I went to the NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store to have a first look at the prices so you don’t have to

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store main banner

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store has officially opened its doors in Singapore and being the humble K-pop fan that I am, I had to drop by.

It’s at Orchard Central anyway.

In all honestly, I was expecting to just walk in and have a look around but it was much more crowded than I expected it to be.

I’m going to spill the beans and explain my camera roll, plus show you the prices so you can compare them with the Kpopmerch Official Store on Shopee.

Give me your attention as I reveal everything I’ve seen and experienced.

Scan a QR code to join the queue

So I reached there slightly past noon and a staff was holding a QR code that you have to scan to join the queue.

I was told that it would take about 15 minutes and was urged to come back later.

But this was what I was greeted with after entering my particulars:

PLAY LINE FRIENDS queue ticket

The queue situation looks okay though, so I thought I would head elsewhere to run my errands first before coming back to join the queue since it would probably take me more than 15 minutes.

But just as I was on my way to pick up some stuff, I received a message asking me to proceed back to the holding area:

VirtuaQ message

It was only about 10 minutes since I joined the virtual queue so I was secretly happy that it didn’t take too long. Well, at least for now.

I went back to the holding area, right opposite Equate Coffee, showed the staff my message notification, and joined the queue.

12.25 pm.

The long wait starts from now

Silly me as I wasn’t expecting to wait that long.

But minutes passed, the line moved little by little… But it still wasn’t my turn.

I was almost close to leaving because I was starving.

12.45 pm.

Oh yeah, I was nearing the end of the queue and was given a little “Q ticket” by the staff:

“Finally…” I thought.

But nope.

The holding area was just the first batch.

Oh my, oh my God.

Here’s the second “holding area”:

queue outside PLAY LINE FRIENDS

But at least there are seats so you can rest a little while waiting.

1.14 pm.

Finally, it was time to enter.

I returned the “Q ticket” to the store staff at the entrance and received a little freebie in return:

Haerin Powerpuff girls fan

Store experience and prices

Okay, so here’s the real deal.

When you enter, here’s what the store looks like:

PLAY LINE FRIENDS pop-up store

To your left, there will be BT21, LINE FRIENDS, and TRUZ.

BT21, LINE FRIENDS & TRUZ

But everyone was crowding around the right side of the pop-up store, which is where you will find all your NewJeans display and merch.

This is right near the entrance:

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store display near the entrance

And then there’s more when you walk in:

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store display inside store II

Last look at the display before we move on to the prices:

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store display inside store I

Here are some of the photos I took and I’ve listed the product names together with the in-store prices so you can compare them to the Kpopmerch Official Store on Shopee and decide if you want to get them offline or online, yeah.

P.S. The product links will lead you to Shopee.

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch A

NJ GET UP SPIRAL NOTEBOOK ($8)

NJ GET UP POSTCARD SET ($16)

GET UP PHOTOCARD SET VER.1 & VER.2 ($13 each)

NJ GET UP MASKING TAPE SET (2PCS) ($11)

NJ GET UP BOARD ($8)

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch B

BUNINI COSTUME PLUSH ($36)

NJ GET UP PLASTIC FILE FOLDER (ASSORTED) ($8)

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch C

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS x NJ DECORATIVE STICKERS ($8)

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS X NJ ACRYLIC GEL PEN (BUNNY) ($7)

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS X NJ METAL KEYRING ($24)

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS x NJ EMBROIDERED PATCH ($10)

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS x NJ ACRYLIC PHONE GRIP ($20)

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch D

NJ GET UP STICKER PACK ($16)

NJ GET UP ACRYLIC PHONE GRIP ($20)

NJ GET UP METAL MIRROR KEYRING ($30)

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch E

NJ GET UP PHOTOCARD BINDER ($25)

NJ GET UP PHOTO HOLDER KEYRING ($19)

NJ GET UP BEADED KEYRING & PHONE STRAP ($24 each)

NewJeans BUNINI DOLL KEYRING

NJ GET UP DECORATIVE STICKERS ($10)

NewJeans BUNINI DOLL KEYRING ($24)

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch F

NewJeans BUNINI FACE CUSHION ($46)

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store merch G

NJ GET UP SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRTS (ASSORTED) ($62 each)

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS X NJ SHORT SLEEVE T-SHIRTS (ASSORTED) ($62 each)

Photo zone & check-out counter

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store photo zone & cashier

There’s also a phone zone right in front of the check-out counter so you can snap your pics and videos before paying for your merchandise.

FYI, their carrier bags are not free so you might want to bring your recycling bags if you don’t want to pay extra on top of your already pricey goods.

The carrier bags are priced at $0.40, $0.60, and $1 according to sizes anyway.

All payments are to be done via cash or nets only and items sold are not exchangeable nor refundable.

Here’s more to note:

Notice at NJ x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store

Should you buy online or offline?

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store holding areas

If you’re as impatient as I am, I would suggest that you get your NewJeans merch online.

The above image shows you the two holding areas I had to go through, which took me about an hour all in all.

I’m not the sort that likes waiting so I think shopping online would make things a lot easier (and cheaper for selected goods).

However, I do have to highlight to you that some merchandise is already sold out online so it’s your chance to get them offline if they still have it when you visit.

Also, there are a handful of items that I can’t seem to find in the Kpopmerch Official Store on Shopee (those that I didn’t input any links to), so it’s a good opportunity for you to get them in-store.

Anyhow, I’m writing this on the launch day of the pop-up store, which is on a Friday. I cannot imagine what the queue situation is going to be like during the weekend.

I would highly recommend that you visit on a weekday if you have the freedom to do so.

The event will last till 23 November but the merch won’t wait so you should visit early before the items get sold out.

It’s wise to plan your ETA too! 🐰

NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS Pop-Up Store

Address: Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd, #01-09, Singapore 238896

Opening hours: 11 am to 10 pm daily

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How to Save Money to Grow Your KPop Merch Collection

Fangirls and fanboys show their love for their idols in different ways. While some fans show their loyalty by attending every concert, others show their appreciation by purchasing KPop merchandise. Buying albums is one of the best ways to support their idols as it will help the singers or bands to hit top spots in the physical and digital music charts.

To help you get started in buying and saving for KPop merchandise (merch), here is an easy guide:

CHOOSE EITHER OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL MERCH

There are two types of KPop merch – official and unofficial goods. The former is released by the KPop star’s entertainment company. Official merch includes albums, photo books, lightsticks, concert items, and DVDs. A percentage of the sales will go straight to your idols. The latter is usually cheaper than the former. The unofficial goods are fan made and will support the fans’ small businesses. Unofficial goods include fanarts printed on shirts, mugs, stationery items, and keychains.

SCOUT FOR DISCOUNTS

Always keep a lookout for discounts on shops that offer KPop merchandise. Start by scanning online to see whether these stores have posted their recent promotions and events on their websites and social media pages. You can also inquire locally by asking physical merchants whether they have an upcoming promotion. Compare their rates to Singapore marketplaces to ensure that you get the best deals.

KNOW WHERE TO SHOP

KPop merchandise is available on international websites such as Amazon and YesAsia. Items are also available in physical stores such as Infinity Kpop (City Gate) and House of Kpop (Orchard Road). You must first identify the merchandise that you are looking for. Then, do your research on the prices offered by the physical and online stores. Choosing the cheapest places to purchase your desired items will help you save a considerable amount of cash.

MANAGE YOUR CASH

If you are planning to purchase the newest album by ENHYPEN or NewJeans, allot a specific budget by planning ahead. To avoid using your credit cards or borrowing money that is not yet in your hands, you can save up for the coveted item.

For instance, you are expecting that you’ll be getting your salary in a few days, so you decided to pre-order the merchandise and pay for it later. Once you receive your salary, you may experience cash shortage because of your fixed expenses. Having a plan helps avoid overspending and debts.

RESIST THE MARKETING TRAPS

Marketers want you to spend money by targeting their ads to the people who are able to shell out their cash in Kpop merchandise. They have this mentality of: “Don’t go broke but also buy, buy, buy.” It is the marketing department’s job to sell you items, even if you do not need them. So, do your best to resist the marketing traps.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

If your savings are not enough to fund your attendance at all the concerts or your eagerness to collect all your idol’s albums, do not let the marketers sway you. Find price-comparison websites to get the best deals before purchasing goods featuring BTS, Jessi, BLANKPINK, and so on.

Sources: 1 & 2

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