés or food containers from a Muuse booth. Shoppers simply scan a serialised QR code to borrow the items and return them within 30 days.
It’s something malls will continue to focus on, as sustainability becomes increasingly important to the Singaporean consumer. “In Singapore, because all our resources have to come from outside, we always try to recycle and reuse everything,” says Vilebrequin store manager Lee, noting that Weave was revamped to boost its sustainability. Indeed, the redesigned complex incorporates energy-efficient ETFE roofing that reduces solar heat gain, biophilic landscaping that brings greenery throughout the space, and smart ventilation systems that cut energy use, which is all part of Resorts World Sentosa’s broader goal to become a carbon-neutral destination by 2030.
With its compact scale and regional pull, the city stands as both a mirror and a testing ground for what luxury retail in Southeast Asia could become next.
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