In an increasingly competitive local landscape, retailers in the south are pulling out all the stops to attract shoppers during the annual Great Singapore Sale (GSS).

Shops in the area that The Straits Times approached cited using a variety of unconventional methods to boost retail sales and visitor footfall into their premises.

For instance, Japanese watch retailer Casio has rolled out a three-month Bingo promotion that started last month. With each spin, customers who buy regularly priced timepieces from Casio are entitled to an instant cash rebate that ranges from discounts of $20 to $80.

Ms Charlene Ng, 36, a nurse who frequents VivoCity mall, highlighted the need for retailers to experiment with different promotional activities to continually sustain the interest of customers.

"I think what shops are doing in changing up the discounts is great, there is the novelty factor, which will attract more shoppers," she added.

Shopping malls in the area are also doing their utmost to engage shoppers during this year's GSS.

VivoCity, as part of its GSS promotion, recently launched two fortnightly Facebook contests that awarded six winners with merchandise from Osim and The Face Shop.

Mr Kevin Chow, 38, a designer, was one of the few who walked away with a $199 Osim neck massager.

Beyond such contests that promote greater consumer interaction, Mr Chow raised the need for retailers to have a credible online presence as well, as "bricks-and-mortar shops are increasingly getting hit by online retailers".

Retailers are increasingly using both e-commerce and social media platforms to amplify ongoing sales promotions and to reach a wider audience.

Said Ms Ava Averion, 31, a retail assistant at Joop, a women's apparel brand: "We have an online website and social media to reach out to people on Facebook and Instagram.

"If you don't have these, it will be very difficult to attract people to come and shop here."