Personal Interest at 57, what could it be?

Not many people have the energy or money to pursue personal interest at 57 or round about that age. My parents are in their 60s and I always urge them to do something, like their interest, afterall they suppose to be at their "enjoying life stage".

I don't know what Mrs Saw sees her personal interest are, I am intrigue to know. Perhaps she has been pursuing her personal interest all along,  making money out of commuters,  sacking old froggies and dead wood on eve of festive seasons, and now quit the organisation before getting the boot. Interesting personal interest, yeah?

Alert Alert!

After a series of unfortunate events that happened to MRT, she should see through the whole investigation first before taking her exit. If not she should have quit there and then. Whatever she does now would come under fire, whether she is a quiter, or thick skin.

Her last redeeming points to make good of her life is to share what is her personal interest at old folks home and community centers.  I will certainly want to consider pursuing my personal interest asap when I have earned enough money.

Oh yes, New CEO, MR Tan should consider taking MRT to work.

Have a Spring in your walk

These photos were taken in Autumn which is my favourite seasons of the year. I like the colours of the leaves before they start to fade away. Winter is a season of hibernation and Spring, spring forth new life and new beginning. It is apt for today as we welcome 2012.

Sometimes I treat Autumn as the beginning of a new year, instead of Spring (Chinese calendar). I am influence by the Bible, or perhaps as my friends put it, the Jewish way.  Their new year, Rosh Hashanah is in Autumn. It is also describe as a day of Judgement and a day of Remembrance.

So today, I sat at home, remembering all the deeds that I have done and reflected on what had happened last year. I was deeply saddened over certain depressing events that marked my life forever as well as the small things I have gained along the way.

Before the day ends, I have written down this year resolution, a long to-do list. The shop needs a face lift,  I need to bring in more trendy bags for younger crowds, to be more bold in my selection and be competitive in pricing, maybe to relocate my shop,....blah blah blah. the list goes on and on.....I confessed I dont know the outcome or where it will lead me. I just gonna " JUST DO IT"

Someone famous said," if you dont know where you are going, any road will lead you there" 

"Life is not about finding yourself but creating yourself".

 I am creating myself, my life, the way I want it.

 

Welcoming the New Year

It has been almost a year since I started this blog. I was a bit apprehensive when I first started blogging as I am not a good writer. I dont know how to write interesting reviews on bags and engage readers.  I hope next year I will have more confidence in my writing and perhaps able to write interesting, thought provoking blog and more reviews on bags.

I am glad to have made new friends in this blogging experience and will want to continue to know more people beyond my own circles of friends. Someone told me to be an entrepreneur is crazy. I like that idea of being one, though I am not sure if I will be successful. Next year I will be focusing on trying to bring thedeborahshop to the next level.

I hope to be more creative and bold, to bring in new ideas to improve our service to you. I am toying with the idea like  "Handbags parties". In the 80s, there were Tupperware parties, where the sales person of the Tupperware company is invited to sell Tupperware in your parties. I hope to be invited to parties and bring our handbags to give your parties a new meaning to parties. It will not just be great food and lot of booze , there's also a little shopping spree right at your home.


There are so many things I want and need to do to revamp the whole shop and hope I am able to carry out in 2012 and not forgetting to give you the best bargain in town.
Thank you for your support. :)


Have a great year ahead.

Is ebay still there?

There were a few people this week asking us if we do take in pre-loved bags ( 2nd hand bags). I replied apologetically that all our bags are brand new but they try walking over at United Square ( I know there's a 2nd handbag shop there) or perhaps try Deluxmall ( a handbag forum) or ebay. This young lady looked at me as if I was from outer space, gently told me that there's no one buying in ebay anymore. I decided to investigate to find out what she said was true.

I went to 3 ebay site; USA, Singapore and Malaysia. There were a lot of sellers mostly in fashion category such as clothes, handbags and accessories. To my surprised, I realised that there weren't many transactions over these 3 ebay sites. Some of the prices were ridiculously high and others were quite reasonable, but no takers. I wondered what had change, is it Groupons? or what? Han suggested that I looked at digital cameras or rather men's gadgets corner. The results did not fair any better.

In my opinion, the world is getting smaller (globalisation-thanks to internet) and people are setting up their own blogs and doing direct selling instead of going through the complicated steps of setting up an account with ebay. I remembered when I was in University I came across many books on how to make money from ebay. This is something perhaps already in the past.

I am worried. Does that mean that no one is buying or looking out for bargains? Are they too many people selling? How are we going to differenate the real and the fake? Maybe one day we may return to good old shopping method, trying out the bags in a physical shop and bag their bags in an old fashion way.
  

Made in China bags should also be half the price

I prefer the luxury bags in my shop to be made in Italy, considering the price I am paying. Besides, it is not just it's name we are buying, but the designs and handiworks that made it. I am not advocating that Italian bags made in China, Turkey, Romania are less superior these days or we could tell the difference in a glance. Having said that, I prefer my Chinese teacups set to be made in China, than in Italy.

Different countries differ in culture and therefore differ in strength. We know countries who bear big name by the things they produce and sell. For example, we associate Ikea and Sabb with Sweden, Apple with US, Sony with Japan and Prada with Italy. Italy produce big car names like Ferrari but dont forget that India and Pakistan also made history by having nuclear weapons. If one day Ferrari is made in India, would it still fetch the same price and status?

The world is getting smaller due to globalisation. I know there are many mass market bags ( we are talking about branded designers bags) are made in China. For example, the nylon black Prada tote and some LV are made in China. To be certain, I always make a point to check the labels. I prefer to carry bags that are made in Italy- I may be fooled as some bags are only assembled in Italy, but at least....Ia m not fixated that all Italian bags should be made in Italy, but I am sure one day, most of it will be made in China or India where labours are cheaper.

Perhaps bags made in China should be half the price?

Thanks Beatrice for pointing out.  Hope you enjoy the bag nevertheless.

Time for change

As our new president, Tony Tan was announced the new President of Singapore, with a landslide win of 0.36%, I know that the time for change is to come. The votes had indicated that S'poreans are divided and perhaps we are no longer One S'poreans compared to previous time. More will be done to adhere to younger generation voices and the changing mindset.

Changes can be difficult, but necessary. We bite the bullet, swallow our pride and move on to the next chapter, hoping the new change will be make things better. Changes around us make us grow stronger as we learned from mistakes and not to repeat it again. The world is changing, from the liberation of Libya to the changing economy, nothing remains the same.

I'm echoing my own sentiments in the mist of change, even in our shop. We have to adapt to consumers needs and desire, we change our business strategy and models. We change our visual mechanising and even our staff. I hope this change will allow us a chance to prove ourselves to be a better someone, a better company,  a better nation, or a better economy in time to come. Only we brace the storm, hold our fort and fight against all odds and emerge stronger than before.

We welcome new changes in our lives, nation and the world, hoping it will be a better place.