Singapore Box Shops - A Merchant's Perspective [Part 1]

Recently, I've notice many "Box Shops" popping up in shopping malls in Singapore, where merchants can book a locker/cubicle to showcase and sell their products. In this post, Today I'll be sharing some of my experiences and opinions about the Box Shops in Singapore - from a Merchant's perspective. Before I started out experimenting with selling in a Box Shop, I tried to search for information but there's just NOTHING! Maybe this post can help somebody who is thinking of trying to sell at such a platform.

Some of the box shops brands I've seen around are the following:

1. Toy Outpost
   
   Probably the most prominent Box Shop operating in Singapore, and suddenly growing tremendously. They are extremely aggressive in opening new shops for the past 2 months, with an outlet at Bugis Junction opening at Nov 2013, Marina Square and Bedok Mall at Dec 2013 and Somerset 313 in Jan 2014! Wow. It was once mentioned in their Facebook post (can't find it anymore) that they are planning to double the number of outlets. Seems like this is the IN-thing now?
   
   
2. Box Boss
   Fast expanding, now operating in Northpoint, Hougang Mall, West Mall and Century Square.
   
   
3. Gotomybox
   New box shop operating at Plaza Singapura B1.
   
   
4. Ministry of Cube
   A secluded box shop at Serangoon Nex.
   
   

Here's a sneak preview of my little lockers.

Hako @ AMK Hub (AM 35 C)

Hako @ Bedok Mall (BM 68 C) - till 15 Jan 2014 only.

Some pictures from my lockers

In Part 1 of the Singapore Box Shops series, I will be doing a brief introduction of what a merchant generally needs to do to keep their box shop business running. In the subsequent series, I will be elaborating more on certain aspects like product packaging, price points, my views on the box shops managements or other lockers etc.

[DISCLAIMER: All opinions are purely my personal viewpoint and from my experience of selling girly accessories, and is not representative of other merchants. Experiences in selling other product types may differ significantly.]

Choosing a Box Shop, then a Locker
I've listed down some of the box shops I've seen around Singapore. Perhaps the most important factors are the shop location, rental of different lockers, commissions and hidden T&C etc.

Generally, eye-level (of adults) lockers at popular malls are the most expensive. Depending on the products you're selling, the eye-level of your target audience may be different. For example, if you're selling plushies or toys, the eye-level of your target audience may be towards the bottom.

Commission is pretty standard, most of them charge 8% sales commission on top of the locker rental, Box Boss charge a slightly higher commission at 10%. Many of them allow you to put your brand name / name cards / website links for free, while Toy Outpost / Hako charge an additional fee of $1 a day (that's about $30/month!) for that.

Another point I take note when choosing a Box Shop is the quality of the staff. I pay more attention to the permanent staff because some of them hire very young temp staffs who come and go. Some outlets have really rude staffs, and as a customer, I am quite turned off by bad service and I wouldn't want to operate there. You wouldn't have a good time restocking as well because you need to get the staff to help you open the locker.

Shop Deco & Product Packaging
Probably the most time-consuming activity. A nice looking locker attracts the attention of shoppers, followed by nice products. Packaging also affects the price point of your products. Space management is important - given the small space, you don't want your locker to look too cluttered but you may still want the product variety.

Routine Restocking
As your stuff get sold, you need to visit your locker to restock because there is no storage space for merchants. If you opt for the closed locker (your products locked behind a glass door), you need to get the staff to open the locker for you before you restock. Easier to restock if you have an open locker because you don't need to ask the staff, but the drawback is that people may mess up the arrangement after browsing, and you may even face higher risk of theft or damage.

Sales Review, Strategic Planning?
Maybe you will be trying out new things every now and then (new packaging, new products, increase/lower prices etc), and the sales is the immediate feedback of whether your plan is working.

That's all for now. In the subsequent series, I will be elaborating more on certain aspects like product packaging, price points, my views on the box shops managements or other lockers etc. See you!

About MoMo Shoppe & New Year Direction

Happy New Year everyone :)

In the new year, I hope to interact more with customers as my personal self. Let's call me MoMo. I'll try to update this blog and share with customers and readers about the journey of managing this blogshop.

This blogshop is actually managed by one person only (that's yours truly). I hold a full-time job but I'm managing this blogshop actively on a part-time basis. Maybe I can't be blogging here regularly but I'm still always available for customers who have special requests or provide valuable feedbacks to me.

Let me do a small introduction to the job-scope and experience in running this blogshop. Maybe it can serve as a small guide for budding blogshop owners as well :)

1. Getting the Supplies
   I have a handful of supplier contacts. I handpick my suppliers carefully, and I travel overseas to find or meet them too. Good suppliers are important to ensure the products are of good quality and still price competitive, so that customers can enjoy the best value for money.
   
   
2. Product Photography & Editing
   After getting the supplies, the next thing is to take photos of them and post them up on the blogshop. I'm not a photography person, so the photographs are mostly very simple. Then I use Photoshop CS3 to clean up the background. Not much editing on the product itself.
   
   
3. Writing up the Product Page
   The product page is those you see on online sales portal like this blogshop and Qoo10. I'm have mini-shops on other online sales platform such as Szshop or selling on HWZ as well but I'm less active. My product pages are usually very simple and to the point. Main thing is to ensure potential buyers know what they're buying, price tags, how to order and after-sales support if any (For example, I provide warranty for pocket watches in case customers receive faulty ones or out of battery).
   
   Of course, if there's anything you would like to know regarding the product that's not stated on the product page, please write in and provide your feedback.
   
   
4. Product Packaging & Mailing them out
   Long necklaces are usually packed individually in plastic packaging to avoid tangles. Pocket watches and fragile items are packed in bubble wraps. Ear studs are protected with a sponge. Once, I wrapped ear studs in bubble wraps only and it was damaged upon arrival at the customer's place. That was the first time I sent out ear studs by mail and didn't know how to pack it properly, but one mistake is enough for me the learn the right way, and I sent out a new ear stud to the customer.
   
   I spent some time fiddling with the envelopes too. Currently, I'm making the envelopes myself! That's because I prefer customer's address to be printed on the envelope rather than written as it avoid mistakes and look more professional with the blogshop logo printed on it as well. Notice that the envelope has a small base at the bottom for slightly thicker items like pocket watches. However such envelopes are time-consuming to make and I'm still thinking of a way to better prepare the orders.
   
   I'm considering to make pre-printed envelopes for the blogshop and print address on mailing labels. However as a small blogshop business, I have very limited budget to work with, so I'm still weighing the possibilities.
   
   

   

   DIY Envelopes

5. Special Requests / Circumstances
   Occasionally, I receive special requests from customers. Last time I used to receive many requests to change the necklace chain from brass chain to velvet and vice versa. Eventually I made it into an option to fill in upon order, so it's not a special request anymore.
   
   Once, I received a request from a customer to change the necklaces into bracelets! I cracked my brain for some time and made a bracelet with adjustable length from the velvet necklaces. Unfortunately, it didn't occur to me that I should take a photo of it, because I was making them in the wee hours of the night and mailed it out the next day.
   
   Another common special request (especially during the Christmas season) was immediate collection. Many customers ask me when will they receive the item, but the best I can say is 2-5 working days from Singpost. Most of the time you should receive it the next working day because I usually try to mail it out before 5 pm (the cut-off time before the post office collect the mails from the postbox). However I can't control how fast Singpost delivers your item. The surest way to receive the items immediately is to make an appointment with me to collect personally. I try to fulfill such requests as much as possible at locations which are mutually convenient. If that's not possible, you can opt for courier services as well (Pay more $$$).
   
   Another special request was asking for something specific very specific for a birthday party. I talked about it in the other blog post here.
   
   
6. Regarding Postage
   I shall keep this section short because I'm going to write a longer blog post just on postage. If you're wondering which postage is likely to result in faster delivery, stay tuned.
   
   P.S: The answer is Singpost Normal Mail.
   
   
7. Box Shop
   I have lockers at box shops like Toy Outpost as well. Currently I'm selling at the one at Hako @ AMK Hub (Locker AM 35C) and Hako @ Bedok Mall (Locker 68 C). However in the long run, I'm just going to keep the one at AMK Hub. Afterall I'm doing all these alone on a part-time basis and I don't have that much time and energy to manage too many physical shops.
   
   
8. The Facebook Page
   I'm not really active on my Facebook book page last year. Some of the likes are from my friends who are willing to support me, while some are from customers. In the new year, I hope to increase the Facebook Likes to 500. Ambitious? If you're willing to help me achieve the milestone, please help me like the page. Thank you.
   
   
   
   
   

That's quite a bit of information about MoMo Shoppe! In the new year, I'll be refocusing the product lines and will be shifting most of my attention to online sales.

Have a great year :)

Mocking Jay Necklaces - Restocked!

The mocking jay necklaces are highly popular, especially when the Hunger Games 2 movie was released in December 2013. Many customers were disappointed to see some of the mocking jay necklaces out of stock (especially the double sided ones).

It's finally back in stock, now with more selection and better quality! Read on.

More Colors
Let's check out the small necklaces first. Previously, only the bronze color was available. Now we welcome two additional color to the family - gold and silver :D

I've matched the bronze and gold pendants with the brass long necklace, and the silver pendant with the velvet necklace. That's just my personal preference and recommendation, it's possible to change the necklace chain upon request. Many customers ask me what's the difference between velvet and brass neckalce, and here's my answer:

• Aesthetically, I personally like the brass chain. Goes well with most clothes and looks more expensive :P
• The brass chain is 80 cm fixed length. Not that easy to adjust the length, but still possible with a plier to take out some chain.
• The velvet chain is adjustable in length because it finishes with a knot. It is also recommended for people with sensitive skin or allergic to metallic materials. Customers usually choose the velvet necklace for little kids or for their friends if they're unsure of their skin condition.

Better Quality
The quality of the new small necklace is also much better. The one on the right is the new small necklace, observe that the mocking jay fills up the pendant more fully. The patterns on the wings are more elaborate, with a slight twist at the tip. The arrow protrudes out of the otherwise round pendant, giving it a good overall finish.

Looking at the side, you can see that the new pendant is thicker with a more "3D" structure. It is slightly heavier and feels more solid.


More Sizes
More sizes are available now! Here's a picture of the Small (2.5 cm), Medium (4.0 cm) and Large (4.5 cm) Mocking Jay necklaces. The small one is single-sided, and the medium/large ones are double-sided.

The double-sided necklaces are extremely popular, you don't have to worry about wearing your necklace on the wrong side. The mocking jay also looks more alive because of the "3D" structure.

A Special Request

One of our customers is holding a birthday party next month, with the Hunger Games theme. How cool is that! I hope the guests don't go around killing each other though. Just kidding. He was requesting for the mocking jay pendants without hook, and here is what we got for him. The one on the left is the familiar mocking jay seen in Hunger Games 1, and the right is the one seen in Hunger Games 2 - Catching Fire. They are really pretty :)

Coming up next would be these pendants made into pins, where you can pin it on your clothing or bags! Keep a lookout!

The Pendant Watches

Since we're on the topic, I shall reintroduce the pendant watches. The mocking jay pendant watch comes in 2 sizes, small (2.5 cm) and large (4.5 cm). Press the top to open the watch, and you can pull and turn the dial to tune the time like any other watch.

Again, some customers like to ask for recommendations. Personally, I really prefer the large necklace because the watch needles and fonts are prettier. However, the small one may suit kids or petite girls better. Possible to change the chain to velvet necklace as well.

Another common question from customers - how to change the battery? You have to go to a watch shop to change a battery, because the battery compartment cannot be easily opened. Estimated cost is about $6 or so at a neighbourhood shop I think. Let us know if you know somewhere to change the battery at a good price, and I'll share here!

Keen to get any of the mocking jays? Head to our shop now!
Like our Facebook page as well (and share if you're nice!), because there's a giftaway coming up real soon.

P.S. The small necklace is also available in the "Catching Fire" form in gold, silver and bronze. Limited quantity and not for sale yet. Only for fans / loyal customers for now ;)

Merry Christmas!

Our first blog post is on Christmas!

Just to recap our milestones~
MoMo Shoppe is set up in September 2013. We have a little box shop at Hako @ AMK Hub and Hako @ Bedok Mall. We used to have a little box at Gotomybox @ Plaza Singapura but we're no longer there. You might have seen our stuff if you have ever popped by these shops!

We also put up bazaar road show at the TGIF Sentosa Boardwalk a few times in October. However due to labour and time constraints, we're shifting our business online and no longer doing bazaars and flea markets.

We also donated USD 50 from our sales proceeds to Action Against Hunger to aid the Typhoon Haiyan victims! Your purchases helped to make a difference to the survivors! We will continue to contribute to charity organizations whenever possible with your support :)

Our Facebook page is still new, please support by giving us a Like.