i've been back from my grad trip for about a week now, and it feels like i've never even been away cos work at Vainpot & Momoteapots has quickly consumed my life back here. i have 1000+ photos of my trip that i really really want to share, but i procrastinate because...it's 1000+ photos to sieve through.
today i caught up with Bev and Zhu first time post-gradtrip and we exchanged gifts because Zhu just came back from Taipei. after lunch at this famous chicken rice stall at Katong Mall, we went Teo Heng for Karaoke again and then had Katong laksa for early dinner (i know, we are such gluttons). we ate at the 328 Katong laksa place and it was not tasty at all. the gravy was too salty and the ingredients weren't very fresh, such a disappointment. i'd been looking forward to the laksa cos i think i haven't had laksa for about a year :( anyways we looked for dessert after dinner and chanced upon this new Gelato shop called Coccogelo, and to our surprise, they served quite yummy ice cream!
retro yellow cabinet at Coccogelo
we had blueberry cheesecake & lychee yoghurt flavours
hanging light bulbs
my new favourite blazer from Momoteapots
okay and many narcissistic shots below (don't say i didn't warn ya!) :P
also, if you haven't checked out our awesome launch (mostly imported items and of course our pride & joy SENTIMENTAL MOMENTS MAXI in 4 new colours!), do so
HERE HERE HERE! I kept Mustard for myself. Considering whether or not to keep the coral....but I already have the mint from the previous batch..............*runs off before WY comes and smack me for taking another colour*
for those who asked how long it is on me, here's a silly full-length photo of me in the mustard maxi. it ends just above the ankle :)
our new girl at Vainpot <3
besides the little girl outside our boutique, we had a few new decals that were specially customised for the shop while i was away as well, and i'm loving it so much i took so many photos with it *chuckles evil chuckle*
we'll be having a storewarming/birthday party for the Vainpot Boutique next week, and we have some sale surprises in store for our customers, which we'll reveal in our mailers in due course :D SO EXCITED! please please please come support and visit us, and most importantly, just wish to meet all our customers and hope to share our joy :) keep your weekend free alright!
Exams are not over for me, but I've already been spending quite a lot of time at the new Vainpot Boutique. If you haven't yet heard, we've just shifted from our old level 2 unit, to our spankin' new space at
42 Haji Lane and it is FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!! :D
It was such a trying period for the 3 of us in April, what with the pressing project deadlines, part-time job, impending exam doom, and heaps and heaps of Vainpot admin to settle. In hindsight, we were so crazy thinking we could handle this. But we did, and the result of our efforts has been more than satisfying :) You'd think simple things like choosing the wood would be a breeze, but hell no. Like Tricia said, she almost went blind looking at the selection of wood O.o" Coming up with the design of the shop was such a headache as well, but I'm so terribly happy and thankful for the help we got from my brother (he suggested the clinic partition idea, one of my fave parts of the shop!) and Tricia's boyfriend, John. His family did the interior design and carpentry of the shop! And of course Tricia's talented trusty Dad who helped us with our lighting :D
Can't wait for everyone to come visit the new shop, because it was really love at first sight for us. The big space on level 1with wooden glass frames in the centre of Haji Lane.....<3
see how we transformed this...
to this! (hahahaha typical Matt being very particular about his visual merchandising)
the hardcore physical work started on the fateful night of 30/3 where we shifted all our barang-barangs to 42 Haji Lane from the old unit. A lot of nonsense because Tricia the Karang Guni refused to let us throw anything away hahahah.
then in the next week all the carpentry work came in...
and little bumps here and there..like when we realised the inner laminate of the box is pure white!!! *HORRIFIED FACE* See what I mean when simple things like this can drive you crazy. Our box is now off-white inside, and it makes a whole world of difference! Really. I'm not being obsessive!
TADAH the replaced boxes with off-white insides arrived 2 days later! Looks much better right?!
Carpenters hard at work while we were eating la mian at the sofa :X
Our signboard in the making and will be put up before our party in May/June! Yes, Vainpot has a new logo, naiseeee?
Some sneak peeks of what we have at The Vainpot Boutique already :)
We have a vendor with us, Merry Isle, selling Korea-imported stationery and also accessories like rings, necklaces and earrings. I promise you they are really eye-candies! Like this cute owl ring below..
Our most popular double rings in the store - Love & Black Hawk
CUTECUTECUTE Rabbit pencil cases!
hot-selling fauxleather passport cases
really lovely planners and notebooks from Korea. I'll post more photos of them next time because I think they look really pretty! I'm a huge fan of notebooks and planners. In one year, I usually have like 2-3 planners because I get easily tempted by nice ones :/ Overheard some customers saying that the hardcover planners are very affordable at less than $20, and it's so true. I paid $30 for my 2011 planner from Kikki -.-
unique bookmark corners (one of my personal favourites cos' I tend to dog-ear my books OOPS)
At the new Vainpot Boutique we'll try to bring in a greater variety of bags & accessories. See below for some new arrivals from this week!
Matt was supposed to be studying for his exam........
Okay and just a parting shot from after topping up at Vainpot :D
Yup, we'll be having a store-warming party some time in May/June, and the shop will look even better then cos' we still have some further plans on the deco and lighting. Exams first, and then...GRAD TRIP!!!!! :D I'm finally no longer gonna be student. Not sure how I feel about that.
Anyways, do "like" us on
Facebook at http://facebook.com/thevainpotboutique and follow us on
Twitter (@vainpotboutique) for store updates (especially about our upcoming opening ;) )
