Ailing UK Fashion Brand Jack Wills Bids Singapore Goodbye After Leaving Hong Kong
Jack Wills is next-in-line to pull out of the physical retail scene in Singapore.
This news comes just a week after Hong Kong beauty retailer Sasa & local DIY giant Home-Fix announced plans to exit.
The ailing UK retailer had faced financial troubles earlier this year, deciding to strike Hong Kong off their overseas franchise list in August.
Singapore will be their second major closure in Asia.
Here’s how they arrived at the difficult decision to leave, and how you can pay them a final visit at their clearance sale in Yishun before they bid Singapore goodbye.
5 Hong Kong outlets closed in Aug 2019
The British clothes & accessories retailer faced pressure to turnaround their business, after Sports Direct bought them for S$22.2 million (£12.75 million), earlier in August this year.
Hong Kong’s 5 stores were also closed, after the deal was sealed. However, at the point of sale, the fate of US and Singapore outlets were put on hold.
Besides Asia, Jack Wills had 1,700 staff across 6 retail presences in Kuwait, Saudia Arabia and UAE. Their e-commerce channels continues to cater to a whopping 130 countries.
It’s unclear whether their online presence will continue, in the wake of their physical store closures.
Ailing retailer lost S$52.25 million in 2018
Experts explain that Jack Wills ran into brand devaluing issues by providing discounts too frequently. The brand’s iconic style, desirability & value were gradually eroded with the entry of more competitive players over the years.
In 2018, Jack Willis reported losses of S$52.25 million (£29.3 million), later burning through a “£28 million cash injection” from investor BlueGem in 2019.
For the beleaguered brand, closing its overseas franchises in Singapore & Hong Kong was probably the safest way to stem their losses.
Up to 80% off clearance sale in Yishun warehouse
There will be a final warehouse sale to clear all remaining products.
It will be held at Yishun’s North Spring Bizhub #01-41, with up to 80% off all products from 21 to 29 Dec, 12pm to 9pm.
Do check out their article in full here, for more details on Christmas opening times.
3 outlets are already listed as ‘permanently closed’
Although no official store closure date was announced to the media, 3 known outlets of the brand are listed as ‘permanently closed’ on Facebook and Google Maps.
Here are the addresses of their last known outlets.
Jack Wills – Raffles City
Address: Raffles City Shopping Centre #01-19, 252 North Bridge Road, S’pore 179103
Website: Listed as ‘Permanently Closed’ on Facebook/Google Maps
Nearest station: City Hall MRT
Jack Wills – Jewel Changi
Address: Jewel Changi, #01-249 & 250, 78 Airport Blvd, Singapore 819666
Website: Listed as ‘Permanently Closed’ on Facebook/Google Maps
Nearest station: Changi MRT
Jack Wills – Ngee Ann City
Address: Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238872
Website: Listed as ‘Permanently Closed’ on Facebook/Google Maps
Nearest station: Orchard MRT
See you online, Jack Wills fans
Jack Wills is beloved for their trendy apparel, flower-motif phone cases & laptop accessories. Their physical presence in Singapore’s retail scene will be sorely missed by fans. We do hope that they’ll continue to sell their products online, and successfully reinvent their business model.
If your friends are huge Jack Wills fans, do remember to jio them for one final pilgrimage before the year ends.
Are you sad to see another famous retailer pull out of Singapore? Or did you see this closure coming? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Also read:
Sasa Suddenly Closes All 22 Stores In S’pore, Expect Sales On Perfume & Beauty Products Soon
Featured image adapted from Google Maps & Google Maps.
