After trials of the pandemic, Dr Tony Holohan begins a new chapter of his life
Five years ago today, Ireland marked 100 days since the first case of Covid-19 here. After three months of restrictions, the government announced an acceleration of the easing of social distancing – against the advice of the chief medical officer (CMO).
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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
BHG downsizes Bugis Junction flagship outlet as department stores face shaky future
Besides the March closure of its Junction 8 store, BHG has shuttered four stores here since 2022.. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – Department store BHG is downsizing its flagship Bugis Junction outlet – its last remaining permanent store – from three to two levels. This follows the March closure of its Junction 8 store, which will be replaced by home furnishings brand Nitori. Nitori, along with Japanese brand Muji, will also take over the third-floor space BHG used to occupy at Bugis Junction. The scaling down of BHG's Bugis Junction outlet comes on the back of other store closures. Besides Junction 8, it has shuttered four stores here since 2022, in Raffles City Shopping Centre, Jurong Point, Clementi Mall and Lot One. It follows a series of other closures of large department stores here. 'BHG remains a tenant at Bugis Junction on Levels 1 and 2, and we continue to work closely with them to introduce new brands,' said a spokesperson for Bugis Junction. BHG declined comment. In February, BHG opened a pop-up store at The Centrepoint, which will operate until August. BHG Singapore began in 1994 as Seiyu Wing On Department Store. In 2007, it was acquired by Beijing Hualian Group, one of China's largest commercial chain retailers, and has operated under the brand name BHG for the past 18 years. BHG at Junction 8 shuttered in March after a closing-down sale. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Homemaker Brenda Thio, 53, said: 'It is sad that these stores that have been around for so long are either gone or downsized.' But she said she mainly shops online now. 'I hardly shop at BHG and have bought only pillows, bolsters or bed sheets there once every few years.' A broader trend of decline Large department stores here and worldwide have faced decline owing to increasing competition from online shopping, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Japanese chain Isetan will shutter its Tampines Mall outlet in November, after about 30 years. At its 2013 peak, it had six stores in Singapore. Its last closure was Isetan Katong in Parkway Parade in 2022. After closing the Tampines store, it will be left with two outlets – Isetan Scotts and Isetan Serangoon Central. Home-grown department store OG closed its Orchard Point store in 2022, after 18 years. Its remaining stores are in People's Park and Albert Street. Metro closed its flagship Centrepoint store in 2019 after five years, with two remaining stores at Paragon and Causeway Point. And two department store chains which used to be household names have called it quits. Robinsons, which still has an online store, shut its last physical store at Raffles City Shopping Centre in 2021, while John Little exited the local retail scene in 2017, after closing its Plaza Singapura outlet. Market observers said that with e-commerce offering a greater variety of products, competitive pricing and the convenience of home delivery, people are increasingly less inclined to visit large department stores. 'Today's shoppers increasingly seek personalised, curated and experiential retail experiences,' said Ms Leung Sau Yee, senior lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic's School of Business. 'Traditional department stores, with their generalist, one-size-fits-all model, often fall short of these expectations.' Many department stores also rely heavily on mall operators to drive engagement, she said. Without distinctive products, brand curation or compelling in-store experiences, they struggle to offer shoppers a strong reason to return. Department stores have traditionally been anchor tenants in malls. But operating large-scale stores in prime retail locations, such as Bugis Junction, means incurring high rental, staff and inventory costs. As footfall declines, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify maintaining such expansive physical spaces from a profitability standpoint, experts said. Associate Professor Lau Kong Cheen, head of the Singapore University of Social Sciences' marketing programme, said department stores have been supplanted by large malls that offer a curated mix of specialised outlets. In short, malls are mega department stores. 'Malls house dedicated retailers for categories such as footwear, cosmetics, skincare, fashion apparel, accessories, jewellery and homeware,' he said. 'Each speciality store provides a focused brand experience that resonates more with today's discerning shoppers.' Professor Lawrence Loh, from NUS Business School's department of strategy and policy, said: 'Department stores cannot continue to be more of the same, providing huge varieties for all customers. If they are everything to everybody, they may end up as nothing to nobody.' From product-centric to experience-centric What could make the department store relevant again in a tough market? Prof Loh suggested merging the physical store with a digital one to offer holistic shopping experiences that are not found online. 'The 'touch-and-feel' in shopping is still valuable, but stores must give sufficient incentives to prevent the undesirable consumer behaviour of testing at stores and then going online to purchase elsewhere at lower prices,' he said. 'Department stores face the real challenge of being free showrooms for the low-cost e-commerce stores.' Other experts agree on the need to invest in omnichannel integration with a seamless blend of online and offline experiences, such as allowing customers to purchase online and collect in-store, or checking stock levels in real time, to compete with pure e-commerce players. Mr Ethan Hsu, head of retail at real estate consultancy Knight Frank Singapore, said that technology such as personalised apps, fitting rooms that use augmented reality and artificial intelligence-driven inventory can improve efficiency and customer experience. They can also cater to modern preferences like sustainability, he said. In addition, he suggested community marketing activities that can build loyalty and differentiate stores from online retailers. These include supporting local charities, or hosting community events and cultural celebrations. Prof Lau suggested that stores frequently introduce thematic changes – for instance, cultural themes from different countries – to their product ranges. 'Just like museums and art galleries – they change their display by curating new exhibits to draw domestic visitors to make repeat visits,' he said. Exclusive collaborations with brands that have a limited presence in Singapore – including emerging international brands and local designers – could help, Prof Lau added. And stores can transform themselves into lifestyle destinations by integrating cafes with speciality in-house brews and food, and branded dining ware sold in-store, he said. Offering experiences such as personal colour analysis, cooking or baking workshops and food-and-wine pairings can make shopping more engaging, and cannot be replicated by online retailers, said Ms Leung. She added: 'Ultimately, for department stores to thrive, they must shift from being product-centric to experience-centric, staying attuned to evolving consumer values and behaviours.' Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Reports of 11 under lens negative; active Covid cases at 4 in city
Bhopal: The reports of 11 samples from suspected Covid-19 patients were received on Saturday; all tested negative. Overall, a total of 9 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Bhopal since April this year. In April, there was 1 case, in May 3 cases, and in June 5 positive cases were identified. Currently, there are 4 active cases. One patient was hospitalised due to other illnesses and tested positive for COVID during those examinations. Three individuals, who were asymptomatic, were advised to stay at home and take precautions. Five individuals recovered and are symptom-free, said official sources. Continuous monitoring is being conducted to ensure the infrastructure and delivery of health services, sources said. Recently, mock drills were organised in health institutions to evaluate the supply of medical oxygen and the efficiency of oxygen plants. Dr Prabhakar Tiwari, CMHO Bhopal, stated that health institutions have been instructed to follow protocols based on symptoms. Free consultations are available at all govt health institutions. The public is urged to seek medical advice for testing and treatment if needed. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication. There is no need to fear COVID, but caution is necessary. COVID can be dangerous for individuals with low immunity, such as cancer patients, dialysis patients, and those with co-morbidities like diabetes, so they should take special precautions, he said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Ayurvedic & herbal products manufacturers in Indore ramp up production as Covid cases increase
Indore: As Covid-19 cases are witnessing an uptick, manufacturers of Ayurvedic and herbal products in Indore have ramped up their production capacities, anticipating a surge in demand for immunity-boosting products. Usually, summers remain the lean season for immunity booster syrups and tablets, but the resurgence of Covid-19 cases led to a jump in enquiries, prompting many units to prepare for increased production ahead of their usual season. Ayush Nirmata Sangh secretary Ashish Dubey said, "We are anticipating a surge in demand for immunity boosters as cases of Covid-19 again started to increase. Many units started preparations and are gradually increasing production." Another manufacturer owner of a local Ayurvedic firm Ravi Kumar said, "We saw an increase in enquiries for our immunity products. To meet this demand, we are expanding our operations to ensure we can deliver quality products to our customers promptly. Also, monsoon and winters are main demand period of Ayurvedic products when demand rises." Industry insiders noted that if the consumption of these products would not meet their expectations, they would still find a market during the monsoon and winter seasons when the demand for syrups and immunity boosters typically spikes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Ayurvedic products produced in Indore are distributed across various states in India, including Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, according to local manufacturers. In response to the heightened demand, many manufacturing units are transitioning to automatic production processes, while others are opting for semi-automatic configurations to enhance efficiency. Indore is home to around 240 Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing units, with the total market size exceeding an impressive Rs 1000 crore, as reported by Ayush Nirmata Sangh.
