Barang Barang closes

[Watchman]

Barang Barang closes
Feb 12, 2010

By Esther Teo

The home-grown furniture retailer's six stores here, including this one at Marina Square, and two in Malaysia have been closed since Wednesday. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN


FALLING sales and high costs have sent furniture retailer Barang Barang to the wall and forced it to shut its shops here and in Malaysia.

The chain's approximately 50 employees will likely be laid off although some will be retained temporarily to handle the remaining furniture.

The shock announcement came in a statement to the Singapore Exchange from listed door-maker KLW Holdings, which owns a 71 per cent stake in Barang Barang.

It said weak consumer demand coupled with high rental and marketing costs had brought the chain to its knees.

KLW has placed the furniture chain under liquidation to repay creditors, including landlords, suppliers and customers owed refunds.

Its six local stores - at Central Mall, Plaza Singapura, Singapore Post Centre, Marina Square, the International Furniture Centre and Autohub@Senoko - and two in Malaysia have been closed since Wednesday.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Watchman]

Latest comments

GKY: Unproductive firms will just have to go.
Posted by: iamgoondu at Fri Feb 12 09:55:31 SGT 2010


It will be cheaper to import all these funitures from vietnam, the dong has been devalued and S$1 is now 14,000 dong, which will buy you two bowls of beef or pork noodles on the street. This is the cheapest country to retire.

Anyway the funitures at barang are on the high side, but solid woods used. More for the bungalows and semi-d and how many are there here.

My heart goes out to the employees, at this wrong time to shut, even "job credit funds" don't help and it shows the high cost of rental and ultilities, all chasing rentals to peak and strong dollar curbing exports for these kind of industry. The company should have moved out long time ago or reinvent the business where more landed properties are located and with less wood used.

This is classic example that job credit will not help companies that are here for the wrong reason.
Posted by: eaglefly at Fri Feb 12 09:27:43 SGT 2010


Did Barang Barang took a nap for too long, ignoring trends and economic situation?

Funny they need 4 shops in a small place like Singapore to sell their run of the mill furniture, like people buy furniture everyweek.

One down for inefficiency.
Posted by: novicereporter at Fri Feb 12 09:21:21 SGT 2010


A few months ago a couple complained that after ordering/paying for furniture there were repeated delays etc. Some netizens suggested a boycott. I wonder....

In this cyberage - both biz & govt must be mindful.
Posted by: goaheadbingostan at Fri Feb 12 08:59:32 SGT 2010


That is a reflection of high business cost esp rental in singapore.
Posted by: taekniu at Fri Feb 12 07:59:06 SGT 2010

 

[scroobal]

More like unemployed Singaporeans unable to make purchases except for essential foodstuff, utilities and needs for kids. While foreign workers don't patronise such outlets.

The retailer should have switched the product line to the following
- double decker beds
- Folding Cupboards
- Multiple tooth brushholders
- folding chairs

 

[Highfalutin]

Cork arse plugs whenever the toilet is in use and you are fourth in line.

 

[scroobal]

good point.

Cork arse plugs whenever the toilet is in use and you are fourth in line.

 

[myfoot123]

PAP barang barang also must go. It is very costly to have them operating in Singapore. The total amount saved can help many Singaporeans throughout their life-time. Singaporeans want a more productive, cheaper and faster government, probably can outsourced from neighbouring countries.

 

[kingrant]

Casualty of PAP raising levies and choking off FTs and crying for productivity improvements or die?

 

[dunbluffme]

Because they never invite VIPs...Without VIPs' support and endorsement biz very hard to survive

Barang Barang closes
Feb 12, 2010

By Esther Teo

The home-grown furniture retailer's six stores here, including this one at Marina Square, and two in Malaysia have been closed since Wednesday. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN


FALLING sales and high costs have sent furniture retailer Barang Barang to the wall and forced it to shut its shops here and in Malaysia.

The chain's approximately 50 employees will likely be laid off although some will be retained temporarily to handle the remaining furniture.

The shock announcement came in a statement to the Singapore Exchange from listed door-maker KLW Holdings, which owns a 71 per cent stake in Barang Barang.

It said weak consumer demand coupled with high rental and marketing costs had brought the chain to its knees.

KLW has placed the furniture chain under liquidation to repay creditors, including landlords, suppliers and customers owed refunds.

Its six local stores - at Central Mall, Plaza Singapura, Singapore Post Centre, Marina Square, the International Furniture Centre and Autohub@Senoko - and two in Malaysia have been closed since Wednesday.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[halsey02]

How to survive, where everywhere you turn it is Faireprice?..fairprice this, fairprice that.......hnow to compete...

 

[po2wq]

dey hv lousy marketing ideas ...

dey shud choose n elite-sounding angmo name ... not sumting dat sounds like jabalang ...

sporeans c local home-grown coys no up 1 ... dey c fanciful angmo names oni, dey tot iz angmo coy, dey wil quikly rush there ...

 

[Semaj2357]

Would have thought that they'd learnt the basics from Ms $2 - Nanz Chong!

 

[dunbluffme]

Angmo Brand ... Hmmmm...Bareitzo Batiola? iBarang? Bayi-Rang?

Would have thought that they'd learnt the basics from Ms $2 - Nanz Chong!

 

[Semaj2357]

Angmo Brand ... Hmmmm...Bareitzo Batiola? iBarang? Bayi-Rang?

Perhaps Ari-Rang, judging from the popularity of korean serials among locals

When I heard of this name when they opened, what came to mind was "barang" which is a local slang word for drugs. Anyway, I find their stuff too rustic for my taste....maybe a fav with our wooden:p

 

[besotted]

If they had hired cheaper, better and faster PRC workers instead of choosy lazy complaining Singaporean youngsters, they probably would have enough margin to continue with the business.

As an SME boss I know the profile of workers well. PRC hardworking, Pinoy cheerful, Burmese loyal, Singaporean CMI after two days don't show up, complain more than work

 

[i_am_belle]

even IKEA seeing slow turnover, slow business ... what more barang-barang ? furthermore they're all located in expensive ho-jinx retail malls in orchard area ...

reason is so obvious - less money trickling down to the man-in-the-street ... all grabbed by those at the top - politicians, landlords, CEOs ... income gap widening, dual economy appearing ... ordinary person got no $$ to spend on luxuries ... those CNY pasar-malam stalls near my block all swatting flies, twiddling thumbs, sulky face ...

 

[halsey02]

If they had hired cheaper, better and faster PRC workers instead of choosy lazy complaining Singaporean youngsters, they probably would have enough margin to continue with the business.

As an SME boss I know the profile of workers well. PRC hardworking, Pinoy cheerful, Burmese loyal, Singaporean CMI after two days don't show up, complain more than work

Are you saying that our ancestors, my ancestors, wherever they come from that built this country are a lazy lot of people?

Are you saying that the children you reproduce here in SINkingpore.. is what you described here?

If the PRC are hardworking, the Pinoy cheerful the Burmese loyal..wtf are they doing here?, the should be working hard, being happy & loyal, back where they come from...

WHY ARE THEY HERE?

 

[travelbug]

Have heard of Sporeans heading to Chatuchak market in Bangkok for their weekend markets to source for furniture there. The Thai merchants everything bao gao liao with shipping etc. Its value for money with high quality workmanship. So if you are moving into new homes, buy dirt cheap airtickets for the weekend then go furniture hunting. Can also get interesting lampshades, ornaments you need to decorate your home. Thai design is way above made in China design.

 

[cooleo]

The furniture at Barang Barang so expensive! Also looks like fuck with heavy Balinese feel. Only ang mors like this kind of furniture.

 

[Watchman]

even IKEA seeing slow turnover, slow business ... what more barang-barang ? furthermore they're all located in expensive ho-jinx retail malls in orchard area ...

reason is so obvious - less money trickling down to the man-in-the-street ... all grabbed by those at the top - politicians, landlords, CEOs ... income gap widening, dual economy appearing ... ordinary person got no $$ to spend on luxuries ... those CNY pasar-malam stalls near my block all swatting flies, twiddling thumbs, sulky face ...

The ruling party still refuse to wake up and live in denial.

Still believing in bail-outs and work scheme upgrading bullshit .