Groupon in early July officially opened its first retail concept internationally in Singapore. In a press release, the daily deal website's Singapore division said the store "was created for Groupon consumers to better experience the Groupon lifestyle through a tangible interactive environment."
Said Groupon Singapore's chief operating officer Adrian Tan in a statement, "Although many Singaporeans today like to easily go online to purchase deals, many still prefer the face-to-face interaction and the fact that an online shop like Groupon has a physical presence."
The 4,400 square feet store promises to have more than 50 service personnel to make it easier for customer to redeem and collect their Groupon Goods purchased on the Groupon website and address any customer service issues. The concept partly came about because a smaller redemption center in the area continually faced long lines, Mr. Chong told CNET ASIA. Groupon Singapore's customer service team is located in an area in back of the store.
But the shop also features iPads as well as three computer terminals for shoppers to browse, purchase, print and redeem their Groupons on the spot.
"Our customers prefer to pick up their Groupon Goods instantly and in a more convenient location," said Mr. Chong in a statement. "The new Groupon Shop, located at Suntec City, provides this advantage, and as a bonus, our top-selected goods will be on physical display for immediate purchase, just as you would expect in a traditional shop."
Finally, the shop works as a branding tool with its "resplendent colors and a large 'G' logo marking its location." The store's iPads are covered with the company's signature green color. The first 50 customers who visited the Groupon Shop dressed in green on the official opening date, July 4, were given $50 worth of credits.
Groupon Singapore said the store has "already seen promising initial results, and if successful, may also be rolled out by Groupon to other markets."