313@Somerset says customer service will be top-notch

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 9 Jul 2009

313@Somerset will be the last of the three new malls to open along Orchard Road this year. But it’s promising a shopping experience that will keep customers coming back.

The shops may be mid-range but 313@Somerset said the customer service will be top-notch.

By November, the eight-storey mall, will have shops offering food, fashion and lifestyle treats.

And it will be the newest kid on the block, hot on the heels of Orchard Central and ION Orchard.

But 313@Somerset is confident it will stand out.

Mike Kenderes, development director, Lend Lease Retail, said: “Our retail mix is really going to differentiate us. Also, our whole shopper experience from our concierge programme to the way we designed our mall. There’s a lot of natural light and there are a lot of features.”

The mall is more than 90 per cent leased.

Retailers who have signed on include Zara and Forever 21 which will both open flagship stores in the mall.

And Marche will be among the F&B outlets.

Mr Kenderes added: “We’re just under five months from opening and we’re over 90 per cent leased. We have some really exciting retail which means in the next period we’re going to be 100 per cent leased when open. Under fashion, we’re pleased to announce we’ve got a new Zara flagship store over three levels.

“We also have Forever 21 opening a brand new 4-level flagship store which will also anchor our level 1, Orchard Road facing retail. Other retailers, fashion retailers, we have Esprit, Mango, Lacoste. In terms of food, we have the largest Food Republic coming into Singapore. We also have Marche coming back into Orchard Road.”

Lend Lease said service quality will be a key area for the new mall.

It’s starting a training and employment centre which will focus on customer service and presentation, by the end of the month.

313@Somerset also sits right on top of Somerset MRT, which means commuters can very conveniently get off the train and go shopping.

The mall has a net lettable space of just over 290,000 square feet.

Lend Lease said it’s committed to working together with other malls on that stretch to consolidate the whole Somerset precinct. This could involve marketing programmes.

The mall opens in the last week of November.