Cat Socrates is a cute little independent shop, somewhat hidden in a corner of Bras Basah Complex. Popular among art students and enthusiasts of vintage memorabilia, the shop is arguably at the forefront of the indie store wave in Singapore, thanks to its strategic location and unique merchandise. Diaspora chatted with owner Hellen about the name Cat Socrates, the little café inside, and their popular photo exhibition.
Written by Raisa Tanawi
The tin toys.
How did Cat Socrates come about?
I am originally from Shanghai, where I was working in a company until my husband needed to move to Singapore. I’ve always wanted to have a shop of my own filled with the things that I like; being surrounded by all those things evokes a feeling of happiness. So after moving to Singapore, I decided to open my dream shop, which is Cat Socrates, in October 2008.
Why the name Cat Socrates?
The name Socrates is actually my cat’s name. We basically just combined the fact that he is a cat with his name.
What market did you foresee in Singapore?
Our shop is located in the Central Area, near to many schools, especially art schools. Bras Basah has Art Friend and Basheer, so a lot of students and arts-related profiles will come and visit. We established the concept of our shop as a mix and match shop; there isn’t any limitation regarding the products we bring in. As long as they’re thing we don’t normally find everyday, we’ll usually feature them. We have new product arrivals every month, so our shop is always interesting with every visit.
What are the best-selling items in the store?
Paper products are quite popular: cards, stickers, notebooks. The tin toys are also a favorite, especially as .gifts.
Do you make your own products?
We do, but in a very small scale. We’d like to make a brand of paper products eventually, but for now we only make small .gift bags and boxes that we decorate prettily.
How do you curate the merchandise?
The things sold are mainly things that I like, imported from all parts of Asia, mostly from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. My friends usually share whatever they find, and they help to keep an eye on new things because I can’t travel much since firstly, it’s costly, and secondly, I need to take care of the shop.
Owner Hellen.
Did the café idea come after the shop opened?
The café corner in the store was also part of the plan. I wanted to open a shop with a small café so if people like the place and want to stay longer, then they can rest and relax to enjoy the ambience.
You’ve also created this little photo exhibition in one corner.
This is an ongoing event held inside our shop every two months. I personally like photo taking, especially in film format. I first showcased my own photographs along with my friend’s, but then it received great response so we launch a theme nowadays so anyone can just send in their photographs. Anyone is invited to join; you can send in your original photographs, or send in the soft copy like some people do. We’ll print it out and put it up.
What sets Cat Socrates apart from other independent stores?
Our price range is lower than the rest, so almost anyone, especially youth, can afford our merchandise. Our products also have a wide range of variety, making it very much more interesting as well.
Recently, you expanded your business through an online store. Are there overseas customers?
There are customers from Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia that come by and ask if they can purchase things online without having to come to Singapore. Again, mostly the paper products are popular among them. Right now, though, the online shop has few transactions due to the limited choice of payment, but I hope once we open up a local interbank transfer service it will pick up.
What do you foresee in the future?
I’d like to open another shop with a similar concept but a different direction in terms of products. It will focus more on home ware and storage accessories, and target a fairly different market. Nevertheless, I hope that everyone can continue enjoy the products that we bring.
CAT SOCRATES
#03-39B Bras Basah Complex,
231 Bain Street, Singapore 180231
Opening Hours:
Mondays to Saturdays: 12pm – 8pm
Sundays & Public Holidays: 1pm – 7pm
http://www.catsocrates.com.sg/
