Main Topic: Night Market Fun Throughout the Day

Hosts: Clyde Warden

Chinese New Years is much like Christmas in so far as retailers get a big boost from consumer spending. The big difference of course is that consumers are buying for themselves or for the immediate family. The products bought are not gifts for relatives, but all the things needed during the holiday (the big one being food). Gifts are mostly be adult oriented used for visits during the holidays and business relationships. This is for many Chinese the one time in the year they actually take off from work and relax. Going out to street markets is a way to enjoy the exciting New Year's atmosphere while also getting shopping done. In Singapore, this is no less true. In this episode, Clyde and Antony visit the largest CNY bazaar in Singapore and find a very renao place.

Hypermarkets stock up a month before CNY, but street level stalls are a very big part of the retail landscape. Taken one row at a time, this event in Singapore looks exactly like a night market in Taiwan or China. What is different is the scale and organization of the event. Containing everything a normal night market has, this bazaar also includes automobiles for sale, flat screen televisions, and a children's amusement park. In the video, pay attention at the start for the big brand name Toshiba selling a rice cooker. This is a fundamental difference in branding between East and West. In Asia, the big company name can include almost anything. The name infers an air of quality--approved to join the corporate family. There is a feeling that a familiar big company stands behind the product. The Western obsession with creating a specific brand for every specific product, even splitting that among market segments, depends on the strong belief in individualism. People express themselves, and therefor want a brand that helps that expression, or represents that expression (aspiration groups).

 The excitement of a Taiwan night market but with more mixture of high-end products.

Listen To The Show (Audio Only):

Length: 17 minutes. Download MP3 7.96MB (Right click->Save As).

Watch The Show (Video & Audio):

From Singapore, Antony and Clyde.
Length: 17 minutes.

iPod (H.264 fast download 320x240) Download MP4 74.99MB (Right click->Save As).
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{embed_uri}show_076_singapore_cny{/embed_uri}

Photos:

• (1) The entrance just outside Junction 8 mall (run by Capital Land). (1) The entrance just outside Junction 8 mall (run by Capital Land).
• (2) The event's sign with dates. (2) The event's sign with dates.
• (3) Scale of the event is quite large. (3) Scale of the event is quite large.
• (4) Exam papers, past exam questions and answers, on sale (common throughout Greater China). (4) Exam papers, past exam questions and answers, on sale (common throughout Greater China).
• (5) CNY and religious symbols are often mixed together. (5) CNY and religious symbols are often mixed together.
• (6) Children's clothes. (6) Children's clothes.
• (7) Young girl's clothes, sandals, underwear. (7) Young girl's clothes, sandals, underwear.
• (8) New Year's clothes for children. (8) New Year's clothes for children.
• (9) A common sight with the decline in marriage and birth rate. (9) A common sight with the decline in marriage and birth rate.
• (10) Singapore tends to be organized, including sufficient infrastructure. (10) Singapore tends to be organized, including sufficient infrastructure.
• (11) Religion mixes easily with CNY, as both place an emphasis on success and riches. (11) Religion mixes easily with CNY, as both place an emphasis on success and riches.
• (12) Singapore's effort to stop smoking (people were actually following the restriction). (12) Singapore's effort to stop smoking (people were actually following the restriction).
• (13) Gold and red combined in many combinations to bring a year of good fortune. (13) Gold and red combined in many combinations to bring a year of good fortune.
• (14) Entertainment in the back, integrated into a beer and snack area. (14) Entertainment in the back, integrated into a beer and snack area.
• (15) Before CNY, the nightly entertainment fair was mostly KTV like singing contests. (15) Before CNY, the nightly entertainment fair was mostly KTV like singing contests.
• (16) Dragons, tigers, Buddhas, for placement in household temples. (16) Dragons, tigers, Buddhas, for placement in household temples.
• (17) Car showroom brought to the night market. (17) Car showroom brought to the night market.
• (18) Another tiny dog. (18) Another tiny dog.
• (19) Even with their own shoes. (19) Even with their own shoes.
• (20) Shooting gallery. (20) Shooting gallery.
• (21) Chinese pinball games, very common in night markets. (21) Chinese pinball games, very common in night markets.
• (22) One of the main draws is for the kids. (22) One of the main draws is for the kids.
• (23) Big play areas for children. (23) Big play areas for children.
• (24) Battery toy car ride. (24) Battery toy car ride.
• (25) Food is always a big part of night markets, and important here. (25) Food is always a big part of night markets, and important here.
• (26) The children's play area is outsourced, much like an American carnival. (26) The children's play area is outsourced, much like an American carnival.
• (27) Water rides (very uncommon in Taiwan, where most people cannot swim and see it as quite dangerous). (27) Water rides (very uncommon in Taiwan, where most people cannot swim and see it as quite dangerous).
• (28) Bungee fun. (28) Bungee fun.
• (29) Clyde shooting video. (29) Clyde shooting video.
• (30) Tiny rides. (30) Tiny rides.
• (31) All the park space was taken up by the play area. (31) All the park space was taken up by the play area.
• (32) Notice of the PRC retailers being held up in China. (32) Notice of the PRC retailers being held up in China.
• (33) Antony as cameraman. (33) Antony as cameraman.
• (34) Capturing our video. (34) Capturing our video.
• (35) Lots of space left from the missing retailers. (35) Lots of space left from the missing retailers.
• (36) Household help, common in SG, taking kids out for the experience. (36) Household help, common in SG, taking kids out for the experience.
• (37) Pick what you want, then it goes on auction. (37) Pick what you want, then it goes on auction.
• (38) During CNY, a big emphasis on pseudo religious and feng shui goods. (38) During CNY, a big emphasis on pseudo religious and feng shui goods.
• (39) Common in Taiwan in China, these goods get a bit more attention in Singapore during the CNY. (39) Common in Taiwan in China, these goods get a bit more attention in Singapore during the CNY.
• (40) The show has begun. (40) The show has begun.
• (41) This contestant is a teacher in his day job. (41) This contestant is a teacher in his day job.
• (42) At night, the scale is impressive. (42) At night, the scale is impressive.
• (43) Clyde and Antony on the MRT. (43) Clyde and Antony on the MRT.
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