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Sun, Mar. 4th, 2012, 09:09 pm
Day Trip to the Johor Premium Outlets
For those who are following me on Twitter & Instagram (I'm KimokoMasada on both Twitter and Instagram) would have known that last Sunday, I drove up North to have a look at the Johor Premium Outlets. I drove in, despite the negative reviews of the place just for a weekend outing. For those who are curious about the outlets, here's a pictorial tour... 
Though in America, parking is free and not in JPO but at JPO, parking is relatively cheap, at RM3 per entry.
*pardon the dirt on my nail of my thumb. I was scrapping some stains off the car when I got off and forgot to wet wipe my fingers before taking this picture.
I drove in via the 2nd Link, Tuas and travelling towards Senai Airport on the North-South Highway, the journey took less than 45 minutes. From a distance, you will be able to notice this huge billboard standee along the highway and you know you've arrived.
It reminded me alot of the Premium Outlet that I have been in America 3 years ago. Though not exactly but it has adopted a similar layout, look and feel. Without the humid climate of course.
The food court is pretty over priced as compared to the prices in town but it is the most economical eatery should you wanna fill your tummy.
One store I was exceptionally excited is the Cosmetics Company Store or what it is often known as the CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet). It looked EXACTLY like the one I have been in America. Even Mommy could remember as I went to at least 3 Cosmetics Company Store back then.
Even the posters are identical! Unfortunately, it has yet to be officially opened so I have no idea what the prices are. On average, in America, MAC single eyeshadows, lipsticks & lipglass (Limited Edition or the regular line) are US10 each.
The Cosmetic Company Store is owned by Estee Lauder and it carries all the Brands under the Estee Lauder family that includes MAC, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Prescriptives, Clinique, Origins.
I read on the papers about the Cosmetics & Designer Fragrances which is owned by L'Oreal.
Brands under the L'Oreal family are Lancome, Biotherm, Shu Uemura, Kiehl's, Vichy.
I saw some Lancome Quads going for approximately S$40 after the conversion which was a pretty decent price. The Vichy NormaDerm Night Creme was on a heavy discounted price of approximately S$11 after conversion? Unfortunately I am using Differin as a night creme else I would have gotten it. I wished the Hydrating Day Care was on sale though. I love the Vichy NormaDerm Hydrating Day Care!
There was a wide range of Shu Uemura cosmetics but I am not a user of Shu so it did not appeal to me. Shu blushes were approximately slightly under S$20 if I remembered correctly.
I conveniently left out the picture of The Body Shop but stuff weren't exactly cheap either. The promo items were the travel size shower gels which were pretty similar to the price if we had a The Body Shop expo sale or something.
Did I get anything from JPO? Well, I bought a pair of black patent kitten heels and a retro looking wedge sandals from Vincci and a pair of golden ribbon slip in sandals from Cotton On, all for under RM60. Not a bad deal though I have no idea how Vincci and Cotton On are considered Premium Brands. Well, nonetheless, it was not an extremely wasted trip though the prices of most of the brands are over priced, especially if you compare to the Premium Outlets in America. But if you have not been to one, I would recommend making a day trip in. It honestly gives you the feel of the outlets in America.
Would I return? Well, probably not specially to the JPO but probably if I am enroute further North or back to Singapore. I really want to take a look at the Cosmetic Company Store! I will be driving into Malacca over Good Friday's long weekend and if the Cosmetic Company Store is opened by then, I will probably make a pit stop at JPO prior heading North to Malacca or enroute back to Singapore.
If you know when the Cosmetic Company Store is opening in JPO, do let me know!
*I can't wait for my outlet experience in West America in October! I heard the outlets in Las Vegas is realllllly good! For those who remembered my Eastern America Trip back then, you would have known how much stuff I hauled back! I had to buy a brand new 16" or was it a 20" suitcase from Samsonite at the last outlet I went, just to contain my shopping haul!
Sun, Mar. 4th, 2012 01:54 pm (UTC)
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1) samantha_evons
The outlets at Vegas are evil! Prep to buy another luggage from Samonite. I got their biggest duffel bag that comes with wheels. Keep a lookout for that, its cheap (less than a hundred bucks i think) and good for future outlet shoppings!
Sun, Mar. 4th, 2012 02:05 pm (UTC)
kimoko
and so I heard! I'm going to pack as minimal as I can so to contain as much as I can! the last trip, my baggage was overweight but fortunately we checked in early and told the counter staff that I was visiting my sister who works there and she is about to return home but needed us to help bring back some belongings. she probably knew we were making it up but spared us the excess baggage charges! LOL and i was wearing as much clothes as i could on myself onboard the flight just to save space in the check in baggages. HAHAHA! and yea! you went to Vegas not too long ago! did you do a road trip or a packaged tour?
Sun, Mar. 4th, 2012 03:21 pm (UTC)
samantha_evons
My friend who flies with SQ said she will only bring her staples, as for the rest, she will buy at the outlets and handwash them back in the hotel :) I was at Vegas in 2010, we were too lazy to do road trip :)
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:25 am (UTC)
kimoko
yea! i packed minimal the last trip as i could share some clothes with my sister that she had there. even the toiletries. i did not bring any but i still burst my baggage limit. AHAHA was it 2010? it seems not too long ago that i was reading about your trip! or were they post dated entries? =D where did you fly in from? i am still considering if i should fly in through SFO and out by LAX or in by LAX and out by SFO.
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 02:39 pm (UTC)
samantha_evons
yup, States is like so long ago. Sigh! Ur so lucky to head back again so soon! The entries are not post dated lah, maybe i didnt write enough since then to chalk up other interesting entries :( Sorry, i cant help in your state preferance. All i know is if ur flying SQ, u get to transit at Narita if ur heading to LAX first, and hong kong if u fly back from SFO. I tot its pretty cool to drop by HKG INTN Airport to get lao po bing before touching SIN :) Im greedy like that
Tue, Mar. 6th, 2012 12:07 am (UTC)
kimoko
any plans for any holidays soon? =D well, I initially plan to fly to SFO which I have a choice of a transit in Hong Kong or Seoul (which I am thinking of Seoul) and out from LAX but there are tons of itineraries that are flying the other route (in to LAX and out from SFO) so I am in a dilemma. i used to fly to hong kong every week for work so I'm going with Seoul for the transit since the last time I went to Korea was in 2005. =D
Sun, Mar. 4th, 2012 10:29 pm (UTC)
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/facebook-profile.gif?v=92.1) Carrie Suzanne
I've never heard of the CCS - I'm not a big outlet shopper. . .probably because I'm not comfortable in crowds. Anyway, I'll have to save up some major moolah because there's one at an outlet store just north of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN). I'm absolutely going to have to go now! Luckily, I'll have an SUV to haul the haul :). And wouldn't you know it, they have a Bath and Body Works Outlet too. Soon, you'll have a sample of 90% of their fragrances. You'll seriously have to tell me your favorites so I can grab them for you in lotions and such. Apparently there's a Designer Fragrance & Cosmetics Co too. . . I need to shop more. Edited at 2012-03-04 10:33 pm (UTC)
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:30 am (UTC)
kimoko
i went absolutely insane at the outlets 3 years ago. visiting the country was secondary, shopping was the main reason i went over! I traveled a total of 40hours just to get to my sister's place in New Hampshire and had to make my journey worth by hauling insanely! LOL BOOO! you're making me so jealous! my room is so nicely scented now because i practically lather on the BBW lotions you gave me and the scent lingers in the room! not to mention that my skin is well hydrated and i smell really nice! hehe i can't wait for my next outlet experience!
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:24 am (UTC)
pebzz
Wow! I should really start planning my trip in May then? I have been procrastinating for a loooonnnggg time and will definitely be making a little stop in Las Vegas.
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:33 am (UTC)
kimoko
you're heading West in May? For work or leisure? Though my trip is not in another 6 months but the planning is making me all excited and I am sure time is gonna zoom by really quickly! =D
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:33 am (UTC)
xandrabelle
I am planning to go sometime around the March school holidays. What are the negative reviews? I didn't know about them. Are the prices too expensive?
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:41 am (UTC)
pebzz
The hubs for work and me, to tag along. :) Think it will take up to 3 weeks!
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:50 am (UTC)
kimoko
awww! that's nice! 3 whole weeks of shopping and enjoyment! go plan your itinerary and google on all the outlets! there are quite a few outlets in Vegas! I am sure you'll have lotsa fun and you'll haul insanely! =D
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:48 am (UTC)
kimoko
you mean to the Johor Premium Outlets? well, prices in general are definitely way higher than the outlets in America but comparing to the retail prices in Singapore and/or Malaysia, some stuff are still pretty decent. I managed to get 3 pairs of footwear for under RM60 which is slightly under S$25. At Coach, I saw a Swing Pack going for approximately S$180 after all the discounts (there was an additional 10% and 20%). In Singapore, it retails for almost S$300. You have to kinda know some prices and make the calculations yourself. And stuff are seasonal so you might see them today but not the following week or so. Wear comfy footwear and comfy clothes as it gets really warm and humid in the afternoon.
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 12:53 am (UTC)
xandrabelle
Yes to the JPO. I'm sorry I thought I was commenting on a new thread. Did I jump in with the other one? I was just wondering what were the negative reviews about? Why didn't people like it? It's too bad the CCO's still closed. I doubt it'd be open by the time I go, but I'll let you know if its changed by then.
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 02:04 am (UTC)
kimoko
you were commenting on a new thread! she replied on yours instead! hehe anyway, its the prices that they are complaining about. they were comparing to the prices in the outlets of America. But honestly, our retail prices are already higher than in America, they should have expected it. I suppose the negative reviews were that they traveled there and weren't able to shop like the outlets in America. Great! THanks! Hopefully by Good Friday the CCO will be opened so that I can make a trip there enroute to Malacca or back to Singapore! =D
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 02:08 am (UTC)
xandrabelle
To be honest, everything compared to Singapore prices is cheaper. Except maybe Japan and that's not really someplace to want to compare to. Singapore's just simply too expensive. Just wondering though, how long did it take for you to walk the 88 shops? Did you need the entire day?
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 05:26 am (UTC)
kimoko
my sentiments exactly. that is why despite the negative reviews, i made a trip there. i did not enter all the outlets, i only chose what i wanted to see / buy and walked in. in the States, an entire day could not even cover half of the outlets but in JPO, i think i spent less than 3 hours and i drove to town. =D
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 05:54 am (UTC)
xandrabelle
I see, I guess its still new and a lot of shops aren't open. I really wonder if they can make it a success by relying on singaporeans going. Especially since Malaysians aren't likely going that often.
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 06:20 am (UTC)
kimoko
nope, all except for 2 (which includes the CCO) is opened. it is fully opened. =D yea, they either have to lower their prices a little more to make it more competitive, else the outlets will be a total flop.
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 07:37 am (UTC)
midnight_plue
we must go together one day when CCO is open!!! :D
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 08:10 am (UTC)
kimoko
haha, hopefully we wont go mad there! hahaha
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 08:26 am (UTC)
midnight_plue
we'll try hard not to go mad, but i know that's impossible! hahaha
Mon, Mar. 5th, 2012 09:33 am (UTC)
kimoko
even without CCO, we are already quite MAD. i cannot imagine at the CCO................. HAHAHA
Tue, Mar. 6th, 2012 02:12 am (UTC)
midnight_plue
we must imagine all the BEST kind of scenarios! :D
Sat, Mar. 10th, 2012 06:02 pm (UTC)
(Anonymous): Enquiry
Hi kimoko. Can I ask last time you tried charming cat mascara, black spotty
Dog and charming angel, all able to remove easily by face cleanser? Or need use makeup remover? Cause I prefer something can easily remove without tugging my lash:(
Tue, Mar. 13th, 2012 12:13 am (UTC)
kimoko: Re: Enquiry
Hi, I personally feel that the black spotty dog washes off easier with a facial cleanser over the charming angel. :)
Tue, Mar. 13th, 2012 06:42 am (UTC)
(Anonymous): Re: Enquiry
Hmm what about charming cat? Hmm kimoko you try before flamingo mascara? Charming cat isit good for everyday sch use which is easily remove with cleanser?:)
Tue, Mar. 20th, 2012 12:01 am (UTC)
kimoko: Re: Enquiry
charming cat washes off easily even with water! that is my favourite! i have not tried the flamingo though. :)
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