Poor Sales @ Vivocity!!! - Page 5

EarthlyScents

Bad economy is one thing. Look, People are still dining at restaurants and spending like crazy. It's not as if the reccession is taking Singaporeans down to the drain. I would rather say it's the products that do the talking. Think it this way. If the craze is on bubble tea, people will swamp in like bees. If it's affordable skincare that claim to have great results, ah sohs will be gulible enough to buy. The other factor will be the different kinds of shoppers at a certain location. Example, the shoppers at Great World City are mostly expatriats and families. On the other hand, if the location is at Raffles Xchange, expats and yuppies.

I'm also not doing well at the Raffles Xchange and I don't know what happens to me when the lease ends in April. I thought Highly-stressed white-collar workers would most likely use aromatherapy to unwind but it doesn't seem to appeal to many working there.

Although the government is stepping up to help ease rental problems, I don't see that coming to us retailers at all because landlords will never reduce rent inspite of the current economy woes.

mejaflora

how about going online as well? its quite a low cost way of doing business. All you have to do is invest on a good host and a good shopping cart. Marketing you can do yourself on line for either free or very very little cost. and best of all, you can expand your customer base to international customers. Shipping abroad is quite cheap with Singpost. Of course I charge my int'l customers shipping fee but not much.

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Ida Gul
TheArtofStitch

EarthlyScents

Hmm, are you referring to my business or to skythelimit? Certain things sell well online but not all. Example: if you sell hand-made jewellery, it's very possible to generate sales as these things are visual (i.e. one of a kind and all people need is pictures of the items). But in the case of aromatherapy products, it's both visual and actual. Actual meaning the products have to be felt. You won't buy a certain scent that you're not sure if you like the aroma, right? Unless you've ever used the products before, you won't wanna risk buying with uncertainty.

As for shipping overseas, one must learn to earn for doing so. Some online sellers I've come across actually earn a small amount from charging shippment on top of the actual products sold.


skythelimit, calculate your risks before you start your business. All the best.