SINGAPORE: In a corner on the third floor of Lucky Plaza lies a hardware store that some have described as “the shop that has it all”.
“DIY is about really building something, not just hanging a picture or replacing a light bulb … The community remains very small here,” added the 64-year-old.These are not just hurting the independent hardware stores; even bigger players have been hammered. The firm is currently in talks with potential investors and mulling a return in a “very different form”, co-founder Low Cheong Kee told CNA in an interview.
This is because apart from challenges – such as niche demand in Singapore where busy lifestyles and the convenience of engaging a handyman go against a DIY culture, as well as more industry-wide woes like e-commerce and a sluggish economy – that are plaguing all hardware stores, the likes of Home-Fix has had to contend with ever-increasing rent in shopping malls.
“Without in-store service staff who are knowledgeable in hardware, customers may not have a good reason to patronise these stores.” “There’s still a need for physical stores so that customers can see and touch the items. We also want to provide the convenience of store pick-ups for online orders.” But Mr Teo said Selffix is not delusional, as the exit of the company’s biggest competitor suggests “big challenges” present in the industry.
Another retailer that disagrees with the “very sunset” industry outlook is Mr Dennis Chua, who has been running 1st Prize Home DIY at Parkway Parade since 1984. “Running my own business will mean that I try to manage as many things as possible on my own, together with two other staff. But thankfully, I only have one store so it’s not too difficult to manage costs.”NEIGHBOURHOOD STORES SEE OTHER CHALLENGES
Singaporean lack DIY culture.
They need to improve on their service. Same for all retail stores. If they provide the same as online stores, then I'll go for the cheaper.
Home-Fix is local yet it’s price is exorbitant!
MR DIY gave them the final nail ...... Mr DIY can survive cos their products mainly housebrands from Alibaba manufacturers , others i not sure .Home-Fix stuffs not cheap thats why ....... Anyway some hardware i got from Taobao is far cheaper and superb in quality
do you know? canned drink at vending machine is still $1 but at foodcourt $2 while at value$ store at the same building it's $0.7. Items in small common stores are way cheaper than in fairprice, giant. and off course coldstorage is number one expensive. Be smart people!