Darren Ho

#Purpose, #People, #Pay - Career discovery conversation with Empact and Republic Polytechnic. Helping youths to create the growth mindset, and to learn how to turn career dreams into a rewarding reality! A great Monday booster to anchor my personal purpose too. 💯

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Yindii, a new mobile phone application launched in Singapore, enables diners to purchase unsold food from eateries at discounts of up to 80 per cent, in efforts to reduce food waste. Users can buy “surprise bags” containing any surplus food from the day, with partner restaurants such as Paul, Baker & Cook, and SaladStop Group offering these discounted options. Yindii Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Mahima Rajangam Natarajan, highlights, “We chose to launch in Singapore because it’s a forward-thinking city with a growing focus on sustainability and reducing food waste.” Free for both merchants and customers, the app has helped reduce daily food surplus for partners by up to 80%, and offset over 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions through food sales. Some participating stores have already reported a 4 per cent to 5 per cent reduction in food waste. The steady increase in the uptake of surprise bags across locations reflects growing demand for sustainable food options, and Yindii plans to expand its merchant network in the near future. Read more about it: https://lnkd.in/gS_kY9n6 Together, let’s #PowerTheChange and inspire a collective journey towards a greener home, one that belongs to all of us. #Geneco #GenecoSG #Sustainability #SustainableBusiness #FoodWaste

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Shopee's parent Sea will publish its results for the second quarter of 2024 tomorrow. It's always an interesting time because Shopee in many ways acts as a bellwether of Southeast Asia's wider e-commerce industry. We spent most of 2023 wondering whether Shopee could find a way to grow its GMV while also being profitable. Then, the company posted two great quarters in a row with solid GMV growth and improving unit economics for Q4-2023 and Q1-2024. Tomorrow's Q2-2024 announcement will be very exciting too, because: 1) Our data indicates that Shopee has continued to grow its GMV robustly, both in Southeast Asia but also with standout performance in Brazil 2) Shopee started increasing its commissions aggressively in several markets in the beginning of Q2, and we might start to see the results of that tomorrow. Market consensus is cautiously optimistic, but there are some indicators that tomorrow's quarterly announcement could be one for the books... We shall see. I shared some thoughts about Shopee's rising take rates today with the one and only Olivia Poh from Bloomberg below:

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If you have not tried and curious about how GrabFood Dine-in deals work. Here’s a great example. At Tanyu, you can get a 30% discount on your dine-in bill, and the best part is, you can combine with other Grab promo codes available (i.e. CITI5 for Citi card users), more bang for the buck 💰🥳. This is a great example of how F&B brands are rewarding their customers online/offline through digital rewards today. 💯 Eugene Lee Stephanie Chia Cassandra Mun Sarah Lim Clement Ng #GrabFood #GrabGifts #GrabForBusiness

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𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿? 💓 As the flavor of the season takes over, our homes, hearts, and workplaces are filled with the spirit of joy and prosperity. 🌸 Those who invite 𝘉𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢 for 1 1⁄2 days must have already bid farewell to beloved guest, however for others celebrations continue. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 1 1⁄2, 3, 5, 7 𝘰𝘳 10 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴?🤔 👉Perhaps it's because the festival transcends beyond religious reasons. 👉Or it’s something to do with modern-day convenience, and hence varies from family to family and community to community. ➡️Check out this campaign that brings focus around this insight. This really stands out from clutter, as it has a unique spin to the Sanskrit word "𝘼𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙞". This one is from 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 - an edible oil brand that is constantly supporting fresh ideas. 𝘐𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢! 𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?🤔     #GaneshChaturthi2024 #CreativeAds #Creative #Advertising #Creativity #GaneshChaturthi #LordGanesha #Festival #MarketingCampaigns #TopicalPost #MomentMarketing

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🌟Unlocking Success: The Power of Soft Skills at Kebabs Faktory Singapore As the General Manager of Kebabs Faktory Singapore, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of soft skills in driving our team's success. While technical expertise is crucial, it is the mastery of soft skills that truly sets individuals and teams apart. Here are six essential soft skills that we prioritize and cultivate at Kebabs Faktory: 1. Confidence: Our team members express their ideas clearly and confidently, ensuring effective communication and collaboration. 2. Time Management: Meeting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining productivity are key to our operational efficiency. 3. Adaptability: Embracing challenges and using them to our advantage has been pivotal in navigating the dynamic food industry. 4. Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing emotions helps us maintain a balanced and harmonious work environment. 5. Problem-solving: Innovative and effective solutions are at the heart of our approach to overcoming obstacles. 6. Leadership: Inspiring and motivating others is essential for fostering a cohesive and driven team. At Kebabs Faktory, we believe in continuous learning and development. Here are a few ways we nurture these skills: 🌟Workshops and Training: Regular sessions to enhance communication, time management, and problem-solving abilities. Mentorship Programs: Experienced team members guide and support others in developing leadership and emotional intelligence. Real-world Challenges: Encouraging adaptability through hands-on experiences and dynamic roles. I invite you to join us on this journey of growth and excellence. Let's continue to invest in our soft skills and unlock new heights of success together! https://kebabsfaktory.com/ #madankishor #Leadership #SoftSkills #CareerSuccess #Teamwork #KebabsFaktorySingapore

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Generational Clash: Millennials, Boomers, and Gen Z Walk into a Workplace... Who's Steering the Ship? I stumbled upon in a Thai online forum! It's all about the fascinating intersection of geopolitics in Thailand and the evolving landscape of global values. Picture this: amidst these shifts, there's a group of seasoned employees who are quite resistant to change. So, what exactly are "values," you ask? Well, think of them as the guiding principles that shape our behaviours and decisions. They can be a mixed bag – some good, some not so much. For instance, valuing hard work is great, but overdoing it might not be. And what about the value of loyalty to your peers? Is it always a positive? It's a complex puzzle, really. Now, where do these values come from? For many of us, they're deeply rooted in our upbringing, culture, and education. Take Thailand, for example. We've got these traditional values ingrained in us from a young age, e.g. respecting our elders and cherishing our cultural heritage. But here's the kicker: with the rise of Gen Z, there's a whole new set of values in town. They're all about equality, individualism, and freedom, marching to the beat of a different drum than us millennials and baby boomers. Now, imagine you're the bridge between these two worlds – managing a team where generations collide. How do you keep the peace and ensure productivity doesn't take a nosedive? It's all about finding that sweet spot. You've to be a master negotiator, navigating the waters between the old guard and the new wave. And , don't worry – your human touch is something AI can't replicate (at least not yet!). So, what's the secret sauce 🤔 ? In my opinion me, the practical and do-able approach can be "crafting a shared vision" that speaks to everyone's values while keeping the company's goals in mind. One of the useful tools "design thinking" – a creative approach to problem-solving that brings people together to brainstorm, collaborate, and find common ground. By fostering open dialogue and understanding, you can pave the way for a harmonious workplace where both seasoned pros and fresh-faced rookies thrive. In the end, it's not just about hitting those KPIs – it's about building a culture where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to bring their best to the table. And hey, if we can crack this code, who knows? Maybe we'll be the ones leading the charge into a brighter, more inclusive future. Cheers to that!

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Looking to retain top talents in Singapore’s competitive market? Deferred compensation is a strategic tool for long-term employee retention. By offering employees the option to delay a portion of their compensation package, companies can foster loyalty while assisting them to plan for their future. Help employees reduce immediate taxable income and create a financial incentive for key players to stay and thrive with your business. Invest in your workforce, invest in your future. 💼 #DeferredCompensation #EmployeeRetention #SummitPlannersCluster

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As an FMCG distributor based in Singapore, I'm constantly surprised by the fellow Singaporean businesspeople I meet overseas during work trips. It's quite interesting from my meetups with them, spanning from FMCG to F&B industry on my recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The conversations were lively and I gained many insights & new friendships from the interactions & conversations with them. I feel that they're more open-minded and adventurous in business than most of my local clients & peers. Yet, the comfort zone is one of the top killers in the business world much like cancer is to health. And many choose to stay there until the eventual slow death of the business or being made irrelevant. Not being flexible in adapting to a fast-changing business world also contributes significantly to the death of many businesses. It's likely the majority of FMCG players in SG are more senior and have a traditional & conservative mindset. I empathize with that thinking & mindset that kept my family's FMCG business around for 46 years. But I'm not sure if that mindset would keep us around for the next 46 years. It seems that it's either expansion or the eventual death of the business will happen from my experience and observation over the years. I am blessed to have time & space to ponder and philosophize on this. Most peers are tied down with the operational, administrative, and daily grind of the business, they hardly have time for themselves, let alone write their thoughts and share them on LinkedIn. What are your thoughts and opinions on your observations of your industry locally & overseas? I would love to hear about your insights in the comments below. #singapore #vietnam #fmcg #business #observation #opinion #insight

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🌍 Fighting Inflation with Smart Financial Planning in Singapore 💡 As of the most recent update in October 2024, Singapore's inflation rate had been fluctuating, influenced by global and domestic factors like supply chain disruptions, energy prices, and food costs. The headline inflation rate had been running at around 4-5% in mid-2024. Inflation can erode your purchasing power, but with strategic financial planning, you can protect and grow your wealth. Here’s how: 1. Invest in Inflation - Hedging Assets: Diversify with stocks, real estate (REITs), and commodities like gold to outpace inflation ‼️ 2. Increase Income: Negotiate salary increases, explore side income opportunities, or create passive income streams to keep up with rising costs 📈 3. Tax Planning: Maximize tax-advantaged accounts like CPF and SRS to reduce your tax burden and grow your wealth faster. 📈 4. Manage Debt Wisely: Refinance loans to lock in lower rates and pay down high-interest debt to avoid rising borrowing costs 🏦 5. Build an Emergency Fund: Set aside cash in high-yield savings accounts or liquid investments to safeguard against unexpected expenses 💵 6. Smart Budgeting: Track your spending, cut unnecessary costs, and shop smarter to preserve your purchasing power ✈️ In a world of rising prices, proactive financial planning is key to securing your financial future. Stay ahead of inflation— plan, invest, and grow! 💪📈

I love collaborations with customers. In this case, Dr Vivien Ng challenged us to this batik tiffin order. If you search online for batik tiffin, it's always slightly costly and I was about to tell Vivien that we will not be able to fulfil her order. However, customers as our community always have a way to share their ideas to us and we are always open to experimenting them to make sure that PichaEats as a brand and its cause is widespread to more people. After a few discussions and tweaks, we managed to work out a product that would satisfy the people at Ernst & Young. What's most amazing is how we could take this idea, incorporate into our product line and open up more opportunities to people who would work on the product in the long term. This is one of the few successful cases that happened and definitely looking out for more in the future. P/S : Do note that we don't necessarily execute all the ideas but those that we know we have the capacity and operational ability to fulfil.

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The Entrepreneurial Journey of a Lifetime… Sugared Bakes Pte Ltd. Part 1… So Where do I begin? Be warned, It’s gonna be long one… Working with Patrick Chan and Kitchen Haus Group Pte Ltd is truly still the best, most exciting, most satisfying but also the most challenging #startup journey of my life… Growing up it has always been my dream to helm my own business/ be my own boss. Working on my passion for all things Automotive, I starting a car polishing business, with limited knowledge, resources but a ship load of Enthusiasm and Self Confidence. Moving on to Selling flowers, in forms of flower arrangements, bouquets and the like for 2 years… albeit the challenge of getting constant orders to sustain the business took its toll. Lastly, I went to help my mom’s jewellery box business and tried“taking over” her business and retail shop for about 6 months but all came to naught and I eventually applied to become a Cabin Crew with #SingaporeAirlines for the next 13 years! Sep 2020 In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, lock downs and associated measures. Many businesses have closed down and the SIA flights were still scarce and limited. Having been a home baker since 2010 my wife Jocelyn has been selling her cakes and pastry products online and Patrick having spoken with us at length before came back again during this time to offer a business proposition to build a Patisserie company together. Nov 2020 We signed our partnership into reality, A chance of a lifetime or is it a risk of a lifetime? Nonetheless we looked at this opportunity offered as a once in a lifetime to reshape our future and embarked on our true entrepreneurial journey! Jan 2021 to Jun 2022 We started at the back of a humble kitchen build up our product offerings, working closely with our parent company to grow our revenues. Starting out with just myself, my wife and a single baker we forged on and did our best to build our revenue… Jun 2022 to Jun 2023 A huge opportunity knocked and we started our own Central kitchen! Knowing we now have the capacity to ramp up our offerings we added OEM capabilities to our list of services. As the number of staff and customers grew, the operational/ logistical/ product challenges grew as well. It has always been our company’s mission to always deliver the best quality products for all our customers and we are very proud to say that whatever challenges we faced, our team has always came out on top. Sure, there were many hits and misses as well, but we drew constant strength from the knowledge that we always had the fullest support of our parent company and that sound advice is always available to guide us. It is also with this constant support that we were able to overcome seemingly impossible odds and continue to grow the company. To be continued… #Lifebeginsagain #Impossibleisnothing #Cancersurvivor #LetsRiseAgain #Sugaredbakes2024

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I read an article on Dynamic Pricing in The Sunday Times by Kolette Lim, published on 7 July 2024. Pricing is one of the levers for businesses to grow their revenue. The concept of dynamic pricing isn't new. Years ago, I recall reading that Coca-Cola was either testing or planning to adjust drink prices based on weather conditions via vending machines. On hotter days, consumers would pay more for a can of Coke compared to cooler days. Eventually, Coca-Cola abandoned the idea due to backlash. Other forms of "dynamic pricing" that do not occur in real time are observed in cinemas offering discounted tickets on weekdays. The Sunday Times article pointed out dynamic pricing might not be suitable for industries such as healthcare and retail, where maintaining price stability and transparency is vital for consumer trust and satisfaction. While dynamic pricing offers potential revenue growth, it will likely remain a debated strategy in business. https://lnkd.in/gzvn_V_w

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What does a surfer and entrepreneur have in common? Questions were fired and answers were candid during the a private discussion + a fireside chat at the The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmCham Singapore) with Mr Ho Kwon ping from banyan group a few weeks back. From why a multi millionaire decides to shop at Uniqlo and Muji to picking himself up after business failures. I went from nervously shaking his hand (I blame the aircon 😂) to an engaging and lively conversation with him in the room (and even letting him taste our brownie brittles!) I loved his raw honest personality. Here’s what I learnt: Surfing 🏄 and entrepreneurship have a lot in common- need skill, timing, luck(to catch the right wave) to bring you back to shore (or closing that deal)💰 🔍Find your why – what drives you to wake up each morning, fueled and focused. Don't sleepwalk through life. Live with intention. 🤔When faced with a tough business decision, I always ask myself: What are the pros and cons? And, honestly, is my ego getting in the way? ⚖️Take calculated risks: He Invest up to 25% in new ideas, never 100%. Only bet what you can afford to lose. I highly recommend his book that I’m currently devouring - Behind the Banyan So any surfers (or entrepreneurs) here identify with what he said? P.s. He nodded in approval after tasting and later mentioned (to the entire crowd) how he actually enjoyed them and said ‘her cookies are nice!’ - I was over the moon!

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What is happening to our quality customer experience ? We all from time to time like to indulge in some premium experiences. My wife decided to treat me to watch a movie at GV Gold Class ! Gold Class at Golden Village (GV) cinemas is a premium movie-going experience offered by the cinema chain in Singapore. Here are some key features and details about the Gold Class experience, I will just focus on 2: 1. Luxurious Seating: Gold Class cinemas feature plush, reclining seats with ample legroom and comfort. Each seat often includes a blanket and pillow for added comfort and when you are lucky you get the popcorns from the previous session including the container! Nice touch. 2. Personalized Service: Attentive staff provides in-seat service, including taking food and beverage orders before and during the movie. When you enter the GC lounge you get no greeting no acknowledgement of being welcomed, you barely walked into a room.... So for all the above you get charged premium prices ( S$93.00) for two with absolutely no service and no signs of premium experience ! Let me guess why is that so ...... "we are short of staff " but we charge you premium because we claim we are ! However the person who was seated at the entrance of the lounge checking the tickets was real but definitely didn't understand then a warm welcome is more important then checking the tickets! #service #Qualitymanagement

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Transforming Waste into Valuable Resources: The Sustainable Business Model IJOOZ Mahmoud Abozaid Not just dispensing convenience but also wellness—fresh, organic orange juice squeezed right before your eyes. That’s the magic of IJOOZ machines in Singapore. But there’s more to the story. These machines don’t just quench your thirst; they’re champions of sustainability. The orange pulp and peel? Recycled into eco-friendly products, leaving zero waste behind. Could these juice machines revolutionize the way Indians drink and think about sustainability? The potential is as refreshing as the juice itself. Let’s squeeze this idea further—what do you think? #FreshOrangeJuice #SustainableBusinessModel #IndiaMarket #HealthyBeverages

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