A former Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew member completely changed her career path when she decided to help her husband’s family business during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chen Jiaqi, 29, graduated with a communications and new media degree. She worked in SIA for three years.
As she was working from home during the Circuit Breaker period, Ms Chen noticed that her in-laws were frequently worried about their butchery at Quan Shui Wet Market at Block 156, Bukit Batok Street 11.
The stall owners told 8World that they were afraid their business wouldn’t make it through the Circuit Breaker.
Ms Chen then decided to utilize her degree and work experience in retaking the business online after a previous attempt that didn’t push through.
The family business started small and began accepting orders from neighbours through messaging platform WhatsApp and delivering them by foot.
Privy to the critical elements of digitalization and the current market trends, Ms Chen designed a website for the business, including taking photos of their products and creating a sales strategy.
Every family business prides itself on sharing the load with everyone, so Ms Chen could also be spotted chopping meat, preparing chickens and making deliveries.
Within two months, the business began improving, resulting in Ms Chen quitting her day job to work full-time at the stall.
She admitted to 8World that she never imagined working at a wet market. There were challenges, such as starting early and ending late daily or the humid and dirty working environment.
“The damage to body and soul is quite significant,” she noted.
However, Ms Chen has her husband for support because he too left his teaching job to work at the family business.
Meanwhile, the stall owners are happy they can retire earlier, seeing their son and daughter-in-law taking the reins of the business.
On top of an aesthetically themed website and active social media presence, the business has branched out to selling vegetables, fruits and dimsum.
“It is our first time baring our hearts and souls on-screen and it is such a vulnerable and and humbling experience,” said the family in a Facebook post, sharing their 8World feature.
“Thank you to everyone who has stuck by us this entire journey and a warm welcome to our new friends! We hope that you got to know us better through the video and feel free to chat with us, we would love to know more about your stories as well!”/TISG
More young Singaporeans setting out to be hawkers amid Covid-19 downturn
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