Thursday, April 18, 2019

3300. Apr 18, 2019. Pink-necked green pigeons in Ex Area 1

Thur Apr 18, 2019
Bright sunshine day.
A pair of pink-necked green pigeons perched high up on the trees in the Ex Area 1, making it difficult to take photos. Or they do not perch long. No pigeons in Ex Area 2 today.

Wed Apr 17, 2019
Bright sunshine day.
Pink-necked green pigeons flew from tree to tree in Ex Area 1. Hard to photograph them.

Tue Apr 16, 2019
Video of the PNGB at the same tree I saw in Apr 2018 - one year ago.
I took a video as they were much higher up and hidden by the leaves.

DIFFERENCE BET ORANGE BREASTED GREEN PIGEON AND PINK-NECKED GREEN PIGEON.

2007. This is the first sighting of the Orange-breasted Green Pigeon (Treron bincinctus) in Singapore, a male bird. The bird looks like the Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) except that the forehead, face and throat are greenish yellow. Also, the mauve-pink upper breast area is smaller and does not extend to the neck. The outer feathers of the tail is blackish, with a broad pale grey subterminal band.

https://www.besgroup.org/2008/01/12/orange-breasted-green-pigeon-sighted-in-jurong/

3299. Tooth resorption in a 10-year-old cat

feline-dental-disease

Tooth Resorption

Within each of a cat’s teeth is a chamber (root canal) that contains tissue made up of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. This tissue, which communicates with the rest of the animal’s body, is surrounded by a bony substance called dentin, which accounts for the bulk of the tooth’s structure.

In a condition known as a tooth resorption – formerly referred to as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion (FORL) or cervical line lesion — the dentin in a single tooth (or several simultaneously) erodes and eventually becomes irreparably destroyed. Over time, all areas of an affected tooth, from root to crown, may become involved.

Tooth resorption is a common condition, affecting an estimated 20 percent to 60 percent of all cats and close to three-quarters of those five years of age and older.

The cause, says Jennifer Rawlinson, DVM, chief of the dentistry and oral surgery section at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is unknown. “There are a few theories,” she says, “but no one is sure about what really stimulates this condition. Some researchers, for example, theorize that an excess of vitamin D in commercial cat food might be to blame, but other researchers don’t necessarily agree. So, for now, we don’t have an answer.”

In most cases, Dr. Rawlinson explains, there will be various levels of resorption in affected teeth, and the destruction can occur at varying speeds until it progresses to a point at which it must be clinically addressed. “A cat may lose just one tooth in its lifetime because of this problem,” she points out, “although it can have a little bit of resorption on other roots that may not require treatment.”

Regarding the clinical signs of tooth resorption, she says: “Loss of appetite might occur if the crown were to break off from a single tooth. In that case, the cat could be off its food for a significant amount of time — 24 to 72 hours, say. But in general, the condition has to get to an extreme level before the cat stops eating.

Instead, if there are several resorptive lesions in the oral cavity, one of the first signs would be that the cat starts swallowing its food without chewing it or that it suddenly develops a preference for soft food.”

A cat may clearly indicate that it is experiencing excruciating pain when it bites down on an affected tooth or if the tooth is touched by a veterinarian’s probing fingers or examining tool. At the same time, chronic toothaches are not among the condition’s most salient clinical signs.

A more reliable indicator in this regard is a cat’s behavior while eating. Says Dr. Rawlinson: “The owner may notice that the animal’s appetite appears to be normal but that it tilts its head and tries to chew on just one side of its mouth. If it is eating kibble, it may try to swallow it without chewing, or the food may fall out of its mouth.”

The best way of confirming the suspected presence of the condition, she notes, is by means of a full-mouth intra-oral radiograph. “I recommend that a cat’s teeth be visually examined by a veterinarian annually,” she advises, “and that they be x-rayed if a resorptive lesion is suspected.”

If veterinary examination reveals the presence of tooth resorption, Dr. Rawlinson points out, the only effective treatment will entail extraction of any affected teeth.

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Periodontitis

Gingivitis untreated. Plaque and tartar caused inflammation and destruction of the gums, exposing the root surfaces of the tooth and causing loose teeth. 3 teeth were extracted - LUPM1, LUPM2 and RLPM2. The cat has 30 teeth.

Incisor 3x4 = 12
Canine 1 x4 = 4
Premolar 3 x2 = 6 for upper jaw
2 x 2 = 4 for lower jaw
Molar 1 x 4 = 4

Owner towel brush the teeth sometimes twice a week

The cat is 7 years old.

In the past 2 years, the cat prefers the tuna fish rather than dry kibbles. Likes carrots, mashed potatoes, beef pieces (bak kwa).and milk.

Has excellent appetite.

No annual vet examination of teeth.

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ORIGINAL FILES

3298. An anxious dog needed grooming

Jan 1, 2019
Email to Toa Payoh Vets

We recently moved to Singapore from Ireland with a highly nervous Maltese/Yorkie cross called BB. He’s a sweet doggie except when being groomed. In Ireland, our vet had a groomer working in his practice and he provided sedation so that BB could be groomed with minimal distress and the groomer was not bitten!

Is this a service you provide?

Apr 15, 2019
The groomer was most anxious about being bitten by this dog. The dog was under mild sedation
"Groom the head first," Dr Daniel advised Clara and asked our assistant to help her.
"Not to worry," I said to Clara. "We can top up with isoflurane gas if the dog is still anxious! Ensure that the owner tell you the type of cut he wants for his dog."

The groomer came to Toa Payoh Vets but she usually grooms dogs in her home. .

The dog was groomed head first. Photo shows the muzzle being removed at the end of grooming. The owner was most satisfied with the job done by her.

Dog bites are an occupational hazard for groomers and vets.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

3297. Myanmar has a future for this 30-year-old singleton.

He worked as a logistic firm but business is downhill. Construction business in Myanmar booming like hot cakes. Why is he not there? Invest overseas. Invest in China too. In Indonesia.

3296. Stage 4 periodontal disease in a 7-year-old cat

Apr 19, 2019

The complaint was the rectangular bald patch which came out after the owner had left home to go fishing in Malaysia for 6 days. Her husband cared for the cat. He said he did not clip her during the 6 days. So what was the cause of this bald patch on the left neck? It is a mystery.

My hypothesis is that the cat had pulled off a big patch due to intense oral pain from the exposed root of the left molar tooth.

Fed wet food most of her life. Images of teeth shows severe periodontal disease in this cat's molar teeth.

3 badly decayed and loose teeth were extracted.

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3295. A very nervous Cairn Terrier X from Ireland - Personalised grooming

Tue Apr 16, 2019

Very difficult to groom him without sedation. Now, arrived in Singapore. The owner emailed to me for advice. Groomer to come to clinic. Dog sedated. Groomed and bathed. Owner has to personally instruct what style he wants.

Blood test for anaesthesia as health screening.

Liver enzymes, total red blood cells and haemoglobin elevated. Total white cell count low.

Monday, April 15, 2019

3294. How to succeed globally in the fashion business

Apr 15, 2019

FIRST DRAFT

An essay on how to succeed globally in the fashion business using Aijek and other companies as case studies.

Contents

1. PRODUCT

2. A UNIQUE SELLING POINT - the DNA of the designer

3. GLOBAL BUYERS

4. MANAGEMENT
4.1 QUALITY CONTROL
4.2 LARGE QUANTITY OF ORDERS
4.3 FACTORY SELLING "EXCESS" STOCKS
4.4 RESEARCH
4.5 FAKES
4.6 DEADLINE PENALTIES
4.7 EMPLOYEES' WORK ETHICS

5. NO WORK-LIFE BALANCE

6. GOVERNMENT/ASSOCIATION HELP FOR START-UP
.
7. SUSTAINABILITY

8. REFERENCES

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1. PRODUCT. A product that is desired by many global customers. Aijek offers high quality work, occasion and bridal wear that is affordable but not as cheap as the mass-market.

Do not make a product that does not have a wide audience as sales will be little. However, I think that high end luxury products have a niche market globally if it is well designed and unique.

2. A UNIQUE SELLING POINT - the Brand DNA (Brand Signature).

Aijek makes affordable, easy to wear, high quality classic designs that will not go out of fashion. Prices range from $159 for an off-shoulder cropped top to $479 for a pleated jacquard maxi dress. Bridal pieces from $279 for a short lace cress to $549 for a full-lace wedding gown.

(Singapore wedding gowns can cost over $3,000 but there are Singapore brides who can afford to buy them!).

For example:

2.1 Kate Spade in 2019. Creative director, Nicola Glass' vision is a grown-up and polished quirkiness. Kate Spade had sold her business a decade ago. She died in 2018. Sales surged 31% in the 2018's fourth-quarter sales.

2.2 Alexander McQueen died in 2010. Now the DNA is modern classic with the new designer, having been avant-garde under McQueen.

2.3 Lanvin is the oldest French couture house in continuous operation. Jeanne Lanvin, the founder did not create a signature like Coco Chanel's tweed jacket or Christian Dior's bar silhouette. It fired Alber Elbaz in 2015 and new designers have never been able to grow the business.

Be open to feedback but do not stray from your original intention to create your fashion label. Keep up with trends and times. Keep evolving your product as a woman cannot be just buying black dresses for her wardrobe. Make product in a different material or change the product line-up. You have to figure this out yourself.

Brand Signature for Aijek - Timeless designs which are trans-seasonal. Aijek's brand signature is in its customised lace such as customised colour combination and fabric prints designed by Danelle Woo.

Brand DNA (Signature Style) - What is lacking for designers today is their DNA - their signature style. Without DNA, no one is going to give you a place to show your work.

3. GLOBAL BUYERS

3.1 Must attend major trade fairs when you are ready for export orders which could be over $100,000s.

Aijek started in 2009. It sells to major department stores in the United States like Bloomingdale's, Barneys New York and Newman Marcus. It entered the US market in 2013. First sold in multi-label boutiques, then department stores in the US. Sales have been at least doubling year on year.

3.2 Sales in over 30 cities worldwide. Sales are in Hong Kong, mainland China and the Middle East.
3.3 E-commerce sites like Revolve, Asos, Shopbop, Taobao
3.4 Fashion Rental Platforms like Style Theory and Rent the Runway.
3.5 Clothing retailer like US Anthropologie, making exclusive products for it. See Point No. 4.3

4. MANAGEMENT

4.1 QUALITY CONTROL. She hired her own in-house quality control team. How she did this?
Probably hired a trusted competent manager to be inside the overseas factory and she had to be there at times to check and monitor. Hence lots of overseas travelling for the founder. This key person may resign and the team may not work as one as office politics is very common.

4.2 LARGE QUANTITY OF ORDERS. No problem for Aijek. Smaller fashion designers need to place large orders with the mainland China factories and face language barriers in the old days. Nowadays, many mainland China factories do have English-speaking staff.

4.3 FACTORY SELLING "EXCESS" STOCKS. Happened to find her silk-linen jumpsuit designed for U.S clothing retailer Anthropologie exclusively sold in Taobao and a store in Hong Kong. This is a very common finding for other fashion and non-fashion labels. The "excess" stock like LV handbag is cheaper if you have contacts.

4.4 RESEARCH. Worked very hard and experimented with the dye process for the delicate nature of the silk-linen in the production department of China factory. The "excess" stock was discovered to be sold by somebody. Cannot trust any outsourced factory in any country.

4.5 FAKES. Article did not mention about the fakes.

4.6 DEADLINE PENALTIES. No mention.

4.7 EMPLOYEES' WORK ETHICS. Aijek's founder has no factory of her own. The mainland China factory will usually have priority to complete the job rather than do quality control. She received wrongly stitched clothes at one time. This is a common problem with out-sourcing.

5. NO WORK-LIFE BALANCE - No time for family. Overseas travelling (a week to months working in the US or China; young children and spouse used to absence) for the past decade.

6. GOVERNMENT/ASSOCIATION HELP FOR START-UP

6.1 Business model. A business model is very important for start-ups. Consider how your item will be sold. Use technology creatively to sell your product (Facebook, e-commerce etc). Not every designer is an entreprenuer. You may need to focus on design and have a business partner. There is usually problems with partners (greed, dishonesty, poor work ethics).

6.2 The Bridge Fashion Incubator is from the Textile and Fashion Federation. It aims to help fashion start-ups bridge the gaps among fashion, technology and sustainability.

6.3 Singapore's Textile and Fashion Federation helped Aijek to rent a booth in 2013 at the prestigious Coterie trade show in New York. With exposure, popular e-commerce Revolve carried 5 of her designs but in 2019 sells 30 of her designs.

7. SUSTAINABILITY.
Designer and founder Danelle Woo started Aijek in 2009 with 30 designs sold in Shanghai and Singapore with $10,000. Has been profitable yearly for the past decade. 2018's revenue is over $3 million.

I am surprised that she said that it is easier to find the right husband than the right buyer. She wanted the buyer with the same vision. She will close the business in July 2019 and may revive later. I guess she does not want to damage the reputation of her fashion label by selling to others without the same vision. Kate Spade (eponymous New York Fashion Label) sold her business 10 years ago. I think Ann Klein sold her business too.

CONCLUSION

1. An entrepreneur has to sacrifice work-life balance to be globally successful. Some Singapore fashion designers focus on the local clients and do relatively well as clients' progeny support them. Some work from home as office rental is very high. Some have boutiques in Orchard Road.

2. Production and manufacturing difficulties if you don't have your own factory.
Singapore fashion designers say production is a common problem. Competition with mass-market labels that sell cheap.

3. The entrepreneur must be able to manage his or her factory very well. Poaching of experienced staff. Dishonest staff. Lazy staff. Share options for all staff?

4. The designer cannot be hands-on in every aspect of her business as she has to plan her business model. She gets burnt out.

5. Keep scalability in mind. Aijek founder said that when you go for trade shows, you have to be able to deliver very large orders in a short period of time. You have to be export-ready.

Reference:
Straits Times Mar 22, 2019. Life. D1-3.