La Tendo ~2007 Version~

28th November 2007, Wednesday

On Sunday, I was beckoned by Chan to help out the good people of La Tendo with the latter stages of their shift from Sunshine Plaza to the newly-opened Kallang Leisure Park (soft open, whatever that mean on the 1st of December)...

Compared to a couple of weeks back, the renovation seems to be on the way, and at around 50% completion with the main display cabinet shifted over from the old shop and the 4 rows of display shelves on the left side of the shop...
The adjustable shelves on the right still needed a lot of mending from the contractors supposedly and the cashier counter as well as a central glass display (should be a feature to marvel of) should be ready by end of this week when the new shop finally open for business...

Below are some shots I had taken while helping out:

Chan, Bryan & Miyano loading up the truckload of "Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu" figurines

An example of the display shelves on the left

Tay-chan diligently clearing any speck of dust for the glass cabinet display

The same glass cabinet with gashapon figurines loaded

My missus meticulously cleaning the storage trays with dust dated back in 2005

The multi-function counter which is due to be completed

At the end of the day, there are still plenty of goods accumulated over the last 3 and a half years to be unpacked...

Compared to 2 weeks back, we get to see the mall been patronized by quite a moderate crowd (considering around 60% of the shops still not yet to be opened), so it seems to be a good catchment area for family who most probably be residents of the Kallang-Geylang-Paya Lebar area; however whether they will be the big spenders, I highly doubt so...

I came out with a list of pros & cons of the new place.
Due to my cynical nature I will begin with the bad points first:

1. Location: Kallang as we all know is way out of the way unless you live around the vicinity, but even so it would be quite a hefty distance to travel... The MRT station will only be up and running 2 years later, but even so the locality is still a major turn-off factor for regular customers and neutral ones alike.

2. Lack of landmarks of similar attractions: There'll be no Kinokuniya, Sim Lim Square or other hobby shops to make it appealing for collectors or the local otaku-dom to make the trip down to Kallang

The good points:

1. Space: The new shop is easily twice the size of the incumbent. We felt if you want to have an intricate tour of the shop to check out everything on display, you might need a good half an hour or so. Almost everything is not visibly displayed, increasing the chance to be sold...

2. Strategic Location of shop: Within the mall itself, the store will be vividly seen on the 2nd level, beside Koufu, a foodcourt which can always guarantee crowd who will be dropping by for some bites...Let's do a hypothesis, if a good 30% of the crowd bypass La Tendo for the foodcourt actually start to buy something, it's a good source of revenue there... Another wonderful strategic bonus would be the fact that the gents/ladies are just beside the shop, a great way to lure the attention of boyfriends/husbands waiting for their other halves who are freshening up...

3. Great Facilities: Ice-skating rink, bowling alley, Karaoke lounge and a self-operated cineplex are some of the facilities in stall in this place..No so much for the customers, but great for us the clique to hang out when the shop closes late at night...

4. Parking: Parking shouldn't be an issue here as there are aplenty inside the Leisure Park as well as the surrounding. Can never get good spot near Sunshine Plaza in the past...Definitely cheaper than the town but still cannot beat the great rate for weekends at Paradiz Center.

5. Great coffee: Somehow the coffee from foodcourt, eateries and deli just ain't satisfying enough for the connoisseur of the caffeinated beverage like ourselves... The eatery on the ground floor, despite their sub-standard customer service provide the perfect remedy for our regular caffeine requirement..And for limited rime, it's only 50 cents!!

There are still many points that I might have missed out but the location issue surely outweighed any good points that maybe present...But the future looks bright in terms of the locality of the shop, the circle line's arrival should alleviate the agony of taking the endless bus rides (currently only 2 serving the location)...
Plus I got a feeling with the hospitality Vincent, Tay-chan and EK had been offering to their loyal customers, I am sure they would continue to support perhaps the shop with the most complete Japanese hobby shop in Singapore (in terms of variety of figurines on offer)...

Of course those who kept throwing brickbats at the shop, claiming the price is too high and only patronize when there is a sale, will find the opportunity to advise the others to not bother to come over..but consumers had the rights to make their choice...To be able to endear a lengthy 3 years in business, I am sure La Tendo surely had carved their niche in local toy retailing scene...

Just as I am typing this Karen sent an email, recollecting the good days we had at the current store in Sunshine Plaza...giving a great analogy of the Straw Pirates painfully bidding goodbye to the faithful Going Merry but it turned out that Thousand Sunny proved to be more than able replacement which I personally felt the new place would bring greater things for the store and we, the Lovely Frenz will always be behind this "Happy Paradise" in weals or woes and together we'll brave the storm!!

Japanese word of the day: 生き返らせなさい (Revitalize) The new shop surely is a great way to revitalize, I have faith it will turn out very well...