Elephant Parade 2011

The Elephant Parade is the 'IN' thing now. Our crew head on the streets to give you the latest happenings and some scoops on what the RMT students are up to!:D

There may be tonnes of exhibitions that you feel not worth attending; but you cannot afford to miss the Elephant Parade. The Elephant Parade is held for the sole purpose of raising funds to help the Asian Elephants.

It started with a visit to Chiang Mai’s elephant hospital where Marc and Mike Spits saw Mosha. Mosha, the baby elephant, lost her limb after accidentally stepping on a landmine. It was a very miserable sight. This sparked the father and son team to start the project to create the awareness of the pain that the elephants are going through.

In 2007, the first ever Elephant Parade was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Over the years, the parade toured 10 cities and this year it’s Singapore’s turn. To date, a herd of 162 baby elephants marched the shores of Singapore and they are placed at various venues. These life size fiberglass sculptures are decorated and hand-painted by local artists like Tina Tan Leo, owner of alldressedup and Dick Lee. Renowned artisans around the world including Paul Smith and Marc Quinn also paint these elephants.

To prove that we also have a flair for painting, our RMT students joined the painting workshop conducted by Tangs held on 5 December 2011.

The elephant replicas are available at the 1^st Avenue kiosk and they come with signatures of the artists. You can also paint your own personalized elephant by purchasing the art box set. If you’ve got the talent and finesse, submit your entries to enter the best-decorated elephant contest! If your elephant is chosen, it will be mass-produced and you too, can get instantly famous! (Who knows you may emerge victorious out of the hundreds of hopefuls?)

All the 162 elephants will be displayed in The Singapore Botanical Gardens from 8-11 January 2012. Entrance would be free of charge, so hop on and join the herd!

Hairloom and Caramel

Tired of the same boring café setting that has chestnut brown tables, audible churning sound of the coffee machine and hellishly long queues that frustrates you? There is in fact, a quiet place to just enjoy a cuppa or a palatable plate of comfort food – Hairloom and Caramel.

Left: Carrot Cake, Right (Clockwise from left) Ham and Cheese Baked Penne, Salmon Spaghetti in Pink Sauce, Black pepper smoked duck Sandwich with Dijon Mustard.

Mind you, Caramel is NOT just a café; it has an adjoining salon and a small space that sells the owner’s very own art creations and some other vintage trinkets (Handmade cards and notebooks, vintage glass and tea set and handbags). The place itself is pretty hard to locate as it is hidden in the Beach Rd precinct – a place where youngsters rarely go. The western food that they offer is by far the most delectable and affordable (considering that GST is waived, while service is charged at 5% and that the most expensive main course is $14.50).

It has been quite a while since I have known this place where I spent most of my fondest memories. The birdcage, the greens, a replica of the flamingo and the Victorian designed chair is placed as the window display that creates a homey feeling to it all. Inside, the exquisite tables, chairs, retro sofas, old school portraits, the airplanes and birds that are suspended from the ceiling bring back memories of an unforgettable childhood. For me, it was the place where I used to celebrate my birthdays, my bad days, my good days and other momentous events.

The food is served on colourful vintage porcelain plates and bowls that add a unique touch to the whole dining experience. Not mentioning the cakes that are hard to resist especially when you are sitting near the glass refrigerator. If you can’t get enough of the place, you could probably mingle around the shelves to get some antique finds from the 80s. Otherwise, Hairloom, led by Elle magazine well-known hairdresser, Calvin, can impress you with one of his highly acclaimed cutting techniques. On rainy days, it would be perfect to tuck yourself in with a book on the sofa, clearly, the owner would not mind.

Unfortunately, they have closed their doors on the 5th November 2011. If you still yearn for their food and cakes however, you can still drop them an email for private orders and catering. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, it would still be the place that makes the whole dining and shopping experience worthwhile. There is another way to preserve the place though an intervention, aye? :D

 For Catering and Cake Orders:

http://ifeellikebaking.blogspot.com/

Love Green Event

By Jean Cheng, Third Year Student

As the title suggests, the event organised revolves around the notion of being environmentally friendly. It was a successful collaboration between our senior students of Temasek Polytechnic, Diploma in Retail Management and CHOOSE. by Olive Ventures. The event aimed to raise awareness of going green either by utilising the vermicompost bins or selecting from a range of eco-friendly products.

Everyone was given a role and each individual had an important part to play. Shifts were being rotated and there was one Event Manager per class for every session. They led the team towards our common objective as mentioned earlier. To help profile the event, we publicised it on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.

In the morning of 16 July 2011, we geared up for the commencement of LOVE GREEN Event at VivoCity. Most of us were apprehensive about the crowd we would expect and the performance we could achieve. After all, we had hardly any experience in running an event. However, the crowd began to pick up and our engines started rolling.

The first booth offered Eco-Chic merchandise featuring fashion apparel and accessories and they ranged from organic cotton t-shirts to upcycled hairpins. There is no denial to the possibility of being fashionable and eco-friendly at the same time.

Next to it was a booth that provided energy-saving electronic gadgets which were fascinating. One of the more popular products was the Dynamo Powered Flashlight which does not require batteries.

Following that was a booth displaying household items such as the Bamboo Chopping Board Set and Lavender Fields Laundry Powder. Opting for these products is already a step closer to being environmentally friendly.

The last booth exhibited vermicompost bins which educated the public on how disposal of household waste can be an act of going green.

Surrounding the event venue were posters done by us and they helped to inform the public on the numerous ways to be more conscious of our environment.

Although the LOVE GREEN Event was held over a weekend, preparations for the event had begun way before. Lecturers and the senior students were all mobilised to ensure the event was a success. Being just students, we were greenhorns as far as organising an event was concerned. To our surprise, we managed to overcome the many doubts and obstacles we had initially faced and gained a tremendous sense of accomplishment from the event.

Artistry

By Kamaliah Binte Abdullah, First Year Student

It has been 4 years since I first used Artistry. I vividly remember a young gentleman who came to my doorstep and promote the product. I was prompted to try the facial wash treatment. The outcome was truly amazing! My mother was also convinced by the benefits of the product after the explanation from the gentleman. Since then, Artistry has top the list of my favourite cosmetic brands.

Artistry is popular among consumers for its high quality and affordable pricing. It is used by various international celebrities, who also claimed to have discovered fantastic skin results. For any woman who wants to have a healthier and beautiful skin complexion, this is the brand to go for. True beauty comes from within and Artistry remains truthful to the skin. To look and feel good, it is vital for a woman to be comfortable and feel secure when experimenting  the product.

From skin care to make-up products, Artistry has the solution to beautiful skin. Since my first exposure to their skin care product, I felt the excitement of trying more than what i was given. Like any other skin care products, the way of treating facial skin problems is cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. After that, it is up to individual if they have to apply other treatment according to their needs. Personally, I find it troublesome to consistently follow a series of steps, and to be in sequence, but there is no short-cut to achieve great skin results.

Likewise, leading a healthy lifestyle is crucial for one to get good skin complexion. For instance, having regular meals, sufficient rest and using suitable cosmetic products regularly and consistently. Nonetheless, I feel less doubtful when applying Artistry as it is not harsh for my poor skin condition. Although I have yet to try on their make-up products, I still believe that Artistry is my number one choice.

Artistry is currently ranked among the top selling distinguished brands of facial skin care and colour cosmetics in the world. Ad-print and online reviews have shown how Artistry has made a difference. In fact, this is not a brand that is available in local stores. The products can only be purchased through online media or through direct selling. Despite the inconvenience, I still wish to continue using this award-winning brand. I hope local retailers will carry this brand in their stores soon.

 

For more information, visit Artistry  website now!

Flea market in Singapore

By Wong Chiou Torng, senior year student.

If you throw a stone in Singapore, you will either hit a hawker center or a shopping mall. Well, it may be a bit of an exaggeration but it is no secret that Singapore is a food and shopping haven.

Mention the word shopping and one would immediately think of those posh, neat and air-conditioned malls. However, that is not all Singapore has to offer.
For those with a tight wallet or an adventurous spirit, there is a second option to shop from and that would be a vibrant flea market.

Flea markets are like treasure coves, traditionally used to sell second hand goods. It has now become a platform for many entrepreneurs and companies to reach out to their customers.
One such company would be The Feline Bridal, a boutique specializing in “tailor to wear” for women, that have evolved into a speciality Bridal boutique is one such company that have stepped forward onto the platform.

The promoter explained that they had hoped to reach out to their target customers like families, couples and teenagers as they provide photo shoot service for other occasions other than weddings.

Well, wedding bells aside, common finds would most probably be second hand goods or blogshop vendors selling clothes, accessories and food product. The prices are mostly quite affordable, bring $50 and you would be sure to go home with a bags of treasures with change to spare.
If you are more interested in fashion, you might want to give the flea markets held at scape youth park or Haji Lane a try. If you are a budding artist or art appreciator, do head on down to The Red Dot Museum where young and rising artist sells their art pieces, though be prepared to spend a little more than at your average flea market.

Keen to start flea shopping or setting up a booth? Well, do check out http:// Singaporeserachsite.com for the latest update on the latest flea schedule!

ThreeSixty Marketplace

By Lim Wen Qin, Senior Year RMT student

Brace yourselves for the newest kid on the block! Encompassing a wonderful fusion of organic and gourmet product, ThreeSixty Marketplace is sure to be the new must-go location for patrons of fine dining. Located on the 4^th floor of Ion Orchard, the newest addition to the Cold Storage Family indeed raises the standards of comfort in shopping. 

Intrigued by the talk going around, I decided to pay the retailer a visit. Even before stepping into the supermarket, I was surprised by the window display! Staying true to its commitment of being Hong Kong’s largest organic and natural food store, decals of leaves is pasted on the walls, adding an eco-friendly touch to the retailer. Basking in the Christmas mood, decorations are put up on the signage and fixtures, much resembling those of European supermarkets. Playing with the different shades of brown for the interior environment further accentuates the natural concept, inviting customers to enjoy in the moment of shopping. 

 

Instead of looking for that specific coffee jar or that particular bag of chips, you’ll be tempted to tour around the store, admiring the extensive breadth and assortment of products. Iberico ham, ZaraMama popcorn and live oysters flown in from Coromandel, brands that used to be unavailable in Singapore can now be found there.

Heads up, chocolate lovers, Valhrona’s first store-within-a-store in Asia is coming to town in this supermarket. Think that’s all? Wait till you check out the wine corner. Assembled in a circular manner (representing 360 degrees), you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Fancy a kiss? The brand display by Faucon, Paris certainly brings in an air of romance.     

As they all say, seeing is believing. So the next time you need to clear your shopping list, why not try a change in environment for a while? 

  

 

Signing off,

The RMT Blog: Retail Forward

To kick start things, we present to you our very own Temasek Polytechnic Retail Management Blog, Retail Forward!

As students of Retail Management, we are excited and interested in the Retail Industry. To us, Retail Forward means to look forward to the world of Retailing. It also means what retailing will be about in the future (Forward). Retail doesn't mean it is all about customers and products. There is more to Retailing; services, promotions, store locations, store formats and much more.

So, what kind of posts will be in Retail Forward? Retail Forward will bring you several articles written by our very own Retail Management students. There will be polls to see what is "IN" now. That's not all! Retail Forward will bring you slideshows of Retail Management students, to see what our students are up to! Not enough for you? Watch this space for more exciting retailing stuff!

Amazing isn't it? So now, let us open your eyes to the world of retailing! 

Signing off,