With the end of the university exam period, internship season is here again, and while some have already embarked on their internship journey, many are now in the midst of preparing for, or applying to various companies for opportunities.

As compared to taking up part-time jobs during the term breaks, internships are fast becoming a common option for undergrads, mostly because of how they're great opportunities for getting an insight into working life.

A while back, we asked startup founders about what they felt about internships and interns, so now, we find out the other side of the story.

Deborah, 22

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

I'm still considering if I should be doing an internship - because I feel like I need a break haha!

And I want to spend time with family.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes! It was a good experience. I learnt a lot about the industry and gained new skills.

I also had very good colleagues who were pleasant to work with.

It definitely exposed me to how a company functioned, and what to expect.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

To learn more about the industry I work in.

To gain experience so I can better understand if this is the job for me.

It would be good to gain some technical skills too, like learn new software or hardware, and possibly gain skills in knowing how to carry yourself, how to deal with clients, and so on.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

I would tell them to check in with interns occasionally to make sure that they learn something or get something out of the internship.

Also, let them try out all sorts of things, even if it's something menial (for all you know, they might enjoy it).

After all, the internship is a chance for students to gain work experience and learn all that they can within a few months.

Yeo Khee, 24

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes I am!

My passion is in digital marketing, advertising, and branding.

I always thought it was interesting how similar products can be priced so differently and consumers still buy them!

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

I had two internship experiences and the recent one with DiscoverSG was pretty good.

The environment and culture are awesome, and the people are even better!

They had great team-spirit as they are always helping one another.

The team was also really open to new ideas and don't mind sharing their knowledge and experience.

It was fulfilling as when I left, I knew I made friendships that can last a really long time.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

Growth is the key aspect for me when it comes to an internship.

I aim to improve not just in soft skills but also develop an expertise in areas such as digital marketing, social media outreach, and creating marketing plans.

Hope my employer will be someone that is approachable and also willing to share and provide feedback throughout the journey!

What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

There are many talented and passionate undergraduates out there, especially in the marketing industry.

I hope that GPA is not the top priority in the decision criteria of hiring an intern!

Most of the things we learn in school are not going to be relevant and the ability to study does not equate to passion or creativity.

Dennis, 24

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes, I have been on the lookout for an internship since early-March and thankfully, I have managed to secure one which falls under the scope of the real estate industry.

I am particularly keen on this industry because of my fascination with real estate investment trusts (REITs) as a form of income-investing vehicle.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes, I have had a few previous internships.

The experience varies, and I guess it is really dependent on the culture of the company itself.

On one hand, internships with bigger, or government-related corporations might be a little more structured, and on the other hand, internships with start-ups might be more flexible in terms of the job scope as well as the working environment.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

On the top of my wish list for an internship will be the relevance of acquired knowledge.

I feel that it is much more rewarding to see how theoretical knowledge is being played out in the real industry itself.

As for the type of employer, the internship will definitely be more enjoyable if the employer is more nurturing and willing to involve the intern in not just superficial aspects.

What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

Even though summer internships might have a relatively short duration of about only 3 months, it is still good to 'assign' interns a key project which they can deliver during the internship.

In that way, interns have something that they can work on, and towards to during their stay.

Marie, 22

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

I'm doing an internship now!

I do not have any idea of what job scope I want but when I search for an internship, I do know what industry I want to be in.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes, I have interned before.

Previously I interned at an events company, it was fun!

I was able to gain exposure and understand how that industry truly works.

It allowed me to test out if that's the industry I want to be in in the near future.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

Hmm, when I take up this internship, I would want to gain exposure, experience, and understand how the industry works.

Apart from that, I hope to gain some soft skills that would be transferable, regardless of what other jobs I do.

I would want the 'modern' kind of employer, where they would take your suggestions and let you be part of the team, rather than those traditional employers where they are pretty bossy, and you will have to follow their instructions with no room for suggestions.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

I would say, millennials are not as weak as what the news often label us.

Give them a chance, and let them have a voice.

Be open to suggestions (you may direct them to do stuff, but just find a good balance).

Don't judge them so quickly and allow them to perform.

If employers are willing to groom them, they will blossom eventually.

Claren, 21

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes. I will definitely look more into the industry associated to my field of study to be able to comprehend and experience a lifestyle I'll most likely be adapting to after graduation.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes I have.

It was a amazing experience as it was able to equip me with real life experiences and techniques to survive in the working world.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

As far as skills go, I'd incline more towards interpersonal relationships and adaptability to surroundings.

Employer-wise, I'd prefer an employer who has good understanding of the culture and mission of the organisation so that they will able to assign work fairly and efficiently.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

Interns are here to learn as well as help out as much as they can.

Give them a chance to experience and learn real life problems, and give them a conducive working environment.

Sue Mae, 22

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

What I look for in an internship is firstly the company itself - what they do, and how the (few) people I manage to meet and interact with during the application and interview are.

But what's more important is the role that they offer - what I'll be involved in, whether there is an opportunity for learning, and whether it is relevant to what I want to be doing in the future.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes I have.

My experience was fantastic and really fulfilling because I didn't really feel like I was "just an intern" because I was involved in so many aspects!

I guess this was because my employers really made an effort to involve me and get my input on things.

I really liked the company culture and my colleagues as well.

I think I was lucky though, because I have friends that really didn't enjoy their internships.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

I'd like an internship where I have opportunities to learn, explore, and be tasked with more responsibilities.

I would also like to see how my skills and knowledge acquired in university can be put to use in the real world.

An employer that's open-minded and always willing to help or give advice would be great.

Of course, a cool office complete with a well-stocked pantry would be an added bonus!

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

I guess it would be to give interns more responsibility and to listen to their opinions as well because who knows, they might just have a brilliant idea you never thought of.

YunJie, 21

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes I am.

Since I'm currently undertaking a degree in Business with Communications, I'm looking for one that's related to social media and digital marketing.

This opens up room for creativity instead of just the typical mundane office work.

On top of that, as I'm searching for an internship, I'm looking for one which I would want to continue working at after I graduate.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

I have interned back in my poly days and it was a pretty good experience with the friendly colleagues around.

But the work that I had to do was pretty mundane as there was a flow of work which I had to adhere to.

As a customer service executive, I had to deal with different situations throughout the day.

All in all, I would say that it's a good experience, but I realised it isn't something I wanted to do in the future.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

I wish for a boss I can work well with, and would guide me along to familiarise myself with the systems instead of throwing them at me, expecting top-notch work without helping.

It would be great to have an insight of how the industry is like through the internship.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

Do provide the necessary guidance and trust your interns with work as that would definitely give them a boost in confidence.

By doing that, they would want to do their best, knowing that their employers trust them with the work.

Glen, 23

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes. Scope-wise, you must be clear on what you set out to achieve during an internship, but also be open to different job scopes as part of a learning experience.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes, some companies good, some companies bad. Interns actually have a lot of potential and capabilities, but some companies just hire interns for the sake of low wages and administrative work.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

I want to work towards building a Strategic Management Consulting experience, such as creating case models and strategic analysis on client organisations.

This is something I would like to venture into when I graduate.

I also wish for employers to be encouraging, and coach me.

But they should also value results, and push me to go the extra mile and take on more responsibilities.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

Firstly, you should look at how you want to structure your internship programs.

State clearly the job scope that the intern is hired to perform to prevent any confusion and disappointment between the intern and the organisation.

Secondly, conduct a comprehensive interview with the intern, ensuring the requirements you seek meets what he can offer to the organisation.

Lastly, ensure he is adding value to the organisation and himself - interns should feel that they are doing what they like to do without compromising on the value add towards the organisation.

Interns are in the organisation to learn after all, so do teach something relevant that they want to do in the future!

Maybe they will want to convert to full time after the internship ends!

Kee Siang, 25

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes! I am looking for something in management consulting.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Nope, never interned before.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

Skills-wise, the ability to apply theory to actual situations and issues faced by firms in their management issues.

Also, the ability to distill complex problems to be rectified.

Employer-wise, any reputable management consulting firm would do.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

Focus on developing skilled interns to broaden pool of labour in the future.

Cassandra, 23

• Are you looking for an internship during this term break? If yes, do you have an idea of what scope you're looking at? If not, why?

Yes, I am looking for an internship this term break as my course is required to do a 100 hour placement.

I'm looking at marketing field for this internship to get a better understanding of how companies promote themselves, and how they reach out to their target audience.

• Have you interned before? If so, how was your experience?

Yes, I have interned in a big corporation when I was in Poly.

It was my very first time stepping into the working world and it was an eye opening experience for me.

I have learnt a lot - not only technical skills but also interpersonal skills.

• What's on your wish list for an internship?

I want to learn as much as I can.

I'm very willing to try out new fields to upgrade myself.

I'm definitely looking for employers who are willing to give me opportunities to expose myself to different situations so as to learn more skills.

• What's one thing you wish to tell employers who are looking to take on interns?

I wish to tell my employers to be more patient and positive when taking up interns because we are students and we are here to learn, even if we lack experience.

Not Just Saikang Warriors

From the responses, it's clear that these undergrads have greater intentions other than just filling up their time, or getting some pocket money.

Having worked with, and managed interns, I have to admit that more often than not, they bring with them much-needed energy and fresh perspectives - ones that as full-timers, we might be too jaded to come up with.

We wish all interns-to-be the best of luck for internship season!

Vulcan Post is all about living life with a digital edge, up and coming startups, and people who inspire conversations.
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NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing begged this question in his recent blogpost dated on April 25: "Will we be missed if the Labour Movement disappears tomorrow?"

That in itself would serve as a "benchmark" for how well they've performed as a pillar of social cohesion and industrial peace.

To achieve excellence, it is imperative for them to be nimble and responsive to adapt to the rapid, disruptive changes in the job economy.

The idea here is to stay relevant, he emphasised.

The New Normal In The Job Landscape

"Gone are the days when one person would be in one job, or two, for an entire lifetime. Increasingly, working people will experience frequent transitions in their employment lifecycles," wrote Chan.

This all boils down to a mismatch of skills. Beyond that, holding a regular 9-to-5 office job is no longer a norm. With greater employment mobility, skills and training, an individual may be working in a MNC today, a startup tomorrow, and maybe freelance in the near future.

So how can the Labour Movement serve the workers across the continuum of employment options?

"Grow together with our workforce. Fail to evolve, and we would have failed in our mission to take care of the needs of our working people," wrote Chan.

In other words, they have to ensure that their products and services are relevant to the people they represent.

As part of their efforts to adapt, change and grow, the Labour Movement has grown from a "single union limb to five complementary limbs today," akin to a starfish.

Besides representing workers through the unions, NTUC has also launched initiatives to support PMEs (U Associates), SME workers (U SMEs), freelancers and self-employed individuals (U FSEs), as well as migrant workers and domestic employees.

This represents NTUC's growth for the past 10 years, and it is set to continually evolve, "the same way a company can no longer rely on a single product line for the entirety of its existence".

This diversification has enabled the Labour Movement to reach more working people and increase their representation of the workforce, serving about 1.25 million Singaporeans across various worker segments and industries.

Partnering Singaporeans Throughout Their Working Journey

As Singaporeans go through different phases in the their career and life cycles, NTUC wants to be there for them every step of the way.

"What we want is for our working people to develop a relationship with the Labour Movement - from before they begin work, whilst they're working, when they are transitioning between careers, and all the way until they retire," Chan claimed.

Students in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will have access to career guidance, and this is just one of the touchpoints where the U Career Network can tangibly start helping young people get a better job fit before they transit into the workforce.

Training programmes through NTUC's e2i and Learning Hub will also enable workers to bridge skill gaps quicker through new methods that mesh together working, learning and training.

Efforts have been intensified to enable these workers to pick up new knowledge and skills within the shortest speed-to-market turnaround time through working with U Associate partners.

This initiative "adds value" to the workers, especially PMEs, by linking them up with professional and industrial networks that can help them in their career transitions and career development. Essentially, the U Career Network gives workers an opportunity to deepen their skills and widen their professional networks within and across industries.

"It is no longer about just having the capability to operate in a specific industry, it is about having the skills and network to operate in roles across different industries, especially in adjacent ones," wrote Chan.

The focus here is to not just serve the workers' needs today, but "throughout their lifecycles" and across different stages of their careers.

Workers Are A Priority

Essentially, as economic cycles become more volatile and more models of employment become viable options, people tend to go through more changes in their careers. This is why the Labour movement is constantly adapting its services to meet such needs and remain relevant.

One thing to note: while methods may change, the mission of taking care of workers remain constant and will continue to be a top priority.

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Ever since the advent of Uber and Grab, the ride-hailing industry has never been more exciting.

I say 'exciting' as a consumer and observer, however, for many taxi drivers, the presence of these competitors is anything but.

On an Uber trip back home recently, the driver revealed to me that he used to get horned at, and also death glares from taxi drivers who realised he was an Uber driver.

"How did they know you're from Uber? There isn't a decal for that, isn't it?"

"I used to have my phone (used to pick up riders and navigation) placed up on my dashboard - that's how they saw it."

Of course, the taxi drivers who express their frustration in such aggressive ways are just a few of the many, but it's also fully understandable why they feel such animosity to the new kids on the road.

We reached out to 6 local taxi drivers, and found out what they really feel about Uber and Grab.

Responses have been edited for clarity and coherence

Mr Ong

Actually, it was a good idea at first, because they could fill in the demand gaps that the taxis couldn't fulfil. It was an overall increase in the service quality of professional drivers.

But that was until they starting going crazy with the hiring and quantity of their drivers on the road. This resulted in lower business volume…and Comfort Delgro was late to the promo code party.

And the thing is, these part time drivers just seem to have very mediocre driving skills. There's a lot of illegal stopping and dangerous road driving practices…like lane changing and sudden stopping.

Unlike taxi drivers, who have been driving around Singapore for many years, these part time drivers are also very unfamiliar with road, and tend to go against traffic.

Because they follow GPS most of the time, they also drive blindly a lot.

Mdm Fauziah

I don't hate them. When Grab and Uber started, I didn't like the idea of it because it somehow slowed down my business.

Last time in Singapore, there were 3-4 taxi companies, but now there's Uber and Grab too…and it made me worried.

But when Grab and Uber started, the stress and pressure on cab companies did lessen. More cars and vehicles on the road meant more consumer satisfaction…which is good, right?

I'm quite lucky, but now I'm still earning the same amount as compared to last time. The only downside now is that the waiting time for passengers is longer.

But I don't need to work extra hours to cover up, because it's just according to my own time, own target.

Have I considered hopping over to the other side? Of course.

But right now, I feel that Grab and Uber is losing out, and I saw it coming already. Due to low prices and all those incentives given to drivers, they are bound to lose a lot in the long run - that's what I feel.

Mr Loh, 55

I feel that Uber and Grab made me change the following.

First, I changed to cheaper rental taxi, and saved 40 per cent from it.

Next, I changed my work strategy by taking only street flag down, and NOT the booking by call or apps passenger. This method saved 2 hours of work. The increase in productivity also led to better income.

Thirdly, I have more time to rest with family. Almost 40 per cent time saved.

Lastly, I have better mental health due to having more rest.

Overall, I feel better.

Mr Teo, 50s

It's like that lor. Business is affected because a lot of people are taking Grab as compared to cab.

But I think we need to see how we can use Grab to help us as well.

Overall, I am just upset that the [taxi] company isn't helping us more, like by reducing cost of rental or being more flexible with the arrangements.

Mr Tan, Late 40s

If given a choice of a lower fee or cheaper price, a consumer's choice is naturally the lower one.

So to claim that Uber and Grab has no impact on taxi drivers is to lie out loud. To back the claim up with a survey…that is to deny the reality and is ultimately fake.

An allegory - there was a cake and it was shared by taxi companies. Now, there are two rats in the house. Certain shares are gone, taxi drivers got a pay cut and the authorities said it's just normal market forces.

These are the same people who said private taxis are illegal.

Every time a Uber or Grab has a passenger, it's a lost opportunity for the taxi driver.

To prove this, go to One Raffles Quay in the morning to count how many arrive by taxi versus how many by Uber and Grab. With every one Uber and Grab car arriving, the taxi driver has lost an earning opportunity.

Given the numbers of returned taxis to the taxi company, it has been so demoralising to some who have given up taxi driving entirely.

It's no longer worth the effort nor risk to drive anymore.

For others, no choice, as they need to pay bills and they have mouths to feed.

Mr Albert, Late 60s

I didn't have to go through so many checks previously. Now, I'm over 60, and I still need to go get a license every few years to prove that I can drive.

Of course, business is also not as good as before.

And even with an app now, how many know how to use it? If we don't know how to use it, how to get customers and earn money?

Some Very Angry, Some Not As Much

Given that we've only asked 6 out of the thousands of taxi drivers in Singapore, our sample size isn't big enough to capture all the emotions, and the nuances that come with it.

But it's still clear as day that to them, the playing field isn't as levelled as the new policies are trying to convince us.

Are you a taxi driver yourself, or do you know any with opinions about the emergence of Uber and Grab? Let us know!

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Rishabh Singhvi and Varun Saraf moved to Singapore from India in 2008.

The 27-year-olds were fellow coursemates and roommates in Singapore Management University (SMU) back then, both pursuing a degree in Information Systems in Finance.

Upon graduation in 2012, they landed corporate banking jobs in the busy Central Business District (CBD).

Lunchtime at the CBD was often a rather exasperating experience - they faced snaking long queues, and they found it hard to find feasible delivery options on a daily basis.

That's when they decided to make it their goal to help those who face the same problem to find affordable yet tasty options for their daily meals.

"We love hawker food in the [CBD] area and this is when we realised the potential for a low-cost model of food delivery from hawker centres," said Rishabh.

And that's exactly how WhyQ came about: why queue when they can bring Singapore's favourite hawker food to you?

Spreading The Love For Hawker Food

Rishabh and Varun are both self-professed hawker foodies.

Because of their strong passion for Singapore's hawker culture, they wanted WhyQ to be a food delivery service that focuses on bringing local hawker fare to their customers - at a significantly low delivery fee of $1.50 per meal, and with no minimum order.

Their goal is to provide busy individuals an opportunity to enjoy the unique cuisine Singapore has to offer - conveniently, affordably, and quickly.

In February 2014, while juggling their banking jobs, they worked part-time on developing WhyQ; and as part of their R&D efforts, they even conducted a closed beta in the Changi Business Park area.

Two years later, they took the plunge to quit their cushy banking jobs in August 2016 to work on WhyQ full-time, officially launching the service in February this year.

Rishabh admitted that their lack of business knowledge and experience made for a "difficult" transition of running their own startup.

"We had limited experience in starting a business from scratch, and it was, and will, continue to be a steep learning curve. We are still learning the financial, tech, operational, legal and strategic aspects of the business," he added.

The duo "invested a chunk of our [their] personal savings" into the business venture, which helped them bootstrap till end of 2016.

Thereafter, they began to seek for funding and have since received angel investment.

Right now, the startup is on the path to break even.

Starting From Scratch

According to Rishabh, the response at launch was overwhelming.

The low delivery fee of $1.50 per meal, the offering of promo codes to new users, as well as referral codes has helped them grow their user base.

In fact, they actually had to implement "maximum order limits" to contain the orders so that they would be able to fulfil them and not disappoint any customers.

When asked to justify their low delivery charges - compared to the usual $3 fee - Rishabh said that they wanted to ensure that each person can order food for themselves, without worrying about meeting a minimum order amount by finding friends to order with.

Additionally, since hawker food is already inexpensive, he intends to keep the pricing low even if it is being delivered.

"We are now covering majority of the CBD area, delivering from over seven hawker centres. We have a customer base of over 4,000 today and deliver over 300 to 350 orders per day," said Rishabh.

It wasn't easy getting there though.

Starting out, Rishabh confessed that it was hard for them to "break the ice" with the hawkers, as neither of them spoke vernacular languages.

As such, they had to tap their delivery men as "ambassadors" to engage hawkers who are not conversant in English.

Additionally, hawkers were initially not too keen on employing technology on their side to fulfil orders.

"However, we see that changing now as we are piloting wireless printers with some hawkers," said Rishabh.

On A Different Playing Field

When asked about their business strategy to compete with other food delivery companies such as Deliveroo and Foodpanda, Rishabh claims that they are adopting different business models to begin with.

"WhyQ focuses on the niche of hawker food and delivers affordable hawker food from nearby hawker centres. Our model is an aggregated batch-based model, different from an on-demand model that other food delivery companies use," said Rishabh.

"We deliver in batches at fixed time slots to a collection point - which is usually the reception area. Hawker food is inexpensive, and our mission is to keep it that way even while delivering it. Our economies of scale model ensures that we can optimise our delivery process, hire fewer resources and deliver to multiple customers together, which in turn helps us remove minimum orders and keep delivery costs low."

In other words, unlike on-demand delivery services, WhyQ pools their orders from each hawker centre.

These include Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre and Michelin-starred Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle at Chinatown Complex.

WhyQ's 20-men delivery team collects the food just before lunch, and they will then label each order according to the destination.

All deliverers then meet up to sort the food packs based on delivery locations, before heading out again to various locations in the CBD to deliver the food.

"As we operate using a hyperlocal model, distances are short and our delivery partners either deliver on foot with the help of trolleys, or on bicycles," said Rishabh.

Popular office buildings, such as Capital Tower and Marina Bay Financial Centre, get three runs in around an hour.

Otherwise, most locations have two delivery timings.

Besides bringing convenience to the customers, WhyQ also aims to bring an additional stream of revenue to the hawker stalls.

Partnerships with hawkers vary - some are charged a commission ranging from 5 to 15 per cent, while others promise "heartier than normal" meals.

"Before we tie-up with our hawker partners, we discuss what each one of them is comfortable with. This helps us keep our commissions low so we can reach out to a wide range of hawker stalls," said Rishabh.

Future Plans

Presently, WhyQ is a web-only application but it's working with local company Skylark to develop a mobile app; and it is slated to launch by mid-year.

WhyQ also currently operates strictly during lunchtime hour at the CBD, but the startup has plans to expand to other business districts such as Changi Business Park and one-north.

It is also eyeing residential areas as well as educational institutions in Singapore.

Besides opening up to other areas, Rishabh also said that they are exploring the options of offering their services for dinner and weekend deliveries too.

Additionally, the startup has also recently started a weekly #HawkersOfSG series on their Facebook page, which helps users get an insight into the unsung lives of hawkers.

When asked to impart some advice to fellow entrepreneurs, Rishabh said that his business mantra is inspired by Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon - "If you build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful."

"Entrepreneurs should focus on the value-add to customers and on the overall customer experience; because if you get this right, the product will sell itself."

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It almost seems like a dream come true. Finally, there's a place in Singapore where you can send your beloved sneakers to be cleaned up, restoring it to its former glory.

That's what local startup Holystic Sneaker Laundry offers from their small store that operates from Wheelock Place.

Owners of all-expensive and exclusive shoes from the usual streetwear brands can send in their footwear after a consultation over the counter and collect it thereafter once they're done servicing the shoe. Sounds straightforward enough right?

You would think that it's been all smooth-sailing since their opening, but apparently some have found their shoes in less than desirable conditions after dropping them off at the store.

The Holystic Mishap

The Playbook highlighted some cases in an article earlier today where they spoke to a few customers, as well as highlighted posts that were going viral when the Holystic experience went wrong.

First is the case of Benedict Yeo and his Adidas NMD Nice Kicks.

These are what the shoes (should) look like.

To put into context the gravity of how valuable these shoes are, they are going for way more than $3,700 on eBay alone, and there are very limited number of pairs in the world.

He had sent in his pair for both Holy Detail Clean and Holy Restoration services. Here's what he got back the first time round:

There were obvious discolourations on the pull tab of his shoes when he collected it. Unsatisfied, he paid for another round of restoration fee to correct it.

The second time he got back his shoes, there were shoddy attempts at masking the earlier mistake with what can be seen as marker ink.

Nothing Customers Can Do, And Others Speak Up

A comment on his post shows the contract that customers have to sign before engaging Holystic's services, and one particular line stood out:

"in no event, will Holystic Sneaker Laundry be held liable for any consequential… loss or damages whether or not Holystic knew and should have known of the likelihood of any loss or damage"

It is not uncommon for even dry-cleaners to make you sign contracts that state the terms for use of their services, but this line is a first.

What this basically means is that Holystic takes no responsibility for anything that happens after they have rendered their 'service'.

The Playbook also spoke to several other customers on their experiences, and the responses so far have been less than desirable.

At the time of writing, Holystic has since responded to The Playbook's article and also mentioned that they will be in contact with Benedict to resolve the matter.

[UPDATE: Responding to our article, Holystic said that it has gotten in touch with Benedict and they are "committed" to compensating his sneaker.

It wrote: "We have never indicated to Benedict that it was not our fault or at anytime refuse to compensate. In fact, we have been trying to get him on his mobile the first thing when we are alerted of the matter."]

[LATEST UPDATE: As of 5.15pm, Benedict has agreed to accept Holystic's offer to "get him a new pair of Adidas Nice Kicks". Benedict will reserve the right to choose the "sneaker of his choice, at the site of his choice".]

So what can we learn here? Well for one, those who render their services need to be more accountable for their actions and perform some form of recovery services to resolve the issue and appease the customer. When a dissatisfied customer posts on social media (and it blows up), it will be too late by then.

As a company who has apparently seen their fair share of Yeezys and Christian Louboutins, one would think that the people behind the business would be treating these high-end goods with the same high standards.

If anything, Holystic still has a chance at redemption if they handle the situation right.

Just look at A Better Florist. They are still around after their Valentine's Day fiasco.

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The 'hangry' phenomenon is real.

An amalgam of hungry and angry, this term is used to describe that feeling when you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become bad-tempered or irritable.

And it just gets worse when you have to wait an hour for your meal to be served. You flag your hands to catch the attention of the waitress to ask on the status of your food, but she's too busy to even notice.

Tim Wekezer and Andras Bokros have encountered a similar bad experience a few years back - they had to wait almost an hour for the restaurant staff to even take their order.

Bearing this pain point in mind, the 31-year-old duo realised that there is an untapped opportunity for them to create something meaningful.

"We looked around at the existing solutions that were addressing the issue, and found only tablet e-menus. However, we felt that these tablets were very limited in function because it only allowed customers to place orders," lamented Tim.

"There was no integrated payment method, which meant that customers still had to flag down a staff member to get the bill, then split the bill among themselves, and finally flag the staff again to make the payment."

On top of that, Tim shared that this solution is "very expensive" - outfitting an entire restaurant with these tablets could easily set the restaurant back $40,000.

From there, the two decided to conceptualise a solution that is 100 per cent app-based, so "users can take their dining experience into their own hands".

Starting From Scratch

In 2015, Tim and Andras, who knew each other through the school's MBA programme, took part in the INSEAD Venture Competition.

They had to pitch their business plan to a panel of judges and mentors, and their app idea of solving the unnecessary waiting time in restaurants was very well-received.

They eventually emerged as the first place winner of the competition and bagged the prize money of €35,000 (~S$53,000), which they channeled towards funding the development of the first prototype of the Waitrr app.

"We deployed this prototype for beta testing, and received positive responses from both users and partner restaurants. We also received investments from our friends, families, and classmates, which allowed us to advance the app," said Tim.

"[This new version of the app] allowed us to get more restaurants and users to jump onboard. Consequently, we raised a pre-seed round from a venture capital a few months ago."

Since the app launch, Waitrr has been experiencing "consistent and promising growth month-on-month", in terms of both revenue and adoption rate, shared Tim.

But he was humble enough to admit that their app is still far from perfect. As such, they are continually updating it based on the user feedback.

Currently, the team is working on overhauling the app's user interface, which will be released very soon.

A Win-Win Situation For All

Waitrr aims to provide a seamless dining experience for its users, allowing them to order and pay for their meals quickly and easily through the app.

"Often times, especially during the lunch hour in the CBD, many restaurants are understaffed and not well-equipped to effectively cater to all their customers," said Tim.

"With Waitrr, our users do not have to constantly call and wait for the restaurant staff to take their orders, get their bills, and make payments. Everything can be done in mere seconds through the app!"

Tim emphasised that the app does not only benefit the customers; it also serves to optimise the restaurant's operational efficiency by automating most of their ordering process.

"All the orders that go through Waitrr will be sent directly to the kitchen. The staff only needs to prepare and serve the food, thus saving them a lot of time and allowing them to better focus on customer service," he added.

In the first few months of their operations, Tim also noted that many restaurants were missing out on potential customers who want to order takeaway from the restaurant.

Since the staff are generally too busy to pick up the phone, these customers end up taking their business elsewhere.

To resolve this, Waitrr developed a new Takeaway function that allows the restaurant to capture these potential customers.

This function allows customers to order their food through the app and select a pick-up time. Similar to dine-in orders, takeaway orders are also sent directly to the kitchen, where the cooks will prepare the food for customers to collect at their selected timings.

Partnerships Are Key To Growth

When asked about their key business challenge, Tim said that raising brand awareness was a tough obstacle for the startup to overcome.

"A challenge that we face is something that all companies go through in their infancy - establishing ourselves as a household name. Especially since our app has a rather unique concept, it takes a little bit more effort to convince restaurants to partner up with us."

Currently, Waitrr has partnered with 25 restaurants, including Folks Collective, Five Tapas Bar, I am…, and The Wine Company. Many more partnerships are in the pipeline.

"Right now, we're focusing our efforts on the CBD area. The hectic lifestyles and highly-constrained lunch hours of the people working in this area, as well as its high concentration of F&B outlets, makes it the perfect place for Waitrr," said Tim.

He also reasoned that the expansion of partnerships with CBD restaurants can help to increase the value of the app for users.

"No one wants to download an app for every individual F&B outlet they visit, no matter how time it saves them. By concentrating our efforts on a specific area, with a specific goal in mind, we ensure that we can provide the best service to everyone involved."

Tim also hopes that once they have stabilised their operations here in Singapore, Waitrr will expand overseas and make its mark internationally.

Ultimately, they want to position themselves as a brand that helps to make lives easier by improving the relationship between restaurants and their customers.

Advice For Entrepreneurs - Ignore The "Noise"

Waitrr is a fairly young company (registered only in 2015) but they have seen very promising growth potential over the past year or so.

This is very commendable because it's not easy to sustain a user's interest in a mobile app, especially with the gamut of apps available.

Sharing a piece of advice with fellow entrepreneurs, Tim said that it's best to just "ignore noise". This 'noise' refers to what looks, sounds, and feels like an urgent problem that requires immediate attention, but it actually only serves as a distraction for your business.

"One example is when you see that your competition has created and implemented something that seems really good - the temptation to match them can sometimes be overwhelming. However, unless this 'something good' is really harmful to your business, it is often better to believe in and stick to your vision, and focus on perfecting the things that you are working on," he elaborated.

"Getting distracted by the "noise" will probably only result in you losing time and resources, with nothing to show for it."

Similarly, in this highly-competitive environment, the pressure to rapidly expand can be very high. As a result, you end up focusing solely on increasing your numbers so your business looks really good on paper.

"It is so easy in getting caught up in trying to scale your business, that you neglect your early adopters, the people who have been believing in you since the start."

He cited an article by Paul Graham titled 'Do Things That Don't Scale' and asserted that it is very important to constantly touch base with these people because they are the ones who will be integral in helping you fine-tune your product.

"Giving your early adopters your attention, and making them feel like they're being heard can greatly increase your retention rate, even if your business still has a lot to improve on. Don't jump the gun, always build a concrete foundation first."

Check out Waitrr here!

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I don't think anyone would have forgotten about the massively covered retail facade over at Knightsbridge where Singapore's first ever Apple store is allegedly being built behind closed doors.

Since last year, the Apple faithful has been counting down the days when they will finally be able to set foot in the legendary Apple store on home soil.

If a report by news site CNBC is anything to go by, their wish might have just been granted.

Looks Like The Apple Will be Dropping In May

According to 'sources' whom CNBC quoted, it was mentioned that whatever problems that the construction of the Apple store has faced has been resolved and that it is on course for its launch in the coming month in the heart of Orchard Road.

What's interesting is that these 'sources' were described as people who were aware of the situation, and from what was described, are also staff of a neighbouring retail store and hotel.

The reliability of these 'sources' can be doubtful as they were not people who are directly involved with the construction of the Apple store.

CNBC also spoke to the vice president of IDC Asia Pacific, Bryan Ma.

He shares how significant this new Apple store will be because it has the potential to converge Apple fans from not only in Singapore, but also the region, since it is the only official retail store for Apple in Southeast Asia.

To round off the report, of course the news site got in touch with Apple to find out if this news is indeed true.

While Apple's head of corporate communications for Southeast Asia and India who responded to them did not deny that an Apple store was being built in Singapore, it was also mentioned that construction was going on as scheduled, and that there isn't a specific date for its opening.

Singapore May Indeed Be Next

If you remembered earlier this year in February, CEO Tim Cook and notable executives from Apple made a press conference call to share the company's sales figures to round off a strong 2016 with another record breaking year in revenue.

In that announcement as well, Apple's CEO also mentioned that the tech giant was also looking to open their first stores in Dubai and Singapore.

Well guess which one of them recently got their curtains lifted?

Here's the Apple store in Dubai. Located in the grand Dubai Mall, the store is designed by renowned architectural firm Foster+Partners and features one the world's largest kinetic art installation as its facade to put it as the centerpiece of the mall.

It looks set to rival even the Burj Khalifa in attracting visitors into the Gulf region through its first Apple store.

The one in Singapore in all likelihood will have a similar effect.

Apple fans in Southeast Asia are definitely waiting for the big day to arrive where they travel here not just for the Marina Bay Sands and Universal Studios, but also the Apple store.

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Last month, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that it will be scrapping its plans for a national bicycle-sharing initiative after the emergence of private bike-sharing companies in Singapore.

But on Saturday (April 29), Jurong-Clementi Town Council signed a partnership with the three bike-sharing companies in Singapore - China-based Mobike and ofo; as well as homegrown oBike - to launch a one-year pilot bicycle sharing programme.

Bicycle parking zones intended mainly for rental bicycles will be added to 30 sites in Jurong, on top of 120 new bicycle racks, to ease the problem of bicycle-sharing firms' vehicles being parked willy-nilly in public areas.

These zones, marked with yellow rectangle boxes, can be found in areas such as HDB void decks or near the Chinese Garden MRT station.

The town council said it will add more bicycle racks, but these will be paid for by the companies themselves.

Jurong MP Ang Wei Nang is hopeful that these added parking spaces will help to deter acts of vandalism, following the recent spate of media reports about damage to shared bicycles, such as repainting the bicycle frames or throwing them into drains.

Clamping Down On Irresponsible Parking

As part of the agreement, the companies also have to ensure that bicycle users park them in the right place, and not obstruct common areas in the neighbourhood.

All three companies claim that they have implemented incentive and demerit schemes to encourage right riding and parking behaviour, but there have been cases of irresponsible parking, with bicycles blocking letterboxes, corridors, or fire exit routes.

As such, companies have been instructed to remove these illegally parked bicycles. When notified, they will have to remove the bicycle within four hours, if alerted between 8.30am and 7pm.

Otherwise, the bicycle must be removed by 7am the next day.

"If we receive any reports, we are going to find the previous user, and this is possible because we have a GPS system," said mobike's Singapore Manager Sharon Meng.

"We know who the previous user is, and we are going to deduct points from the previous user."

Additionally, the companies also have to provide third-party insurance covering accidents or bicycle damages; and provide users' cycling pattern information to the authorities to improve the planning of future cycling paths.

Possible Replacement Of National Bicycle Scheme

According to Mr Ang, this scheme may be extended to all seven divisions in Jurong GRC, Yuhua, and Bukit Batok SMC, if successful.

This success will be dependent on the responsible behaviour of users, which can be achieved through education, he pointed out.

"We want to embrace the bicycle-sharing scheme rather than rejecting it. We want our residents to enjoy the convenience of rental bicycles right at the void deck without the disamenities," he said.

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Just 2 and a half months ago, Royce Tan, founder of The Fragment Room, expressed his uncertainty of whether or not his new venture would take off in Singapore.

"Where do you wish to see The Fragment Room in a year after its opening?"

"I can only visualise 2 possibilities - one of it is that I get constant bookings, or two, nobody wants to come by. It's very hard to get traction in Singapore," revealed Tan.

The pessimism that lingered in his response was jarring, given his excitement throughout the interview so far.

We put the interview and feature article on hold, agreeing that it would be more timely to publish it when the Room was officially launched.

2 and a half months later, I received an email from Tan. Attached was the press release for the opening of The Fragment Room, and the photos of his shop.

Back then, all he and myself had were the mock-ups created by his interior designer.

And as for the traction he was worried about getting?

Well, within a few days, the Room has already been featured on a good number of websites (like DiscoverSG and The Playbook), and from the comments, people are pretty damn excited about it.

But while the shop space has definitely changed since then, Tan's motivations as an aspiring entrepreneur hasn't, so here it is, 2 and a half months later - the story behind The Fragment Room.

The Fragment Room: When Anger Becomes Therapy

Why "The Fragment Room"?

What my concept is, is that it's a 'rage room' where you break objects. And when you break them, they break into fragments - and that's where the name came from.

Is this the first 'rage room' in Singapore?

This is actually the first in Southeast Asia! I heard that there's something like this in Japan, but I heard that it's more like, you have a whole room full of objects in an office setting, and you can break everything in the room.

An office setting?

Yeah, I think they're too stressed at work. And in Singapore too, people are very stressed at work.

So do you have a room with an office setting?

No, I do not. I think the cost will be too high, and it'll be a bit crazy to break all the office tables and chairs. It'll definitely cost a bomb.

So instead of giving people that, I'm giving them simpler, smaller things. Like you can break cups, plates, normal tables…you can even break electrical appliances like TVs, radios…

Where are you getting the supplies for all of these?

So I'm getting them from karang guni, and for the tableware, I actually have a supplier. He's a very nice guy - he's selling them to me at a great price, even though he usually supplies his stuff to hotels like Hilton, Sheraton and all that.

But when I went to meet him, he told me, "Since you're a young entrepreneur, and I was also once a young entrepreneur, I'm going to help you out."

Why are you bringing this concept over to Singapore?

I was actually working a full-time job before this. I was a salesperson for this furniture company, so I sold office furniture, lightings and stuff. And throughout my time there, I realised that Singaporeans are very, very stressed out.

Like if you just talk to them a little, and they'll just blurt everything out.

So were you stressed as well?

I was stressed because they were stressed!

Everyone was in such a stressed up environment. Like my clients were stressed, everyone had deadlines to meet, so everyone was stressed. Even my boss was stressed.

For example, whenever we get a job and we go to a construction site, a lot of things can go wrong, and a lot of people just cannot control their temper. So they start to flare up, they start to throw tantrums, and that's when I was like, "Maybe this job isn't cut out for me. Maybe I should do something else."

And I saw on Facebook that this 'rage room' concept was a thing, like people could actually break things to relieve stress. And I was thinking if we had anything like this in Singapore - and the only thing I could think of as a way to relieve stress is to go and drink.

But that doesn't really solve anything, you're just suppressing it. So now, I'm giving you a space to release all of those suppressed emotions.

How many people will be in the room at a time?

For practical reasons, I'd say about 2 at a time. Because the rooms are about 150 sq ft, so they're not very big…

So people won't accidentally hurt each other too?

Actually they'll be fully decked in protective gear, and coveralls!

Did you contact any of your entrepreneur friends for advice?

Actually, my entrepreneur friends aren't really in the same industry, they're most doing fashion and all that.

In Singapore, no one really does a business like this, and they usually start something online instead of an 'old school' business like opening a shop.

How long has it been from ideation to now?

It has taken about 5 to 6 months actually, but it was very hard for me to find a place.

How did you decide on this location?

I think this location is very good because it's by the main road, and it's very unassuming you know? The whole area is like, near shops selling spices and all that.

So it's like a "if you know, you know" type of thing.

What do your parents think about it?

Well my dad thinks it's bullshit lah HAHA!

He just thinks it's ridiculous lah, like why would you start something that no one else has started, why do you want to do something so risky?

But I guess if you're successful, he'll change his mind! What about your friends? What do they think about it?

My friends are all crazy about the idea!

So if you're fully booked, how many people will there be in the shop?

Well, we have a lounge area for customers to chill out if the rooms are taken, so maybe 8 people?

How many rooms do you have in total?

I have 2 rooms, so a total of 4 people can be using it.

How long will a session be?

A session is around 30 minutes. But I think after 5 minutes, people will be tired already.

Do you plan to keep it open 24/7?

No, opening hours would be 1pm to 10pm, but if they want anything outside working hours, they can just give me a call and make a booking.

Actually I wanted to make it appointment-based, and I'll open from 4pm to 10pm, but I feel like the appointment-based arrangement might be too intimidating, you know?

Like people would want to make small talk before they jump into it, they don't want to just make a booking then commit to it.

Are there going to be specific rules that you will brief everyone on?

Yes definitely. Because we're so repressed, you won't know what they can do when they let loose!

They could even break my walls!

Will you be there to talk to the customers at the lounge?

Yeah! That's actually what I'm looking for when I look for staff. I want people who can talk to the customers.

My slogan is "anger therapy", so you can release your anger, but you can also talk about it. I feel like a lot of people don't like to talk about their feelings.

What do you think about your step into the world of entrepreneurship?

Actually, I've always to be an entrepreneur. My dad was an entrepreneur, and I feel like I can't work a 9 to 5 job. And I can't study, so like…this is my next best thing. Where I can be my own boss, and my own ideas.

What are your greatest fears for the shop?

My greatest fear is when people who come in can't control their aggression and then they start breaking everything in the shop. It's like, what am I supposed to do then? How am I supposed to charge them then?

So how are you ensuring that they know it's just a rage room, and that every negative emotion just stays there?

Before they go in, they will need to sign a waiver on what they can, and cannot do, and the consequences when they go out of bounds.

Where do you see The Fragment Room in a year?

Right now, I can't really visualise it yet. I can only visualise 2 possibilities - one of it is that I get constant bookings, or two, nobody wants to come by. It's very hard to get traction in Singapore.

What's your ideal vision for The Fragment Room? Would you launch a chain, or just keep it to a solo shop?

I would just keep it 'pure', and just have one store. Also, based on the licensee-licenser agreement, I can't do a chain.

I had ideas to open abroad actually, in our neighbouring countries..but I don't think it's a good idea, because it's easy for them to find places to break things. In Singapore, we have this culture that we just can't do things like this.

Their countries are just not as repressed as we are here.

What do you want to change?

I just want Singapore to be more diverse lah. Singapore is a very boring place, and there's nothing new. All the new places are cafes!

I don't want to go to a new cafe, I want to go to a place with a new concept and experience something new. That's the whole point of leaving the house right?

When will you know that you 'made it'?

Maybe when I'm fully booked? But it'll be great if I can just make a difference in the lives of Singaporeans.

The Fragment Room

3 Balestier Road, Singapore 329671

Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 1-10pm

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