Sports Direct opens USC at Sunway Big Box

 

In September 2020, at the opening of the Sports Direct superstore at Sunway Big Box retail park in Iskandar Puteri, the 31^st Sports Direct retail store in Malaysia, I was delighted to discover more than 70 international brands of the best in variety and value displayed over 18,000sf of shopfloor.

 

Facade of Sports Direct USC at Sunway
Big Box retail park, Iskandar Puteri, Johor

In the store, I saw a wide range of merchandise for men, women and children by familiar brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, Asics and New Balance.

 

The store offers a range of brands in an easy, competitively priced, shop-by-sports-zone environment where shoppers can find everything they need for a particular sport in each zone.

 

It was easy to navigate the store because it was designed with zones for key sports categories like Football, Running, Training – fitness, cross-training, gym equipment, weights, boxing and yoga – Rackets for badminton, tennis and squash, and Swimming either in the pool, beach or water sports.

 

USC by Sports Direct at Sunway Big Box
 

There were also zones for SD Sports like basketball, rugby, extreme games, cycling, skates and indoor games as well as SD Lifestyle with a wide range of sports fashion, footwear and accessories for men, women and kids, plus Outdoor, a zone stocked with equipment for hiking, trekking, fishing and camping.

 

While exploring the superstore, I also saw a walled-up section with a notice that it was slated for the USC section of the store.

 

USC by Sports Direct is the sports-fashion section of Sports Direct that offers a mix of premium branded apparel, urban fashion, accessories and footwear.

 

A pair of shoes at USC - Better with Coke

After two years of uncertainties due to the global pandemic, life was returning to Sunway Big Box in Iskandar Puteri and the time was ripe for Sports Direct to welcome shoppers in again.

 

Recently, when I received the invitation to the opening of USC by Sports Direct in the Sunway Big Box retail park as the first USC Store in the Southern Region, I did not hesitate to accept.

 

On 2 September 2022, I was thrilled to be among shoppers who explored the all-new USC section in an additional 4,000sf of sports lifestyle brands to the Sports Direct store at Sunway Big Box and discovered apparel and accessories by popular brands like Champion, Fila, Levi’s, SilverTab, Puma, Asics and New Balance.

 

A range of sports lifestyle brands
in USC by Sports Direct

The arrival of USC by Sports Direct here, although delayed due to the global pandemic, was very welcome to Sports Direct regulars.

 

I remembered that Sports Direct uses labels in Black colour for Men and in White colour for Ladies to help shoppers identify which merchandise was for Men or Ladies, a brilliant idea which conveniently helps shoppers to browse around and select their own choices before seeking help from the Sales Assistants to get their right sizes.

 

I also remembered that there was an entire section dedicated to shoes for Kids in the Lifestyle section, with choices that range from sports shoes to smart shoes and even cute pairs of Mary Janes.

 

The pay-point at Sports Direct

On this visit, I could not resist having another look at the Kids shoes again and was amused to spot a charming selection designed with popular characters like Spiderman, Little Mermaid, The Cars and even Batman.

 

In the Training zone, I was not surprised to see the images of two badminton stars, P V Sindhu and Srikanth Kidami, as brand ambassadors on badminton rackets because live telecasts of the recent Commonwealth Games and BWF World Championships brought international competitions into our homes and made them household names.

 

Seen on a badminton racket

Needless to say, it was exciting to explore the various zones to rediscover the range of merchandise, browse around and made my pick for the best-buys.

 

Sports Direct, the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer by revenue in a diversified portfolio of sports, fitness, fashion and lifestyle brands, through a joint venture partnership with Malaysian owned MST Golf Group of companies, established Sports Direct Malaysia as the first direct retail investment in Asia.

 

Currently Sports Direct Malaysia operates 31 retail stores and manages a proprietary SPORTSDIRECT.COM e-commerce site.

 

Sports Direct USC is at Unit G-24 & G-25 Ground Floor of Sunway Big Box Retail Park, Persiaran Medini 5, 79250 Iskandar Puteri, Johor. Open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Sports Direct.com opens at Sunway Big Box

Just a glance at the attractive merchandise in the spanking new Sports Direct.com store at Sunway Big Box retail park in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, and the thought that echoed through my mind was, “Choices! Choices! Choices!”

The entrance to Sports Direct.com at
Sunway Big Box retail park

With more than 70 international brands of the best in variety and value presented to shoppers over 18,000sf of shopfloor in this 31^st Sports Direct retail store in Malaysia, there was certainly plenty to choose from.

As an opening special, I had the privilege of being escorted around by Danielle Gibbons from Brand Marketing in Sports Direct.com who introduced me to the various sections of this super store that forms part of the anchor tenant base at Sunway Big Box.

Another view of the entrance at Sunway Big Box 

While showing me the Lifestyle zone, Danielle reminded me that Sports Direct not only caters to the needs of sports enthusiasts but also to fashion and lifestyle needs.

In fact, an additional 4,000sf of sports lifestyle brands will soon be added to this store in the retail facia USC, scheduled to be open early in the New Year.

As we made a tour of this flagship store in Johor, I had a glimpse of the Sports Direct approach to value and variety in a one-shop, larger format retail footprint which is very appealing to consumers.

Here's the Football zone

To help shoppers identify which merchandise is for Men or Ladies, Sports Direct uses labels in Black colour for Men and in White colour for Ladies.

This brilliant idea conveniently helps shoppers to browse around and select their own choices before seeking help from the Sales Assistants to get their right sizes.

Yet (I thought!) the onus is really on shoppers to cooperate and replace each item – like shoes – at the original spaces so that the next shoppers would see the products along with the right labels.

Product labels by colour: Black for Men
and White for Ladies

In an entire section dedicated to shoes for Kids, there was a wide choice that ranges from sports shoes to smart shoes and even cute pairs of Mary Janes.

The store offers a range of brands in an easy, very competitively priced, shop-by-sports-zone environment where shoppers can find everything they need for a particular sport in each zone.

Danielle pointed out that besides zones for popular sports like Football, Running, Training, Swimming and Rackets, they also have a specific section that caters to the needs of Yoga enthusiasts.

At the Rackets zone

At the Rackets zone, I felt a sudden rush of nostalgia when I saw familiar brands like Dunlop and Carlton. I could not resist sharing with Danielle that our late grandfather was a four-time, Johor state badminton champion in the 1930s.*

I told her that my cousins, siblings, and I lived with our grandparents in our school-going years and we had a badminton court next to our house where grandfather would train world-class badminton players.**

Get your Stringing and
Re-Grip Services done here!

We looked at the badminton rackets on display and I shared how grandfather would saw down the racket shafts to create rackets that matched the heights of us kids, so that we could practice our racket wielding skills and swing an arc freely without smashing the racket on the ground.

When I spotted a counter that provided free Stringing and Re-grip Services for rackets, I was again reminded of those days when we witnessed how grandfather and our uncles used to string rackets at home.

In fact, our cousin Malcolm – now based in Sydney – has Sports Direct as a mandatory stopover on each visit here so that he could get all his sporting needs including racket strings and grips to replace on his rackets.

Many brand choices to choose from!

Then I paused to send him a photograph of the store’s façade to show off this new opening in Iskandar Puteri and his prompt reply simply reads, “Need a pair of Asics!”

Malcolm is partial to Asics shoes, so I had much pleasure in sharing with him, photos of the choices available here and encouraged him to browse at the online store.

After Danielle had moved on to escort others for an introduction to the shopfloor layout, I retraced my steps for a more leisurely look at the range of products and paid closer attention to the sections labeled “SD Exclusive” and even peeked into the bins labeled “Great Deals.”

Choices! Choices! Choices!

I was drawn to the section for Technical Sandals, everyday footwear ideal for our tropical weather and as I admired each design, it was just difficult to decide on which pair because I was simply spoilt for choice!

Finally, yes finally, I managed to make my choice and came away with my Best Buy from Sports Direct.com at Sunway Big Box retail park.

Sports Direct, the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer by revenue in a diversified portfolio of sports, fitness, fashion and lifestyle fascia’s and brands, through a joint venture partnership with Malaysian owned MST Golf Group of companies, established Sports Direct Malaysia as the first direct retail investment in Asia.

The Pay Point at Sports Direct.com

Currently Sports Direct Malaysia operates 31 retail stores and manages a proprietary SPORTSDIRECT.COM e-commerce site.

Sports Direct.com opened at Sunway Big Box Retail Park, is located at Persiaran Medini 5, 79250 Iskandar Puteri. Open daily from 10am to 10pm.

*Read, Where champions were born and The Real Champion, in My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage.

**Read, Badminton is in the blood and Richard’s Quest, in My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

My Johor Stories series of books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from www.mphonline.

Revived at Bali 9 Reflexology & Spa

 

Since 2012, we started to see development plans for Iskandar Puteri that turned brown fields into buildings for commercial, residential and leisure destinations.

 

Facade of Bali 9 Reflexology & Spa
at Sunway Boulevard 88, Sunway Iskandar

Developed on a site that spans across 1,800 acres in Iskandar Puteri, Sunway City Iskandar Puteri is Sunway’s largest integrated township to date.

 

Planned with a full range of services that comprise education, hospitality, entertainment, retail, commercial and residential components.

 

Sunway Iskandar, as it is popularly called, became my regular destination for grocery shopping and dining at the Citrine Hub and Sunway Big Box, the first retail hybrid park, since 2019.

 

It was exciting to witness the opening of Sports Direct.com in 2020 and later, Sports Direct USC in 2022 but my deepest joy was when BookXcess opened at Sunway Big Box in 2020.

 

The reception counter in the lobby

I also had the pleasure to participate in food reviews hosted at the Pendas Café in Sunway Big Box Hotel and joined events held at the Sunway Avianna Residences.

 

When the commercial area dubbed, Sunway Boulevard 88, opened, I was pleased to discover a range of restaurants, charming cafes and boutique businesses here.

 

For those who are unfamiliar with the layout of Sunway Iskandar, Sunway Boulevard 88 comprises rows upon rows of interesting shops, located between Sunway Big Box and the Sunway International School.

 

Bali 9 occupies two shop units plus upstairs

Readers may know that I have been busy with my Heritage Walks in downtown Johor Baru in the past few months, with the most recent Walk on March 23, so the rest in between the Walks was very welcome.

 

When a friend suggested that I should go for a relaxing treatment at Bali 9, I replied with a deluge of keen questions like, where it was located, what type of therapies they offer, who are the therapists, among other queries.

 

With a name like Bali 9, my guess was that Bali was the inspiration for this place and I was right because the owners enjoyed their experience in Bali so much that they decided to bring that experience here for everyone to enjoy.

 

A straightforward menu with
Happy Hour rates at Bali 9

I could not help but continued to ask, “And what about the ‘9’ in its name?”

 

Their reply – which reeks of confidence in their treatments – was that their professional treatments hold a promise to send guests to Cloud Nine, a phrase that describes a sense of well-being.

 

Such a reassuring explanation simply made me to head out to Bali 9 for my own therapeutic experience.

 

To reap the benefit of not meeting the weekend crowd, I checked for their Happy Hours and found that it was from 11am to 5pm on weekdays and from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

 

I arranged an appointment for 2pm on midweek Wednesday, right smack in the middle of Happy Hours to enjoy some 35% off the published rates, and headed out with Florence, fellow food-taster and trusted assistant who deserved proper pampering for all her hard work.

 

Separate cubicles with "O" windows on side walls
that can be opened by drawing back the curtains

A smooth drive from the city along the Iskandar Coastal Highway brought to Sunway Iskandar. I exited the roundabout adjacent to Sunway Big Box and headed towards Sunway Boulevard 88 where Bali 9 is located nearby.

 

I liked that there were ample parking lots along the shopfronts and parked just steps away from Bali 9 which occupies two units, plus upstairs, in Sunway Boulevard 88.

 

Upon entering the lobby, the sight of low shelves arranged with pairs of guest slippers reminded me that we were required to remove our footwear to put on their slippers.

 

Feet washing before foot reflexology treatment

With feet shod in comfortably light foam slippers, we looked at the menu to select our treatments while the receptionist answered my queries about the facilities.

 

I was pleased to note that theirs was a straightforward menu of treatments in choices for Foot & Shoulder and Body Massage either with oil or traditional massage.

 

On the lobby level, I saw cubicles arranged to the left with the Men’s Changing Room at the rear while the Ladies Changing Room was through an archway in the unit to the right.

 

Inside, there were toilets and lockers complete with keys to store personal items safely before we started the treatments, beginning with a foot reflexology treatment.

 

The therapists invited us to wash our feet before leading us – each to a separate cubicle – furnished with a comfortable deck chair with foot rest.

 

In separate cubicles for foot reflexology
treatment, with the "O" windows opened

It was interesting that the row of three cubicles were designed with large round windows on both of the side walls for guests who may wish to draw back the curtains and chat with their friends in the cubicles on either side.

 

As we sat back for the foot reflexology treatment, we agreed that this was a fun arrangement to kick-off a Girls-Day-Out activity at Bali 9.

 

In addition to these cute cubicles, there were twin chairs in a double room upstairs for pairs of people to enjoy foot reflexology in the same private room.

 

Our therapists, who were from Myanmar and Thailand, could speak/understand basic English so we could say what pressure was preferred. But if I let out a yelp when she pressed on a tender point, my therapist certainly understood such universal language…

 

I could not help snapping shots of
my therapist in action

After our tired feet and calves received the relaxing pampering they deserved, we were ushered into a therapy room for the next part of the treatment, body massages.

 

Since Florence chose an oil massage, I picked the traditional massage so as to have a different experience.

 

Before the therapists left the room for us to prepare for the treatments, her therapist left Florence with disposable items for her to wear after she removed her clothes.

 

She was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a set of disposable panties complete with brassiere for her to protect her modesty.

 

I learnt ahead (from quizzing a friend who had prior experience in Bali 9) that we need not remove clothes for the traditional massage so I was dressed in comfortable sports attire with no worries about getting my clothes crushed.

 

Skillful therapist at work
on my tired calves

When the therapists returned to the room to start our treatments, all conversation ceased as we surrendered our bodies to the strong hands of the skillful therapists.

 

[I noticed that curtains provided privacy on the doorways for the therapy rooms and not doors. The shut doors were only for the Male and Ladies changing rooms.]

 

When my therapist worked her magic on my tired body, I felt the fatigue lifting bit by bit as she undid the knots and realigned my body to normality again.

 

I knew she was well-versed about pressure points on the human anatomy as my therapist systematically exerted bearable pressure on me. Meanwhile the song playing on a loop in my playlist was John Cougar Mellancamp’s rock tune, “Hurts So Good!”

 

Revived and restored after the treatments, I then understood why Bali 9 claims that they would send their guests to Cloud Nine…

 

A peek into a single
therapy room located upstairs

Back in the lobby, we were invited to make our tea from the tea choices available at the counter and enjoy warm tea before leaving.

 

And yes, we remembered to change the comfy slippers for our own footwear. The receptionist chuckled and told us that some guests literally floated out after the treatment and left wearing their comfortable slippers!

 

The best part about this therapeutic experience was our chat – as soon as we got into the car – on when we will be back again, with our friends and family, for the next rejuvenating treatment.

 

Our chit-chat continued about our Bali 9 experience which was an interesting mix of therapies where Chinese foot reflexology paired well with both the Balinese-style oil massage and Thai traditional massage.

 

Bali 9 Reflexology & Spa is located at Unit L75 & L76 Sunway Boulevard 88 of Sunway Iskandar in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. Open daily from 11am to 1am, with last entry at 11pm. 

For reservations, Tel: +6010 762 5757.

Toppen is fast taking shape in JB

It was just 15 months ago when I witnessed the announcement on the development of Toppen Shopping Centre by officials of IKEA Southeast Asia and I’m here again to see for myself how this building is taking shape.

My view through this window is no longer a
construction site but the facade
of Toppen Shopping Centre!

I’m ushered into the back-of-the-house (not the retail floor) of IKEA Tebrau, back to the same room where we first gathered for the announcement of Toppen Shopping Centre which is anchored by IKEA Tebrau, the first IKEA store outside the Klang Valley.

In this room, my eyes are riveted to its glass-paneled windows where I saw through to the towering cranes on the construction site some 15 months ago, but now this is being replaced by the façade of the Toppen Shopping Centre!

With its seamless integration with IKEA Tebrau and links with AEON Tebrau City, Toppen is poised to become the meeting place and the heart of the surrounding community.

Together with IKEA Tebrau, Toppen is all set to create a fun and inspiring day out in Southern Malaysia when it opens its doors in November 2019.

Ariel view of the construction-in-progress at Toppen Shopping Centre,
featuring The Topp, rooftop community

I take my seat in front of the big screen where (I’m sure!) they will later present a video of the building development thus far (and I was right).

While waiting for the event to start, Elya Eusoff, the event Emcee (who remembers me from the previous event) and I exchange comments about how the time has flown and here we are again at this exciting juncture…

The event opens with an introduction and we learn about how Toppen’s retail mix will offer Johoreans and visitors to Johor, a complete retail experience with great meeting places and spaces for family and friends to enjoy their time together.

Toppen will boast of a rooftop community hub dubbed, The Topp, which is set to attract visitors to a myriad of fresh retail, dining, e-sports and entertainment experiences, in fact a complete retailtainment (if there is such a word!) in Southern Malaysia.

Shopping Centre & Mixed Use Director
of IKEA Southeast Asia, Christian Olofsson

The first-of-its-kind in Malaysia, The Topp is a unique rooftop concept that features four distinct zones for visitors from all walks of life.

These interactive outdoor spaces will be complemented by over 30 Food & Beverage specialty and alfresco outlets, a rooftop garden, multipurpose courts, skate parks, a spacious piazza, kids’ playgrounds, a cinema, e-sports arena and even a water play area!

“We are passionate and driven to develop meeting places that become the heart and the hub of the surrounding communities,” said Shopping Centre & Mixed Use Director of IKEA Southeast Asia, Christian Olofsson.

“With the community at the very heart of our strategy, we are confident that Toppen together with IKEA Tebrau, will be a new retail landmark in South Malaysia, a true meeting place where customers and businesses alike can flourish and grow,” he added.

With close to 85% of its retail space already leased out, the call to merchants who want to be part of Toppen is to hurry up and secure a space here!

Then I discover the exciting, new-to-Johor brands that will open in Toppen!

These are Ben’s Independent Grocer (B.I.G), The Pantheon, opening its second e-sports area in Malaysia here, 9 to 9 – a first-in-Malaysia online to offline (O2O) by Hush Puppies – and Concept Haus, a premium streetwear and athleisure retailer.

Among the familiar brands coming to Toppen are TGV Cinemas, Harvey Norman, Sports Direct, Burger King and Marrybrown, and a local brand with fresh concepts, 7 Oaks.

Brand representatives at the Key Handover ceremony

My media colleagues and I then witnessed the Key Handover in a simple ceremony with several brand partners in this four-level shopping center.

Toppen is projected to attract some 15 million visitors in 2020, not only from Johor and its neighbouring states but also from nearby Singapore.

While adding vibrancy to the economy, this shopping center will offer thousands of business opportunities within the region and is set to create numerous jobs and career opportunities for the community in Johor.

“We are committed to creating market relevant shopping experiences that fit our consumers’ lifestyles and we do this by consistently identifying opportunities to improve the customer journey with new and in-demand tenants that reflect a well-curated mix of retail, dining and entertainment concepts,” said Arnoud Bakker, Head of Leasing, Southeast Asia of Ikano Centres, which is part of IKEA Southeast Asia.

Head of Leasing, Southeast Asia of
Ikano Centres, Arnoud Bakker

“Co-creation is something that we strongly believe in, not only for external relationships but for the mall space as well because it allows each tenant to work together and create a cohesive experience for the customers, while remaining diverse in shopping selections,” he further explained.

From the video screened, we saw the work-in-progress within the building and it was impressive to learn that Toppen Shopping Centre had already received its Bomba or Fire Safety Certification since May 2019.

IKEA Southeast Asia has over 15 years of experience in developing, owning and running successful IKEA stores and shopping centers in the region.

These include IPC Shopping Centre and MyTOWN Shopping Centre in Malaysia and Megabangna in Thailand.

With a strong track record and global experience, IKEA Southeast Asia is confident that very soon, Toppen Shopping Centre will be the meeting place and the heart and hub of the Johor community.

The commitment of IKEA Southeast Asia to the community is also seen from their initiative to widen the roads and create an extra exit into the Tebrau Highway to ease traffic flow within this area. [Construction is still in progress.]

After the event and refreshments, we are directed to leave the building via the IKEA Tebrau restaurant and through the store exit.

This route will inevitably take me through part of the store and I’m happy for an opportunity to browse around for any well-designed, functional, useful and affordable knick-knack.

[It’s no secret that IKEA is a store where I will always find something useful to buy.]

A view of the checkouts at IKEA Tebrau

Then I join a queue to pay and because the wait was getting too long, I look closer to find out the reason why.

With two customers ahead of me, I can watch how the cashier is dealing patiently with a lady customer who seems to be having difficulty in payment – part by cash and part by credit card – and she was getting increasingly agitated, to the point of muttering under her breath.

After a long transaction, she finally leaves the cashier with her purchases but not before releasing a loud shout (that really startled us!) But she was really weird.

Then I watch as the cashier deals professionally with the customer ahead of me, keeping his cool and remaining unperturbed.

Then she too changed her mind about buying certain items and this resulted in further delay while the cashier again telephoned a colleague to amend the bill which should be reversed.

Meanwhile, I’m privately commending IKEA for their staff training and Standard Operating Procedures to guide them in dealing with all types of customers.

With Zamri, my regular reader.
 

I'm sure it’s all in a day’s work for the cashier but I can understand if he is unduly stressed, so my only wish is to complete my transaction smoothly and leave.

Then it’s my turn. The cashier politely asks for my Member Card and parking ticket (to endorse and waive payment!)

I pass him my IKEA Member Card and parking ticket and when he reads my name, he looks at me with recognition and declares, “You are that writer…”

After observing the earlier drama, I’m pleasantly surprised at his keen attention and I quickly respond in the affirmative, “Yes, I am.”

He goes on to tell me that he’s been my reader since his schooldays… while my eyes zoom in to his nametag which reads: Zamri and by then, my transaction has been completed smoothly.

I’m more than pleased to meet my regular readers and as I leave, I’m filled with a deep sense of pleasure as he wishes me well along with encouragement to keep on writing!

Thanks, Zamri. This was indeed a memorable and meaningful outing to IKEA Tebrau for the Toppen Shopping Centre event with IKEA Southeast Asia, and for me personally.