KT Wealth

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...

I just returned back to Singapore from the Scandinavian islands not long ago. It has been a wonderful trip personally, culturally and historically. As I marvelled over the great natural wonders of Iceland, I am completely intrigued by the formation of the lava fields, hot springs, hot mud, gorges, glaciers, icebergs to waterfalls over the years. There are no words to describe the stunning landscape. Just like the rush of the waterfalls, the financial stock market is filled with quick opportunities for us to capitalize. So, I will like to write about 3 trends to watch out for in 2014 and beyond. Do kindly note that the information is consolidated in a nutshell. It is based on my personal observation only. (a) 3D Technology Forget about 4D, 5D for now. Let’s look at 3D. 3D LED TV has been disappointing although it has been launched in the market for quite some time. This does not mean other 3D equipment, hardware and software will falter. In fact, a deeper look into some o...

I was asked by FFN, a fellow acquaintance in the investment community, to share my thoughts on investment (thanks FFN!) Below is the interview extract: FFN: How did you get interested in investing and who inspired you to get started? Ken: It started off with my former colleague in the education industry about five years back. He hinted to me that the opportunity had arrived as there was widespread negativity in the worldwide markets. When I queried further, he strongly encouraged me to take the year-end bonus and buy into shares of companies. At that time, I have almost zero knowledge about investment and thought that the stock market was a risky game of money. I was a salaried worker and the point of purchasing something that can’t be touched and felt was not attractive to me. Few days later, his words of wisdom struck me when I self-reflect. Something came upon me. I researched online and discovered that my perception was one-sided. Slowly, my interest and knowledge...

Happy New Year to all my readers! I will like to touch upon an interesting company – Parkson Retail Asia. As usual, my article focuses on the qualitative insights since there are sources on the firm’s financial health. The roots begin when Parkson Holdings Bhd was incorporated on 26 August 1982 as a private limited liability company under the name of Amalgamated Cement Mills Sdn Bhd. In 1988, it changed its name to Amalgamated Containers Sdn Bhd. It was publicly listed on Bursa Malaysia in 1993. It is now an investment holding company with stakes in Parkson Retail Asia and Parkson Retail Group Limited, listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange respectively. Lion Group owns Parkson Holdings Bhd. As a major department store retailer, Parkson is Malaysia second largest operator with 37 stores, 20% market shares as of 2012 (source: The Edge Singapore, December 31, 2012). The number one is The Store Corporation with 26% market shares as of 2012, the only...