BEYOND TRANSNATIONAL RETAILING: A CASE STUDY OF TAKASHIMAYA IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

This thesis is a discussion on how Japanese retailers are engaged in transnational development in Singapore, using specifically the case study of Takashimaya department store. Given the high levels of exchanges with Japan in numerous sectors, Sino- Singapore relationship has received high attention. Thus, this paper will ground the empirical study in the various exchanges between Japan and Singapore, specifically in the retail sector. While the rich literature in new retail geography has charted numerous possible approaches in tackling this issue, this thesis will also look at concepts from the urban design as well as business literature. Such a purpose is to first appropriate more attention to the importance of physical setting of department stores in this transnational engagement, and second, to discuss the common interests of state and retailer in the negotiations of transnational retailing. Adopting a networked/ relational and historical approach, this paper has traced the spatial and temporal processes that have contributed to the multi-faceted nature of current transnational retailing nature of Sino-Singapore exchange.