KT Wealth

I begin to think about how “the man in the street” is able to save money yet gain something meaningful. So, I churn out a list of activities that anyone can do, minus off the wallet. 1. Visit the Library Take a walk into our National Libraries without flipping out a coin. Spend a day browsing through magazines or pick up your favorite book to read. Not only you can enhance your knowledge, you may also learn something beyond your imagination. Maybe, you may also know a friend next to you because of common reading genre. And who knows, sparks may fly? There are educational sessions held in the library. I used to host my career development and management workshops across the National Libraries in Singapore. Completely free and benefit people from all walks of life. 2. Check out free historic attractions We have some educational learning that is beyond any classroom learning. One of them is Sun Yat Sen Villa. If you are Singaporean, you enter for free. More details can be foun...

When I first heard about Starburst IPO, I thought this business is unique. Starburst specialises in the design and engineering of firearms-training facilities. Starburst designs, fabricates, installs and maintains anti-ricochet ballistic protection systems for firearm shooting ranges and tactical training mock-ups. Their clients include law enforcement, military and security agencies, as well as civil authorities in Southeast Asia and Middle East. There are several positive takeaways why one should consider Starburst. The industry has high barriers of entry that many can’t imitate due to the intricate technical expertise. Starburst has the patented “Searls” trademark – anti-ricochet ballistic protection materials protect military lives during peacetime firearms training. I shan’t talk about the advantages but focus on risks and challenges: 1) Operating cash flow is lumpy Project fee is based on “percentage of-completion” recognition. The contracting party is able to retain 10%-...

I read many articles that talk about prudence and frugality. The message across is a timely reminder as an individual should not spend beyond their means, especially the high inflationary pressures in Singapore. In other words, think about saving first (paying oneself) before paying off your bills, much least spending the extra cash. Think about your emergency fund first. Think about delayed gratification, so that you can build your cash flow. However, being superbly obsessed with every dollar and cent may bring you to the point of over practicality, such that you get upset if you spend twenty cents more over a cup of coffee. What I mean is, you hold the reign of money in such tight control that you forget the essence of life’s little pleasures - your wishlists, hobbies or self-gratification pursuits. These activities need money, no matter how less or more it is, to fulfill your desired life's journey. It can be a backpacking trip, a dance workshop, a craftsmanship apprentice ...

Let's move on to Part 2 of my Store Visit in Parkson, Kuala Lumpur. For my readers who miss part one, you can find the information here: http://www.ktwealth.blogspot.sg/2014/01/my-store-visit-parkson-kuala-lumpur.html In-store Promotion, Marketing and Branding There are some catalog and booklets available that showcase the latest deals. During the Chinese New Year, Parkson launches hamper sets to mark the auspicious Year of the Horse. There are also discounted offers for various merchandises. The problem is, the promotional materials are placed at the Customer Service Centre. One whole stack. It's not distributed to potential customers or placed in prominent points of attraction in the department store. For example, the decorated entrance of Parkson where you can have a table to place them or get Promoters to give out and talk about it. This is in consideration of the festive mood. The advertising visuals are printed in attractive designs and colors. Sadly, in my humb...

I was on a business trip in Kuala Lumpur about two weeks ago. Part of my agenda was to make a store visit to Parkson. I have brought my self-made store survey sheet with me and narrowed down to two Parkson outlets for sampling – The Pavilion at Jalan Bukit Bintang and Suria KLCC. It made perfect sense since one was centrally located and the other a popular shopping street. I would use Parkson, The Pavilion, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Considering the festive season during this month, I was expecting a sizeable dose of crowd in the department store, buzzing in-store promotions, aggressive promotion and enthusiastic staff. My brief analysis is found below. Part one: External Layout and Location, Store Appeal @ Entrance, Atmospherics, Displays, Lighting, Fixtures and Fittings Part two: In-store Marketing and Branding, Service Staff, Merchandise Mix and Final Conclusion Please note that I am not a store expert. I used my intuition and observation, taking the perspective o...