In a bold move to offer shoppers unique and one-of-a-kind retail moments beyond sales to rejuvenate the retail industry and re-establish Singapore as a shopping destination for the world, the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) announced the inaugural Singapore Retail Festival (SRF).
SRF, to be held from 26 September to 12 October, 2025, will be an industry-wide celebration of innovation and transformation to reignite consumer excitement in visiting physical stores, while spotlighting the innovation, creativity, and spirit of Singapore’s retail sector.
Mr Ernie Koh, President of Singapore Retailers Association, remarked that “by bringing back the magic of discovery, engagement, and on-ground experiences, the Singapore Retail Festival is looking to transform the everyday shopping journey into something fresh, vibrant, and memorable – strengthening Singapore’s position as a dynamic and future-ready retail destination for both Singaporeans and tourists. Shoppers can look forward to a dynamic, value-driven celebration of Singapore retail that reflects the changing needs of today’s consumers and the modern retail landscape”.
This new initiative by the association was conceived to provide the much-needed united push with collective marketing, to amplify visibility and footfall across Singapore’s retail ecosystem, especially for the physical stores. SRA will work with retailers and key partners such as BHG, Eu Yan Sang, Harvey Norman, IN GOOD COMPANY, Metro, OG, Pet Lovers Centre, TANGS, TC Acoustic, Watson’s, among other retailers, and Brands for Good (BFG) to reimagine the festival, focusing on value beyond price and emphasising experiential retail, meaningful consumer engagements, and innovation.
Mr Koh added that “this is no longer just a sale. It’s a celebration of Singapore’s retail creativity, and the unique value presented by its retail community. The Singapore Retail Festival represents a united push to uplift our retail sector. It’s about delivering value beyond discounts, creating one-of-a-kind moments that shoppers simply cannot find anywhere else.”
One of the key features of SRF will be the introduction of experiential retail concepts from interactive in-store activations to limited-time concepts such as pop-ups, workshops, masterclasses, sensory or personalisation activities, to create immersive environments that excite and engage shoppers and reward them from stepping out to enjoy the vibrancy of the retail scene. This feature, among others such as exclusive value-driven offerings in the form of limited-time product drops, bundles and exclusive collaborations, offering unique and meaningful buys that go beyond conventional discounts, will make the festival markedly different from the Great Singapore Sale (GSS), the once much-anticipated annual affair that placed Singapore on the world map for great shopping. Once synonymous with deep discounts, GSS gradually lost its lustre with increasing competition from neighbouring cities often offering retail experiences at a lower price.
What’s New
Introduced in celebration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, the festival will also coincide with the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2025 this year, leveraging the seasonal surge in international visitors and tourists. More detailed information on SRF 2025 will be announced later.
SRA invites retailers across the island to join the festival by contacting SRA to share innovative retail ideas for collaboration and indicate their interest to participate in the festival. Please refer to the annex of the attached document for the list of confirmed participating retailers and malls to date.
