Tradition under pressure: Heritage businesses strive to stay relevant

[SINGAPORE] For the past decade, Al-Amal Creations in Kampong Glam has sold non-alcoholic perfumes and Muslim robes known as abaya. But by end-March, it will shut for good.

“There’s no revenue in, but the rent is up. Can’t afford to keep up with it,” owner Naz Bawany tells The Business Times. 

Like other heritage retailers, Al-Amal Creations faces the pressures of rising rents, high manpower costs and weaker consumer sentiment. Declining business in the last two years is the reason that Bawany decided to close the shop.