Month: July 2022

  • Amazon FBA vs Shopify – My Personal Story

    Amazon FBA vs Shopify – My Personal Story

    Amazon has about 1.1 million merchants while Shopify has close to 900,000 web stores. In terms of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), Amazon overpowers with $600 billion in 2021 compared to Shopify’s $175.4 billion. I have been selling on Amazon FBA since 2019 and have run Shopify web stores for longer than I can remember. This is my story.

  • SEO vs SEM – A Business Owner’s Perspective

    SEO vs SEM – A Business Owner’s Perspective

    SEO and SEM are two distinct marketing techniques businesses can use to reach their target markets on search engines such as Google and Bing. What is the difference, and which one should you use? In this article I will share with you my thoughts from a business owner’s viewpoint.

  • 2 Rules for Happiness

    2 Rules for Happiness

    During a long night drive with my family, my teenage boys and I were having a conversation, and somehow the topic of happiness came up. “Boys, do you want to know the secret to eternal happiness?” “What is it?”, they asked. “There are only 2 rules to happiness,” I said. “Expect Nothing, and be Grateful for Everything”. Yes, it’s that simple. But simple doesn’t mean easy.

  • I Was Wrong about S$NEER

    I Was Wrong about S$NEER

    In my previous post “Using Interest Rates to fight Inflation”, I said that the SGD has depreciated 4% against the USD. And as the US Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) hikes interest rates further, the depreciation will worsen, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) will eventually be forced to either raise interest rates or sell our foreign reserves to defend the SGD. I stand corrected, I’m sorry.

  • Using Interest Rates to fight Inflation

    Using Interest Rates to fight Inflation

    The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) uses exchange rate, rather than interest rate, as its chief weapon to fight inflation. However, after 3 rounds of tightening efforts between Oct 2021 and Apr 2022, the SGD has actually weakened about 4% against the USD, from 1.35 to 1.40. Is there more that can be done?

  • Why Voluntary GST Registration?

    Why Voluntary GST Registration?

    “What? GST can be voluntary meh? I thought only businesses with more than S$ 1 million revenue can register for GST?” This is the typical response I get when I advise small business owners to voluntarily register their business for GST (Goods and Services Tax). In this article, I will dispel some of the myths regarding GST, and why you might want to voluntarily become GST registered.