Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats?

Subject: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:18 am

I heard recently from a friend that his opinion of Singaporeans is that they tend to just copy business idea instead of thinking or creating an original one of their own.

I know there are all those food stall rivalries, like prata stalls lined by one after another. Or like chicken rice wars. Different stalls, same product. Does it stop there, or does it continue on to other businesses, like retail, or MLM?

I wondered whether that is true or not. What do you think?

My friend is Singaporean by the way.

Posts : 3 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2009-04-27

Oh for F&B and retail this seems to be very much true.
Bubble tea, antique tea shops anyone?

Due diligence seems to fly out the window most times,
and unfortunately so does one's hard-earned savings...
so moral of the story is *do your homework* ;-)

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:53 pm

Hey, they dont just copy business ideas. Switch on your TV and what do you see, american idol, singapore idol, who wants to be a millionaire, the weakest link. TV programmes too!

Posts : 12 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2009-04-20

Everything starts with copying or innovating.

However, even being a pro copier aint easy.

There's still capital and risk involved.

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Wed May 06, 2009 4:50 pm

Innovating, meaning, taking a prodcut and making it even better is not really copying, because there is still value added. Like how people can add new flavours to drinks, or add new tastes to food.

And those TV shows like don't forget the lyrics Singapore edition is not really a copy either, its a franchise. Mediacorp has to pay the creators of that show, so it doesn't really count as copying.

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Sun May 10, 2009 1:23 am

I'm not a copycat!

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Wed May 20, 2009 5:44 pm

I don't think we should generalise: "Singaporeans = Copycat"

I mean, if you set up a business, let's say selling food. If you invent a new dish, a new recipe, a new concept, only those who are in the food business will copy you. And not "the population in general". It would seem like everyone is copying, but in reality its only rivals.

I'm not saying there's no copying, I'm saying that not EVERYONE is a copycat.

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Wed May 27, 2009 8:45 pm

Blacknight wrote:: I don't think we should generalise: "Singaporeans = Copycat"

I mean, if you set up a business, let's say selling food. If you invent a new dish, a new recipe, a new concept, only those who are in the food business will copy you. And not "the population in general". It would seem like everyone is copying, but in reality its only rivals.

I'm not saying there's no copying, I'm saying that not EVERYONE is a copycat.

Agreed. Don't generalise.

But are the majority of Singaporeans copycats or not? Maybe some facts could help. However, I don't think a very accurate analysis will ever be present. I think there are copycats everywhere, including other countries.

One thing is for sure, if your product or service is copied by someone, it goes to show that your product or service has value. People want your product so much, others want to have a share of the pie and copy you.

Posts : 12 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2009-04-26

[quote="SSuF Admin"]

Blacknight wrote:: I don't think we should generalise: "Singaporeans = Copycat"

One thing is for sure, if your product or service is copied by someone, it goes to show that your product or service has value. People want your product so much, others want to have a share of the pie and copy you.

Yeah! Copying is the highest form of flattery. The next step for those being copied is innovation to either improve or develop a new product. Perhaps visiting other countries & cultures will help innovation with new influences.

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:35 pm

I agree, coping is flattery. A product copied is a product worth copying.

But what happens is the competition can copy you and innovate faster than you?

Posts : 12 Reputation : 0 Join date : 2009-04-26

Then find a market you can monopolise instead of squeezing in one where you can't innovate fast enough.

Subject: Re: Are Singaporeans, Business Idea Copycats? Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:01 pm

Find a market with no competitors, also known as Diversification, or Blue ocean strategy.

Probably one of the tougher entrepreneurial strategies. Problem with that is there might be no market to buy your products!

However there are many success stories that use this strategy, like Magic, the gathering trading card game. Started producing cards with artwork out of nothing, and they sold. They still sell even today. No copying involved.