Tangs
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| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Genre | Department store |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder | CK Tang |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | South East Asia |
Key people | Tang Wee Sung / Foo Tiang Sooi |
| Revenue | S$196,790,000 (2007) |
Number of employees | 686 |
| Subsidiaries | Gamut Marketing, Island Shop International |
| Website | http://www.tangs.com/ |
C.K. Tangs Limited is a company that specializes within Singapore’s retail market, with its flagship store TANGS located on Orchard Road, Singapore. For many, TANGS is regarded as a principal shopping destination in the city, comparable to Bloomingdale's in New York City and Selfridges in London.[1][2]
The oldest home-bred department store in Singapore, TANGS was founded by Tang Choon Keng,[3] popularly known as CK Tang, in 1932.[4]
Location
CK Tang's first stores were on River Valley Road, but in the 1950s CK Tang bought some land on Orchard Road as he noticed that the expatriates from the Holland Village area would travel down this road to go downtown.
When CK Tang bought the land, it was situated opposite a Chinese cemetery, which, under cultural conventions, was perceived to bring bad luck. However, as a devoted Christian, this belief did not affect CK Tang's assessments on the potential of the land, and he soon went on to develop his store on Orchard Road in 1958.[5]
The first retail presence on Orchard Road, TANGS is credited with sparking the transformation of the area into Singapore’s most famous shopping district.[2] In 1982, C.K. Tang accumulated additional land situated adjacent to TANGS and built what is known as Tang Plaza, which also currently houses the 5-Star Singapore Marriott Hotel.[6]
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Evolution of a brand
In the 1980s, TANGS launched the tag line "All The Best Under One Roof" to showcase their diversification of products.
The company was known as a fair employer and was closed on Sundays (a rare thing in Asia) as C.K. Tang himself was a staunch Christian. This was implemented so that so his family and Christian staff could attend church services.[8]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s one of CK Tang's sons, Tang Wee Sung took control of the store. He went on to become chairman of the company in 2000 after his father’s death, and his appointment gave rise to changed operating policies, such as permitting the store to remain open on Sundays and introducing marketing strategies to increase consumer choice.
In 2012, TANGS announced an S$45 million, 3-year transformation plan to its flagship store on Orchard Road.[9][10]-.-
Influence on Orchard Road
Orchard Road is today one of the most vibrant shopping districts in Southeast Asia, and much of this is credited to the early presence of TANGS. Being one of the biggest stores in Orchard Road, it is a landmark with its Chinese styled roof.[11]
Prior to its 2012 transformation, TANGS occupied 15,000 square meters and boasted five selling floors, designed by New York-based Hambrecht Terrell International, noted for its work with Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's.[12]
Outlets
VivoCity
In 2006, TANGS opened another store in VivoCity as the shopping centre’s anchor tenant, displaying fashion. Occupying approximately 85,000 square feet (7,900 m²), TANGS VivoCity offers a resort-like shopping environment, while TANGS Orchard embodies an urban and cosmopolitan concept.
TANGS Malaysia
- Tangs marked its return to Malaysia by opening its first store in Pavilion KL in 2007. The store has since re-located to 1 Utama.[13]
- 2010: Subang Jaya (Empire Subang)
- March 2012: Petaling Jaya (1 Utama). The first outlet relocated there from Pavilion.
- January 2013: Genting Highlands (First World Plaza)
- November 2014: Malacca (The Shore)[14]
References
- ^ http://comesingapore.com/travel-guide/article/402/department-stores
- ^ a b "Singapore retail tycoon dies". BBC News. 4 September 2004.
- ^ Tang Choon Keng
- ^ http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1170_2009-03-11.html
- ^ http://www.tangs.com.sg/80lightyears/where.php
- ^ http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sindt-singapore-marriott-hotel/
- ^ http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/asia/singapore/31574/tangs/shopping-detail.html
- ^ http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_534_2005-01-09.html
- ^ http://www.btinvest.com.sg/property/local/tangs-in-45m-remodelling-into-orchard-rds-harrods/
- ^ http://www.tangs.com/press_detail.php?
- ^ http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_721_2005-01-03.html
- ^ Merin, Jennifer (9 July 1989). "This Singapore Story Went From Rags to Riches". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/tangs-picks-1utama-for-third-store-1.5487
- ^ "Tangs to open fourth store in Malacca". The Star. 10 April 2014.
External links