Spotlight on: Plus Minus

Images courtesy of Plus Minus

Enter Plus Minus - An independent store based in Singapore that is all things design; where every new brand that launches in their store surprises and excites us, and even makes us want, no crave for a piece of it. It's a tiny heaven, a portal for all the brands and stuff you don't have access to in physical stores in Singapore.

Against all odds, Plus Minus opened their virtual doors and created a portal for so many wonderful brands that has not been made available to Singaporeans (in physical stores). The idea was to bring in well-designed stuff, along with good quality and at an affordable price.

So who makes Plus Minus? How do they do it?

Plus Minus was actually co-founded just less than two months ago in early November (2012) by lovebirds at present, Ira and Fauzi, along with a friend of theirs who has since dropped out of the venture. Despite vast differences in interests; Ira into design and checking out new brands (Ira was a graphic design graduate from NAFA) and Fauzi with his love for motorbikes and racing sorts, they share a common love for food and built Plus Minus together.

Ira and Fauzi, and Ira on interview with me at 8Q Street

The whole thing was an absolutely casual idea that took off and started growing at an amazing rate. It all began when Ira wanted to realize her dream of having her very own shop, "It runs in my family. My Dad runs a furniture business and my sister has her own online store as well. Plus I love surfing the net and sourcing for new brands and items and I just wanted to share it with everyone." On why the name Plus Minus, Ira shared that it was a completely random name that hit her in a five minute brainstorming session and it was so easy to catch on.

More prominent brands under Plus Minus - Tattly and Hype

Despite the challenges and competition in the online store business, Ira saw potential in running her very own store and kept a generally positive outlook. "So many brands are unnoticed, and most of the brands we currently bring in at Plus Minus are not available in Singapore or even Asia." Only 20 this year, Ira and Fauzi were both new and raw to running a business and coming up with an enormous captial. It was then decided that Plus Minus was to start out on its Facebook page to gain experience in running their very own business before moving on with bigger plans. Within a few days of putting everything in place, the store made its first pre-order available in early November.

"I didn't expect it to become so big and it's actually very hard to manage because I'm doing almost everything now, from marketing to responding to queries and posting the stuff out. It's basically like a one-man show and Fauzi does the accounting side of things." said Ira, when asked about what were their expectations on opening the store. But the folks at Plus Minus see it as merely a (good) start for them, and are looking to make things bigger and better than ever.

Other brands featured under Plus Minus, such as Mister bracelets

Plus Minus has since started up The General Store, which is a concept they are still working on before an actual debut, "The General Store is an actual store front I want for Plus Minus. This was created so we can put out two extreme sides - the minimalist and the expressive (louder side) to present to people and I hope to target as many people from different age groups and tastes."

In the (near) future, Plus Minus is hoping to have an actual web site (which they are working on) and set up a physical store and spread the love to more people, "That's the challenging part. I've always (wanting to build a store) in mind, and I even went to search for rental prices. It's insane over here but I hope I can slowly build this up and have a store."

Stay tuned for more (awesome!) brand launches and be surprised. You may check out Plus Minus here via their Facebook page.


Apart from all that, Plus Minus has kindly collaborated (and sponsored) with Pocketto to have A WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY! We're giving out a Poketo x Furni (coincidentally, and no pun intended) watch and an issue (12) of oh comely magazine.

If you haven't heard, Poketo is a US-based store/label founded by couple, Ted Vadaan and Angie Myung who believes in "art for your everyday" and strives to integrate real art into everyday wear and things that can be around you. These watches are part of a collaboration between Furni (Montreal based design company) and Poketo.

And if you're thinking that oh comely falls short of being a real magazine, you might want to think again. oh comely is one that brings real stories to us, from real people. With adventures to capture the feeling of being free, stories from people with tales to tell, recipes to warm your heart and craft you can make. It embraces imperfection and simple things we do in life and is delivered through beautiful words, illustration and photography.

Find Poketo and oh comely by clicking on their respective names.

Two lucky winners will be selected for this giveaway! All you have to do is:
1. Like POKOPOCKETTO and PLUS MINUS on Facebook
2. Like and share A WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY on pokopocketto (click here for the post to like and  share)
3. Comment on the post with anything (with a suggestion, things you want to see, a brand you love or just professing your love to us etc.)

This giveaway closes on 20th Jan, Sunday and winners of the giveaway will be announced by 22nd Jan.

Once again, here's a BIG thank you to Plus Minus, and a HUGE THANK YOUUU for reading pokopocketto! Cheers (from both Ira and I) and have a good day (:

(16) Ready for the New Year

Thank you Grayson for this random hip shot

2012 has been an eventful year and thank you for reading this space if you do! Pocketto is finally a little more than half a year old and I've finally accomplished a few "firsts" for the blog (had my very first giveaway etc.) and for readers too. Things are starting to look up and come in place, and December has been a mind blowing, extremely killer and quick month. But I'm glad I've come this far. Having Pocketto has made me more motivated than ever. I've learnt countless new things about people, things, art, life, music and myself as well. I really hope the blog helps (kill time for you) to bring in a little more interesting information and random awesomeness to your life.

It's been a hectic time for me shuffling between work, play and Pocketto and I know it hasn't been a smooth year for so many of you out there... But thank you once again for making time to be reading this space. I appreciate all your love and support time and time again.

But anyway, I sincerely hope you'll have an awesome and fun-filled 2013 ahead. It's finally the new year and a new theme is a definite for Pocketto in January, so (in just a day's time!) you can expect more fresh, new, things that revolve around change and the unexpected. In January, it's a lot about us finding identities, reevaluating ourselves and setting the tone for the rest of the year, so I'm hoping I can do that for Pocketto, and help enrich your lives just a little wee bit. Just hold on for a bit because I've got plenty of stuff lined up, including a collab with a good friend of mine, also another upcoming and new store which you would definitely not hate on. So watch out for that one! Just holla over if you've anything you want to share or help improve this space because I definitely want to make it a pleasant(er) read for you, and everyone else who takes time to give me a read (:

Have a good rest and prep yourself up for a brand new year! Good night!

(13) In the midst

Hello there! Thank you for being here if you are. Well I'm still in the midst of preparing some goodies so don't go just yet! We're not too near (nor too far away though) from this lovely season of giving and gifting and I'm sure everyone's excited just as I am.

It's been a rough week (also contributing to slower updates) at work but I hope I'll get past it and work on more wonderful things. I'm posted to the new branch of this store (I'm happy I'm a part of) where I've been working at for a couple of years, aka Rockstar by Soon Lee. It's a great place for a round of Christmas shopping or something if you need, and I'll gladly be at your service hahah. That aside, it's got brand new labels and all so I'm sure it's going to be a stunner when you get there.

In any case why my gifting guide is The Tiniest Gifting Guide - it's because we're literally starting extremely small (aka tiny) and we're going to take things one at a time. I'm going to try not to bombard you with a million things to look out for but rather, a pocketful of them so you can take some time to seriously check them out (and consider it).

On top of that, we're having a giveaway (which everyone would love I suppose)! I'm actually excited for it because, like I said it's about a month of firsts for Pocketto. It's the first time Pocketto is making a real debut and I hope you would love it just as much as I would/do. I'm about to reveal what items are up for this giveaway so stay tuned to this space and for details on how to win it. You may keep in touch with what's here via my Facebook (to your right of this webpage!) and like me (no pun intended).

In other words, have a great week ahead! Goodnight.

Why Pocketto?

Why Pocketto? How did it all happen and why did I want to make it happen?

It's been a little confusing for the last few months I've had this tiny space. I've had the lines blur as I started out with a few raw ideas. But this month will be different as it marks a real, official debut - a month of firsts for both myself, this space and for all you wonderful readers of this growing space.

To sum it all up, Pokopocketto was an idea I had for a long time, except that I didn't act on it (didn't have the time or couldn't bring myself to make the effort). I'm an average student (if you're wondering) who just turned 21, residing in sunny Singapore, with a lot of random thoughts/ ideas. I've been a loyal reader of certain blogs with tasteful content and it's made me constantly revisit it - whether it was the pictures or just interesting brands or things I've not come across. It's going to sound a little cheesy but I actually had an epiphany awhile back that I was/ we were lacking something (especially where I live) and I wanted to try and close up a little bit of that gap and bridge a little interesting content over cyberspace.

Thus, Pocketto was created in the month of May, earlier this year with a little bit of aspiration and determination (I'm not sure if it's the best way to describe it but ok) to work towards a space filled with content and basically, just anything random, that makes you curious, excited or just simply, interested.

I write about anything under the sun; a random incident from my life, a favourite brand of mine, share about some lovely products, films, things to do and eat, stuff worth your read and time and about friends of Pocketto. My Facebook is where I share a slice of what I do at Pocketto, basically just interesting things or stuff I bookmark as eyecandy, and to update people on what happens here. I'm just hoping in the long run, people will actually share on things they love and see Pocketto as a freedom of expression on basically anything, because I respect that everyone has interests just as I do (I have themes or certain things I love to share, yes) and I hope they'll share wonderful things with me as I hope to.

On why I have the name Pokopocketto - there is no concrete explanation except that the time and place of this inception helped made it happen. I've always liked the idea of having things in your pocket because it is so handy and information that comes in pocket or bite-sizes are just so easily consumed. So I wanted all things wonderful to be squeezed into this little space where you can read anywhere (on the go, in your free time, you name it).

I added on Poko in the front because Pocketto alone wasn't available as a domain name and I'm crazy about Japanese cartoon characters (scroll below if you don't know who Poko is) which included Poko-chan, the face of some snack I used to eat all the time, making it Pokopocketto as you know it. I just thought it had a certain ring to it but I can't be using his face all the time (due to copyright issues) but I am just in love with it.

Well, this is definitely not a pocket-post (I know it) but thank you for reading through this one and for being on this space if you have (or just to find out who I am or why this exists anyway)! I am extremely appreciative of everyone's love and kindness for supporting me throughout the set-up of my space, giving me constructive criticism and just liking what I do. It's not going to be an easy time to make this space better but I'll try to make it happen, hard knocks are to come but whatever works (:

Here's a start to a Happy Christmas and an ode to all things random and wonderful! And we've got more lined up for you so stay in sync with me, will you?