Want to start a baby business? Join the Children Baby Maternity Expo at Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 25 – 27 April

Interested to start a baby business and to make and/or sell baby products? Then don’t miss this free seminar that connects you to more than 150 exhibitors and brands.

Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME South East Asia) will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 25 – 27 April 2017.

CBME South East Asia is the only annual B2B trade show in the region specifically for children, baby and maternity products. It gives related industry players such as manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and distributors a unique experience and opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an existing retailer/brand owners, you are invited to South East Asia’s Only B2B Children, Baby and Maternity Products Exhibition.

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The secret to starting a successful baby business

Success in the children’s wear market means understanding the industry and your place in it. Attendees to CBME South East Asia 2017 can expect to gain in-depth knowledge on recent trends shaping consumer behaviour across the region, and ways by which retailers can effectively drive retail sales by converting walk-in shoppers to actual buyers, looking beyond footfall.

Free to attend seminars

Key topics you will get to access include:

  • Consumer Behaviour in Southeast Asia
    Gain insights on the SEA demographic landscape and category trends and drivers of baby products.
  • Tips on Optimising Retail Space
    Learn basic layout tips to boost sales at your retail outlet.
  • Turning Shoppers into Buyers
    Find out about the truth behind shopper decisions.
  • E-commerce in Southeast Asia
    Gain insights on the digital landscape in Southeast Asia and its current challenges.
  • Market Development and Expansion
    Identify new market segments and expand your business with market tips.
  • Starting Up as a Mompreneur
    Learn through case studies on raising a family and running or starting up your business simultaneously

Presenting at the seminar will be Thomas Greysson, Director, Retail Consulting Analytics & Sales Effectiveness (Nielsen), Joan Koh, Managing Director (Nielsen Singapore and Malaysia), Andrew Senduk, Group Chief Revenue Officer (Orami), and Poh Han Jie, Senior Manager – Retail Manager (GFK).

 

Speaker

What to expect at the trade show

trade show

Besides free-to-attend industry seminar, visitors to the event can expect a number of exciting and industry related side events including an opportunity to meet international exhibitors who will be showcasing their unique and latest products, a private business matching program, on-site tours and products demonstrations.

There will be 150 exhibitors from 250 brands including Worldwide Manufacturers, Brand Owners, Distributors, Suppliers and Service providers covering the following product categories:

  • Maternity and Baby Care Products
  • Baby Carriages, Car Seats and Furniture
  • Food and Health Care Products
  • Toys, Educational Products and Souvenirs
  • Children, Baby and Teenager Clothing, Footwear (ages 0-16)
  • Maternity Clothing, Underwear and Accessories
  • Service Organisations

Pre-register here to enjoy free admission to the trade show.  Download a free catalogue after registration.

Exhibition Venue: 
Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Hall C (Singapore)
10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956

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Useful Tips On Raising Financially Savvy Kids

According to Investopedia, financial literacy is the “ability to use knowledge and skills to make effective and informed money management decisions”. It is an area that is often skipped in the formative educational system. As parents, it is your job to fill in the gaps.

Educating your kids to make wise money decisions earlier on will affect their finances in the long run. Consider taking these financial steps:

CONVEY THE VALUE OF MONEY

Encourage your children to absorb the value of money by using tangible examples. For instance, you may employ counting games for toddlers. Grab a pack of M&M’S and have your kids sort each one by color. Let them count how many pieces are available per color.

Once they can discriminate, introduce them to the different denominations of Singaporean money. The difficulty level of your lessons shall increase with their ages. Older children learn best with realistic examples such as an educational trip to the nearby grocery.

Take a conscious effort in providing them information about money. And, be ready to answer their countless questions. Children are innately curious after all!

SET THE RULES ON ALLOWANCE

The idea of giving an allowance is something that many Asian parents embrace wholeheartedly. While it can be a controversial subject, some experts believe that children can learn how to handle their own money by having allowance. Begin by making weekly allotments and cutting it short to bi-weekly allotments for preteens. Limiting the allotments will help your child to continually  be challenged. They must think of ways to make their allowance last longer.

The next step is creating a budget with your preteens and teens. Sit down with your older children and enumerate their streams of incomes and expenses. Highlight the importance of distinguishing between the needs and the wants.

OPEN A CHILDREN’S SAVINGS ACCOUNT

What better way to teach your kid about the value of savings than by opening his or her very first account? Children nowadays were blessed with technology. This means that they can simply review their account balances and transactions online. Watching their account decline over time can instill wiser spending choices. While, watching the account grow can motivate them to save more.

Dwell on are the essence of withdrawals and deposits as well as the safety procedures of online banking. There are several local children’s savings account such as ePOSBkids Account and OCBC Mighty Savers Programme. Both do not require a minimum deposit.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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Surefire Ways To Waste Your Money As A Parent

Many parents, including my own, are guilty of spoiling their children with affection and attention. They spend money on the things that would make their child happy. Do not get me wrong! This is a normal reaction. However, excessively giving in to these impulses can lead to serious monetary consequences.

Awareness is the first step!

Repair your spending habits by knowing the “Four Ways To Waste Money As A Parent”:

ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT

Back when I was a child, coloring books and sticker albums were all the rage. My friends and I used to compare each other’s collections and artworks. Let us fast forward to the present age. The children of today are utterly obsessed with Smartphone apps and video game consoles. Downloading no-cost gaming apps are okay, but its extras come with costly price-tags. Furthermore, the unit upgrades of video game consoles are insanely rapid.

For instance, the Xbox One may potentially be the last generational console from Microsoft. The renowned brand is looking forward to re-imagining consoles by combining its features with a Windows-operated PC.

DESIGNER CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN

Children can have sudden growth spurts. Thus, it is unnecessary to purchase loads of baby or toddler clothes. This holds true for shoes and socks as well. Instead, you may ask your friends and family members if they still have their kid’s outgrown clothes.

A kid’s wardrobe is both temporary and cluttered. This is why you must not purchase designer or boutique apparel.

SPECIAL BATHROOM PRODUCTS

The people behind children’s bathroom products lure you with the vibrant array of cartoon characters in their packaging. Barbie bath bombs and Angry Birds toothpaste sounds attractive in theory. However, they may contain chemicals that are harmful to your beloved child. Look at the ingredients rather than focusing on the pictures.

If you really care for the well-being of your child, you will take care of his or her health first.

INFANT FORMULA

Breastfeeding is among the most empowering gifts that women can offer to their babies. As much as you can, opt for breastfeeding because it will not only be healthy but also be able to save you as low as S$1,500 per year.

You may also borrow a breast pump from your friends or family members, but ensure that you change the plastic attachments. You can buy those for far less than a brand new pump.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Whether you want to throw an extravagant birthday party or to purchase a domestic pet for your child, there are different ways to flush your money down the drain. It is time to make better choices for your family and your finances!

Sources: 1 & 2

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Extremely Entertaining Games To Educate Your Kids About Money

Before diving into the rising world of freelance, I previously worked as an early childhood teacher for children aged 5 to 12. I can encapsulate my teaching experience with a single word – fulfilling. One of the most profound lessons that I absorbed was that children learn best when they are having fun. You may let them think they are playing a game with an underlying agenda. For instance, you may turn counting into entertaining games for your family.

Games like these act as great teaching tools for parents and guardians alike. It ignites a kids’ curiosity and encourages them to ask questions about money.

1. ASSORTED CURRENCY MAGNETS

Many Singaporeans have a hobby of collecting magnets from the countries that they previously visited. Mimic this concept by plastering currency magnets into your fridge. Begin by purchasing self-adhesive magnets online (for about S$28.39) or on Daiso (for as low as S$2). Attach the adhesive to the back of the 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents. Make another set by attaching the adhesive on the coins’ front side of coins with the same denominations. You can complete different activities with these currency magnets.

On the first challenge, you may ask your child to match the coins’ backs with their fronts. The second challenge may entail your child to “pay” for every favor or toy that he or she asks.

2. AMAZING UNO CARDS

Teach your kid about the basics of counting and recognizing numbers by buying the UNO cards. UNO is not your average matching game! It is a card game that entails color, number, and symbol coding. The premise is too straightforward that your child will be able to absorb it right away. Alternatively, you may modify the instructions to suit your child’s level of thinking.

Image Credits: besttoys4toddlers.com

Image Credits: besttoys4toddlers.com

For instance, you may ask your 3-year-old child to match the cards that have the same number and color. Keep track of the winner by employing a point system.

3. MAKE YOUR OWN CASH

Art is one of the children’s main modes of communication. So, communicate to your children in a language that they understand by letting them design their own versions of the dollar notes. Whose faces shall they feature? What buildings or infrastructures shall they put at the back?

Provide different art materials and get them to think creatively!

4. SHOP ‘TILL YOU DROP

Gather at least 8 toys and place a price tag on each one. Divide your Singapore notes and coins to your children and let them decide which toys they want to “buy”. In this round, you are the cashier or the owner of the shop. Mix and match the prices of the items and the roles of the players (e.g., your children are the co-owners while you shop).

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

This fun activity will help your kids to figure out the best way to divide and spend their cash.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Frugal Mums’ Guide To Saving Money In Singapore

Here are five ways to save money as the head of the household:

SHOP ONLINE FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES

There are many retailers that offer promotions and clearance sales on their own websites. You will not save money on the supplies but you will also save a lot on gas or transportation costs. If you have the time, purchase online.

Lion Stationery and Evergreen are the two local stationery websites you can visit.

LEAVE YOUR KIDS AT HOME

If you have the option to leave your children behind with a family member or a babysitter then, do so. Children play a huge role on what goes inside your basket. This is why marketers and store strategists put their items on a child’s eye-level.

You do not have to give in to what your playful kids wants if you go to the store alone. This will help you to save a lot more money!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

MAKE A LIST AND STICK TO IT

Say you have no choice but to bring your precious little ones along. Turn grocery shopping into a fun task by making a game out of it. Start by planning your menu throughout the week. Then, list down the ingredients and other products you need to purchase. Save more money by opting for the generic or store brands.

Have your children find each item on the list (much like a treasure hunt). The person who finds the most items at the end of the shopping trip will win a prize. It is up to you to choose which prize will entice your children.

SAVE ON KIDDIE PARTIES

You are not forced to send invites to everyone in your kid’s entire class. If your budget does not allow you to invite your kid’s entire class, employ the “age plus one rule”. For example, you are planning to throw a party for your 6-year-old son then, invite 7 guests. Keep the numbers down by making it clear that the guests’ siblings are not invited.

Aside from that, you can forgo printing services by sending out electronic invitations through Facebook or email. This gets the job done – fast.

STOCK UP DURING GSS

An easy way to save money in Singapore is to take advantage of the “Great Singapore Sale”. This event which happens once a year includes numerous retailers from all over the nation. Bargain hunters like you can get good deals on baby clothing, child’s school supplies, toddler’s toys, and so much more. Stock up on these items to cover your annual needs but, do not go beyond your budget!

You may also buy several gifts to be prepared for the upcoming festivities (e.g., Christmas or Chinese New Year).

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

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