DANJJAKSingapore has no winter or summer, but retail demand still moves through the year. Festive seasons, school holidays, the hottest weeks and the wetter monsoon months all change what customers reach for. The trick is to order four to six weeks ahead of each shift, so the stock is on your shelf when people start looking, not after. Here is a simple calendar you can adapt to your own shop.
How to use this calendar
Treat each section as a prompt, not a rule. Your own sales records are the best guide, so compare this list with what actually sold last year. Dates for Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji and Deepavali move each year, so check the calendar and count back from each one when you place orders.
A good habit is to hold a short planning session at the start of each quarter, look ahead three months, and place orders for anything with a seasonal lift.
January to February: Chinese New Year
The weeks before Chinese New Year are about looking good for visiting and photos.
- Hair colour and styling. Many people touch up their colour before the holidays. Home dye kits such as KOTA Natural Permanent Hair Colour Cream (an ammonia-free kit made in Thailand, with colour cream and developer in one box) sell well in this window. Styling products such as Gatsby Styling Hair Wax also move. Our guide to home hair dye covers what customers should know, including the skin sensitivity test described in the instructions.
- Skincare gift sets and travel sizes for family visits.
- Digestive care. Festive meals bring people in for antacids and similar everyday remedies. Keep the usual lines well stocked.
Order in December so that stock arrives before the rush, since some suppliers slow down over the holiday itself.
March to May: heat and the start of travel
The months around April and May are often among the hottest of the year, and the March school break brings short trips.
- Sun care. A good time to refresh your sunscreen range. Sunplay Skin Aqua Nexta Shield Serum UV Essence is labelled SPF50+ and the usage line advises reapplying, especially after towel drying.
- Sweat control. The Kiss Me Medicated Antiperspirant Cream is sold for sweat-prone areas such as the face, underarms and neck. Our article on Japanese sweat control and body care is a useful staff briefing.
- Body care. Lightweight body washes and shower products sell steadily when it is hot.
June and July: school holidays
The June school holidays are a busy travel period for families.
- Travel laundry and stain care. Dr Beckmann Travel Wash is a concentrated gel for hand washing away from home. Stain removers in small pens and bottles sit well next to it. See our guide to travel laundry wash and stain removers.
- Travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner and skincare.
- Pocket items such as herbal inhalers and plasters near the till.
August to October: haze watch and festive build-up
In some years, haze affects Singapore in the middle to later part of the year. You cannot predict it, but you can be ready.
- Masks and saline for rinsing, kept in reserve rather than overstocked.
- Throat care. Propoliz Mouth and Throat Spray is described as containing propolis extract with honey, peppermint, spearmint and menthol. Lozenges sell alongside it.
- Eye care such as eye wipes and eye gels.
Deepavali usually falls in October or November, so this is also the time to order grooming and gift items for that season.
November to December: year-end holidays and wet weather
The year-end school holidays bring another round of travel, and the northeast monsoon usually brings wetter weather.
- Laundry products. Damp weather means more indoor drying, so fabric softeners and stain removers move steadily.
- Skin first aid. Antifungal creams and foot care tend to be steady sellers when shoes stay damp. Customers with persistent symptoms should be pointed to a pharmacist or doctor.
- Gift sets and stocking fillers for Christmas.
Use December to plan your Chinese New Year order, and the cycle begins again.
Plan your next order
If you would like to line up stock for the season ahead, browse the skincare range, add what you need to your enquiry list, and tell us when you want it on the shelf. We will reply with prices, minimum order and stock, so you can order in good time.
This article is general product information for businesses, not medical advice. For questions about symptoms or treatment, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
