ason like no other.  In a milestone year for both the event and the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA), which celebrates its 25th anniversary, ORBA chairman Mark Shaw shares his insights on the magic, the meaning, and the mission behind this year’s extravaganza. The story so far According to Shaw, over the last 40 years, the Christmas light-up of Orchard Road has mirrored the various stages of Singapore’s economic transformation.  “The economic backdrop in 1984 was somewhat like the challenges we face today, including weak economic growth globally, tight monetary policy to fight mounting inflation, and the loss of Singapore’s competitiveness due to rising costs,” he told Inside Retail. He went on to say that Orchard Road, as well as the rest of Singapore, weathered the recession in 1985 by transforming itself into a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.  “Four decades later, despite the rise of suburban malls and e-commerce, Orchard Road remains the heart of Singapore’s retail and lifestyle district. Retailers kept themselves relevant with more innovative, experiential offerings delivered to customers in-store and online,” he added. Storefronts have been repurposed, malls have dramatically changed their tenant mix in favour of food and beverage outlets, pop-up shops, art galleries, and co-working spaces.  The pedestrianisation of parts of Orchard Road and greater connectivity through public transport have also contributed to an increase in foot traffic and overall vibrancy.  As an indication of Orchard Road’s continued transformation, more new hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities were opened this year, including Trifecta, Asia’s first snow, surf, and skate facility; Pan Pacific Orchard, an award-winning luxury urban oasis; Richard Mille St Martin, the world’s largest watch boutique; and the first patisserie in Asia by renowned French pastry chef Cédric Grolet. The current state of affairs According to Shaw, rising interest rates and inflation coupled with a strong Singapore dollar have slowed the overall economy in the first half of the year, and Orchard Road businesses, like the rest of Singapore, have not been immune to the effects.  “However, a tight labour market and the return of leisure and business travel have kept retail sales up, putting the retail industry back on firmer footing after a challenging three-year pandemic,” he stated. The Singapore Tourism Board expects international visitor arrivals to hit 12 to 14 million this year, and as Singapore’s most famous shopping street, Orchard Road is likely to be a beneficiary of the increased tourist arrivals.  In April this year, an ORBA delegation visited Seattle in the US to gain insights into the city’s place management efforts and learn about innovative retail concepts and best practices.  “Such learnings have led us to implement initiatives including the first-ever Christmas Eve street party on Orchard Road, more experiential pop-ups, 3D augmented reality projections that sync with speakers positioned across 44 lampposts on Orchard Road,” Shaw said. This year’s Christmas event will also feature new sustainability measures, including the use of energy-efficient LED lights, the increased recycling and repurposing of materials, the installation of solar panels, the use of reusable wire mesh and green energy sources. European inspiration From a design perspective, this year’s event will feature three ‘Great Christmas Villages’, up from one last year. Inspired by those in Europe, the villages offer fun and varied experiences beyond retail and have something for everyone to enjoy, according to Shaw. ORBA is working with Kiztopia and Plaza Singapura to organise a 15-metre long inflatable slide as well as craft and activity workshops. Shaw said that compared to shopping and lifestyle district peers such as Ginza Street in Tokyo and Wangfujing in Beijing, Orchard Road is known for its diverse range of retail brands catering to a variety of consumer preferences and budgets. Recent examples were the branded pop-up experiences such as the Lego-BTS Dynamite Experience and Grand Prix-themed attractions this year, and its signature event, ‘Christmas on A Great Street’. Singapore’s recently elected President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will grace the light-up ceremony on November 16, and Shaw believes this underscores the government’s support for and recognition of Orchard Road as a significant cultural and economic landmark in Singapore.