Johor Premium Outlets

The latest buzz in Johor is the opening of Johor Premium Outlets (JPO). The thought of an outlet center right in our backyard has sent shoppers hearts palpitating and chills in the bones of husbands and boyfriends.

JPO opened its doors on Dec 2nd 2011 for a soft launch, and is officially opened by the PM on Dec 11th.

It is host to over 80 international and regional brands. And as a JV between Simon Property Group, the owner of the Chelsea Premium Outlets brand in the US with Genting, its look and layout looks familiar if you have ever visited premium Outlets in the US.

We decided to check out the place this weekend, and went early, a little after its opening hours of 10am to 10pm. Even at 10am, the place is already buzzing with visitors. The whole complex is an collection of shops, where each brand has its own store. Entrances to shops are from an open boulevard, which gives a feeling of high street shopping.

We made a beeline to the Coach factory store as our first stop, because we hear that the store gets a queue formed outside its doors very quickly. Most items are from past seasons, marked down 20% to 50%.

The interiors of each store look exactly as I remembered of the Chelsea Premium Outlets in Las Vegas.

Everywhere people were milling about, some serious shoppers, others just to check out the place, like us. There are only a few benches on the walkways to rest your tired feet, I guess the aim is to get you in the shops and not sit outside in the hot weather. There are only a few F&B outlets, all of them had queues at the front door. They definitely need to increase F&B outlets. Drinks vending machines are scattered around to quench your thirst.

The brands I spent most time in was in Burberry’s where I could try on Burberry trenchcoats without sales staff hovering over me. So fun! Holding the RM600 Burberry umbrella (after 50% discount!!) is also quite shiok.

Some stores are not open yet: Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Braun Buffel, and a couple more. I’m sure if I they are open I will spend more time there.

Overall, the place has potential to attract visitors from all over. And it being smack in the middle of an oil palm plantation, there is room for expansion. Already, phase 2 has been announced to add another 60 shops to the place. I really hope they add more European brands, and maybe fast food outlets. I’m sure visitors to JPO want to fuel up quickly and get back to shopping as fast as possible.

 

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 12th, 2011 at 1:45 am and is filed under Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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