向地產商說不
十月中，龐一鳴，一個普通香港人，做了一個決定：「未來一年，在衣食住行生活各個層面上，拒絕幫襯大地產商提供的服務。」他現住在親友舊式單幢大廈，不屬大地產商；九巴、 新巴由地產商控制，他每天踩單車，代替乘搭公共交通工具；要「搵食」，就光顧小型食市，代替到連鎖快餐店；買食物、衣服、日用品，就到小商舖、藥房，不去大公司和超級市場 。龐一鳴去年花了九個月，遊歷了南美多個地方，認識了不少原住民，為保護土地，不惜犧牲生命，跟政府、商家抗爭到底，龐一鳴深受感動。回港後決定身體力行，展開杯葛大地產 商的計劃。有人覺得他太天真，有人很欣賞他的決定。還有十個月，且看他能否堅持、成功.
---
'Mama shops' may be a thing of the past
These standalone kiosks are struggling to stay afloat as they face competition in changing times
04:45 AM Aug 31, 2011
SINGAPORE - Three years ago, Mr S Gunashekaran, who was then 28, took over the running of the "mama shop" - which was owned by his father - at a void deck in Yishun Ring Road.
But as Mr Gunashekaran pointed out, he is part of a rare breed: "Youngsters are no longer taking up such business ... Most are well-educated and they prefer office jobs."
Indeed, faced with keen competition from supermarket chains and other socials trend such as Singapore's rising vehicle ownership and denser housing estates, such standalone kiosks are facing a bleak future - and could become a part of the Republic's urban memory before long.
Built at the void decks of every fourth Housing and Development Board (HDB) block of flats in older estates, these standalone kiosks experienced their heyday in the '80s and '90s.
Since the '90s, the HDB has stopped building such kiosks - affectionately known by Singaporeans as "mama shops" - as the demands of flat dwellers shifted to minimarts which are bigger and have a wider range of goods.
According to the HDB, the number of such kiosks peaked at about 560 in the '90s, Since then, the numbers have dropped by about a third.
Today, there are about 380 "mama shops" left. A HDB spokesman attributed the dip to "low demand from prospective kiosk operators", adding that the numbers have remained "relatively constant over the past five years".
"Mama shop" operators Today spoke to pointed out that business has been tough in the past decade or so.
One of them said: "Last time business was good, rent also cheap ... Last time anything you put, people will buy. Now very difficult. So if I cannot sell, I have to give back (to the suppliers)."
Together with her husband, the 66-year-old has been running a "mama shop" at a void deck in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 for more than 30 years. According to her, the couple currently pay rent of about S$1,000, up from about S$650 when they first started operating the shop.
Nowadays, residents from nearby blocks - who used to provide the bulk of business - bypass her store, stocking up on groceries at the likes of NTUC FairPrice and Shop n Save at the town centre. "In the past, fewer people drive," she noted.
According to the "mama shop" owners, their businesses were also affected by the authorities getting tough on the misuse of outdoor display areas by HDB shop retailers.
For "mama shop" owners, this meant they cannot keep ice cream freezers or drink chillers outside their shop overnight.
To get around this, Mr Gunashekaran, who has several drink chillers placed outside his shop, said he decided his shop will go 24 hours.
His innovative streak also saw him introducing NETS payment for his customers. He also uses a cash register and barcode scanner.
He said: "It makes a difference. Some of (my fellow shop owners) don't have cash register and they don't use scanner, they just anyhow calculate and put the price."
To keep business going, Mr Gunashekaran said he tries to keep his prices competitive. At the same time, his shop offers a wide variety of items to meets residents' daily needs - from drinks, tidbits to groceries such as eggs, instant noodles and canned food.
In contrast to Mr Gunashekaran's efforts, other "mama shop" owners Today spoke to are content to let go of their business when the time comes.
Mr Mohd Amir Anwar, 68, said he does not want his offspring to follow his footsteps. The work can be "boring" but he will continue on for as long as he can, he said.
Another "mama shop" owner, who wished to be known only as Madam Goh, said she will close her shop once her aged parents are unable to run it anymore.
The 54-year-old said: "This shop is meant for them to pass time. Business is now so bad, there is no point."
But as Mr Gunashekaran pointed out, he is part of a rare breed: "Youngsters are no longer taking up such business ... Most are well-educated and they prefer office jobs."
Indeed, faced with keen competition from supermarket chains and other socials trend such as Singapore's rising vehicle ownership and denser housing estates, such standalone kiosks are facing a bleak future - and could become a part of the Republic's urban memory before long.
Built at the void decks of every fourth Housing and Development Board (HDB) block of flats in older estates, these standalone kiosks experienced their heyday in the '80s and '90s.
Since the '90s, the HDB has stopped building such kiosks - affectionately known by Singaporeans as "mama shops" - as the demands of flat dwellers shifted to minimarts which are bigger and have a wider range of goods.
According to the HDB, the number of such kiosks peaked at about 560 in the '90s, Since then, the numbers have dropped by about a third.
Today, there are about 380 "mama shops" left. A HDB spokesman attributed the dip to "low demand from prospective kiosk operators", adding that the numbers have remained "relatively constant over the past five years".
"Mama shop" operators Today spoke to pointed out that business has been tough in the past decade or so.
One of them said: "Last time business was good, rent also cheap ... Last time anything you put, people will buy. Now very difficult. So if I cannot sell, I have to give back (to the suppliers)."
Together with her husband, the 66-year-old has been running a "mama shop" at a void deck in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 for more than 30 years. According to her, the couple currently pay rent of about S$1,000, up from about S$650 when they first started operating the shop.
Nowadays, residents from nearby blocks - who used to provide the bulk of business - bypass her store, stocking up on groceries at the likes of NTUC FairPrice and Shop n Save at the town centre. "In the past, fewer people drive," she noted.
According to the "mama shop" owners, their businesses were also affected by the authorities getting tough on the misuse of outdoor display areas by HDB shop retailers.
For "mama shop" owners, this meant they cannot keep ice cream freezers or drink chillers outside their shop overnight.
To get around this, Mr Gunashekaran, who has several drink chillers placed outside his shop, said he decided his shop will go 24 hours.
His innovative streak also saw him introducing NETS payment for his customers. He also uses a cash register and barcode scanner.
He said: "It makes a difference. Some of (my fellow shop owners) don't have cash register and they don't use scanner, they just anyhow calculate and put the price."
To keep business going, Mr Gunashekaran said he tries to keep his prices competitive. At the same time, his shop offers a wide variety of items to meets residents' daily needs - from drinks, tidbits to groceries such as eggs, instant noodles and canned food.
In contrast to Mr Gunashekaran's efforts, other "mama shop" owners Today spoke to are content to let go of their business when the time comes.
Mr Mohd Amir Anwar, 68, said he does not want his offspring to follow his footsteps. The work can be "boring" but he will continue on for as long as he can, he said.
Another "mama shop" owner, who wished to be known only as Madam Goh, said she will close her shop once her aged parents are unable to run it anymore.
The 54-year-old said: "This shop is meant for them to pass time. Business is now so bad, there is no point."
National Heritage Board seeks help to document 'mama shops'
In a nod to Singaporeans' attachment to traditional provision shops here, the National Heritage Board (NHB) is looking for an agency to help conduct research and prepare a detailed report on these shops.
In a tender posted on Government procurement website Gebiz last month, the board said the research project should look into the history of traditional provision shops in Singapore and its unique characteristics such as its size, location, ownership structure and wares.
The research project should also document the challenges facing such provision shops today and in the fixture.
Said NHB director (heritage institutions and industry development) Alvin Tan: "The National Heritage Board recognises that the traditional provision shops in Singapore hold many memories for most Singaporeans. As such, we are commissioning a research report which will seek to document the unique characteristics of some of these shops." Carolyn Quek
In a tender posted on Government procurement website Gebiz last month, the board said the research project should look into the history of traditional provision shops in Singapore and its unique characteristics such as its size, location, ownership structure and wares.
The research project should also document the challenges facing such provision shops today and in the fixture.
Said NHB director (heritage institutions and industry development) Alvin Tan: "The National Heritage Board recognises that the traditional provision shops in Singapore hold many memories for most Singaporeans. As such, we are commissioning a research report which will seek to document the unique characteristics of some of these shops." Carolyn Quek
Image 1 of 6
Mr S Gunashekaran (left), store manager of the 24-hour Vale Store at Yishun Ring Road. Photo by Syafiqah Hamid
| 48Share |
TALKBACK
1 - 3 of 5 responses to "'Mama shops' may be a thing of the past"
Xin
Updated 09:34 PM August 31, 2011
Culprits are changing times- consumer preferences , burgeoning supermarkets and too many seven elevens !!! Mama shops have characters....
:X
Updated 03:16 PM August 31, 2011
Sigh. At least there is someone trying to keep it. :) GO MAMA SHOPS!
kilroy
Updated 12:26 PM August 31, 2011
"NTUC Fair Price is the culprit."
no. S'poreans are, the customers are. if they choose not to patronize the Mama shops, of course they will die one day.
you may want to watch this HK current affairs program on how one young man is doing his part to save the neighbourhood stores:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiRctDmQog
no. S'poreans are, the customers are. if they choose not to patronize the Mama shops, of course they will die one day.
you may want to watch this HK current affairs program on how one young man is doing his part to save the neighbourhood stores:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiRctDmQog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiRctDmQog
No comments:
Post a Comment