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Right on Track: Singapores First Social Supermarket | npTribune

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author of article (excl. design)

RightonTrack:Singapores
FirstSocialSupermarket

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DesireeYangneverimaginedhercareerwouldbe
onethathelpstheneedy.Yetshetooktheleapof
faithwhentheopportunitypresenteditself,and
startedSingaporesfirstsocialsupermarket
Notreallyknowingwhatasocialenterpriseisallabout,Desiree,21,was
guidedsolelybyherpassiontohelppeople.TheSchoolofHumanitiesand
SocialSciencesgraduatestartedSaltstepsearlylastyeartosell
commoditiesatlowercosttolowincomefamilies..

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1/14/2016

Right on Track: Singapores First Social Supermarket | npTribune

ArtsFiesta
Workshops
Promote
Multiculturalism

GraduatingfromNgeeAnnPolytechnicin2014withaDiplomain
Psychology,Desireewentonajourneyofselfdiscoverythathelpedherto
realiseherpassioninhelpingtheneedy.Eachtimeshecameacrossan
articleregardingSingaporesstruggleintacklingpoverty,shefeltatugather
heartstrings,motivatinghertoaccomplishhercause.

DECEMBER30,2015|0
COMMENTS

Aftergraduation,shetookupawritingjob.Thoughitwasenjoyablewhileit
lasted,sherealisedthatsomethingwasmissinginherlifepassion.

GreatCompany,
GoodFood

ItwasanencounterwithamotherduringherinternshipwithBeyondSocial
Servicesthatspurredherontodosomethingforneedyfamilies.Themother
couldnotaffordmilkpowderforhernewbornbabyasshewasladenwith
financialissues.AlthoughDesireesheartwentouttothemother,therewas
nothingshecoulddoforherthen,

DECEMBER23,2015|0
COMMENTS

ICTMarksSpecial
Daywith
Compassionand
Gratitude

Drivenbyherpassionandlovefortheunderprivileged,shetookaboldstep
toquitherthenstablewritingjob.Thereafter,shestartedresearchingon

DECEMBER21,2015|0

waystoimprovethelivelihoodoflowincomefamilies.Throughherresearch,
shenoticedthatthemonthlygrocerybillconsumedahugeportionofthe

COMMENTS

disposablehouseholdincome.Shefeltthatbysavingonstaplessuchas
cookingoilandrice,suchfamilieswouldhaveenoughmoneyforother

AMemorable
Milestoneforthe
Humanities

essentials.

NOVEMBER17,2015|0

Saltstepswasthusborn,basedontheprincipleofsellinggoodsatdiscounts
of30to70percent.Onewayofdoingsowastosourceforgoodsthathave
eitherdamagedpackagingorayearlefttoexpiry,butarestillusableor
edible.

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Thejourneywasnotsmoothsailing.Suppliersandretailerswereunwillingto
cooperatedoortodoorvisitstospreadawarenessabouttheenterpriseand
buildingtrustwiththefamiliesweretiring.
DesireeexplainedthatSingaporeisnotthemostconduciveof
environmentsforsocialsupermarketsasmanysuppliersandretailersare
unwillingtoreducethepriceofdamagedgoods.Sellingtheirunwanted
goodswouldhelptotacklefoodwastage,yetDesireediscoveredthatthe
supplierscouldnotfullyunderstandoracceptthisidea.
HerstorycaughttheattentionoflocalnewspaperTheStraitsTimesand
socialinitiativeAsiaforGood.Recently,shewasinvitedtotalkabouther
experiencesattheSmallChangeFestivalorganisedbyNUSEnterprise.

Giveaways
PastGiveaways>>

WiththesemanyopportunitiestoraiseawarenessforSaltsteps,Desiree
said,Itisagreatopportunityforpeopletoknowtheworkwedoasitsreally
hardifpeopledontknowus.
TheexposureinTheStraitsTimeshasenabledherbusinesstogainmore
publicityandmakeherbrandmorevisibletopotentialsuppliers,retailersand
sponsors..
AsSaltstepsdrawsclosetoitssecondyear,anewdirectionhasalready
beencharted.InJanuary2016,SaltstepswillpartnerwithGobbler,thesocial
armoftransportcompany,ComfortDelgro.Thisnewcollaborationwillbe
knownasGobbler5..
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Right on Track: Singapores First Social Supermarket | npTribune

The5inGobbler5isderivedfromHi5,representingtheactionoflending
ahelpinghand.Desireebelievesthatthereisvalueinsuchapartnership,
consideringGobblersexpertiseinsocialenterpriseoperations.Sheseesthe
newjointventurehelpingevenmorefamilies.
AfterthesoftlaunchofGobbler5,thenewenterpriseaimstoexpandits
reachtobusandtaxidrivers.Onpaper,thesebluecollarworkersmayearn
aseeminglyadequateamount,butitdoesnotaccountfortheirother
expenses.Hence,DesireeandtheGobblerteamfelttheneedtoalleviate
theirsituation.
Onherchartinguntestedterritory,Desireesaid,Youhavetobewillingto
try.Theheartofthematterislookingforchange,lookingoutoffamiliarity.
0FLARES00000FLARES

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