Popular Holdings

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(01-08-2013, 05:35 PM)KopiKat Wrote: Nowadays, have to read the news for latest company developments before they get released (if they do announce) in SGX Annc.....Rolleyes

POPULAR Holdings announces the following:
• Closes Prologue ION Store; and.
• Brings Back BORDERS Bookstores to Singapore


Not sure if it's just me, have other VB also notice that Popular seems to be trying to re-position their image as a young and more "in" brand?
For example:

- Catchy editorial / attention grabbing advertisement (started with "Prologue borderless closure?" a month back, and concluded with announcement yesterday that created quite a bit of discussion)
- In the above press release, there's a "mr popular" description paragraph
- Revamp of website and walk-in store

They have also taken to advertising on mrt trains. My suspicion is that they might have a re-focus on branding / marketing to counter the "sun-set industry / old brand" image, and have hired a new ad agency to oversee this transformation. I quite like what I have seen so far, from a consumer point of view.

Any thoughts? Or its just a figment of my imagination?
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(31-07-2013, 11:17 PM)KopiKat Wrote: .

CNA 31 Jul 2013
Book retailer Popular Holdings is bringing Borders back to Singapore. Popular CEO Chou Cheng Ngok announced Wednesday morning the company acquired the Borders brand for Singapore last year.


Harris -> Prologue -> Borders

They really badly wants to develop another brand with a different identity and focus.... will they be 3rd time lucky?

In this week's TheEdge, there's a short article on the Border story. Pretty much the same observation as above ie. they'd been trying to create a different Bookstore chain from Harris onwards...

Other interesting snippets,

- Borders will open at Westgate Mall @ Jurong East
- Lost bid for rights to Border name for Malaysia to Berjaya Group



(01-08-2013, 06:01 PM)rokcradle Wrote: Not sure if it's just me, have other VB also notice that Popular seems to be trying to re-position their image as a young and more "in" brand?
For example:

- Catchy editorial / attention grabbing advertisement (started with "Prologue borderless closure?" a month back, and concluded with announcement yesterday that created quite a bit of discussion)
- In the above press release, there's a "mr popular" description paragraph
- Revamp of website and walk-in store

They have also taken to advertising on mrt trains. My suspicion is that they might have a re-focus on branding / marketing to counter the "sun-set industry / old brand" image, and have hired a new ad agency to oversee this transformation. I quite like what I have seen so far, from a consumer point of view.

Any thoughts? Or its just a figment of my imagination?

Have to try hard to stay relevant....Let's hope they don't blow up the expenses too much as profit margins are low in the first place...Tongue
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Net net reit holders gains
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(03-08-2013, 06:23 PM)pianist Wrote: Net net reit holders gains

True....hahahaTongue
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Stumbled on this while searching for a soft copy of AR2013 (not yet out) in their website...

A Synopsis of Popular in East Malaysia

While it made an interesting read of how Popular Bookstores started in East Malaysia and the credits given to the key pioneers, it also gave me a better picture of their strategic thinking of how growth may still be possible, via Malaysia, especially East Malaysia as it's still considered a Developing Country and where books remain relevant... But, I also noted from their milestones (pg10) that there was a long pause between Jan-09 and Mar-13 in opening a new store...
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http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/20...81413.aspx

Borders Bookstore is Reborn in Singapore
Posted by Adeline Chong on August 14, 2013 04:49 PM

Just like the beloved snack cake Twinkies was rescued from the depths of its owner's bankruptcy, Borders, a longtime staple among retail book stores, is getting a new chance at life thanks to several global companies that snatched up trademarks and intellectual property rights at auction after the brand went bust in 2011.

When it was announced recently that Borders would resurface in Singapore before the year's end, book lovers and sellers alike greeted the news with cautious optimism. After all, Borders Singapore—which had operated under the independent Borders Asia Pacific—quickly became one of Singapore's most iconic and loved bookstores when it opened in 1997—even emerging as the group's best performing outlet in 2006—but it quickly met its demise in September 2011 after its owner, Australia's Redgroup Retail, fell to a similar fate as its US counterpart.

In Singapore, the store's demise then seemed inevitable, bankruptcy or not, as loyal customers became disgruntled at the deep discounts offered to non-members and customers at large were baffled by the store's poor book selection and foray into non-book items like toys and cookware. The frequent sales also created a discount mentality amongst customers, eating into margins. Globally, the group's late foray into e-books and its big push into sunset product categories such as music CDs were also cited for its demise.

Borders' Singapore trademarks, country-specific domain names and intellectual property were acquired in early 2012 by Popular Holdings, which bid $100,000 at auction for the assets. The Singapore-based publisher, distributor and retailer, which opened its first bookstore in 1936, had to outbid Malaysia's Berjaya Books for the local rights. The company, which operates the premium Prologue-brand of stores in the country, is attempting a bait and switch as it plans to close its flagship Prologue store in Ion Orchard mall, citing high rental costs, and instead open a new Borders store in Western Singapore.

To entice consumers, the company distributed coupons complete with cryptic messages such as. "Prologue Borderless Closure?" It also offered the existing Borders customer base a $24 Borders coupon in exchange for spending a minimum amount at Prologue before it closes on August 25.
Still, Borders is returning to a very different, more competitive Singapore retail market. The new Westgate Mall location is vastly different from the brand's previous flagship in the heart of Orchard Road. It will also face direct competition from Japanese brand Kinokuniya, which operates next door and has a 30-year history in the country. And if retail competition wasn't enough, loyal consumers are skeptical of the return, too.

Observers have voiced concerns that Popular Holdings, given its roots in the cut and dry textbook and assessment business, may not be able to recreate the Borders store vibe that customers first fell in love with. The Borders store in Wheelock Place was a destination in itself by virtue of its street-level location in a busy section of Orchard Road which enjoyed heavy foot traffic. But it was its late operating hours and interesting book selection that made it popular with the after-work crowd and book lovers alike. Borders also offered ample seating nooks and some armchairs, which allowed customers to sit comfortably to browse and discover books before they bought.

Another concern is that high rentals in land-scarce Singapore make physical bookstores untenable, as evidenced by the closures of other bookstores such as homegrown art and design store Page One in 2011 and Popular Holdings' three Harris stores, as well as its Ion Orchard Prologue location. While some retail-preserving suggestions are more radical, The Straits Times suggests designating areas for booksellers and related activities that are in close proximity to universities and the like. Borders, after all, had its start in Ann Arbor, Mich., a college town.
But in today's retail space, high rents may be the least of Borders' problems. The newly-reborn brand will now also face stiff competition from Amazon, which recently announced that it will add free direct shipping to Singapore.

Do you think the new Borders has a chance? Leave us know what you think in the comments.
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Since Borders is under Popular Holding, i moved this thread to Popular Holding thread. Please take note

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just like video rentals dying out, book rentals gonna die out, just a matter of time.

not a very astute move by management to try to revive borders.

Better to go the online selling way or online subscription model.
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(16-08-2013, 12:49 PM)BlueKelah Wrote: just like video rentals dying out, book rentals gonna die out, just a matter of time.

not a very astute move by management to try to revive borders.

Better to go the online selling way or online subscription model.

Popular / Borders in Books Rental biz? That's news to me!
Perhaps you made a mistake? Or you read the article wrongly? The high rentals in the article refers to the Shop Space Rent ie. High Cost / Expense to operate...
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8Raja status from URA site,

[Image: zkrb0h.jpg]

Looks like for Q1(Jul), cumulative only 2 units, 1 in Jun and 1 in Jul. I wonder what happened to the 3 units in May... Returned back?
Luck & Fortune Favours those who are Prepared & Decisive when Opportunity Knocks
------------ 知己知彼 ,百战不殆 ;不知彼 ,不知己 ,每战必殆 ------------
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