E-Land brings NC Picks to Saipan

E-Land Group will be unveiling its first NC Picks outside Asia with the grand opening of the warehouse-type discount store tomorrow at the KASE II Building across T Galleria in Garapan.

Shop master Juelee Won said E-Land opened NC Picks in the tourist district of Saipan to offer local customers as well as tourists alike access to fashion items at a reasonable price, especially amidst the economic downturn.

NC Picks Saipan primarily focuses on sports and casual clothing, handling over 30 brands raging from bags, shoes, to suitcases.

Just some of the items available at great discounts at NC Picks Saipan are sports brands including Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Crocs, casual brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Champion, and Brooks Brothers, and European brands such as Maison Kitsune, Comme des Garcons, and Ami.

NC Picks Saipan’s brand item clothing is 50%-80% lower than the original sale price because they directly purchase brand inventory from suppliers.

The major impetus in opening an NC Picks on Saipan, according to Won, is to serve the local market.

“There really is no major clothing outlet on Saipan. There’s just one or two big stores and a bunch of smaller shops. Because of this, Saipan residents usually order from Amazon or eBay or those who can go to Guam buy at Macy’s or Ross. We want to change that by bringing brand clothing that is affordable for locals so you don’t really have to go online or off-island anymore to shop.”

Aside from eliminating long shipping times for clothes to arrive and the fact that you can fit clothes you bought there and then, opening an NC Picks on Saipan also helps keep money circulating in the local economy, create jobs, as well as give tourists a unique shopping experience.

E-Land Group Corporate Social Responsibility manager Lindsey Ahn said it didn’t take much to convince top brass to open an NC Picks on Saipan.

“If there’s a chance for investment and mutual growth the company won’t hesitate. When we talk to tourists, they always mention that Saipan is great because of its natural beauty and fun water activities, but it lacks shopping like what Guam and Hawaii have. Opening NC Picks here also is a big thumbs up that the local economy will recover soon,” she said.

Ahn said the opening of NC Picks Saipan perfectly aligns with E-Land’s vision to expand the concept of a world where anyone can wear pretty clothes at an affordable price.

“We hope that Saipan customers can try on high-quality clothes and find good prices without having to rely on online shopping or traveling to other islands. Continuously updating the brands and products desired by local customers will solidify its position as a beloved store on the island,” she said.

NC Picks Retail Merchandise specialist Jennie Park said they will cater to what the local market wants when it comes to the items they will sell at the Saipan store.

“We will listen to local customers on the brands and styles they want or have been looking for. Then we can find them from our sources in Korea, China, and even in Europe and deliver those products here.”

To mark its grand opening, NC Picks Saipan will have a promotions galore, starting with as much as a 70% markdown across the store, a Wheel of Fortune-type contest for the first 50 buying customers, and a surprise giveaway for those who spend more than $100 ($100 a OHAS beverage coupon, $300 a Mandarina Duck T-shirt, and $500 a Mandarina Duck backpack).

NC Picks—NC stands for New Core—is part of E-Land Retail, which has 44 stores in Korea and three stores in China. It generates a total revenue of over $1.5 billion, making it a large-scale retail specialized company.

Coupled with the opening of OHAS Boulangerie & Café last September, E-Land is hoping that NC Picks Saipan will contribute to the revitalization of Garapan and help develop Saipan into the new tourist shopping mecca of the Western Pacific.