Retail’s Reset: From Mall‑Mad to Money‑Mindful
Meet Lana Shamsuddin, 49, the Lawyer with a Shopping Past
Before the world turned on its head in 2020, Lana Shamsuddin was the queen of retail. Picture a 49‑year‑old lawyer who could turn any mall into a personal playground, dropping by major centres two to three times a week just to shop, snack, and soak up the neon glow.
Then the pandemic hit, bringing a two‑front battle: the fear of catching COVID and a brutal hit to her wallet. A 20 % salary cut since April left her in a new budgeting club.
- Safety over shopping: Lana says she’s less likely to venture out now because the key word is “financial survival.”
- Shopping style shift: From bag‑laden to cash‑tight, she’s swapping “vacation” trips to grocery stores.
- Motherhood factor: Shortening her shopping list so she can focus on her two kids’ needs.
Big Glooms, Bigger Dreams: The New Mall on Tun Razak Exchange
Despite a shaky retail forecast—think shrinking global markets, an explosion of online shoppers, borders that look more like new must‑know “no‑go” lists, and a wall‑of‑shops problem—Malaysia’s big malls keep popping up like fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
The newest star is The Exchange TRX, a mall that materialised in 2022 on the outskirts of the bustling Tun Razak Exchange (or TRX), the city‑wide hustle centre that’s a sort of local version of Singapore’s Marina Bay Financial Centre and London’s Canary Wharf. It even boxes in the region’s tallest tower, Exchange 106, which turned in last year.
- Space: 1.3 million square feet of rentable area – whoa, that’s a touch more than Singapore’s biggest meat‑and‑potato of a shopping centre, VivoCity.
- Future‑proof design: Developers used the latest technology to build a mall that can “treat safety and health like high‑tech security guards.”
- Optimistic outlook: Even though global growth shrank, the IMF projects a 5.4 % rebound in 2021, giving developers a serious pep talk.
Closing Thoughts
Once the pandemic hairline becomes a permanent part of the landscape, the next chapter will be all about re‑balancing shopping ambitions with smarter spending. For Lana and millions of shoppers, the simplified shop‑and–dine routine might just turn into a focus on quality over quantity, but the pop‑up of malls like The Exchange TRX hints that the future of retail may well be more glitzy than ever.
<img alt="" data-caption="The Exchange TRX mall, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in 2022.
PHOTO: Facebook/The Exchange TRX” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”aa737480-8dee-468a-957b-01baf308c0f0″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20200929_theexchangetrxmall_fb.jpg”/>
Mall Buzz: A New Shopping Haven with a Rooftop Oasis
Picture a sprawling 28‑ha development that’s stacked with 500 shops, a food‑and‑drink line‑up, and a dreamy 4‑ha rooftop park that’s ready to make every city‑dweller feel like they’ve got a private jungle escape. With a projected workforce of about 45,000 people and 896 high‑rise homes set to open by 2023, this place is going to be the new epicenter of life in the Klang Valley.
Step One: Get There—But Almost Instantly
This mall is just a single MRT stop away from Bukit Bintang (home to the famous Pavilion KL), and a quick two‑stop trip to the KLCC Suria shopping centre at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers. That means you can hop off one line and be done, or shuffle a couple of stops for a quick power‑shop break.
Adding Spice: Two More Pavilion Malls are Coming
- 1.8 million sq ft of retail space
- 1.17 million sq ft of retail space
- All set to open over the next two years in the Klang Valley
Even with all the new spaces popping up, mall managers are feeling confident that shoppers will keep coming back.
On the Recovery Front
As Covid cases dipped and the CMCO was lifted in May, businesses, schools, and many other sectors gradually got back into the groove under the RMCO banner. Retailers are now riding that wave of resurgence.
Sunway Malls and Theme Parks (running seven shopping centers across Malaysia) reported the following to ST:
“We’re seeing footfall bounce back to around 70% and sales to roughly 85%,” – H.C. Chan, CEO.
“We aim for 80% footfall and 90% sales by year‑end, barring any surprises,” – he added.
What’s Pavilion Reit Malls Doing?
Pavilion Reit’s portfolio includes Pavilion KL and two other Klang Valley malls. The company says occupancy rates are holding strong, and
- The flagship mall welcomed high‑profile brands like Dior and Karl Lagerfeld this July.
- They’ve rolled out rental rebates, free parking, and other shopping perks to sweeten the deal.
Marketing Director Kung Suan Ai confides:
“We’re definitely seeing more foot traffic since the RMCO period,” she says.
“Malls are more than just storefronts—they’re community hubs where families and friends can hang out. That’s the magic that keeps folks coming.”
Why Shoppers Are Back?
- They’re eager to blow off the pent‑up energy from lockdown.
- Malls now offer entertainment, dining, and leisure beyond just shopping.
