(An Anniversary Edition)

Many clients turned friends would have known that our agency, OC Group, is fronted by a husband and wife team.

Yes. None other than my man Jason and myself.

This October is a very special month for us. It marks a decade of life together as one. 20th Oct 2016 is our 10th year wedding anniversary!

So I’m feeling so inspired now and wish to take this special moment to share a little reminiscence of how we met and ended up working together:

We met in 2004 in the now de-functioned Bar None at Marriott Hotel. You know what people say about not trusting guys you meet at the bar. Well, we met under unforeseen circumstances(under the strobing disco lights) and only started dating later in the year after many dramatic ups and downs. I’ll leave the long-winded lyrical love story for another day, but yes “this guy from the pub” became my husband on 20 Oct 2006.

We hadn’t dreamt of working together till that fateful day when his business partner wanted out. At the time, Jason had already branched out to run the digital arm of the business. I saw the pain in his eyes during that period as he was caught in a dilemma – to take on full operations or give up the original business.

With my experience in marketing and campaign management, I finally suggested the idea that I come onboard to take over that part of the business. He was hesitant, as we all know couples should not work together!

However, this seemed like the best solution at that point of time and with our belief that we could make the agency even stronger, i ended up as his partner at work too!

Together, we were able to bring full service expertise to the table and eventually rebranded ourselves as an integrated marketing and advertising agency – OC Group.

Our working relationship:

At work, we behave independently and take care of different aspects of the business, one at the front and one at the back.

I’m the sales girl and the door bitch, taking care of business development and client servicing. Jason takes care of project management and operations.

We never introduce ourselves as a couple to new colleagues and clients. Suspicion and confusion usually arise when we seem to be pretty close with little signs of affection, yet at other times we are loggerheads in much heated debates.

I guess this is definitely not the typical perception of how a couple should behave ya… The new colleagues will usually find out soon enough.

Although we handle different scopes of work, the nature of our business requires customisation that keeps us intertwined for most major projects. Both of us play the role of creative and strategist in the company. However, we are from 2 different planets. (Venus and Mars?)

As you know, there are no hard and fast rules in the world of creative and marketing, sky’s the limit. With respective years of knowledge and experience under our belts, armed with different ideas and tactics, the amount of “sparks” we rubbed off during brainstorm sessions and project discussions is beyond your imagination. And in running a business, there are 101 other matters that require both of us to come to a consensus.

We have mutual understanding that it is never about being personal and what we discuss is for a similar goal and for the better. However, each sparring session is like a spartan race that leaves us feeling drained and at times with nothing else to talk about for the rest of the day. Indeed this is a test of our limits and we do worry if this will have adverse effects on our relationship.

Till date, our colleagues still wonder how we can see each other from day till night and survive with such intensity in our everyday work… Not forgetting there are family and kids matters too.

Here’s my hypothesis on the opportunity rate for a couple to quarrel:

Couple = 40%

Married Couple = 70%

Married Couple working together = 99%

Curious to know how we manage our marriage and life together juggling work and family?

Here are 10 tips that I have learnt over the years:

1) Draw the line between work and personal

Every couple has a line between work and personal. When you work together, that line became a thin grey one that is almost invisible. When you are on the same boat running a business, it has impact on the bacon that you bring home to the family. Risk is high. Thus most of what we talk about seems to somehow or rather be related to the business, even if it’s just a random question while lying on the bed.

Put on the “at work” mindset and tonality when in the office. Anywhere else where there is no work agenda, you know it’s personal time. Listen and converse like a spouse, without being judgemental or over analytical about the topic. You should be able to rant, just like anybody else. Don’t shut him/ her up because unhappiness will snowball when one has to hold back and not be able to communicate with the spouse. Whatever you speak of is not official and is just private chat between husband and wife.

Official decisions will be raised only in the office.

2) Show Respect

Respect is the cornerstone to sustaining a marriage. Always keep in mind that both the man and woman deserve to respected. It is never about win or lose between the two of you. Be open minded, listen and consider each other’s opinions. Even when you believe that you are right and have to argue your case, never attempt to put down your partner with negative and sarcastic words, play the blaming game or ignore your partner.

A man has an ego. Call me old fashion, but i believe it is just dutiful as a wife to respect your man’s ego too.

Be mindful to always show mutual respect, especially when in front of others. If not, you will lose the respect from your fellow colleagues and friends too.

3) Be Sensitive

We tend to be harsher towards the people whom we care most. However, the receiving end doesn’t quite appreciate this kind of gesture. Woman is generally more emotional and sensitive, but it’s important to understand that the man has emotions and at times PMS of sorts too.

Don’t be rude or show signs of despise when greeted with an emotional meltdown from your spouse. Look out for emotional signs like teary eyes, frowning brows, raised voice, etc and be more attentive and sensitive in your words and actions that follow. When your spouse is feeling emotional, acceptance and care is much needed.

When your wife cries, you can hold her hand, give her a hug or say “don’t worry it’s fine”, instead of getting angry or walking away from the scene as these are perceived signs of desertion, which will have detrimental effect on the relationship. When your husband fuses up, do not blabble on or go hard on him. Give him a nod and smile as this will serve as a reminder for him to calm down and signifies that no matter what you are still by his side.

Find suitable timing to share your thoughts and feelings with your spouse, rather than keeping it to yourself and expecting your spouse to read your mind.

4) 51-49%

This came from my husband. In business, try to avoid a 50-50 because there needs to be one who has the authority to make the final say. In any matter of discussion, identify who is the 51% and who is the 49% right from the start.

If it is something within your specialised domain or is a project spearheaded by you, you can declare a 51% position. Discussions may go on and the 51% can make the final decision which is to be respected.

5) What happens in the office, stays in the office

Work is work. You can feel stress, be angry, argue or fight in the office, but do not bring any disgruntlement and negative emotions back home. Your affected attitude and emotions will directly reflect in how you manage your kids and loved one.

I know it’s hard to kick work related issues to the back of your mind, but please make a conscientious effort to do so.

If you need to thrash things out, do it the next day when you are back in office. Learn to breathe, and never go to bed feeling angry.

6) Share the load

The good thing about a couple working together is that you can look out for each other. Because you know each other so well, you are able to detect both emotional and physical signs of stress, frustration, illness or burnout. When a couple works together, both will tend to portray the competent and strong side of them when at work.

Offer a helping hand even before you are asked to. This will be greatly appreciated and help to establish the fact that you are in it together. Keyword is “together”. So you don’t suffer alone. Seeking assistance is not a sign of weakness and you can be sure of better results if you get help before it’s too late.

7) Give each other space

Working together doesn’t mean you are obligated to be within each other’s sight from day to night. Allow your spouse to go for drinks, hang out with friends, or do whatever he/she has made plans for. Don’t sulk just because you have to go home by yourself after work. Don’t complain that your spouse did not accompany you for after-work activities. I know many women who don’t allow their husband to go for drinks or hang out with friends. The result is not an obedient husband, but in contrary a lying husband.

It’s not healthy when your spouse has to lie about his whereabouts even with no guilty conscience. You are pulling yourself further away from your love when you start to be a control freak.

Be gracious and have mutual trust in each other.

8) Take time off. Do things together.

Besides work, i highly recommend that couples share similar interests and engage in regular recreational activities together. We spend a large amount of time in work, we don’t want to be just thinking and talking about work or family all the time. Foster work-life balance in the relationship by doing something that both of you enjoy.

Designate a date night for dinner and movie after work, pick up a favourite sports, explore a new recipe and go grocery shopping together, go on short trips… There are many activities which you can do together besides just work, so make an effort to pursue more fun and ignite passion in the relationship.

9) Forgive and Forget

Quarrels are inevitable in any relationship. Not quarrelling isn’t exactly a good thing too if you know what i mean. Quarrel is a form of communication and no one side should be the one that’s always giving in. Everyone has a threshold for bullshit and you don’t want to wait for the explosion day.

No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Embrace each other’s mistakes and ask for forgiveness when you did wrong.

Give a closure to an existing problem instead to escaping like an Ostrich, because no, it’s not going to be blown away by the wind. You can fight (not physical), but learn to kiss and makeup after every quarrel, with no hard feelings. Breathe and cool down when in an argument. Words hurt, and most of the time you don’t realise the damage that you have done. Always forgive and forget, and remember never to rack up the past even in a heated moment. No one likes to be reminded of past mistakes.

10) Hugs and Kisses

Mind you, the courting and dating doesn’t stop after marriage. Keep reminding your spouse of your love and care in every way possible. A hug can reduce blood pressure and calm nerves. It is a sign of affection, comfort and assurance, not forgetting a huge self-esteem booster. Give your spouse a hug anytime and everytime when he/she needs one.

Your kids will see and soak in the love, learning to be aware of feelings and that it is fine to express themselves with affection. Take the opportunity to show appreciation and celebrate every little success at work as it makes all the sweat and tears worthwhile. Gift can be as simple as a kiss, or indulge in a scrumptious dinner.

Last but not least, don’t deprive your spouse of sex. :p

~~~

I hope these 10 tips can come in handy for every couple out there who are working together. Not fool proof but i hope my experience and learnings can benefit you.

As the Chinese saying goes, 十年修得同船渡，百年修得共枕眠.

It is not easy to come together as a couple, and more so be working partners. We have to take great care of our relationship. It is tough but it is POSSIBLE to work together and achieve success in both the marriage and business. We can do it! #marriagegoals

And so it’s 10 years and counting… I would like to say a big THANK YOU to my hubby for loving me for who I am.

Happy 10^th Wedding Anniversary! <3<3

Love,

Rachel

The post Is it a nightmare to work together with your spouse? (An Anniversary Edition) appeared first on Digital Influenza.

Perfume is what every lady would need.

Not that you smell bad (#blamethehaze), but it brings out the femininity and allure in you. Chosen right, the perfume which you wear is a tell-tale sign of  your personality and leaves an impression with people around you.
Most importantly, your favourite fragrance can give you a boost in confidence and make you feel ready for the day!

Much to my surprise, i’ve found out that many ladies didn’t know that they have been wearing their perfume wrongly!

If you have been spraying perfume only on your clothes, please stop doing it!

- Perfume is meant for application on skin, not on fabric as the fabric fibres might distort the scent, and cause stain spots on clothes.
- Simply dab or spray on pulse points such as sides of neck, behind earlobes, wrists, back of knees.
- Do not rub your wrists together as it will burn off the top notes faster and your fragrance would last for a shorter duration.
- Apply on moisturised skin, so your fragrance can cling on to last longer.
- Spray from a distance 20-30cm away from skin and let it falls gently onto the skin.
- Besides the pulse points, do you know that the hair fibres can hold fragrance longer too?

That’s how “perfume rain” is derived, to smell good from top to toe!

Eau De Toilette is a common favourite and contains about 5-15% aromatic compounds. It can last for an average of 4 -6 hours. If you are out under the hot sun, well… your spritz might last for a shorter time.

I’m a hopeless romantic, and i love anything sweet & floral. You can guess what’s my kind of fragrance right?

So… introducing my personal favourites:

Dior Addict
Eau Fraiche
Eau De Toilette

*For my casual days

Chanel Chance
Eau Tendre
Eau De Toilette

*For work days & occasions to feel sexy & important. Especially when i need to meet clients. I have this in hair mist too, which i carry in my makeup pouch.

On top of these, I’ve just acquired a new love from Anna Sui’s Autumn 2015 Collection – ROMANTICA! Thanks to the media event held by the Anna Sui brand team from Luxasia.

Anna Sui has been a favourite brand since my teenage days. My first perfume and blush were from Anna Sui. The exquisite detailing in product packaging & that signature rose fragrance in all her cosmetics makes the brand an all-time favourite. Not just that, their pricing is definitely pocket friendly!

Here’s a closeup photo of Romantica. Who creates beautiful bottles like this?!

Noticed the similarity in my choices? Pink = Sweet & Floral!

Romantica is the Floral Jewel in Anna Sui’s fragrance collection. It is like an enchanted bouquet of blooms – sweet, alluring, romantic yet playful.
Fruity top notes of Calabria Bergamot, Mandarin essence, Sparkling Pomegranate and Water Quince, leading into floral notes of Rose de Mai, Osmanthus, Jasmine Petals and Orange Blossom, and settles with White Ceylon Cedarwood, Sheer Amber, Indonesian Sandalwood and Creamy Musk.

My verdict: I first caught a wisp of the fragrance coming from the ribbon corsages which were given to us, and i was wondering whoa this smells really good. What is it?! Sweet, yet not overpowering. It gives you the feeling of first love. Romantica… indeed.

If you have the same “taste” in fragrance as i do, swing by Anna Sui counter in Isetan Scotts or BHG Bugis to lay your hands on Romantica, and fall in love with their line of lovely cosmetics!

So i’ve shared mine. What’s your favourite fragrance?

Hugs & Kisses,

Lady Editor Rachel

The post Every lady needs to have a favourite perfume appeared first on Digital Influenza.

This month, i was invited to be the incumbent feature for KissJane Editor’s Choice. I was surprised at their choice of choosing me to front this, as i’m not a blogger nor a fashion model! LOL… But after hearing their idea of having a new segment to showcase special hand picks by fashionable individuals in their own field, I felt really honoured! KissJane shares the same belief as i do - Fashion is for everyone and STYLE is about individualism. Being a fashion fanatic & shopaholic, i would not say no to this then. =p

Black is not boring

Tadaa! Sharing with you on my first favourite… This Houndstooth Polyester Crop Top (Black) with emboss prints caught my eyes instantly. It reminds me of a bomber jacket, but a lighter & more stylish option! It is versatile for mix & match to bring out the style & look which you desire, from cool rock to casual sexy.

KissJane Houndstooth Polyester Crop Top

Crop Tops are obviously cropped and sit slightly above the belly button. Some of us may not be too comfortable wearing them. Don’t let your confidence bring you down. Crop tops are comfortable & flattering if you match your bottom well. Similar to what i’m wearing in the photo, you can pair it with a short tight skirt to balance the long sleeved top, or high waisted pants/ midi skirt if your crop top is short or sleeveless.

Perfect for Friday Dinner Date

This crop top comes in interesting graphics too. Choose from Zippy, Catty, and Houndstooth Top in Black, White. My hand picked collection is exclusive at KissJane.com at a special flat rate of $28.00 SGD. Limited pieces only so grab your favourite design now!

Zippy Print Crop Top

Catty Print Crop Top

White Crop Top

Catty Print Crop Top by KissJane – $28.00 SGD
Zippy Print Crop Top by KissJane – $28.00 SGD

My second piece is a chiffon waist peplum top. I believe most of you already have enough peplum tops, but this is unique! I have chosen something that is more adventurous with a chiffon semi translucent peplum instead, which gives a slight see-through effect around the waist. I like this clever design of “cropped” & peplum both rolled into one, and the elegant hourglass flaunt it gives to the body. Paired with skinny trousers which is in trend now, it is totally flattering for someone short like me (160). Makes me look more curvy & taller! =p

The top is sweet, pretty & light. Love it for my casual fridays to feel good as i hang out in the cafe over a coffee, looking at passer-bys and daydreaming of new ideas.

Top comes in light blue and white

This is available in light blue and milky white, also priced at flat $28.00. KissJane will take about 2-4 days with free local postage. They have international shipping as well, so shop to your heart’s content at their online store.

The third piece i want to share today is a casual top which is such a dear, with adorable detailing of embroidered little girl pattern. A light weight & comfortable blouse, this is perfect to pull over on a Sunday family day out with the kids! With 3 active toddlers in tow, you can image the amount of big movements i must be prepared with, thus my attire must be able to accommodate that, without making me look like a sloppy auntie. =p

Nadia, KissJane Team, showing how the blouse can be worn

For a casual look, you can pair this blouse with a denim mini skirt or jeans. For a work look, pair it with executive skirt or trousers, complete with a nice pair of dangling earrings.

The little girl prints got to me!

This is only Part 1 of my feature writeup. In our first collaboration, KissJane & i will working on 15 designs. Will share more with you soon!

Follow them and enjoy affordable fashion, as they offer a wide range of designs & styles from different popular blogshop brands. Look out for many more super cool local women who will be featured on KissJane.com. You will be spoilt for choice! We never will have enough clothes, do we? =)

I hope you do also love these gorgeous wear which I have selected for you. This collection is now available in limited pieces, at a never before special flat rate of $28 on kissjane.com!

Grab your favourite now! See you there!

XOXO,

RachPassion

The post Mummy knows best – Part 1 appeared first on Digital Influenza.

There are something about a curve that just fascinate a man and envy a women alike. Everyone appreciates a beautiful posture on their body as it oozes silent confidence and sexual appeal. Today, we are so fascinated with heavy advertisement on weight loss program that we often forget there is a natural beauty within all of us. We can still look sexy and appealing with our natural S Curve.

The S CURVE. What is it? 

Image Credit to eveningdresses2012.com

Image credit to www.posh24.com/

Being curvy has been an obsession since the 19th Century

How many of us are guilty of this?

Sadly, most of us have lost our S Curve due to the way we address ourselves during work and leisure. With prolonged hours of bad posture at work and mobile device usage at home (who’s not guilty of this!), a bad posture has evolved over time. As a result, we often complain of pain and look sluggish.

What better way to put this. How many of us are guilty of these posture at work and at the comfort of our home…

How to regain your S CURVE – Good Posture

There is no 2 ways about it. Good posture is the best policy to retain or regain your S Curve. If you feel your sluggishness is not helping you on your posture, it’s time to set it right!

1. The expensive way? – Chiropractic Technique. 

There has been an increase in chiropractic practices in Singapore and many parts of this region. This alternative treatment use hand on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments to proper align body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine. Although the treatment has proven successful to many, it is a costly option (per session can cost a hundred dollars) and may take 2 – 3 months before results are shown.

2. The tough way? - Reducing total body fats & muscle toning 

Getting your S Curve means you will may have to reduce total body fat and improve muscle tone in the thighs, hips, back and abdominal muscles. That means work out! Go out there and get your gym membership to work those muscles, it’s definitely a great way and even if you don’t get back your S CURVE, you would definitely feel a mile better than just being the couch slouch. According to WikiHow, these are the exercise you could make use of.

3. The way? A beautiful posture begins with the way you sit. 

Recently, we came across a product that was designed with a focus on the knowledge and technique used to align the body through chiropractic medicine. It believes that beautiful body line is maintained by proper alignment and maintaining of your sitting posture.

What we loved about this product from Japan (MTG) was the fact it snuggles fitly and naturally creates a beautiful posture immediately. We believe by virtue you could stylish fit it on your office chair, the body will soon remember the S CURVE it once had!

MTG Singapore Chiro Support System

Working on your Lower Back Area, Buttocks & Thighs

 
The product is not just another senseless product or an imitation of sorts from your cheap sites, MTG is famous for its innovative products in Japan and the product aroused from a thorough research of chiropractic techniques and the human body.

The lower back support is meant to emulate the hands of a chiropractor which supports the lost S-Curve of your backbone.
The design of the curved seat helps tip the body forward by supporting your pelvis to maintain a natural and beautiful posture. It also wraps your thighs on both side to proven your body from leaning.

For $120 SGD, we think it’s worth a great deal. (Free delivery when purchased online) and is a perfect companion for workaholics like us who spends easily 4-5 hours on our chair every day.

The product can be found in MTG’s online store and its retail distribution in Singapore. In fact, MTG Singapore has many other interesting beauty products that complement a healthy lifestyle, and encourage beauty, the natural way. Look out for their Facebook in Singapore here too.

Evoke a posture that your body will not forget

The post Attract your man with your natural S Curve appeared first on Digital Influenza.

You must not incentivize people to use social plugins or to like a Page. This includes offering rewards, or gating apps or app content based on whether or not a person has liked a Page. It remains acceptable to incentivize people to login to your app, checkin at a place or enter a promotion on your app’s Page. To ensure quality connections and help businesses reach the people who matter to them, we want people to like Pages because they want to connect and hear from the business, not because of artificial incentives. 

Fan Gate*> The “darling” of most Facebook marketers, it has been the most effective (cost included) way to build LIKES on your page by incentivizing your fan base to participate in a contest. Surely you have “sold your soul” for a chance to win something before?

What is it to a Consumer like me? 

We believe numbers are fast dropping in Singapore for Facebook active users, a probable result of an explosion of social media platforms in the past 3 years. The truth is it is still the no. 1 social media platform in Singapore & Malaysia. Believe it or not, your “LIKE” to a page is worth a great deal to a business. From our digital agency, the average cost per like can cost businesses here in Singapore and Malaysia between $1.50 – $5.00. 

In recent years, businesses have been more intrusive in their methods of reaching out. Even with a lure of great incentives, you will no longer need to join up with a business page. That’s a great deal for keeping your wall feed uncluttered and relevant to the news you would like to hear. 

What is it to a Business like me? 

Wakie Wakie.
Content was, is, still KING. 

If you haven’t been asking questions on your strategy to reach out to your fan base, you should after Nov 5th 2014.
Too many businesses have been looking religiously at the growth of their fan base (as if it is a price in stock exchange) without understanding what digital marketing is really all about. Social Media is after all about the power to consumers and staying relevant is the no. 1 metric that should ever matter.

Here’s some useful tips by our digital agency  on how you can stay more effective with your digital marketing.

Organic Reach vs Boosted Post

Be prepared to pay to use Facebook as a business channel. They have not crossed the 10% mark by reaching out organically via Facebook. Reach out between an organic and boosted post can pull as far as 75X. Understand Facebook is now a listed company, everything is revenue generated focus. 

Emails vs Likes

Don’t neglect your emails subscribers. Industry’s average open rates are 25% and click throughs are 3%. Keep track of the conversion rates between these 2 mediums and channel your budget correctly.

Not about your product but its relevance.

Have an editorial strategy. By identifying your personas, you will have a good understanding of how your products can stay relevant with your potential customers. Whatever your product unique selling points maybe (brand, design, price, functions etc), work out with your team what your editorial content strategy maybe.

Watch for the  birth of Independent Social Platform

If you had clicked on one of those “10 reasons why you should be…”, you are probably hooked on 1 min bite sized content that oozes clever and entertaining information. The world may still take 365.25 days to make a full turn but everything around us has accelerated pretty much faster. From publications, blogs, microblogs, tweets to IG, we are definitely consuming content faster than our previous generation. 

If your brand strategy is still to push your products out like an honest salesman, chances are there are many alternatives out there that are probably either better or cheaper than your ware (somewhere in China). We are sitting on way too much noise in the ad world today. If you belong to a big brand organization that could buy out a media space anytime soon, this article probably makes no sense to you. But for most brands, it’s increasingly to difficult to garner campaign impression (even worse with Facebook’s recent implementations) 

Digital Influenza is an independent media platform not because it is free from brand influences but because it produces creative contents that end consumers can relate to. There are many independent growing social platforms (smart local.com, therealsingapore.com, etc) that craft their content in different interesting angles. Working with some these platforms (be selective) can give you the additional advantage if you are

- thinking about giving life to your products (or services) but yet there isn’t an official platform to do so.
- creating a blog for that reason is either just too tedious to maintain
- regional brand guidelines are too restrictive
- improve your search engine optimization
- increase sustainability for campaign/brand reach out

The post The Death of Facebook App. What’s next. appeared first on Digital Influenza.

What was it like in 1970s-80s – The first evolution against western influence

Repulsive it might seen, it was however a first major score for local fashion here in Singapore.
Coinciding with Singapore’s booming economy, teenagers find themselves with more pocket money and started their splurge on branded goods. A era of constructive struggle between western influences & self individualism, it was perhaps Singapore’s fashion at its best with our fringe keeping teenagers parading the streets with fluorescent MGM jeans and checked Hunting world’s shirt.

singapore unique fashion – Picture Credit to http://thestir.cafemom.com

21st Century - The Birth of Online Blog Shops kickstarted a new Retail Shopping Experience for Singapore.

Another new era has obviously evolved and yes we are talking about blog shopping in Singapore. An initial trend that started in local forums where girls would discuss what’s hot and not in localized fashion, the platform has now moved to well polished online stores and some of these brands are reportedly selling hundred thousand of pieces a year.

In fact, it’s more than teenagers that are hooked to this new exciting way of shopping, women in their 20s and 30s are finding it irresistible to go online during coffee breaks and high teas sessions with friends to discuss and giggle uncontrollably over their loot.

Here are some shops in Singapore that are changing the landscape of retail shopping. These shops produce quality women’s apparels designs at less than $40 per piece, a fraction of what you pay in traditional brands like ZARA, BYSI, MYPOSIS etc. Because these designs are produced exclusively in 100-200 pieces, chances of you seeing another you is rare on the streets.

KissJane  - Providing a Kaleidoscopic Shopping Experience
Started back in 2010, their first outlet is a small outlet in CityLink Mall. They have since grown to be established in most part of Singapore with presences in Bugis Junction,  VivoCity Mall, Century Square, Jurong Point Mall. Besides their own comprehensive online store, they have recently collaborated with Rakuten to launch their overseas presences as well. With over 100 designs per launch, they could have the biggest design launch weekly in Singapore.

#1 – They are LOCAL. 
Most of the online shop owners are local entrepreneurs and definitely worth our support. We often see the glamour side of the business with all glitters and media. But no business is ever a success without enduring pain. We hear these owners operate with minimal manpower and goes through tirelessly on the end-to-end of producing good designs, traveling overseas to manufacture and acting as customer service to their fan base.

#2 – No. Inventory. 1,000 designs a week to choose from. 
KissJane has close 1,000 design changes a week with over 45 brands. That’s seriously exciting and different from shopping in Metro and OG in the 90s. Having no inventory and great supply chain management seems to be the key to their business model. The stocks moves arounds the different platforms (i.e. retail outlets, multi online platforms). For consumers like you and me, it just feels like paradise.

#3 – Exclusivity (well.. sort of) 
No one wants to be caught dead with a similar dress while walking down the street and it used to be very expensive to try to maintain that in the 80s. You would have to go the ‘branded’ way just to look different from others. Well not anymore. Each design are usually in the quantity of 100-200 pieces so once sold, the brands will move to other designs.

#4 – Chic not Cheap (well.. it’s not very expensive either!) 
Walking into their stores feel like you are browsing the latest weekly fashion magazine in Singapore. The latest trending designs are always

KissJane seems to have got a great reputation for selling latest trending quality pieces at great prices. See review here by Smart Local

There are not the only stores around that have a local multi label concept. Over the last few years, we understand that a few competition has came up to increase the liveliness of this industry. Here are the more notable ones which makes shopping so much pleasure here in Singapore than in the 90s.

MIYOC - one stop market place
Retail presences in Orchard Central & Jurong Jcube, they have a wide variety of brands that are catered more to the younger crowd.

Blogshopping

The post Born in the 70s? It’s time to change the way you shop appeared first on Digital Influenza.