SINGAPORE - Crowded streets, great variety of goods, festive decorations... Do these ring a bell?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the entrance of the Chinatown Chinese New Year Market, STICKERS with the word “SALES” printed on them in bright colours are spotted in every single stall. Vendors can be seen busy promoting their items by shouting out the price of their items. Not to forget about the little path down the market which accomodates visitors from all walks of life! Some visitors are seen to be just looking through the Chinese New Year goods while the other visitors can be seen getting down to serious Chinese New Year Shopping with big bags of goods in their hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60-year-old teacher, Robyn Claibourna, is a tourist from USA and she mentioned that she enjoys shopping in Chinatown and loves how clean the place is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to Mabel Wong, a 19-year-old who visits the Chinatown Chinese New Year Market every year with her family, the clothes sold in the market are almost of the same style as in-trend outlets such as H&M, Cotton On etc. In addition, the price range of the clothes in the market are of not much difference as compared to the in-trend outlets.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the other hand, other vendors are also expecting lesser customers not solely due to the rainy season but also due to the high pricing of their goods.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many vendors raised the price of their items due to the high rental fees they have to pay.  

 

23-year-old Qiu Pin who is a part-time helper at a Traditonal Chinese Paper Cuttings Stall, revealed that rental fees for the stall is more expensive because they are the only stall in the market that sells Chinese Paper Cuttings. Hence, Qiu Pin’s boss needs to raise the price of their goods to make up for the rental fees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Goods that are not sold out before Chinese New Year will be returned to the warehouse, and there is a high possibility that they will be thrown away,” added Qiu Pin.

 

Qiu Pin also shared that on Monday, Saturday and Sunday when the sales are at its best, the stall will be able to earn up to $1,300. Whereas for the other days, sales will only stay at $600 to $700 as most of the customers are tourists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle-aged tourists will only buy a few items from the stall as souvenirs while the younger tourists normally visit the perfume stall opposite the Traditional Chinese Paper Cuttings stall, as it interests them more.