World

A Singaporean Earned $6.7M from Flowers, Furniture and Food Venture in 2018

Published

6 years ago

May 25, 2019

A Singaporean florist, Joseph Soh, established his venture based on flowers, food, and furniture some years ago which led him to make $6.7 million in 2018. From the early days of running a small business of selling flowers, he launched an online medium known as Xpressflower.com which helped him gain huge popularity among people. With the passage of time, he learned about introducing food and furniture into his venture due to which he managed to earn such a huge revenue in 2018.

Joseph Soh had involved himself in flower selling to help his sisters in handling their flower business. He faced a lot of challenges in the earlier days of life as there was no means to spread the word about the business online. Joseph said that he could not afford much education as his family was not rich and so it prompted him to jump into the outside world to find some work. He got an idea of importing flowers when he learned about the demand for dry Australian flowers in Japan. However, soon he realized that only selling the dry flowers in Singapore’s small market would not suffice which led him to sell fresh flowers too. Soon, by facing huge challenges, he opened a cafe and furniture shop along with flower shops in a limited space. People who look for Coffee Table in Singapore visit his cafe and also buy flowers as well as other decoration related stuff.

In the earlier days, he got his first retail store with the help of the landlord at Century Square. Realizing the role of the internet in the future, he launched his online business in the form of Xpressflower.com. Currently, he has two spacious office units with cold rooms to place imported flowers and a license for producing Disney characters design. Xpressflower.com started its first branch in the Philippines and made a revenue of $6.7M in 2018. Joseph got inspired by a florist in Hong Kong which led him to introduce two new verticals namely F&B and furniture in 2016. In order to expand on a large scale, he invested to buy 2,600 sq. ft. warehouse at a price of $4million to create Knots Cafe and Living.

World

Turkish Textile Giant Sun Textile Solution Proposal for Drought

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2025

Jenny Jackson

While the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) are seeking solutions to combat drought through various projects, Ekoten Textile, a subsidiary of Turkey’s textile giant Sun Textile, has developed a groundbreaking project in collaboration with a technology startup to minimize the intensive water consumption in the textile industry. This pioneering project, the first of its kind globally, will enable the recycling and reuse of up to 90% of the water used in textile production.

Drought is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. According to WHO data, 40% of the global population is struggling with water scarcity. By 2030, up to 700 million people could be forced to migrate due to drought. The unconscious use of water in global production processes plays a significant role in the rapid depletion of clean water resources.

The textile industry is one of the sectors with the highest water consumption. In Turkey, while the food industry consumes 22% of the water used for industrial purposes, the textile sector follows closely with 18%. For instance, producing an average of 40 tons of products daily requires 2,500 tons of water, equivalent to the daily water consumption of approximately 10,000 people.

CLEAN WATER RESOURCES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY!

In textile production, where clean water resources are heavily consumed, the innovative success of the Turkish company stands out as a global best practice. This initiative will shape the future of the industry. The wastewater recycling project, developed through intensive R&D efforts, will ensure that over 90% of the required water is sourced from recycled supplies.

The reuse of wastewater in production will transform the fate of countries operating in the textile sector. By preventing the use of clean water resources for textile production, this project will free up clean water sources that can meet the daily needs of hundreds of thousands of people.

R&D ACTIVITIES IN 38 COUNTRIES WITH 380 PARTNERS!

Sun Textile places great emphasis on R&D activities, conducting research and development efforts with 380 partners across 38 countries. Sun Textile and its subsidiary Ekoten Textile export nearly 90% of their production, solidifying their identity as a leading exporter. The company ships products to numerous destinations worldwide, including European countries, the UK, and the US. Sun Textile, the leading ready-to-wear exporter in the Aegean Region, achieved a consolidated turnover of 250 million euros in the third quarter of 2024, continuing its active growth trajectory.

OFFERING CUSTOM DESIGNS TO CUSTOMERS

Sun Textile provides its own designed collections to leading brands in Europe and the UK. Ekoten Textile, its subsidiary, is among the most respected knitted fabric manufacturers in Turkey and Europe.

With a dedicated sales team for each major customer group and five design offices in three different countries, Sun Textile creates designs tailored to its customers’ needs. Its largest clients include the Inditex Group, H&M, Jimmy Key, Tesco, Kiabi, Marks & Spencer, and Next.

Sun Textile also extends its sustainability approach to social responsibility, notably for its high ratio of female employees. The company, which went public in 2022, is also listed in dividend indexes.