Mr Wuysang-Oei of Metro said the higher cost of operating a business in Orchard Road dampens innovation too as no one dares to take risks. “No room for failure,” he said.
That’s in part because many malls along Orchard Road are owned by real estate investment trusts (REITs), which increase rents because they are obligated to distribute quarterly returns, he wrote in an article on LinkedIn.
“So what gets curated out of Orchard Road? Precisely the things that make a street worth visiting. The local brand with a story. The experimental concept with no proven precedent,” he wrote.
Ms Tan-Wijaya of Savills said up-and-coming brands in cities like Bangkok can afford to rent shop spaces next to major international brands, but that is not the case in Singapore.
Orchard Road is lined with malls, not street shops, so there is less room for brands to be creative and offer unique experiences, she said.
In Tokyo, Seoul and China’s first-tier cities, luxury brands try to outdo one another with bigger and more immersive, experiential flagship stores that are culturally relevant to the local market, she said.
Mr Andrew Tan, co-founder of furniture store Atomi, also said landlords in Singapore have a less collaborative relationship with their tenants, compared with Japan, where the two sides work together to build something special for consumers.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
In this regard, new pop-up spaces, such as those announced by STB last month, can be a way to create novel experiences with lower risk.
Expected to launch by the end of 2026, these pop-up spaces will be available for rent for between one and six months, providing a lower commitment for brands to set up shop in Orchard Road.
“By lowering the barriers for new and emerging brands to test the market here, we hope to position Orchard Road as an innovative launchpad for up-and-coming names – creating a more vibrant and diverse range of experiences that set Orchard Road apart from the typical mall experience,” said Ms Ashlynn Loo, director for land and concept development at STB, in response to CNA’s queries.
She said the rejuvenation of Orchard Road is an ongoing effort, and that enhanced streetscapes and greenery, as well as compelling experiences, would boost footfall and spending.
Over the years, the government has continued to roll out numerous initiatives that range from policies to redevelopment projects.
These include a plan to create a “vibrant al fresco dining corridor”, cash incentives for developing underground pedestrian links and easing the rules on building facades.
Some projects, however, have taken time to come into fruition. The Somerset Belt Master Plan, for example, began in 2019, and more construction is to begin later this year.
But when these plans are completed, they can generate a new buzz along Orchard Road.
Mr Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, told CNA that *Scape has done extremely well since its relaunch and is bursting with new energy.
It has engaged over 45,000 youths since April last year through programmes organised by youths and *Scape’s partners.