Chicago Sun-Times axes photo staff
POSTED: 31 May 2013 6:28 AM
The Chicago Sun-Times laid off its entire photography department Thursday at the large daily newspaper, parent firm Sun-Times Media said.
CHICAGO: The Chicago Sun-Times laid off its entire photography department Thursday at the large daily newspaper, parent firm Sun-Times Media said.
The group will use pictures and videos from its text reporters or freelancers, a source familiar with the situation told AFP.
The company also said it was eliminating staff photographers at its suburban newspapers.
The cuts come as the US newspaper industry is struggling to cope with years of sharp declines in advertising revenues and dramatic changes in the media environment.
Major dailies have folded or cut their print editions to three times a week while a growing number are seeking more revenue from readers by establishing online "paywalls" which require subscriptions.
Some 28 people at the Chicago Sun-Times and its suburban papers were called into a meeting on Thursday morning and told their jobs would be eliminated immediately, the source said.
The source declined to comment on whether severance packages were provided.
The union representing Sun-Times journalists said it was "stunned" and "appalled" that any newspaper would consider photojournalists to be "expendable."
"This is offensive and wrong on so many levels," said Bernie Lunzer, president of the Newspaper Guild-CWA.
"I have learned time and again how the eye of a professional photographer can see and express things that I can't," Lunzer said in a statement.
"Apparently some accountant/manager can see and express things that I can't understand. Because this makes no sense."
Pulitzer Prize winner John White, who is nearing retirement age, was among those who lost their jobs.
"Being in the room with John White when we got laid off was a highlight of my career," said Rob Hart, a photographer with the group's suburban Pioneer Press.
"As soon as (Sun-Times editor) Jim Kirk said they were going to have the reporters produce multimedia for their rapidly changing platforms, I just had to walk out," he told News Photographer magazine.
There was no mention of the layoffs on the Sun-Times website Thursday afternoon, which ironically displayed a brief obituary for former chief photographer Bob Kotalik.
The newspaper also offered few details as to its strategy or reasoning in a brief statement released upon request.
"The Chicago Sun-Times continues to evolve with our digitally savvy customers, and as a result, we have had to restructure the way we manage multimedia, including photography, across the network," the newspaper said.
"The Sun-Times business is changing rapidly and our audiences are consistently seeking more video content with their news. We have made great progress in meeting this demand and are focused on bolstering our reporting capabilities with video and other multimedia elements."
Sun-Times Media, which was driven into bankruptcy after press baron Conrad Black was caught raiding the coffers, publishes 42 suburban papers along with its flagship Chicago Sun-Times.
The Chicago newspaper is the nation's eighth largest daily, using a measure of print and digital subscribers, according to a survey from the industry's Alliance for Audited Media. Print circulated was 184,000 and total circulation 470,000.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 31 May 2013 6:28 AM
The Chicago Sun-Times laid off its entire photography department Thursday at the large daily newspaper, parent firm Sun-Times Media said.
CHICAGO: The Chicago Sun-Times laid off its entire photography department Thursday at the large daily newspaper, parent firm Sun-Times Media said.
The group will use pictures and videos from its text reporters or freelancers, a source familiar with the situation told AFP.
The company also said it was eliminating staff photographers at its suburban newspapers.
The cuts come as the US newspaper industry is struggling to cope with years of sharp declines in advertising revenues and dramatic changes in the media environment.
Major dailies have folded or cut their print editions to three times a week while a growing number are seeking more revenue from readers by establishing online "paywalls" which require subscriptions.
Some 28 people at the Chicago Sun-Times and its suburban papers were called into a meeting on Thursday morning and told their jobs would be eliminated immediately, the source said.
The source declined to comment on whether severance packages were provided.
The union representing Sun-Times journalists said it was "stunned" and "appalled" that any newspaper would consider photojournalists to be "expendable."
"This is offensive and wrong on so many levels," said Bernie Lunzer, president of the Newspaper Guild-CWA.
"I have learned time and again how the eye of a professional photographer can see and express things that I can't," Lunzer said in a statement.
"Apparently some accountant/manager can see and express things that I can't understand. Because this makes no sense."
Pulitzer Prize winner John White, who is nearing retirement age, was among those who lost their jobs.
"Being in the room with John White when we got laid off was a highlight of my career," said Rob Hart, a photographer with the group's suburban Pioneer Press.
"As soon as (Sun-Times editor) Jim Kirk said they were going to have the reporters produce multimedia for their rapidly changing platforms, I just had to walk out," he told News Photographer magazine.
There was no mention of the layoffs on the Sun-Times website Thursday afternoon, which ironically displayed a brief obituary for former chief photographer Bob Kotalik.
The newspaper also offered few details as to its strategy or reasoning in a brief statement released upon request.
"The Chicago Sun-Times continues to evolve with our digitally savvy customers, and as a result, we have had to restructure the way we manage multimedia, including photography, across the network," the newspaper said.
"The Sun-Times business is changing rapidly and our audiences are consistently seeking more video content with their news. We have made great progress in meeting this demand and are focused on bolstering our reporting capabilities with video and other multimedia elements."
Sun-Times Media, which was driven into bankruptcy after press baron Conrad Black was caught raiding the coffers, publishes 42 suburban papers along with its flagship Chicago Sun-Times.
The Chicago newspaper is the nation's eighth largest daily, using a measure of print and digital subscribers, according to a survey from the industry's Alliance for Audited Media. Print circulated was 184,000 and total circulation 470,000.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Gradual recovery in private resale property market: market watchers
Gradual recovery in private resale property market: market watchers
By Wong Siew Ying
POSTED: 31 May 2013 12:04 AM
Market watchers say the private resale property market is seeing a gradual recovery after a drop in transaction volume in the first quarter this year following the introduction of cooling measures in January.
SINGAPORE: Market watchers have said the private resale property market is seeing a gradual recovery after a drop in transaction volume in the first quarter this year following the introduction of cooling measures in January.
Based on preliminary estimates, some analysts said sales could potentially double in the second quarter compared to the first quarter.
New private homes may continue to pull in the buyers, but some analysts said the resale private property market is also picking up.
Real estate agency PropNex said it has seen resale transaction volume jump 20 per cent in April and May.
Enquiries and turnout at viewings of resale units have also improved, largely because buyers believe resale properties offer better value and comparable rental yield.
Mohamed Ismail, CEO of PropNex, said: "Sky Habitat at Bishan... is S$1,600 psf (per square foot). Bishan 8, opposite, goes at S$1,100. In other words, when you buy a resale unit, you are going to pay lower per square foot... absolute quantum is going to be lower, which means you pay lesser ABSD (additional buyer's stamp duty) to the government."
SLP International Property Consultants estimates that some 3,600 to 4,300 units of both completed and uncompleted units in the resale market could change hands in the second quarter.
This is up from about 2,200 units sold in the previous quarter.
Based on caveats lodged, analysts said that about 3,500 resale units have been transacted from January to early May this year.
About two-thirds of them are "family-sized" units above 100 square metres.
They added that the resale property market is likely to see a sustainable recovery, but there are potential risks as well.
Nicholas Mak, executive director of SLP International Property Consultants, said: "If prices continue to increase and rental yields continue to be compressed, one of the risks is that if interest rates were to increase this year or next year, we could see that this would actually discourage investors, because if rental yield is compressed to such a low level, any increase in interest rates would make that investment property less attractive."
Mr Mak said that currently, the average rental yield for private homes in Singapore hovers between 1.8 per cent and 2.2 per cent.
Some analysts said that prices in the resale market are catching up with prices of units in new launches. For the whole year, they said that prices of resale private properties could go up by as much as 8 per cent, barring any additional cooling measures.
Some analysts added that the total units of resale private homes sold in 2013 should be comparable to the 15,136 transacted last year.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
By Wong Siew Ying
POSTED: 31 May 2013 12:04 AM
Market watchers say the private resale property market is seeing a gradual recovery after a drop in transaction volume in the first quarter this year following the introduction of cooling measures in January.
SINGAPORE: Market watchers have said the private resale property market is seeing a gradual recovery after a drop in transaction volume in the first quarter this year following the introduction of cooling measures in January.
Based on preliminary estimates, some analysts said sales could potentially double in the second quarter compared to the first quarter.
New private homes may continue to pull in the buyers, but some analysts said the resale private property market is also picking up.
Real estate agency PropNex said it has seen resale transaction volume jump 20 per cent in April and May.
Enquiries and turnout at viewings of resale units have also improved, largely because buyers believe resale properties offer better value and comparable rental yield.
Mohamed Ismail, CEO of PropNex, said: "Sky Habitat at Bishan... is S$1,600 psf (per square foot). Bishan 8, opposite, goes at S$1,100. In other words, when you buy a resale unit, you are going to pay lower per square foot... absolute quantum is going to be lower, which means you pay lesser ABSD (additional buyer's stamp duty) to the government."
SLP International Property Consultants estimates that some 3,600 to 4,300 units of both completed and uncompleted units in the resale market could change hands in the second quarter.
This is up from about 2,200 units sold in the previous quarter.
Based on caveats lodged, analysts said that about 3,500 resale units have been transacted from January to early May this year.
About two-thirds of them are "family-sized" units above 100 square metres.
They added that the resale property market is likely to see a sustainable recovery, but there are potential risks as well.
Nicholas Mak, executive director of SLP International Property Consultants, said: "If prices continue to increase and rental yields continue to be compressed, one of the risks is that if interest rates were to increase this year or next year, we could see that this would actually discourage investors, because if rental yield is compressed to such a low level, any increase in interest rates would make that investment property less attractive."
Mr Mak said that currently, the average rental yield for private homes in Singapore hovers between 1.8 per cent and 2.2 per cent.
Some analysts said that prices in the resale market are catching up with prices of units in new launches. For the whole year, they said that prices of resale private properties could go up by as much as 8 per cent, barring any additional cooling measures.
Some analysts added that the total units of resale private homes sold in 2013 should be comparable to the 15,136 transacted last year.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
MDA clears air over licensing framework for news websites
MDA clears air over licensing framework for news websites
POSTED: 31 May 2013 5:41 PM
This comes a day after a joint statement released by writers who provide sociopolitical news and analysis online, voicing concerns over an individual licensing framework recently introduced by the MDA.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) has come out to clear the air over the recent changes to the licensing framework for news websites.
This comes a day after a joint statement released by writers who provide sociopolitical news and analysis online, voicing concerns over an individual licensing framework recently introduced by the MDA.
The writers said they are concerned about whether the new requirement will impact Singaporeans' ability to receive a diverse spread of news-related information.
In a Facebook post on Friday, MDA said the licensing framework only applies to sites that focus on reporting Singapore news and are notified by MDA that they meet the licensing criteria.
MDA clarified that an individual publishing views on current affairs and trends on his/her personal website or blog does not amount to news reporting.
MDA also stressed that the framework is not an attempt to influence the editorial slant of news sites.
MDA added that there is no change to the content standards for these news sites.
MDA said currently these sites already have to observe content guidelines under the Class Licence.
This means that the sites are required to make best efforts to keep their sites free of harmful contents which are against public interest, public morality, public order, public security and national harmony.
These Class Licensing guidelines will continue to apply under the individual licence.
As for MDA's content guidelines, these are focused on core content concerns that would threaten the social fabric and national interests of Singapore.
Some examples include content that incites racial or religious hatred; misleads and causes mass panic; or advocates or promotes violence.
MDA clarified that it will only step in when complaints are raised to its attention. It would assess if the content is in breach of the content guidelines and merits action by the website owner.
As for take-down requests, MDA said these are not common. In the past two years, MDA has only issued one take-down notice for the "Innocence of Muslims" video.
On the issue of the performance bond of S$50,000, MDA said this is pegged to that put up by niche broadcasters currently.
MDA stressed that this need not necessarily entail cash upfront.
MDA added that licensees can consider options such as banker's guarantee or insurance.
In concluding the post, MDA said it would be happy to engage in further discussions with any licensee who may have concerns about meeting the licence obligations.
On Friday evening, the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) issued a statement on its Facebook page that Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Lina Chiam has filed an adjournment motion to speak on the new media licensing rules at the next Parliament sitting.
This is subject to confirmation by the Parliament Secretariat.
In its statement, SPP said it views MDA's latest licensing regime for websites with grave concern.
- CNA/ir/fa
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 31 May 2013 5:41 PM
This comes a day after a joint statement released by writers who provide sociopolitical news and analysis online, voicing concerns over an individual licensing framework recently introduced by the MDA.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) has come out to clear the air over the recent changes to the licensing framework for news websites.
This comes a day after a joint statement released by writers who provide sociopolitical news and analysis online, voicing concerns over an individual licensing framework recently introduced by the MDA.
The writers said they are concerned about whether the new requirement will impact Singaporeans' ability to receive a diverse spread of news-related information.
In a Facebook post on Friday, MDA said the licensing framework only applies to sites that focus on reporting Singapore news and are notified by MDA that they meet the licensing criteria.
MDA clarified that an individual publishing views on current affairs and trends on his/her personal website or blog does not amount to news reporting.
MDA also stressed that the framework is not an attempt to influence the editorial slant of news sites.
MDA added that there is no change to the content standards for these news sites.
MDA said currently these sites already have to observe content guidelines under the Class Licence.
This means that the sites are required to make best efforts to keep their sites free of harmful contents which are against public interest, public morality, public order, public security and national harmony.
These Class Licensing guidelines will continue to apply under the individual licence.
As for MDA's content guidelines, these are focused on core content concerns that would threaten the social fabric and national interests of Singapore.
Some examples include content that incites racial or religious hatred; misleads and causes mass panic; or advocates or promotes violence.
MDA clarified that it will only step in when complaints are raised to its attention. It would assess if the content is in breach of the content guidelines and merits action by the website owner.
As for take-down requests, MDA said these are not common. In the past two years, MDA has only issued one take-down notice for the "Innocence of Muslims" video.
On the issue of the performance bond of S$50,000, MDA said this is pegged to that put up by niche broadcasters currently.
MDA stressed that this need not necessarily entail cash upfront.
MDA added that licensees can consider options such as banker's guarantee or insurance.
In concluding the post, MDA said it would be happy to engage in further discussions with any licensee who may have concerns about meeting the licence obligations.
On Friday evening, the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) issued a statement on its Facebook page that Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Lina Chiam has filed an adjournment motion to speak on the new media licensing rules at the next Parliament sitting.
This is subject to confirmation by the Parliament Secretariat.
In its statement, SPP said it views MDA's latest licensing regime for websites with grave concern.
- CNA/ir/fa
- wong chee tat :)
China trying new form of Internet censorship: campaign group
China trying new form of Internet censorship: campaign group
POSTED: 01 Jun 2013 9:52 PM
China is experimenting with more subtle methods to censor Internet search results ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to a group that monitors blocked websites in the country.
BEIJING: China is experimenting with more subtle methods to censor Internet search results ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to a group that monitors blocked websites in the country.
In the past, a search for keywords in China related to the events of June 4, 1989, came up with an explicit message saying: "According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, search results for (the blocked keyword) cannot be displayed."
But GreatFire.org said in the lead up to the anniversary certain searches, such as "June 4 incident", had been intermittently returning a series of "carefully selected results", though it was impossible to click through to the actual webpages.
The organisation said this was an example of "censorship at its worst", with users duped into believing the keyword they were searching for was not a sensitive topic.
Troops killed hundreds of protesters during the pro-democracy protests in Beijing, but GreatFire.org said searches for "Tiananmen incident" returned links to an unrelated happening in the square from 1976.
It said the changes were not applied consistently, concluding that the authorities were conducting tests to improve their control systems.
The Internet in China is purged of politically sensitive websites and Beijing closely monitors the hundreds of millions of web users to prevent organised dissent. Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are banned.
The system of online censorship is dubbed the "Great Firewall", a term combining the words "Great Wall" and computer "firewall".
- AFP/sb
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 01 Jun 2013 9:52 PM
China is experimenting with more subtle methods to censor Internet search results ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to a group that monitors blocked websites in the country.
BEIJING: China is experimenting with more subtle methods to censor Internet search results ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to a group that monitors blocked websites in the country.
In the past, a search for keywords in China related to the events of June 4, 1989, came up with an explicit message saying: "According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, search results for (the blocked keyword) cannot be displayed."
But GreatFire.org said in the lead up to the anniversary certain searches, such as "June 4 incident", had been intermittently returning a series of "carefully selected results", though it was impossible to click through to the actual webpages.
The organisation said this was an example of "censorship at its worst", with users duped into believing the keyword they were searching for was not a sensitive topic.
Troops killed hundreds of protesters during the pro-democracy protests in Beijing, but GreatFire.org said searches for "Tiananmen incident" returned links to an unrelated happening in the square from 1976.
It said the changes were not applied consistently, concluding that the authorities were conducting tests to improve their control systems.
The Internet in China is purged of politically sensitive websites and Beijing closely monitors the hundreds of millions of web users to prevent organised dissent. Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are banned.
The system of online censorship is dubbed the "Great Firewall", a term combining the words "Great Wall" and computer "firewall".
- AFP/sb
- wong chee tat :)
Commercial site in CBD up for sale by tender
Commercial site in CBD up for sale by tender
POSTED: 31 May 2013 10:14 PM
An unknown developer has committed to bid at least S$623.7 million in the tender for the site at Cecil Street/Telok Ayer Street.
SINGAPORE: In about two weeks, developers can start bidding for the site at Cecil Street/Telok Ayer Street.
The sale for the reserve site was triggered after an unknown developer has committed to bid at least S$623.7 million in the tender.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said the land parcel spans 7,600 square metres.
It has a maximum permissible gross floor area of 77,000 square metres and can be developed into a building with up to 50 storeys.
Eighty per cent of the space can be allocated for offices and the remaining 20 per cent for retail.
Nicholas Mak, Research Head of SLP International said: "Since the government had not put up any commercial site in the financial district on the Confirmed List since 2011, the tender of this site is likely to attract much attention from major developers.
"However, the restriction to disallow strata-subdivision of the development will limit the bidders to those who have deep pockets and those who plan to eventually divest the whole development to a REIT or property trust. Major developers who are sponsors of REITs could also be interested in this site."
Mr Mak expects five to 10 bidders for the site, with a winning bid of between S$760 million and S$830 million. This works out to S$915 to S$1,000 per square foot per plot ratio.
URA said the development cannot be sub-divided and sold to individual investors as strata-titled property.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 31 May 2013 10:14 PM
An unknown developer has committed to bid at least S$623.7 million in the tender for the site at Cecil Street/Telok Ayer Street.
SINGAPORE: In about two weeks, developers can start bidding for the site at Cecil Street/Telok Ayer Street.
The sale for the reserve site was triggered after an unknown developer has committed to bid at least S$623.7 million in the tender.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said the land parcel spans 7,600 square metres.
It has a maximum permissible gross floor area of 77,000 square metres and can be developed into a building with up to 50 storeys.
Eighty per cent of the space can be allocated for offices and the remaining 20 per cent for retail.
Nicholas Mak, Research Head of SLP International said: "Since the government had not put up any commercial site in the financial district on the Confirmed List since 2011, the tender of this site is likely to attract much attention from major developers.
"However, the restriction to disallow strata-subdivision of the development will limit the bidders to those who have deep pockets and those who plan to eventually divest the whole development to a REIT or property trust. Major developers who are sponsors of REITs could also be interested in this site."
Mr Mak expects five to 10 bidders for the site, with a winning bid of between S$760 million and S$830 million. This works out to S$915 to S$1,000 per square foot per plot ratio.
URA said the development cannot be sub-divided and sold to individual investors as strata-titled property.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Group of bloggers to protest against new MDA licensing framework
Group of bloggers to protest against new MDA licensing framework
By Teo Chia Leen
POSTED: 01 Jun 2013 9:32 PM
A group of bloggers said they will be organising a protest next week against the new licensing requirements imposed by the Media Development Authority on certain websites.
SINGAPORE: A group of bloggers said they will be organising a protest next week against the new licensing requirements imposed by the Media Development Authority on certain websites.
In a statement, the bloggers said the protest will take place on June 8, at the Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park, at 4pm.
They have also organised a petition to call for the Ministry of Communications and Information to withdraw the licensing regime completely.
Beginning on Saturday, online news sites with a significant reach will be subjected to a bond of S$50,000, and will have to comply within 24 hours to MDA's direction to remove content found to breach content standards.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Teo Chia Leen
POSTED: 01 Jun 2013 9:32 PM
A group of bloggers said they will be organising a protest next week against the new licensing requirements imposed by the Media Development Authority on certain websites.
SINGAPORE: A group of bloggers said they will be organising a protest next week against the new licensing requirements imposed by the Media Development Authority on certain websites.
In a statement, the bloggers said the protest will take place on June 8, at the Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park, at 4pm.
They have also organised a petition to call for the Ministry of Communications and Information to withdraw the licensing regime completely.
Beginning on Saturday, online news sites with a significant reach will be subjected to a bond of S$50,000, and will have to comply within 24 hours to MDA's direction to remove content found to breach content standards.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Online retailers confident of brisk sales during GSS
Online retailers confident of brisk sales during GSS
By Vimita Mohandas
POSTED: 01 Jun 2013 8:15 PM
The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) runs from May 31 to July 28, and already some online retailers are gearing up to give their brick-and-mortar counterparts a run for their money.
SINGAPORE: Retail store tracyeinny in Bishan Junction 8, which started out as an online platform in 2007, expects business to be brisk during the upcoming two-month-long Great Singapore Sale.
In fact, the company expects online sales to increase by as much as 300 per cent, compared to the previous year -- and it is banking on social media.
Jeannie Pang, director of tracyeinny, said: "We use social media platforms to inform customers of the design of the products that are coming out. We do it the week before. We use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, so there's kind of an anticipation for the product. And as per every year, we are going to have 50 per cent off storewide sales which will run for two weeks during the GSS period."
Another blogshop, Mich Sara Online Boutique, expects a 40 per cent rise in sales. It will also have storewide flash sales, voucher giveaways, as well as private sales for those on its mailing list.
Both stores said the advantage of shopping online is that it is fuss-free, without having to jostle with the crowds. Besides its prices being generally lower, shoppers can browse hundreds of designs and make their purchases with the convenience of just a click of their finger.
However, profits do not naturally come easy for online stores -- those we spoke with said some budding entrepreneurs have the misconception that e-commerce equates to easy money.
Ms Pang said: "You set up a site, you stock up your database with products, you have a good shopping cart and payment options and boom you start an online store and you think you will generate a lot of sales.
"For customers to want to go into your site, they must click it and they must want to enter and its very different from foot customers -- like when you go to a mall or cafe and you walk past a store, you like the item in that store and you walk in. But online customers, you have to get the customers to want to go to your site, to visit your site."
The Orchard Road Business Association said physical stores should offer more personalised services to maintain their competitive edge.
Steven Goh, executive director of the Orchard Road Business Association, said: "A physical shop will offer the touch and feel. I think the shop assistant could offer style services like consultancy and advise on how to match the colour, and try different kind of outfits to suit the particular image.
"I think that can be differentiated from the online shopping, which is basically me and the computer screen."
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Vimita Mohandas
POSTED: 01 Jun 2013 8:15 PM
The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) runs from May 31 to July 28, and already some online retailers are gearing up to give their brick-and-mortar counterparts a run for their money.
SINGAPORE: Retail store tracyeinny in Bishan Junction 8, which started out as an online platform in 2007, expects business to be brisk during the upcoming two-month-long Great Singapore Sale.
In fact, the company expects online sales to increase by as much as 300 per cent, compared to the previous year -- and it is banking on social media.
Jeannie Pang, director of tracyeinny, said: "We use social media platforms to inform customers of the design of the products that are coming out. We do it the week before. We use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, so there's kind of an anticipation for the product. And as per every year, we are going to have 50 per cent off storewide sales which will run for two weeks during the GSS period."
Another blogshop, Mich Sara Online Boutique, expects a 40 per cent rise in sales. It will also have storewide flash sales, voucher giveaways, as well as private sales for those on its mailing list.
Both stores said the advantage of shopping online is that it is fuss-free, without having to jostle with the crowds. Besides its prices being generally lower, shoppers can browse hundreds of designs and make their purchases with the convenience of just a click of their finger.
However, profits do not naturally come easy for online stores -- those we spoke with said some budding entrepreneurs have the misconception that e-commerce equates to easy money.
Ms Pang said: "You set up a site, you stock up your database with products, you have a good shopping cart and payment options and boom you start an online store and you think you will generate a lot of sales.
"For customers to want to go into your site, they must click it and they must want to enter and its very different from foot customers -- like when you go to a mall or cafe and you walk past a store, you like the item in that store and you walk in. But online customers, you have to get the customers to want to go to your site, to visit your site."
The Orchard Road Business Association said physical stores should offer more personalised services to maintain their competitive edge.
Steven Goh, executive director of the Orchard Road Business Association, said: "A physical shop will offer the touch and feel. I think the shop assistant could offer style services like consultancy and advise on how to match the colour, and try different kind of outfits to suit the particular image.
"I think that can be differentiated from the online shopping, which is basically me and the computer screen."
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
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