Independent Market

Nice souvenir shop, but relatively expensive prices.

It's okay. But go to the website first to see what item you want. Their store is more like a storage than a display store - things are all over the place and many are wrapped up. Zero greetings.

One of the best shops in SG, with diversity, artistry, and local uniqueness- a place for Singaporean nostalgia, a place for foreigners' exploration, a place to be supported!

I have bought their items before (bag, tee, mask) from their tanglin mall branch and decided to check out their Holland branch. Was there on Wed 11 May at 4 pm. There was both a "Open" and "Out for break" sign so I asked if it was open before entering. A grouchy old man nodded. From the time I entered, an old lady followed me around, not out of earnest but more of hostility and suspicion of theft. When I wanted to ask her a question about some postcards, she kept frowning at me and looking me up and down. Another customer asked her a question but she couldn't reply- simply saying she wasn't the boss and the boss wasn't around.. When I asked her for a sample of a set of colouring postcards, she replied in an irritated tone to look at the back and to look at another book.. which was totally unhelpful. Terrible service- rude, hostile, treats customers like thieves and lack basic knowledge of their products. Shop is very cluttered and seems to also double up as a non-related cushion cover shop. DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BRANCH. Edit: after submitting this review, I read the owner's reply to another reviewer who experienced the same bad service from the old lady. If your shop staff (family or not) is not able to provide basic customer service, it may be better to explore other options. It's regrettable the shop faced thefts before but it is no excuse to treat customers like criminals.

I love the range of items available here — they’re works of Singaporean artists. Cups, plates, postcards, tote bags, and more. It’s really unique and gives Singaporeans a sense of nostalgia. However, I have to be frank and say that the old lady in the shop was quite rude. She followed my friend and I very closely around the shop and it disallowed a peaceful browsing experience. It was uncomfortable and frustrating to have her staring down at us, and she kept rearranging/straightening the items after we had touched them. We felt unwelcome so we left shortly. I’ve read other reviews and this has happened to other shoppers too. It’s unfortunate for a staff to have an attitude like this… because the shop has a really nice and welcoming vibe from the outside, which was what attracted us in the first place.

Creepy old lady who kept staring at my partner and I. She followed us to every corner, constantly making us feel very very uncomfortable. We genuinely wanted to purchase items, but the blatant staring was too much and completely disrespectful. She was also weird about moving things back into position although it was only shifted by inches when we picked it up. Even when we walked out of the shop, she followed us and stared us down the corridor. There were two other people in the store and she did not behave like this. Which brings us to only one conclusion… This is NOT THE PLACE for artists to sell their art as it stinks of homophobia.