Work-from-home, stay-home-notice, and safe distancing have been the latest buzzwords given the coronavirus situation. With new laws in place and extended Circuit Breaker, we are confined to our homes with access to essential services only, hence limiting our choices.
Naturally, many of us will opt for online services, ranging from essentials such as groceries to gifts that can instantly lift moods on an otherwise dull day. The difficult times have badly affected the sustainability of businesses, especially social enterprises and start-ups. Here are some small businesses, alongside the well-known brands that provide online services that you can consider to fulfil your needs.
1. Groceries
NTUC FairPrice – Singapore’s favourite online platform that offers groceries delivery and everything you need to keep your household running smoothly. When you’re compiling your weekly shopping list, you’re sure to find a pile of budget-friendly products on offer here. There are many perks to shopping at FairPrice including brand deals and free gifts.
RedMart – A one-stop online supermarket in Singapore that delivers groceries and home essentials to your door. RedMart recently made changes to the range of products available, a move aimed at helping ensure that delivery slots remain available and consumers “receive their essentials in a timely manner”.
2. Gifts
This pandemic has made our worlds small by being confined to our homes. We’re pressed into reconnecting in a more intimate, thoughtful manner. Celebrations and parties may have become less exciting but just being around with loved ones is a blessing.
At BloomBack, we will help you preserve such memories with gifts that speak more than words. With gifts ranging from preserved flower glass domes, bag charms and Bluetooth speakers in a different designs and colours, there is a gift for everyone for any occasion. You get free same day flower delivery for orders above $150 too.
While being at home, we have learnt to enjoy simple experiences and activities. In order to promote family bonding, BloomBack has launched the new DIY PAUSE.Kits with materials, tools and a step-by-step video tutorial that will help you assemble beautiful floral creations with your loved ones.
3. Work out
Photo credit: Straits Times
The virus situation has disrupted the gym, yoga and other sports sessions that many Singaporeans are obsessed with. While some have opted to work out on their own with simple equipment such as a mat, jump rope, resistance bands or weights, others prefer to be guided by a trainer to get their techniques right.
To accommodate this target audience, gyms like Fitness First and BoOm have come up with alternatives. BoOm Singapore, a boxing studio in the CBD, has kicked off its online workouts with sessions on Instagram Live and Zoom. “Keep fit because you need to build immunity” the owner shared. Check out a wide range of fitness options here.
4. Education and Skills learning
Photo credit: Joni.AI
Joni – Secondary school students and parents, this one’s for you! Joni is an AI-powered adaptive learning technology that helps students prepare for their Math exams! It takes a personalised approach to home-based learning so the children can learn and develop at their own pace. All students can also obtain on-demand help from the community on any Math question that they are stuck with on the online platform. Through automation and AI, the Joni.AI platform stretches the available educational resources, ensuring underprivileged communities have access to them too.
Udemy – A platform consisting of over 100,000 online courses such as Adobe Photoshop and data analytics. You can easily filter according to your needs and enrol in online courses for as little as $10 for detailed videos, forum with your trainer and free Q&A. You can now learn new skills that you didn’t have time for previously, using the unlimited resources available on Udemy.
5. Fashion and others
Zalora – A go-to brand for online shopping in Singapore. A little retail therapy could be a good break for us being confined to our homes. At Zalora, you can find top trending styles across men’s and women’s apparel. With the contactless return policy, it is one of the best platforms for your retail needs.
Lazada – Whether you’re looking for the latest tech releases or stocking up on health and beauty products, Lazada has all you need and more. With flash deals and endless deals, it is a great place to do online shopping especially now when you are looking for wallet-friendly options.
Living in a developed country like Singapore has allowed us to have access to online services, so you still get to do your usual things with ease. Being at home most of the time is not all that bad when you find the silver lining. Take this opportunity to understand the importance of family bonding and do your part to overcome one of the biggest challenges we will ever face in your lifetime.