The Little Dröm Store; 7 Ann Siang Hill; Tel 6225-5541
ONCE known as a watering hole, Ann Siang Hill has slowly but steadily been gaining a reputation as a retail destination, featuring unique boutiques with quirky merchandise.
Helping to cement this reputation is the newest kid on the block, The Little Dröm Store. Just one week old, it is a fun, colourful boutique selling charming knick-knacks and a range of photography and illustration books that owners Stanley Tan and Antoinette Wong publish.
'We think of ourselves as more of a provision shop,' explains Mr Tan. 'We hope that with our selection of products, they will bring a smile onto people's faces - that is what we love to see, be it identifying with long forgotten childhood memories, or getting tickled by our quirky items.'
Ann Siang Hill is 'charming and quaint ... modern yet traditional'. 'We love that good mix, and it reflects well and complements the modern and retro products that we carry in our shop as well,' he says.
'We are more of an alternative shopping choice for people who want to beat the regular Orchard Road crowd or your mass-produced goods. Some of our products are actually limited editions. We'd also like to think that our shop provides that nice getaway from all the hustle and bustle you find at Orchard Road.'
He admits that it is harder for the shop to gain visibility, unlike the shops that are located in the more accessible shopping malls. But he is quick to insist that the vibe that Ann Siang Hill emanates more than makes up for it.
'We love the sense of the traditional meets contemporary vibe that Ann Siang Hill gives. Some could possibly say the same about Arab Street/Haji Lane, but we personally find it more charming here in Chinatown. Somehow it feels more vibrant, colourful and lively,' he says.
'We've also had some walk-in tourists who never thought that Singapore could be so cool and quirky until they visited our shop. We love hearing their stories about the impressions that they have about Singapore.'
This article was first published in The Business Times.
