Furniture and homeware shopping get interesting

Chillax Market
200 Turf Club Road, The Grandstand
#03-07
Opening in October. 9am to 8pm daily

New happenings are abuzzing at The Grandstand. The former Turf City is known among foodies for its dining options that include Pasarbella and TungLok Xihe Peking Duck Restaurant, while parents know it as the place to keep their little ones busy over the weekend.

Now, add shopping for homeware to the list of things to do at The Grandstand. Chillax Market, touted as Singapore's first permanent indoor retail market, will open its doors in the first two weeks of October.

Spanning 6,900 sq feet, Chillax Market will house 30 tenants, including an art gallery, nail bar, hair salon and cafe.

Some of its homeware tenants include Modern Eclectic Living, a vintage-inspired furniture store; Gezel Home Accessories, which retails rustic European-inspired home accessories such as cushions, baskets, and candle stands that are handmade in Vietnam; and Bowerbird, which sells Fair Trade Certified ceramic wares handmade by Vietnamese artisans.

Chillax Market began in 2012 as a quarterly pop-up outdoor market outside Tanglin Shopping Centre.

Two years on, its co-founder Nana Stuurman decided to find it a permanent space. She notes that the challenge for many startups and small business owners is the difficulty of scaling without taking on substantial risks and long term commitments.

"High rental, tightened manpower requirements, competition from large chains and franchises - these are huge deterrents that prevent small businesses from growing," she says.

"By working collaboratively with a pool of other small businesses, tenants get to have a permanent physical space without the risks of overheads they would otherwise be unable to afford."

She adds that being housed under one roof, tenants can leverage on each other's promotional efforts.

"Being part of the Chillax Market community also offers the different tenants an ecosystem of support that has synergy rather than be competitive," she says.

The space, designed by Singapore-based British firm Elliott James, is styled with a country European feel, taking inspiration from London's Portobello Market and Paris' Les Puces de Saint-Ouen.

Tenants pay a monthly rental fee for a designated space, and their sole focus is on their products, as the management takes care of the operational side of things such as renovations, electricity, staffing and marketing.

Tenant selection is based not only on the type of products each vendor carries to suit Chillax Market's vibe and positioning, but also on whether their products are unique, trendy, practical, well-priced and well-made.

"We want to offer customers a retail experience unlike any they've ever had," says Ms Stuurman.

While each tenant will have their individual shop fronts a la outdoor European markets, paying for the goods will be done at a central till, so customers can pick out items from different vendors and make payment only once when they are done.

Ms Stuurman says it is a win-win situation for Chillax Market to be at The Grandstand.

"This place is a great lifestyle destination that is outside the central shopping belt yet still reasonably accessible. The food and beverage scene within the area draws in a good crowd and we feel that the entry of Chillax Market will add to the vibrancy of The Grandstand," she says.

Modern Electic Living's founder Jane Warner says that Chillax Market provides an exciting opportunity for her to showcase the brand's new collections in an inspirational industrial style space.

"This atmosphere will be further enhanced by our new Eclectic cafe, flower bar and art gallery, engaging customers in a new multi-sensory showroom experience," says Ms Warner.

"Far more than a static display of furniture, customers will get to have lunch or coffee whilst enjoying the art, floral displays, and furniture amidst 2,000 sq ft of 'living' space."

StyloDeco
www.stylodeco.com

French national Helene Denaiffe has always been passionate about home decoration. And when she moved to Singapore from Paris three years ago, she realised that some of her favourite home decor brands in Europe were not available here.

"What was available here, however, cost so much more," she says.

"After studying the market and speaking with friends from different nationalities and ages, I saw a demand for design-centric home decor at affordable prices. My friends say they would all love to shop at such a store."

After spending some time doing marketing and public relations for a food and beverage company, Ms Denaiffe finally struck out on her own. The online store, StyloDeco, goes live on Saturday. Its name was inspired by the Singaporean phrase 'stylo milo' meaning stylish.

For StyloDeco, Ms Denaiffe distributes Danish brands House Doctor, Bloomingville and Broste, alongside Objekto and Bazaroide from France as well as Dutch label Malagoon.

Her online shop features a wide range of products from baskets, bowls, kitchen towels, tea lights, lanterns and cushions.

Prices range from S$3 for a candle, from S$12 for tealights to S$1,475 for the outdoor version of the Paulistano Chair, which is available on pre-order only. "Most of the items are priced from S$12 to S$45," says Ms Denaiffe.

She is also the exclusive distributor for Les Glaces cement tiles by French designer Marylene Tortora. On each tile, Tortora has engraved an iconic piece of furniture from renowned designers. These cost S$130 each.

Most of her suppliers are based in Europe, while she has some in South-east Asia.

"I select accessories based on their design-centric look and feel, their good quality, as well as, and this is essential, their affordable price," she says. "Overall, my style is casual yet elegant."

Apart from retailing the items, Ms Denaiffe also tries to make it easy for homeowners to find what they want.

"It can be time-consuming to decorate your home, especially if you are trying not to spend too much," she says.

Typically, one would buy an item here, and another item there. "I've decided to create Deco Packages for clients to save time and money."

Under Deco Packages, she mixes and matches home accessories into packages and categorises them by colour or style so clients can shop for all the accessories they need in double quick time. A Deco Package combines at least three items and cost from S$31.50.

Her other exclusive offering is the Deco Hamper, categorised by themes, such as origami, black and white, or for babies.

"Hampers are original gifts designed for special occasions, such housewarming parties, birthdays, or even baby showers," says Ms Denaiffe.

"We all know about flowers and food hampers and I'm happy to innovate with Deco Hampers." A hamper also costs from S$31.50.

Ms Denaiffe says she will grow StyloDeco online first, as well as actively spread the word at public fairs and hold pop-up stores.

"In the future, if I am in line with my financial target, I will consider opportunities of development for the brand, including a physical store," she says.

Cluster-cluster.com

Engaged couple Tiffany Tan and Gordon Steel had so much fun furnishing their new apartment together, that they decided to start their own store.

"The search for furniture and decor pieces was one of the inspirations behind Cluster-Cluster.com," says Mr Steel, the company's business development director.

While shopping for furniture, Cluster-Cluster.com's founder and creative director Ms Tan noticed a "big gap for what people want and are looking at online, and what they actually find in the market within their budget".

"We see trends and what is cool on platforms like Fab.com or lifestyle magazines, but can never really achieve that look without spending a great deal, or dedicating a lot of time into research. We wanted to bridge that gap and be a solution for consumers in that situation."

The couple, who are getting married next year, launched their e-shop last month. The cutesy name, Ms Tan says, came about because they offer a cluster of products, and the couple love to cluster together at home with friends and family.

Cluster-Cluster.com specialises in products "for spaces in between the big ones", says Ms Tan.

There are home accessories such as wallpaper, pillows and rugs, to lighting and tableware, to small furniture pieces like chairs and side/coffee tables.

A pillow costs from S$25, hanging lights start from S$35, while a wire chair is S$160. Cluster-Cluster.com also stocks a collection of dining sets from S$35, or a four-piece tea cup set for S$40.

Ms Tan says: "We didn't want to alienate anyone by being too obscure or stocking expensive designer pieces. So the big challenge we faced was finding stylish products that are not only affordable but accessible for all."

Some of the more unusual stuff that Cluster-Cluster.com retails include the Organ Lounger, a flexible lounge seater made from recycled paper, which can be bent into different shapes to fit spaces small and large. It goes for S$600.

The quirky How Low Can You Go Table, priced at S$250, is designed retro-style, with two wheels on one end. It can be rolled around as needed or placed against the wall to double as a side console.

A network of contacts, from suppliers to manufacturers, are constantly directing new potential products towards them, so there is never a shortage of great items on their website, says Mr Steel.

"Our search for new pieces is endless and it really is an everyday affair," he adds.

"Currently all our products are curated and sourced by the team from all over the world." The couple are not ruling out creating their own brand of items in the future.

Despite being launched about a month ago, the couple are encouraged that they have been getting sales everyday. Popular buys include lights, home accessories and dining ware.

"We do sell our furniture, but when it comes to something so prominent in your space, we know the thinking process takes a little longer," says Ms Tan.

By keeping the store online, the couple can keep the furniture prices low. They did however, hold one pop-up sales event at their warehouse which went down well with customers.

"It was a great way to connect with customers, and get immediate feedback on what they like and didn't like about the products," says Ms Tan.

Cluster-Cluster.com will be launching new collections every quarter. The site will also introduce a collection for children and pets soon.

The Sandalwood Room
76 Prinsep Street
Open Mon to Fri, 11am to 8pm; Sat, 11am to 2pm; closed on Sun

Fans of ethnic homeware items would get a kick out of The Sandalwood Room. The two-month-old store stocks a lavish inventory from India, and as far as Turkey and Syria.

Handmade patchwork quilts, colourful porcelain chinaware, serving trays and coasters catch the eye, along with jewellery and apparel.

The Sandalwood Room is founded by Jayashrree Mani, who runs a successful machinery company in India.

"I like beautiful things, and want to share them with others," says Ms Mani.

To help her source, she roped in Mathangi Srinivasamurti, a 15-year veteran in the retail industry, who also has her own fashion boutique cum cafe in Chennai.

"I get a good number of expatriates, including Singaporeans and Koreans who come to the shop, so I am aware what shoppers here in Singapore would like," says Ms Srinivasamurti. She works with about 10 designers from India to create items for The Sandalwood Room.

About 95 per cent of the homeware items are handmade.

"There is nothing mass produced, as we work with artisans from the cottage industry," says Ms Mani. For example, designs for organic cotton patchwork quilts are block printed using vegetable dyes. Some table runners are hand crotcheted, while the porcelain wares have traditional motifs on them.

"We are not a handicraft store. Our products are made using traditional methods, but they come with a contemporary design" says Ms Mani.

Wooden bowls cost from S$65 while a porcelain teapot set costs S$240.

Ms Mani says she chose to house her store in a restored historic shophouse, because "it has more charm than, say, a mall. In India, such shops are in old houses, and I wanted to recreate that feel."

To add to the ethnic feel, Ms Mani has brought in a few antique wooden doors to deck out the space, as well as an old swing with elephant figurines hung from the ceiling which is the centrepiece in the store, which doubles as the cash counter.

"The doors and swing are not for sale, but I can take orders for them," she says.

Arete Culture
63 Hillview Avenue,
Lam Soon Building, #09-08
Opens from Sept 17. Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 5pm; and every first Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm.
All other times by appointment only by calling 9878-8154

Caroline Chin Geyler has the ability to give homes a new look in double quick time, and she wants customers to be able to do the same for themselves too.

Ms Geyler started Arete Culture two years ago as an interior styling service. Her forte lies in speedy makeovers, "so instead of renovations that can take a long time to complete and can be inconvenient, I offer makeover services that can be completed within a few hours," she says.

On Wednesday, she will be extending her range of services, but opening up a retail store, housed in a converted warehouse space.

"Hopefully, the store's unpretentious setting will allow customers to feel at home when shopping," she says.

She adds that the idea for the store came about organically, as "I feel Singapore lacks a one-stop shop where customers can find a range of soft furnishings for their home." Most times, she feels that customers have to travel around the island to find what they want.

At the store, there are a whopping 2,000 items to choose from, from rugs, cushions, and artworks to lamps, mirrors and table centrepieces.

To make it easy for shoppers to find what they need, products are organised by colour and staff will be around to give decorating advice. Ms Geyler previously worked in sales and marketing but has been doing interior styling for the last five years.

Her interest in homewares started early as a child, but it was only when she began travelling as an adult that she began a career in home interiors.

The products are a result of her buying trips to Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

"There are also more exclusive, one-off pieces that I get from Turkey and Europe," she says.

The store has its own in-house line, called The Luxe Hotel Collection. Details is the key word for this collection, so think hand-woven detailing, natural fibres, and mother of pearl inlays.

Products are restocked every two weeks, prices range from S$20 for mother of pearl table accessories to S$700 for large handmade mirrors.

Many of the items in The Luxe Hotel Collection are customisable. For example, lampshades can be customised in different colours and shapes, along with cushion covers. "We can also do bespoke hand-embroidered duvets, ottomans and chaise lounges, in different fabrics," says Ms Geyler.

To complement the in-house collection, Arete Culture also carries a selection of leading industry brands. For example, it is the exclusive retailer for Sleep Naked, a luxury bed linen label that supplies to five star hotels around the world.

Also on sale are hand-poured soy candles by The Soi Company, and hand-cast resin products from Thailand's DXI Living.

While homeowners can fill their homes with items from her store, Ms Geyler is also keen to share her decorating tips.

"I'll be holding quarterly workshops to empower shoppers with interior styling knowledge," she says.

Teapot & Giraffe
5 Purvis Street,
#01-03
By appointment only, call 6336-7002

The name Teapot & Giraffe sounds like a hipster cafe, but not quite. Instead, it is the retail arm of interior design firm, Terre Design, founded by Terence Chan.

Mr Chan recently moved his office to a ground floor unit in a shophouse, and took the opportunity to convert part of the space into a gallery and retail space.

On the walls are artworks from Mr Chan's personal collection, while the floor is filled with designer furniture pieces that also belong to him.

"If anyone is interested in the artworks or the furniture, I direct them to either the art gallery or to the furniture store," he says.

What's on sale instead is a range of home accessories, which Mr Chan usually designs for his clients. These include trays, tissue boxes, storage boxes and stainless steel frames, which double as desktop floral planters.

"I'm often tasked to source for items to complement a client's home, and most of what I like cannot be found in the shops," he says. "Hence, most of the accessories are specially designed and made."

The pieces are all produced in Singapore, and Mr Chan says: "Because of this, they can be somewhat pricey. But our clients know the standard of our work, so they don't mind paying."

For example, a stainless steel tray which can work for both serving or display costs from S$140, a tissue box costs S$170, while frames go for S$350.

A series of stackable wooden boxes, which Mr Chan nicknames the Wedding Cake series, cost from S$100 each.

"The boxes are great, even for the festive period, such as for storing snacks during Chinese New Year," says Mr Chan.

"They don't come in red, which means they can be used all year round." As with Mr Chan's interior projects, the style of these accessories have clean lines, and are elegant with little fuss.

Mr Chan prefers working with a local manufacturer because "the pieces are produced in small quantities, and there is better quality control".

He plans to expand the range to include glassware and porcelain pieces. "But it all depends on whether I can find the right manufacturer to collaborate with," he says.

While Teapot & Giraffe targets Terre Design's clients, Mr Chan welcomes walk-in customers too.

"There are a few neighbouring furniture stores, so we will get some people who are curious to see what we have and pop into the store," he says.

taysc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Sept 13, 2014.
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