
In the current battle against coronavirus, here’s how several local businesses are changing up their approach.
Who would have ever thought that a virus could bring the world to its knees? Yep, because of Covid-19, people around the globe are taking salary cuts, losing their jobs and fighting to keep their companies afloat. But amid all the worries, businesses are also staying positive, adapting their models and switching up their MOs. Here, we chat to three local businesses in Singapore who are changing up their ways and fighting the good fight. Because we’re all in this together. We’re #SGunited!
Taxi Baby / / Elise Mawson, managing director, engineer & certified child passenger safety technician instructor

When it comes to local businesses in Singapore, we’re huge supporters of Taxi Baby. Its team is dedicated to increasing the awareness of child passenger safety and provide safe products with that in mind. While travel has certainly taken a back seat during Covid-19, this local business is still adapting its offerings. Read on for its ‘thrive and survive’ mentality…
“While there is still some demand for some of Taxi Baby’s products, the current situation is forcing us to get more creative. Recently, we launched $10 virtual micro-consults. It’s pretty much like having me in your pocket at your beck and call, so I think it’s a bargain, haha! The consult process is designed so that I can give customers support and advice wherever I am (that’s usually with the kids these days!), which reduces delays. We are currently setting up our video recording studio in our warehouse – it will be amazing. At some point, we’ll be able to let our small business buddies borrow it, too.
We’re also trying to get creative about our service offering, so we have a pipeline of very exciting developments launching over the next six weeks. Spoiler: we have been officially crowned as the authorised service centre for two big stroller brands in Singapore, so watch this space!
Small businesses are really feeling the pinch at the moment, but I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful, supportive and kind community. Now, more than ever, we need to band together and support our local businesses so we can stay afloat through 2020. Challenging times force us to rethink. I’m looking forward to seeing what clever ideas my team comes up with to survive and thrive.”
Centre Stage School of the Arts / / Ellie Maltby, Head of Operations
Founded in 1999, Centre Stage is a performing arts centre that offers creative programs in drama, musical theatre, dance, music, and art and craft for children of all ages (and adults too!). While its physical (stage) doors might be closed right now, its members are working hard to create online solutions to keep its community supported. Read more about how this local business in Singapore is changing its MO…
“Like the rest of the world, Covid-19 has had a profound impact on Centre Stage’s operations for 2020 so far. While we’ve had safety measures on the go since the end of January, unfortunately, due to the nation’s spike in cases here, we’ve had to close our doors for now. We’d already seen a drop in new enrolments and attendance, with parents opting to keep their children home as much as possible. If we aren’t able to re-open again in May, we will really struggle financially.
Thankfully, some of the key skills the performing arts teach us is to be flexible, adaptable and creative. We removed audiences from our productions and worked fast to live stream the shows on Zoom so that the kids could still see and hear their parents’ applause. We also transformed our Black Box Theatre into a film studio and spent our time working on producing some top quality online content for our students to keep them entertained and connected from the comfort of their own homes. Following the latest circuit breaker measures, we’ve now all got makeshift studios at our homes! Centre Stage Interactive or CSi launched on 6 April and will be a combination of paid recorded and live classes, as well as additional free extras for the Centre Stage Community. If you’re keen to get involved, just reach out to us!
We hope we’ll be able to reopen again in May, and that our lovely students, parents and the wider community engage with the online offerings we make available in the meantime. Keeping up a sense of community is SO important at times like this. We just hope everyone continues to support us and each other, so that we will still be around when the dust settles.”
Pororo Park and Tayo Station
When it comes to soft play and indoor playgrounds in Singapore, we’ve always been big fans of Pororo Park and Tayo Station. Yes, they may be closed for the time being, but the team behind these family favourites have been working hard to create video content… and some penguin-themed at-home fun!
“Since coronavirus hit Singapore, so many local businesses in Singapore have been affected. Our team implemented various measures – hourly sanitisation by crews, longer cleaning hours to facilitate daily deep cleaning and disinfection and so on. However, since the end of March, we temporarily closed both our play parks – Pororo Park Singapore and Tayo Station – in support of the #stayhome advice.
As a company, we stand by the government’s advice for everyone to stay home as much as they can. One adaption we’ve taken is working towards more video content, so we’re still able to bring the fun to those at home. During this period, our social media pages will remain active so that parents will still be able to share little bite-sized portions of Pororo the Little Penguin to their kids daily. Additionally, we’ve brought our toy store online to help parents shop from home (there’s currently 20% off, too!).
The situation has never dampened the spirits of our crew members. Instead, it has spurred us on in coming up with more creative ways and ideas on how we can stand by parents who are staying home with the energetic little ones. Moving forward, we hope we’re able to overcome this as a nation. Hopefully, once again we’ll be able to provide parents and kids in Singapore a safe haven to have fun and bond as a family.”
Do you have any inspiring stories to share? Get in touch at [email protected].