SHAH ALAM: GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Giant) plans to open six new stores and relaunch 28 existing stores nationwide to provide a renewed shopping experience to customers next year.
Among the six stores new stores to be opened are in Setapak, Kangar, Kota Bharu and Jerteh while the remaining two have yet to be revealed.
Giant Operations Director Ernest Potgieter said the company decided to relaunch its stores after receiving complaints from customers that the stores have started to look dated.
"Our customers told us that we look old. We have to revive the business. The stores have not been refurbished for the past five years and it is time to give a new look to customers.
"Giant Malaysia listens to customers and the transformation was tailored with the customer in mind, aiming at providing greater value and a customer friendly lay out.
"We serve 2.3 million customers a week, serving this many customers, you have to give them what they need and customers these days have become very demanding. We have to be cheaper than everyone but also give good service, good products and good environment in Giant stores," he said at the relaunch of Giant Hypermarket Shah Alam, here, today.
Potgieter said Giant spends RM2.5 million in capital expenditure (capex) to refurbish the Shah Alam store and the amount would differ according to the size of the stores refurbished.
General Merchandising director Lee Siew Mei said the relaunch embraced a change of layout which makes shopping a one-stop experience for customers.
"The new layout presents a one-stop shopping experience for all customers. For example, baby products are all within reach and customers need not walk to various sections of the hypermarket looking for baby related products.
"Children related products are put together and we have a dedicated seasonal promotional area. Now, there is a back-to-school promotion running for six weeks and all back-to-school related products including stationery, school bags and uniforms are in one place," she said.
At the same time, Lee said Giant had brought in new ranges of products, including those exclusive to Giant.
"We have the O'Fresh range which comes direct from farms in Cameron Highlands. The vegetables do not go through distribution centres, therefore they are of better quality and the price is also lower," she said.
At the launch, Giant also announced a special 'Relaunch Promotion', in conjunction with the relaunch of Giant Shah Alam from Dec 23 to Jan 5.
