Source of Article:- RSI (Radio Singapore International) 

On Discovering Singapore this week, find out why bargain-hunters should keep an eye on this month’s Great Singapore Shopping Challenge.

To coincide with the official launch of the 2008 Great Singapore later this month, teams from Singapore and around the world will compete in the fifth-annual Great Singapore Shopping Challenge.

These expert shopaholics will compete against one another for $10,000 worth of shopping vouchers by putting their bargain-hunting skills to the test.

Ms. Lau Chuen Wei (LCW), Executive Director of the Singapore Retailer’s Association, tells RSI's Jason Tan more.

LCW: Well the Great Singapore Shopping Challenge was introduced in 2005. One of the main objectives was to highlight to people, what kinds of wonderful savings they can get during the Great Singapore Sale (GSS). And to do that, we came up with this idea of a shopping challenge where shoppers are given a thousand dollars to shop for free, and the team that accumulates the largest savings, not bought the most items but accumulated the largest savings, would win the greatest prize. So that, in a nutshell, is what the whole challenge is all about.

What’s different in this year’s competition?

LCW: I think as we progressed, we learned a little bit more. We had feedback from international participants particularly, that they found the whole experience of shopping very exciting, because they could see it in their own eyes that shopping in Singapore is not just about going into shops and buying things, but there’s a whole experience as well to be had, as they looked at how our locals went about their shopping day. And because of that, we introduced other items to also let them experience a little bit of what our locals would do as they go shopping. So they pop into a shop, they acquire the merchandise, buy what they want to buy, and also enjoy things like refreshments, which typically makes up our day, you know? Shop and eat! So, we’re introducing that as well this year, and some of the activities that we are requiring the participants to engage in would be very local and very uniquely Singapore experiences.

The teams will be competing for a prize of $10,000. In your experience, can you tell us what spectators can look forward to seeing during the contest?

LCW: Well I think where the spectators are concerned, at the different malls where the teams have to accomplish their shopping spree, that is where they will perform the compulsory activities. So the spectators will be able to have a bit of fun and enjoy the spectacle if seeing these teams perform and complete these activities within a stipulated time. But at the same time, there will be all kinds of activities and entertainment that’s going to take place there as well, from balloon sculptors, cheerleading teams, and so on. And there will also be games played. Now in the past, some of the games played were, for instance, asking the spectators to guess how much the sale price of a particular item is. You know, giving them a hint, as the regular price could be $299, guess what the sale price is during the GSS? And if they get as close to it as possible, they could stand to win prizes as well.

How tough is this year’s international competition?

LCW: It’s not tougher than previous years, in the sense that they don’t have to go to more shopping destinations than they ever had to. In fact, the number of categories of items that they need to purchase has been kind of reduced. But what I think will make it even more exciting for them as we move from year to year is, like I mentioned earlier, the compulsory activities that they have to embark on, the things that they have to do. I won’t mention what these are because these are surprises to the teams themselves! But it will give them a taste of what Singaporeans enjoy on a day-to-day basis. Going through the experience of engaging in those tasks, they can take it back with them when they go back home and they can enjoy the kinds of things that we Singaporeans enjoy here.

In your observations over the years, what has made a champion bargain-hunter?

LCW: You may find this a little bit hard to believe, but one of the teams that won actually totaled up saving of $14,400 from an expenditure of $880. So, you know, he spent $880 and the value of the items that he took home was like $15,300. I’d call him a bargain-hunter! (laughs) I think particularly what it is, is that some of the anecdotal comments that we have actually received from some of the participants was, do your homework, scan the pages of advertisements, know where the best buys are, keep fit! (laughs) Take a “keep fit” regime a couple of weeks before it, wear very comfortable clothes, running shoes, and be prepared to exert a lot of energy!

This year’s Great Singapore Shopping Challenge kicks off in front of Wisma Atria, Orchard Road on Saturday 24th May at 12 noon.