Why every edition of Boutiques still feels like a miracle
Just like that, we concluded our 4th edition at Boutique Fairs Singapore Spring Summer 2025!
It's taken me almost 2 weeks to feel sane again after running on adrenaline for 4 days in a row. As a small business owner who started SBH as a side hustle and passion project, Boutiques is incredibly affirming, exciting and nerve-wrecking all at once.
Once or twice a year, we show up carting stock from our home 'office' to the F1 pit building alongside 300+ brands, some indie (many not so indie). The more established brands come with a team of staff and professional movers with furniture that's assembled on the spot! They come with cartons of stock, proper POS (point of sale) terminals and sales targets, ready to SELL. We come with our pomegranate hand-dyed (at home) backdrop, IKEA rods and botanical displays, DREAMING and obsessing about the aesthetics of our store front.
Our WASTD recycled tabletop from waste botanicals and oyster shells. Floral arrangement from Studio Wilt.
From a one-person set-up, we become a brand with a storefront at Singapore's largest shopping event of the year with over 30K footfall over an extended weekend!
SUZY top on Cheryl & Audrey
SUZY top on Yashora (serendipitous styling with her skirt!)
We meet up with customers old and new - returning customers who come dressed in SBH to get the same style in a different colour, new customers who rave about the quality of our fabrics, the uniqueness and timelessness of our designs. We meet in real life, customers we've only known online through their IG handles or email addresses. We put a face to a purchase, and a personality to a style. We fit on real women of all shapes and sizes and get their feedback in real time.
This edition, we also faced the GOOD problem of having SUZY top going viral and selling out on day 2. I never thought it possible - but I literally had to take it off the racks as we could not keep up even with the pre-orders.
This is why Boutiques still feels like a miracle, 4 editions in!
It keeps our creative indie spirit alive and bring dreams to reality :)
Deep breath - here's to the next edition!
Jeanie and Me