Agree with you that the high costs leads bosses to scrimp and save and treat their staff like commodities. I feel that the constant emphasis on price competition amongst Singapore retailers isn’t helping the situation. We must compete on value and the entire experience – not just one-for-ones and 30% off! Too often retailers pay so much attention on the product and its features that they forget the peripherals which are equally important – service warranty, delivery, environment, etc.

gerimegaly2
http://knowyourlifeinsurance.blogspot.com/
http://futures-trading.blogspot.com/

Glad to hear that you are taking the entrepreneurial route. I spent about 4 years in one of my previous jobs working with SMEs, and I must say that hearing their stories have always been inspirational and motivating. Alas, I have not been brave enough to take the plunge, but perhaps some day….

A must read for anybody who wants to go into business is Purple Cow. Check out my review at:

http://coolinsights.blogspot.com/2007/01/making-purple-cows-sneeze.html

I went to Hong Kong in July 2005 and the service was simply superb then. It was not like anything that I have experienced in Singapore before. Even the taxi drivers were very polite and courteous and so were the street stall owners in Lady’s Street and Temple Street. Shopping was also a pleasure with attentive and service oriented sales assistants. Oh yes, and they were willing to speak in Mandarin (pu tong hua) too when they knew that my cantonese cannot pass.

I got so carried away by my personal blog that I forgot my mission is to help my hubby. ok… have to get down to the task liao…….

But then how come service standards in Hong Kong can improve so much over the last 2 decades? I was there in the early 80s and service really sucks. I haven’t been there since then but I heard that they have improved a lot in this area.

I study retail, I worked retail before, and I’m an office girl now hee… Reason? Because I dread how employers expect the sales people to know everything, everytime, and like what you’ve said, they expect us to serve the customers once we are on the job. they call it on the job training, but is actually totally anxious to get you to work.

I’ve seen very very bad service in Singapore, I felt that its getting bad to worst recently.

Before I went to Bangkok, I had an experience with Swensens at AIRPORT. Can you imagine the service was REALLY BAD? It wasnt like this 5 years back. they didnt even greet us when we stepped into the restaurant. No one greeted us, and even whe sat down ourselves the waitresses simply threw the menu on the table. I cant believe Singapore airport is giving this kind of service.

Totally disappointing. that is perhaps the reason why i choose to start up myself and not relying on people hehehe…

Agree with you on the difficulties of retaining staff in the service sector. Somehow, we need to find value beyond just the price to include convenience to customers and solving a problem which has always been there. At the same time, making working conditions motivating and acceptable to employees.

I think one possible way around it is not to compete on price but value. I know it sounds easier in theory than reality, but think about how you can offer something that customers value and are willing to pay for.

In the optical business for example, is there a way to reach customers in their own homes? Perhaps you can blog about occasional innovations in eyewear, shades, contacts for example, or ways to improve your eye sight, or how you can match the right frames with the right fashion for example. What are the celebrities wearing? What kind of food does one eat to improve eyesight?

Ultimately, its not so much about just getting a pair of spectacles or contact lenses, but improving your vision, your looks, and your quality of life. Building a community also helps, and considering the huge numbers of near-sighted folks in Singapore, it won’t be difficult to find those people.

Sorry I got carried away ah….. Just got hit by a brainwave.