Female (Singapore)

HOW TO SHOP BETTER

Independen­t multi-label stores used to be the It place to shop, see and be seen at. They’ve also become increasing­ly rare. Keng Yang Shuen speaks to the folks keeping the concept alive about what makes a great retail experience.

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The brains behind our best independen­t stores on what makes a great shopping experience.

LE SALON

Opened last August by veteran designer Goh Ling Ling along Chip Bee Gardens (#02-78, 43 Jalan Merah Saga), it’s – as Goh calls it – an “apartmenti­que”: a boutique-meets-apartment. Inside the homely space is a variety of eclectic brands that would appeal to the modern, fashion-loving boho: accessorie­s specialist Dark Horse Vintage, contempora­ry jewellery label Alexandra Alberta, candle maker A Dose of Something Good and, of course, Goh’s own eponymous bag label. (PS: Fans of Wu can expect an eco-friendly line – which debuts later this year – made from plant-based materials that retain her simple yet sophistica­ted aesthetic.)

AN OUT-OF-THE-BOX LOCATION

“(Wouldn’t it be great to have) an offering of different lifestyle products and undergroun­d brands spread out across different parts of Singapore? We need to see more stores taking the risk of setting up at an (unexpected) address and creating interestin­g environmen­ts (that excite) shoppers.”

BEING DISCERNING WITH INSTAGRAM

“We don’t post too often on our social media platforms because our ethos is quality over quantity... With so many things in your face all the time, I don’t like the idea of posting for the sake of posting. If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it.”

STAFF AS BRAND AMBASSADOR­S

“Now, you enter a store and are greeted by inexperien­ced sales staff who (often) have no connection to the products or the brand. (This needs to change as) people are now buying less yet better (online) and the convention­al way of shopping is dying.”

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