Source : Business Times – 2 July 2009
THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) held its inaugural retail seminar yesterday – to help heartland retailers remain competitive and relevant.
Through networking and input from successful entrepreneurs, HDB hopes to create awareness of opportunities available to heartland retailers and inspire them to improve their operations.
‘This is a key way for us to reach the retailers themselves,’ said Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education Grace Fu, who was guest of honour at the seminar.
‘Besides looking at hardware upgrading and improving facilities, it is important for shopowners to have the opportunity to upgrade their retail management skills.’
HDB also launched the website Where2Shop@HDB – an online directory of heartland shops in the 148 towns and neighbourhood centres island-wide.
Through a simple search, users can find products and services provided by HDB shops in different districts. Transport advice and maps will be offered alongside the information.
Ms Fu said: ‘Small retailers have to keep up with the challenge of the newer and bigger shopping complexes coming up. We are helping them by providing a directory, consolidating businesses, helping them get listed on line and hopefully getting the mind-share of younger shoppers who are Internet savvy.’
While the government is helping retailers through various schemes, it is vital that retailers be receptive to new ideas so as to create new markets for themselves, Ms Fu said.
Where2Shop@HDB is looking at listing more than 10,000 heartland shops.
Asked whether HDB will host the site in a language other than English, Ms Fu said: ‘We will definitely consider doing so if there is positive feedback.’
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