Reflection 5

Most of the social enterprises that we have visited are very effective models of social enterprises. However, there was one that stood out as the "black sheep". The social enterprise that I am referring to is Chinatown Social Enterprise.

Chinatown Social Enterprise is set up by Kreta Ayer- Kim Seng CCC to help the elderly in the area generate income and allow them to do something productive instead not knowing what to do in the last lap of their lives. They also collaborate with various other organizations to help sell their products.

The concept of CSE is extremely good. Many people, including me, think that this social enterprise is absolutely brimming with potential to be very successful. However, there are many pitfalls that makes this social enterprise somewhat obsolete. As we walked past the street looking for the store, we noticed that there wasn't even a proper signboard for the shop. When we asked the shopkeeper on duty, he pointed out that there is in fact a signboard. The 'signboard' was nothing but a printed cardboard balanced at the window of the shop. Indeed, there was nothing eye catching about the shop at all and I would expect that many people walk past it without even realizing the existence of it, which is quite sad.

The location of the shop was also questionable. I feel that the the CCC didn't even consider this initiative to be important, so they just dumped them in an unwanted corner by the road. With a proper, eye catching signboard, the dubious location of this SE can be resolved slightly, but without one, it is just another run down shophouse in Chinatown.

The target market of this SE are tourists, apparently. However, I fail to see how tourists will be attracted to a dinghy shophouse, let alone buy the products. While the person we spoke to claim that the business is profitable, I feel that if this place was to stand out more, so much more income could be garnered. They should probably market this place to everybody. Chinatown is somewhat of a prime location, and with proper signages and advertising, I am confident that the shop will be brimming with shoppers coming in to buy the excellent products they provide.

The BZSE diploma would definitely be helpful in helping this budding SE scale to greater heights. With fresh idea, and the skills that we have, much more can be done for this SE.