[Post 1137] Why Costco Went All in on Kirkland — and How It Paid Off | WSJ Case Study

Summary

Costco went against industry standards in 1995 with the creation of its private label, Kirkland Signature. With $86 billion in sales last year, Kirkland is now a bigger brand than Proctor & Gamble and Kraft-Heinz. Compared with other mass retailers like Target and Walmart, which have multiple brands, club channels like Costco and Sam’s Club are winning the private-label food and beverage space by consolidating. 

WSJ breaks down why Kirkland is now the retail behemoth’s secret weapon

[Post 1136] Can Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar Withstand Rising Costs and Competition? | On The Red Dot

Summary

As Singapore’s largest and oldest Ramadan bazaar, the Geylang Serai Ramadan bazaar is a well-loved cultural landmark for Singaporeans. But with numerous bazaars popping up all over Singapore, vendors face increasing competition. 

We follow the journey of four vendors at Geylang Bazaar and find out how they adapt to bring people back and the reasons for returning despite high rental cost. Can they survive the uncertainties throughout all five weeks and make a profit at the end of the day?

[Post 1135] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: Building Big in a Small Country | Ep 5

Summary

At any given moment, there are more than 100 public housing projects being built in Singapore today. They will add to the more than one million public housing flats already constructed, that now house nearly 80% of the population. In this episode, we pull back the curtains on how one of the world’s smallest countries manages to build so big, revealing the challenges of construction within the tightest of land constraints.

[Post 1134] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: The Secrets Behind BTO Balloting | Ep 4

Summary

Singapore may boast one of the highest rates of homeownership in the world. But it is a complex balloting system through which most people get their public housing flats. We demystify this closely

guarded process, and answer the question, can supply ever catch up with demand?

[Post 1133] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: Is My Flat Affordable? | Ep 3

Summary

As prices for new public housing flats go upwards, the affordability of Singapore’s public housing is being questioned. How are the prices of new flats determined? We gain exclusive access to the Housing and Development Board’s valuation and pricing teams, and meet the people behind this price controversy.

[Post 1132] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: A Promise That Changed Singapore | Ep 2

Summary

Singapore’s public housing is now envied all around the world. But in its early years, the city-state struggled with population growth far outstripping the number of homes available. The squalid slums were an issue that even the British colonial government could not solve. This is the story of how a young nation, guided by visionary leaders who made bold decisions, transformed its housing landscape in less than a decade.

[Post 1131] Singapore's Public Housing Revealed: The Worst Construction Crisis | Ep 1

Summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, border controls, supply chain disruptions and a nationwide lockdown had a dire impact on the construction of Singapore’s public housing. A total of 92 Build-to-Order projects were delayed, leaving over 71,000 flat buyers waiting for their homes. This episode features key players then, who share what they lived through and what it took to tackle Singapore’s worst construction crisis.