SG60 Voucher to Buy Pokémon Cards? Keep Up with New Consumption Trends?
Everyone should have received the SG$60 neighborhood shopping voucher, right? What is everyone buying with it? Recently, a 28-year-old Singaporean made headlines online for using his voucher to buy a few packs of Pokémon cards.
He was seen strolling through a supermarket, checking out groceries, then turning around to enter a game store displaying a “Neighborhood Voucher Accepted” sign. He picked up a few Pokémon card packs, paid, and walked out. The video quickly went viral.
This unconventional use of the voucher sparked a discussion online.
Supporters argue that using the voucher doesn’t have to be limited to groceries—purchasing something you enjoy while supporting local businesses is fine. Happiness is also a basic need, and buying cards helps support small brick-and-mortar stores! Critics, however, say this isn’t easing the cost of living but rather subsidizing consumption. Some people can’t even afford cooking oil, yet he’s spending it on trading cards—it’s a waste.
Facing criticism, he responded gracefully: this isn’t frivolous spending or an attempt to gain online attention—it’s purely an interest-based investment. “Some think buying groceries is a necessity, but for me, buying Pokémon cards makes me happy, which is another kind of life necessity.”
Recently, the consumer goods sector has shown a polarizing trend during earnings season.
$POP MART(09992)$ and $LAOPU GOLD(06181)$ soared after reporting. $POP MART(09992)$’s gross margin is as high as 70%, and its net margin is comparable with $Hermes International SA(HESAF)$.
Meanwhile, established cosmetics company $Estee Lauder(EL)$ continued to fall. Luxury brands like $Hermes International SA(HESAF)$ and Kering faced pressure on both earnings and stock prices, and the mid-luxury brand Coach’s parent company $Tapestry Inc.(TPR)$ also dropped 15% in a single day after its earnings release.
Even apparel brands haven’t escaped trend shifts. $Lululemon Athletica(LULU)$ rose 59% in 2023, but now Alo has become the new yoga apparel craze, and Lululemon’s stock has halved.
Familiar brands are no longer as popular—can you understand why Gen Z loves Pop Mart?
Laopu Gold is considered a new Chinese luxury brand, and LVMH has also mentioned its influence.
Compared with Cartier or Bulgari, could Laopu Gold become a classic brand? If it follows this path, does it still have potential for stock price growth?
With consumer goods polarizing, should investors chase trending brands or buy the companies being sold off by the market?
REWARDS
All valid comments will receive 5 Tiger Coins; Tag your friends to win another 5 Tiger Coins
Join our topic and post directly or leave your comments to win tiger coins~
Plus, you can stand a chance to get 100 tiger coins & $5 stock vouchers. Event detail to click: Cha-ching! Tap Coins, Voucher Spin 💸 Hear the Rewards Go Ding!
Open a CBA today and enjoy access to a trading limit of up to SGD 20,000 with upcoming 0-commission, unlimited trading on SG, HK, and US stocks, as well as ETFs. Find out more here.
Other helpful links:
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.
In today's consumer split, investors face a choice: chase the dopamine of trending brands or scoop up legacy players the market is ghosting.
Pop Mart sells joy in blind boxes. Laopu Gold wraps heritage in Gen Z swagger. But trends can fade.
Meanwhile Estee Lauder still owns prestige while Lululemon still stretches global reach. Boring? Maybe but boring compounds just like CPF interests or DBS dividends.
In SG60's spirit of reinvention, maybe my portfolio needs both : A little sparkle, a little substance. Investing isn't just about what is hot. Investing is about what lasts.
@Tiger_SG @Tiger_comments @TigerStars @CaptainTiger @Tiger Club
從消費品來看，很明顯，與Z世代產生共鳴的品牌——如泡泡瑪特或老鋪黃金——正在蓬勃發展。年輕買家重視新奇和文化認同，這就是雅詩蘭黛或蔻馳等傳統品牌陷入困境的原因。與其說是產品本身，不如說是相關性。
對於投資，我會平衡雙方。如果你及早發現，時尚品牌可以帶來強勁的增長，但品味變化很快。老牌奢侈品公司如果適應的話，可能會被低估。我的方法是多元化：投資一些正在崛起的“新浪潮”品牌，同時堅持擁有經過驗證的彈性的經典品牌。
@Tiger_SG @TigerStars @Tiger_comments
In this SG60 year, I am grateful :
Grateful for the freedom to choose.
Grateful for the quiet diginity of every day life.
Grateful that I live in Singapore where there is peace and harmony.
Grateful that Joy is found in little things in life.
To each their own. That is the Singapore way.🥰🥰🥰🌈🌈🌈🎊🎊🎊🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬
@Tiger_SG @TigerStars @Tiger_comments @TigerClub
@nomadic_m @icycrystal @JiaDeName
我愿意接受一定估值溢价，这是长期值得拿住的资产。 @Tiramisu2020
Laopu gold is popular among the Chinese as gold is treasured among the Chinese and many do use it as a form of investment as it retains it value and comes in handy during hard times. It is a common gift for birthdays and weddings.
I do not think laopu gold will become the next classic brand as the designs tend to appeal to the Chinese more than the international population. So, I am not too optimistic about it’s potential for stock price growth.
I find it safer to buy the trending companies than the stock of traditional companies that are being sold off. One never know when the traditional companies lose their appeal and struggle to survive. Brands that are trending should meet analysts’ expectations and spur the stock price upward and makes good trading opportunity.
Pokémon Cards? Pop Mart? Laopu Gold? 。。。
Tag : @Huat99