Press Releases

Paragon, a mall that is Never Out Of Style

Singapore, 13 May 2010 - To celebrate Paragon’s successful 12-year anniversary as a luxury high-end mall on Orchard Road and its fifth year anniversary of the Citi Paragon Platinum MasterCard, where cardmembers get additional chances to win a Mercedes E-Class Coupe in a car draw. Raffles Privato, a new collaboration between Paragon and Raffles Design Institute was also officially launched today, further strengthening the mall’s commitment to support exemplary local fashion designers and brands.

The recent facelift was part of Paragon’s continuous effort to enhance its retail environment and shopping experience for today’s discerning customers. The new façade comprises of multiple transparent, glazed and volumetric external pop-out glass installed above the walkway level. The mall also boasts of multiple-storey façade for brands such as Tod’s, Prada, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo and Gucci’s flagship store with a five-storey exterior, the first of its kind in South-East Asia and designed by Gucci’s Creative Director Ms Frida Giannini.

Since opening in 1997, Paragon has embarked on various expansion and upgrading plans to ensure the mall is never out of style, including the extension to occupy the old Promenade shopping centre in 2003 which included a facelift to refresh the interior and exterior of the mall to re-energise its positioning as a premier luxury shopping mall on Orchard Road.

As the first mall that launched a co-brand platinum credit card with Citibank in November 2005 with one-hour instant card issuing capability, the mall today celebrates the fifth year anniversary of this successful collaboration. Currently, the growing base consists of more than 28,000 loyal cardmembers who regularly shop at Paragon, enjoying 10 per cent Style$ rebates year-round at more than 90 participating tenants and 3 per cent rebates on everyday spending at Paragon Marketplace and taxi fares. To obtain the fashion-forward Citi Paragon Platinum MasterCard, shoppers simply need to visit Paragon Citibank Concierge located on Level 1, next to Cova, for an instant approval and issuance.

In celebration of the fifth year anniversary, shoppers and Citi Paragon Platinum MasterCard members who make purchases of $200 in a single receipt between now till 31 December 2010 can get to win prizes in monthly luxury draws and a brand-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé (E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY) in a grand lucky draw. New cardmembers will also receive five chances. Winners of this car draw will be announced in January 2011. (For more information on Paragon’s endless shopping privileges, please refer to Annex A).

“At Citibank, we regularly engage our customers to ensure that what we offer meets their needs. Constantly improving our card offerings to them is our way of rewarding the customer base that we have grown in the five-year collaboration with Paragon. Just like Paragon, the Citi Paragon Platinum Mastercard is never out of style as it has evolved over the years to keep up with the evolving needs of cardmembers and shoppers. For instance, we recently introduced the Citi Paragon Premium Membership which rewards our top spenders with a suite of unparalleled privileges of S$500 Paragon shopping vouchers, complimentary year long parking, welcome treat at the mall and exclusive powder room for the ladies. We also launched the Citi Paragon Junior Club which gives our customers peace of mind when they shop with their little ones” said Ms Chan Sow Han, Marketing Director and Head of Co-Brand Cards and Strategic Alliances, Credit Payment Products, Citibank Singapore Ltd. (For more information on the Citi Paragon Platinum MasterCard, please refer to Annex B)

Paragon also further solidified its commitment to support exemplary local brands and designers through a one-year collaboration with Raffles Design Institute to launch Raffles Privato, a brand new retail concept located on Level 3. Raffles Design Institute students studying in Visual Communication, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing and Management were roped in to design the store’s logo and layout. Students will also be involved in the day-to-day running of the store. Seven labels covering women’s and men’s wear conceptualised by seven outstanding Raffles Design Institute graduates will be on retail for the first time at the Level 3 store (for more information, please refer to Annex C).

“We’re supportive of the local fashion industry, especially home-grown labels and brands that have good marketability. Raffles Privato will inject new blood into the local fashion scene and stimulate more demand for local fashion labels while at the same time we can groom more young talents for the local and regional fashion retail market, so that they have an opportunity to produce style staples that are never out of style. With Raffles Privato, they will add to Paragon’s existing mix of local labels such as Alldressedup, Project Shop Blood Brothers, Raoul and more,” said Mrs Sng Ngoi May, Director of Orchard 290 Ltd.

“The incubator project aims to assist the up-and-coming designers and this collaboration between Paragon and Raffles Design Institute is to support and showcase our own talented local designers. Depicted in the name of the retail concept, ‘Privato’ in Italian means Private and it reflects the graduates’ tutelage with Associate Professor Guiseppe Spinelli, who is of Italian descent,” said Mr Ong Kai How, College Director of Raffles College of Higher Education.

To celebrate Paragon’s success and how it continues to be a favourite amongst local and international shoppers, a series of activities surrounding the concept of Never Out Of Style will be launched to engage shoppers. The Never Out Of Style Exhibition will feature cult favourites, classic and vintage style items that have withstood fashion trends and test of time, just like Paragon which has over the years moved in tandem with the changing needs of the local and international shoppers. The Never Out Of Style Exhibition will be on display at Paragon Main Atrium from 13 May to 31 May 2010.

For more information, please contact:

Ina Se
Senior Manager, Advertising & Promotions
Orchard 290 Ltd
Tel: 6830 3812
Email: ina@paragonsc.com.sg

For more information, please contact:

Eileen Quay
Manager, Advertising & Promotions
Orchard 290 Ltd
Tel: 6830 3813
Email: eileenquay@paragonsc.com.sg