Great bargains in store
THE Johor Premium Outlets offers a great mix of high end luxury brands, high street and local brands for shoppers.
If you are looking at getting the best bargains, why not take some time to browse around and see what you can get?
There is a wide selection of brands that will appeal to everyone, and for the accessory lovers, there are plenty of choices.
Up for grabs: Shoppers finding attractive discounts in a branded store at the Johor Premium Outlets.
Those with a penchant for American brands will be happy to know that two very well known names are here, Coach and Michael Kors.
Coach, the high end designer brand, does not need an introduction, has an array of accessories on display at great prices.
Fans of this brand can pick up the monogrammed bags or purses, and there is an excellent selection of men’s accessories as well. There is also a range of shoes available.
Michael Kors, which recently opened its first boutique in Kuala Lumpur this year, showcases pretty pastel colours in purses which would make great Christmas gifts. There is also quite a wide selection of bags in summer colours as well.
The Ready-to-Wear line is also available, so you can pick up some classic pieces from dresses to blouses for that clean cut American polished style.
Those looking for suits or men’s shirts and pants can head over to Canali. The luxury Italian menswear brand is known for its handmade suits, sportswear and accessories.
Just the right place to pick out a suit for that Christmas or New Year party or whole new wardrobe for next year.
What is also interesting about Coach, Michael Kors and Canali, is that they also have a special selection of products made specifically for their factory outlets.
These factory outlet exclusives are items you would not see in their downtown boutiques, so make sure you grab them while you can.
Contemporary local brand Flow is also a good place to stop for those who want their clothes with a generous cut. The plus-size womenswear brand has a selection of dresses, tops, pants and jackets all designed to flatter the figure.
If you are looking for affordable fashion timepieces and designer sunglasses, head to Wear + When. You never know what you might be able to pick up that will go perfectly with you Christmas wardrobe and with our climate, you can never have too many sunglasses.
And a little teaser, Swiss Watch Gallery will be opening soon, where you will be able to find not only fashion timepieces but also luxury watches.
So there you have it, some great places to pick up some fabulous Christmas buys or just to have a little retail therapy. After all, who needs an excuse to shop?
~News courtesy of The Star~
New mall in Taman Sentosa has everything for visitors
The former Lien Hoe Plaza in Taman Sentosa has been given a RM70mil facelift and has been renamed Plaza Sentosa.
The new mall will have a host of outlets catering to the people’s needs with entertainment, food, shopping and also a 260-room hotel.
Plaza Sentosa Advantage Equity Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk CS Ong said Plaza Sentosa was the first Lifestyle Mall in the area.
Lien Hoe Plaza has been around for the past 20 years.
The former Lien Hoe Plaza has now been given a RM70mil facelift and has since been renamed Plaza Sentosa.
“We spent RM70mil to upgrade it into a new outlet,” he said adding that there were a total of 120 tenants in the mall currently.
He added that the location of the mall would be convenient for locals as well as those from Singapore.
In his speech during the grand opening of the mall recently, he said they were banking on seven factors to make the mall stay alive and competitive.
“First of all, is its good location as the mall stands in the middle of the business hub in this district.
“Secondly, the First Lifestyle Mall house eight bistros and clubs and the largest reflexology centre in Malaysia,” he said.
Other factors identified are design and layout, marketable tenants, business class hotel, parking facilities and experienced management team which also contributes to the competitiveness.
“We also have our Grand Sentosa Hotel within the mall, with 260 rooms which will be able to house tourist here.
“With this, we believe that Plaza Sentosa will be able to help in attributing the efforts to achieve Johor government’s aspiration in transforming Johor Baru as the destination for tourist as well as shopping in the Southern Gateway of Malaysia,” he said.
“In conjunction with our grand opening, Grand Sentosa Hotel is offering a special room rate of RM100 only for superior room and is valid until Dec 15.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Not many bargains at Johor Premium Outlets
Friday's heavy rain did not stop hundreds of Singaporeans from taking an hour's drive to Johor Premium Outlets (JPO) to look for designer goods at lower prices, said The Straits Times.
However, shoppers at the 16,258 sq m mall were rather disappointed and each went home with only a bag or two of purchases.
The mall noted that the discounts were not as big as those at Premium Outlets in the US and Europe, even though there were discounts of up to 70 percent on selected products. For instance, a Zegna tie that cost S$290 at the Takashimaya boutique was about 55 percent cheaper at S$130 (RM315), while high heels from Salvatore Ferragamo, which usually sell for S$790 in Singapore, cost around S$430 (RM1,040).
"If we wait for things to go on sale in Singapore, they are about the same price," said shopper Y.L. Tan.
"Compared with prices in Singapore, they are definitely lower but American brands like Coach are much cheaper in the US," noted Ginny Chu, who spent around RM700 (S$289) on a pair of sunglasses, a watch and a handbag.
The report noted that JPO retailers sell leftover stock from past seasons while some items were exclusively made by the brands for their outlet stores. Store managers said that because theirs are outlet shops, some signature products are not available.
Meanwhile, some stores like Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, Polo Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers are expected to open only on 11 December, when the mall holds its grand opening. Related Stories: Johor Premium Outlet opens doors today Prime retail rents in HK among highest in region Courts plans S$70m expansion boost in region.
~News courtesy of Yahoo~
Action against touts
JOHOR BARU: The state Road Transport Department is coming down hard on ticket touts during this festive season.
Stern action would be taken against them under the Land Public Transport Act 2010.
Johor RTD director Johari Yusof said that under the Act, ticket touts would be fined up to RM50,000 or spend five years in jail or both.
He added the touts were a nuisance not only to the authorities but also to the public.
“The authorities are taking a serious actions against ticket touts as many people have been cheated by them,” he said at the launch of Ops Hari Raya 2011 here recently.
Johari added that the department would place its enforcement officers at the Larkin Terminal in Johor Baru and Bentayan Terminal in Muar.
“We want to make sure that ticket touts would not make their presence felt at these two terminals,” he said.
In relation to Ops Hari Raya 2011, Johari said the operations would commence from Aug 14 until Sept 14.
Heavy load vehicles such as trailers or lorries, he added, are not allowed to travel on the roads on Aug 27, Aug 28, Sept 3, and Sept 4.
Vehicles of such class that are found on the roads during the period would be seized.
“Up to now, the department have checked a total of 181 express buses at each of their respective depot for the upcoming festive period.
“The department would also be inspecting the express bus drivers especially buses who are traveling more than 300 kilometres and those who have a second driver,” he said.
RTD enforcement officers would also inspect log books and drivers who are found to have driven for more than eight hours are not allowed continue.
“We are also inspecting the drivers through the Kejara system where drivers who have been blacklisted or yet to pay their summons are also not allowed to drive,” he said.
Johari urged bus commuters to file in complaints on errant drivers by contacting the state RTD’s 24-hour hotline number at 07-354 3544.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Seletar’s cultural heritage
LITTLE is known about the original inhabitants of Johor Baru’s coastal settlers called the Orang Laut or Orang Seletar.
The community, mostly fishermen, are facing even greater hardships as their livelihood is affected drastically by rapid developments in the state.
However, the establishment of the Seletar cultural centre at Kampung Sungai Temon near Taman Perling, Johor is aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of these former sea nomads.
Traditional dance: Orang Seletar performing a “tarian ketam bangkang” during the opening of the cultural center at Kampung Sungai Temon.
The centre, which is about 2,500 sq ft, was jointly set up by the villagers and the Malaysian Society of Marine Science (MSMS), with RM60,000 funding from the Global Environment Facility.
It features displays of black and white photographs taken by photographer Ivan Polunin, storyboards and maps telling the story of the Orang Seletar, and replicas of the traditional boats and hunting tools used by the tribal community.
Kampung Sungai Temon Tok Batin (village head) Salim Palun, 50, said that the centre would ensure that the traditional Orang Seletar culture was preserved and that the younger generation do not forget their roots.
“We hope the cultural centre will show that we have stayed in this area for many generations, and that development should not come at our expense or encroach on this land,” he said.
He added that cultural dances and performances would be held at the centre on weekends.
Salim added that this was one way to help the community improve their livelihood by generating supplementary income through these cultural performances.
MSMS project leader Choo Chee Kuang said he came across the village while gathering information about orang asli out of his own interest, and found the Orang Seletar to be very unique and interesting.
Choo roped in a group of 10 friends and came to understand the needs of the community and decided to help set up of the community’s cultural centre.
Villager Yan Balun said that he was proud to have such a centre which showed the history of the Orang Seletar.
“We still used to live in boats when I was a child. Now things have changed and everything is modern and we interact a lot more with others. But we have to defend this land which we have lived on for decades bacause otherwise our future generations will be left with nothing” he said.
The Seletar cultural centre gallery opens daily from 11am to 10pm, except on Mondays. Traditional performances will be held on weekends, and tickets are priced at RM25 for adults and RM10 for children under 12.
~News courtesy of The Star~
PETTING ZOO
Danga Bay Petting Zoo in Johor Baru is home to 180 species of animals and reptiles. Visiting hours are 3pm to midnight with twice-daily animal shows at 6.30pm and 10pm. Tickets are priced at RM10 for adults and RM5 for children.
~Info courtesy of The Star~
