PARKSON HOLDINGS BERHAD

PARKSON HOLDINGS BERHAD stands as one of Malaysia’s most recognisable retail institutions — a company that grew alongside the rise of modern shopping culture across Asia.

From its early days in Kuala Lumpur to a regional footprint spanning multiple countries, it reflects the transformation of retail from simple transactions into curated lifestyle experiences.

Its journey reflects a powerful truth — that retail is not just about selling products, but about shaping how people experience consumption.

Founder:

Tan Sri William Cheng, Lion Group

Current Leadership:

Executive leadership under Lion Group

The leadership continues to guide the Group with a focus on retail innovation, regional expansion, and evolving consumer engagement.

Some retailers fill shelves — PARKSON filled a new way of shopping.

In 1987, the first Parkson Grand opened in Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur, at a time when Malaysia’s retail environment was still largely functional and fragmented.

Parkson introduced a department store concept that brought fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products together in a curated and organised space, redefining how consumers interacted with retail.

This was more than convenience, it was experience, creating a new standard for modern shopping within emerging mall culture.

Supported by the Lion Group, the brand expanded rapidly across Malaysia, becoming a key anchor in shopping centres and a symbol of urban retail development.

The defining expansion came in 1994 when Parkson entered China, positioning itself as one of the earliest Southeast Asian retailers to tap into a rapidly growing consumer market.

From a single outlet to a regional presence, its journey reflects a powerful truth — that retail grows where lifestyle evolves.

Core Activities include:

• Operation of department stores across multiple markets

• Retailing of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products

• Investment holding in retail subsidiaries and malls

• Development of private labels and brand partnerships

The Group’s operational model focuses on department store retail, lifestyle product curation, brand partnerships, regional expansion, and investment in retail-related assets. By combining multi-category retail formats with strategic mall presence and consumer-focused merchandising, PARKSON HOLDINGS BERHAD positions itself as both a department store operator and a regional lifestyle retail platform.

Notable Offerings Include:

• Multi-category department store retail experience

• Fashion and lifestyle product curation

• Private label brands and exclusive collections

• Integrated retail presence in major shopping malls

These offerings have enabled PARKSON HOLDINGS BERHAD to serve shoppers seeking fashion, beauty, home, lifestyle, and family-oriented retail products within organised department store environments. Its retail format connects consumer choice, brand discovery, mall traffic, and lifestyle shopping under one structured experience.

1982 – Incorporation of holding entity

1987 – First Parkson store opened in Kuala Lumpur

1993 – Listing on Bursa Malaysia

1994 – Expansion into China

2000s–2020s – Regional expansion across Asia

PARKSON HOLDINGS BERHAD has shaped modern department store retail in Malaysia by introducing organised, lifestyle-driven shopping experiences within major urban malls.

The Group expanded Malaysian retail presence into regional markets, particularly China and other Asian economies, demonstrating the ability of local retail groups to operate beyond domestic borders.

Through its department store model, Parkson helped anchor shopping mall ecosystems across major cities, driving foot traffic and supporting broader retail development.

Its evolution reflects the shift of retail from product display toward lifestyle curation, customer experience, brand partnerships, and regional consumer engagement.

Some companies sell products — PARKSON sells experience.

From a single department store to a regional retail name, its legacy is not defined by stores alone, but by influence.

Its journey stands as a testament that when retail evolves with people, it becomes part of their lifestyle.