5 trades which have quietly died or are slowly fading in Singapore

As automation and comfort have grow to be the cornerstones of contemporary residing, many people can now get virtually something we’d like with only a few faucets on our telephones or by strolling a mere 5 to 10 minutes from dwelling.

Whereas some enterprise fashions have efficiently advanced to match the change in shopper behaviour, others haven’t been as fortunate. A handful of trades have discovered themselves getting left behind, and whereas some have been broadly coated by the native press, in the present day, we’re spotlighting those who have quietly died or are slowly fading in Singapore.

1. Road barbers

An previous commerce that has quietly died out in recent times is avenue barbering, as exemplified by Tan Boon Kee, Singapore’s final avenue barber, who formally retired in 2022 on the age of 77.

Tan spent virtually three a long time providing S$6 haircuts in a modest tent at a quiet alley at Aliwal Road. Regardless of his age, he had beforehand expressed a need to proceed working for so long as doable and had grow to be a well-loved determine amongst locals.

Sadly, his clientele decreased over time as individuals most popular to patronise fashionable, air-conditioned salons. And with no successor, as neither of his sons needed to take over his store, the road barber commerce in Singapore got here to an finish with Tan.

2. Commerce outlets

Generally present in moist markets, commerce outlets promote fundamental commodities similar to water faucets, sponges, and plastic takeaway containers, and are sometimes owned by the aged.

Whereas the declining variety of moist markets has made native information headlines, a lot much less has been mentioned about these shops. Within the markets I’ve visited, they have an inclination to draw solely a handful of shoppers.

Two stallholders I spoke to at Blk 538 Market & Meals Centre and Blk 216 Bedok Meals Centre & Market shared that enterprise has slowed down over the past couple of years, as extra individuals have opted to buy at close by supermarkets as a substitute.

A Sheng Siong outlet sits near the previous, whereas NTUC FairPrice is only a quick stroll from Blk 216. These supermarkets can now be present in virtually each neighbourhood, with comfort and luxury maybe serving as their largest draw.

Immediately, FairPrice serves greater than 500,000 day by day customers, and Sheng Siong has 75 shops islandwide as of the tip of 2024.

3. Conventional Chinese language signboard makers

As soon as coveted by businessmen as symbols of fine luck and prosperity, just one conventional Chinese language signboard maker, Yong Gallery, stays in Singapore.

Its homeowners, Yong Cheong Thye and Cheh Kai Hon, shared in a earlier interview that signboard making was a “thriving trade” once they opened in 1986. Nevertheless, because the years glided by, cheaper factory-made signage has overshadowed them, they usually now obtain solely a few dozen prospects per 12 months.

Regardless of that, the grasp calligrapher and woodmaker duo added that the enterprise continues to outlive as Chinese language signboard making is included in Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage record—a register that provides authorities safety to endangered rituals, crafts, information and abilities.

However this register could solely provide short-term reduction for the enterprise, and and not using a successor, the city-state dangers shedding a singular cultural observe sooner or later.

4. Streetside cobblers

For any Singaporean residing within the heartlands, there was not less than one street-side cobbler uncle or aunty that they’d flip to for shoe repairs, usually at a negotiable value.

Some of the widespread areas the place avenue cobblers used to cluster is in Chinatown, extra particularly proper outdoors the Folks’s Park Complicated, which is informally often known as “Cobbler Sq..” With their makeshift cubicles, the way in which of enterprise has not modified for the reason that Fifties.

These cultural pillars have since decreased in quantity over time, as a result of previous age and sickness, with nobody to take over their cubicles. Upon visiting Cobbler Sq. on a typical Monday afternoon, solely three cobbler uncles had their cubicles open, silently mending footwear as individuals handed by.

As there are fewer street-side cobblers within the city-state, it might solely be a matter of time earlier than cobbler chains, similar to Minister Minit, grow to be our solely possibility for fixing our damaged heels and soles.

5. Piano technicians and/or tuners

Piano tuning is a distinct segment occupation that one may not be aware of until they personal a piano at dwelling or have a music background.

It’s a profession that requires years of observe and entails extra than simply figuring out the proper pitch and octaves, based on Kelvin Tan, an accountant-turned-piano technician. Consequently, many trainees pursuing this path usually grow to be impatient and depart midway.

“There isn’t any shortcut to what we do as a result of it’s all gathered from expertise. It may well take years to hone even a small facet of the abilities required,” mentioned Tan in a 2022 interview with South China Morning Submit.

Timothy Leong, a contract piano tuner working at Yamaha Music Singapore, famous the same development. He shared that piano tuners are sometimes seen as a blue-collar job, which youthful Singaporeans usually are not inclined to pursue as a result of their larger ranges of training.

That mentioned, Timothy additionally identified that whereas the variety of piano tuners could decline sooner or later, he doesn’t consider the commerce will grow to be out of date; as a substitute, the trade wants to draw passionate people to hold it ahead.

• Learn extra tales we have now written on Singaporean companies right here.

Featured Picture Credit score: Amsyar Ashaary/ Yong Gallery through Fb/ Music Lodge