ECP Outing!

This is a super outdated post because I have been procrastinating for very long before I get myself in front of my laptop to blog.

As I had to get ready for my convocation, I met up with boy to help choose a pair of fitting comfortable pair of heels for me. A formal looking one is essential. So the standard is black, covered, with at least 2.5 inches of heels. I bought mine from Pretty Fit, not cheap though but I think it is worth it for the material used!

We had dinner after that at Astons!

The day after, I met up for the last time with Joanne to get my manufactured stocks. She has been too busy with her own shops that she has decided to phase out manufacturing for other customers! :(

We have worked together for close to a year and I really love her friendly attitude, and she is always willing to share little private business stuffs that not many would want to!

A last snapshot of where I usually go every other week!

Anyway DJ organized an ECP cycling event for the AJC peeps on one of the weekends. It was a good long time since I went cycling there! The only funny incident that happened that day was that Fumin actually banged straight into a pedestrian walking by the side of the path. I have no idea how she did it but the crash was real hard and I can feel the pain of the pedestrian!

After a sweat out, we decided to head out of ECP to have our dinner - at Chomp Chomp! It is always hard to organize a dinner there because of the inconvenience of the place. But this time round, we had 2 cars so it fits all the 9 of us just nice!

The camera shy people

We managed to get seats at Chomp Chomp for the 9 of us although it was a weekend and was really crowded! My boy and I helped in the ordering of the food for my table. I had initially wanted to order medium size for all the food since there were 5 of us for my side. However after some calculation and reasoning, boy and I decided that instead of getting medium size, we will have 2 plates of small size ones for each type of food! It makes more financial sense to do that because the medium size one is always not much difference as compared to the small ones!

Dessert time after a full dinner. Sat down and talked crap like what we usually do, updating each other about our recent happenings.

Wei Jing and Fumin! I still remembered Year 1 when Weijing and I will always sit behind the lecture theatre and talked very loudly during Mathematics core. People were busy taking notes away but we always ended up laughing and talking! And Fumin's the one who always went shopping with me! Thinking back, we really spent a lot on shopping.

On a side note, LFDB 23 has just launched, featuring our last batch of manufactured apparels! I hate using Gmail to send out mailers because it always ended up in spams!

Anyway, LFDB might have a chance to expand its operations. 

I am quite excited about it! :)

爆料黑玫瑰 之 博客版 (Bloggers' Big Revelations) Part II

Hey all! As promised to many interested readers and to those who have personally emailed me to enquire about my bad experiences, here's Part II of 爆料黑玫瑰 之 博客版 (Bloggers' Big Revelations), in particular Zoe Rambutan. Whether truth or not, it is up to you to decide. I am just writing based on my own experiences. :)

As I mentioned in my previous blog post on Part I of 爆料黑玫瑰 之 博客版 (Bloggers' Big Revelations), I have worked with Zoe Rambutan for a period of more than half a year as well as revealed the rates that she was quoting for both modeling and advertorial assignments. This has stirred up quite a bit of commotion in my Formspring page. There are a handful who agree with what I wrote but there were also others who felt strongly against it. I respect everyone's views and I thank those who have given me their support. To those who felt offended by what I have written, I thank you for giving me your views, regardless of any malicious intent on your part. :)

Truth be told, my experiences with Zoe Rambutan was generally unpleasant. Let me elaborate further on this, as requested by many readers.

Honestly speaking, I had a good first impression of her. I felt that she was pretty and she portrayed a bubbly and friendly personality on her blog posts. I was looking forward to hiring a famous blogger and share a pleasant working experience with her. I have to admit that I am not born rich, and every single cent that I forked out for this blogshop business is through my hard-earned savings because I teach tuition. I was actually very excited that I will be working alongside Zoe Rambutan and even though I have to pay a high price to hire her, I felt it might be worth it.

I still remember my first few working experiences with her. It was okay, she talked a little - asking me about the clothes I bring in. I usually take the initiative to strike a conversation especially in awkward situations. The conversation usually last no more than 4 sentences ending with a one or two word reply. There were times when we may not even talked except for a simple "Hi" and "Bye". This was actually fine to me, considering that maybe she finds me a boring person to talk to or maybe we do not have a common topic.

What actually made me start to form a negative impression on her was when I felt that  money is more important than integrity. At least that was how I felt. Let me show you why:

I would like to confirm an advertorial date with her on one occasion. I was then told that the date was already taken up by another blogshop who had already made their payment. However, she told me that if I can make my payment, she will be give me the date I would like and give the other blogshop another date.

Note: I was taken aback. If another blogshop has already made payment and blocked the advertorial date, why is she offering it to me?

Besides paying a high price to hire her, I had to put up with her attitude. Let me give you a few examples:

I have accommodated to her schedule. Even though I have my own commitments on Sunday, I always put it aside just so to fit her schedule because Saturday is boyfriend day for her. I have no complaints about that though because I believe that in a working relationship, either one party has to accomodate. However, the string actually broke when I felt accused of changing dates for photoshoot.

There was no apologies.

Another example below where there was no apologies when Zoe Rambutan mixed up the dates for my advertorial. I had already confirmed earlier in May that my advertorial will be on the 10th of June. However, she insisted I had confirmed with her 9th June instead. I copied and pasted her confirmation with me the 10th of June slot in the sms. There was no acknowledgement from her regarding her mistake. In the end I decided that I will just push my advertorial back another week since I am unable to take up the 9th of June slot, which she insisted I had confirmed.

This was my reply below.

If you would like evidence that Zoe Rambutan was the one who kept changing shoot dates with, please refer below. I am actually not very bothered by her changing shoot dates with me because I understand she is working and might have some last minute meetings. However, this is to address the issue of agitated blogshop owner who claimed that I am a liar and that Zoe never changes shoot dates.

Last but not least, I felt that once I am unable to provide her with money, the bridge is burnt, as evident below:

I told Zoe Rambutan that I have decided to stop my operations for LFDB and hence would like her help to help me include a little note at the end of her blog post in search of interested parties to take over. Then this was the conversation.

Then that's the end, no more replies. I guess it is quite clear that she does not know how much hard work a blogshop owner puts in, and that "spending $150 to $200 on 1 advert" does not get the mailing list, and that $1500 is actually considered little, in value terms. The worth of something cannot be calculated by its fame, but by the amount of assets it has. Take for example an antique. No one knows about the existence of the antique, but it is worth a lot.

One more thing which a lady at the studio I used one day agreed to this statement which was left by a reader - "She will only be good to you if you suck up to her. like buy her snacks or drinks". How true it is, I am not sure and am in no position to comment on this.

Actually, I do have a few more incidences that some readers actually filled me in. These are their personal experiences with Zoe Rambutan. I only managed to share one here because I did not take a snapshot of my conversation with the rest of them (in Google chat), and hence no true evidence, just so in case that someone accused me of not having any evidence.

Enough said, let me bring you in to another incident, whereby Zoe Rambutan pulled her best friends in for photoshoot and quoted really high modelling rates for her friends - fresh face with little/no experience.

Fresh face models with little or no experience asking for $200 and 2 items, equivalent to $230 monetary. What do you think? :)

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With that said, was my argument evident enough? At least that was how I felt while working with Zoe Rambutan. I am not out to tarnish anyone's reputation, but to speak the truth on what goes on behind. It does not do me good either to speak ill of someone who has 8000 unique views daily, and who has a lot of die-hearted supporters. I am also fully aware that I might get really nasty comments by her supporters, which might even go far worse than "fat bitch" as quoted by a blogshop owner who left a comment in my Formspring, and that my blogshop's sales/reputation might go down the drain, or even more so those who mentioned that I self-advertised on Cozycot. In fact, I have even advised and encourage budding blogshop owners to engage Zoe Rambutan for modeling services because she can really pull in the sales.

I guess no one in the right frame of mind would do this but I did. Why?

Because I believe truth need to be told, supported with factual information. :)

I wish Zoe Rambutan all the best in her future assignments, and believe that she will still be able to pull in good sales record for the blogshop owners who are working alongside with her.

Let me repeat myself once again. You may form your own opinions after reading this blog post. :)

*Oh yes, for many who have said that I self-advertised on cozycot, please feel free to send me the links and I will post it up and address it. It would be better to send it to me rather than sending them to Zoe Rambutan since she is not in any position to comment on it. However, please make sure that my name and email address is in the self-advertising image okay?

Thanks!

Groundless comments

I am sorry but I have to say it can be really amusing to see people stand up for the people they support, when no substantial proof was given in the first place. And that people find ways to bring you down, talking about bad reputation etc. It does not matter, and no explanations needed. Why the need for explanation when it is not even true to start with?

I have faced accusations from a few and has replied almost the same thing for every comment. It has not affected me as such because like I said, it is groundless.

Blogger's Big Revelations Part II will be up tomorrow, and I will make sure everything I say is substantially proven. :)

LFDB 23 Preview!

This time round, I invited Selina to be my model for the photoshoot! She was dead nervous! She did not have any  prior experience and was very afraid that she will not be able to pose and smile naturally. But for a first timer, I think she did a great job and deserve a thumbs up! :)

She did not know how to do the make-up so the lady at the studio was kind enough to help her with the eyeliner, lashes and blusher! The big eye contact lenses and the lashes really helped!

Hello Selina!

Another manufactured piece, which Selina was raving about the fab material.

Can be worn 2 ways, either off or on shoulder!

I am still deciding if I should launch the other 3 more designs in this collection. Let me think about it first!

Launching probably on Tuesday or Wednesday! :)

For readers who are rushing me for Part 2 of Bloggers' Big Revealations, it will be up together with LFDB 23 launch! I will send a mailer to you girls so dont worry! :))

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Anyway, I have this one lady (Apparently a blogshop owner who is working with Zoe now) who feels so emotional about my revelations post that she has posted up really interesting comments in my Formspring. Please read if you have not!

To the lady: I thank you for your time in posting up comments and insinuating that I am a bitch. I believe the person who gives this name deserves this name. I am not offended, neither am I angry. In fact I felt so honored that it has triggered your emotional feelings, and that there is finally someone ad-mist the many supporters who are waiting for my Part 2 to jump out and clarify on behalf of her favorite Zoe Rambutan! :)

Addicted to Maddi Jane!

I happened to see DJ posting up music videos of Maddi Jane in Facebook. Went in to listen and this 13 year old girl is amazing! I kind of prefer her than Charice from the Philippines! What's more, she's pretty :)

Reminiscing the past

I was browsing through my Facebook photos and then I started to think back to the past and then looking back now, we are still the way we are but looks have changed. From innocent students to young adults. I especially value the times I have spent during my JC times, when my friends and I did those dumb little things that never fail to bring a smile to my face every single day I went to school. It was that fun, even though there were tons of work and tests, but we always derive some pleasure out of it. Like kbox outings and sakae sushi buffets right after school etc. And who can forget talking behind the lectuters' back and giving them weird and funny nicknames!

Looking back...

AJC times, when Neoprints were super in then. I still remembered Fumin and I spent almost $20 per person alone just to take some neoprints at Bugis Junction. I seriously didnt know what went through our minds at that time. Lol!

Then we all went to university to further our studies. I was very amazed that all of us made our own choices and none of us (Except Krystal and Seok Hwee) were in the same major! Fumin went into NUS majoring in Business, myself to NTU majoring in Mechanical Engineering, Wei Jing to NTU majoring in Materials Science and Engineering, Si Xuan to NUS majoring in Project Management, Krystal & Seok Hwee to NUS majoring in Environmental Engineering, Ting Wei to NTU majoring in Marinetime Studies, Duojie to NUS majoring in Accountancy, Weejia to NTU majoring in Business, Hsien Meng to NTU majoring in Aerospace Engineering, Kai Luen to NTU majoring in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry. We still stayed close together and organized meetups often!

We even organized overseas trip to Genting Highlands!

And when I was in Year 1, I got to know a boy whom I thought had an attitude problem. This boy later became my boyfriend of 4 years and still counting! :)

Embarking into a new phase now! :)

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Anyway, I have received more than just the above 3 comments in Formspring to blog about Part II of 

爆料黑玫瑰 之 博客版 (Bloggers' Big Revealations).

Missed out on Part I? Don't fret. Click here to be directed to the post immediately! :)

I am glad that there are actually supporters! I was quite prepared to be trashed by people but it turned out otherwise! Thanks to all who supports and as promised, I will definitely continue on Part II, which will be more in depth of my experiences! In fact, I have a few who have emailed me and told me their fair share of experiences with Zoe Rambutan. I have seek their permission to blog about this in Part II too. It will definitely be a long, but worthy post! :) I shall reveal the things that were unknown to outsiders, that the looks does not necessary depicts the true character behind a person, in this case a blogger and blogshop model.

I will most probably post up Part 2 in a week's time, together with LaFemmeDaBelle's Clearance Sales Part 2 so people who are interested, look out for my mailer! :)

Regarding ceasing operations for LaFemmeDaBelle, I have received quite a few comments from customers and they felt that it is such a pity to stop my launches. I felt really happy that they love my launches and great service. But then again, operating a blogshop is not as simple as buying stocks, take photo and sell. When I first set up LaFemmeDaBelle 1 year ago, my initial thought was as simple as that. But as time passes by, I went through phases of demoralizing when there were no sales, troubled when I had to fork out more money to make my branding known to people, physically tired when i had to travel down to manufacturer and supplier to discuss designs and stocks as well as to carry all the stocks back taking a train, without a car and without any help. But it did not end here. I had to do stock counts at home which can take up at least 1 to 2 hours of my time, check all apparels free of defects, liase with model, book studio and prepare for photoshoots and then back home to do photoediting, uploading of photos, taking measurements of apparels and doing up the launch on Livejournal. After launch, invoicing were then done, apparels were re-packaged nicely in OPP bags, customized thank you cards for customers handwritten by me because I believe in customer service, packing apparels into envelopes and then lugging them to the post office to mail them out.

All these were done by me alone.

Although there were profits, but it is too time consuming. I had to put up with the attitude of Zoe Rambutan even though I am paying her few hundreds for 1 hour of her time, and then all I can do is to silently complain to my boy. Then I tried hiring fresh faces, but the sales dropped because I supposed Zoe Rambutan can carry out the apparels more, which I do not deny. There were still profits though, because I have already had a fixed customer base. And at this time, since I will be starting work real soon as I have just graduated, I think this is just the right time when I should put all down. Operating a blogshop requires too much of my time, although I truly enjoy!

Therefore to all who felt that it is a pity to stop my operations for LaFemmeDaBelle, please dont. I believe I have made a right choice and I thank all who supports LFDB, truly. :)

I did not manage to put up all comments here because some were smses, while the other emails had some contents regarding invoicing etc so it is not convenient to put up here.

*If you are interested to take over LaFemmeDaBelle's branding and operations, please email me at kohyuling88@gmail.com for more information.