• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Property
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Work & Finance
        • soccer school sports - SJI International studentsWhich school sports to choose?
        • Transform borders Singapore immigration lawyer sulochanaTHE Singapore immigration lawyer to get your work permit
        • Driving in SingaporeDriving in Singapore – What you need to know
        • migration to AustraliaIs migration to Australia or NZ on your wish list?
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Things to do in SingpaoreWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • puzzles octoberPuzzle Pages – answers for October 2023!
        • horoscopes for julyMonthly Horoscopes – October 2023!
        • what's on in sydney theatre wickedA Wickedly Good Time – Things to Do in Sydney!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • soccer school sports - SJI International studentsWhich school sports to choose?
        • special needs education clinic TLCNeed special needs education support for your child?
        • Yellow Aliens mascotWhere to rent Halloween costumes & more!
        • White Room photography studio in SingaporePortrait photography in Singapore: here’s some top studios!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Furniture & Décor
      • Real Homes
        • Looking for the best outdoor furniture in Singapore?
        • Home News: New furniture, home décor & services
        • solo exhibition in singaporeAmazing 3D-style artwork by Zhuang Hong Yi
        • Where to buy antiques or vintage furniture – Reviews
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • migration to AustraliaIs migration to Australia or NZ on your wish list?
        • The Latest Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • what's on in sydney theatre wickedA Wickedly Good Time – Things to Do in Sydney!
        • stamp duty investing in property5 Reasons to Invest in Property in Sunny Spain!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • Oktoberfest 2023 singapore - the places for food and beerHow to celebrate Oktoberfest 2023 in Singapore
        • Deviate wine bar in Dempsey Hill - we chat to owner Joe Keats of Petersons WinesThis Dempsey bar is a best-kept secret!
        • Crossroads cafe at Orchard - where to eat in Orchard Road - alfresco dining SingaporeTry alfresco dining & happy hour at this café at Orchard Road
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • anti-frizz hair treatmentFrizzy hair? We review keratin treatments and more
        • hairdressers in singaporeBest Hair Salons in Singapore for Haircut, Colour & De-frizz!
        • Fashion News and Sales in Singapore!
        • sensitive skin moisturiser skincare steps productsTried & Tested: Sensitive skin moisturisers, serums & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • soccer school sports - SJI International studentsWhich school sports to choose?
        • dental facial orthopaedic and clear aligners orthodontics in singaporeA star in alignment – orthodontics and charity work
        • mould service in singaporeChoose the right mould removal service in Singapore
        • allergic rhinitis, allergy medication and insuranceFast facts on allergies, symptoms & insurance
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

Inspiring Stories: Founder of The Wyld Shop

8th June 2018 by Anthia Chng 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/interview-founder-the-wyld-shop/

To mark International Women’s Day, we brought together three awesome women from different backgrounds to share their journeys and life lessons. Read on for our second interview with the founder of the Wyld Shop, Kara Bensley, who talks about juggling business and family, and her unique perspective of motherhood.

the wyld shop
“Never ever stop believing in yourself. The buck always stops and starts with you.”

What’s the story behind theWYLDshop?

It began with a great opportunity that quickly turned into a business. When I came to Singapore with my then boyfriend, now husband Jon, I brought an awesome fashion eyewear brand with me that I hoped to introduce to the local marketplace. (I spent over a decade working in fashion retail and wholesale in Australia.) I had no prior knowledge of the people, the retail scene or the business culture here, and my entrepreneurial adventure literally began with me knocking on doors with a suitcase in hand. Eventually, I caught a break, landed my first couple of customers and, within the year, I had started a fashion agency representing Australian high-street fashion brands in Asia. After operating as a solo agent, I soon discovered a gap in the local market for unique, quality, affordable style, and tested the theory by throwing a party for Singapore’s fashionistas followed by a month-long pop-up store. The brands and apparel were all well-received, and we shifted the focus of WYLD directly to customers. So, theWYLDshop.com was born!

What drives you?

People are my passion. Seeing women comfortable and confident in themselves is extremely rewarding. We aim to encourage and inspire women to live “wyld”, live free and be who they want to be, to embrace their uniqueness, celebrate their beauty, chase their dreams and never stop believing in themselves.

What’s the most exciting thing about being an e-commerce entrepreneur right now in Singapore?

This fast-paced digital world that we live in is crazy, and the social media stratosphere is mind-boggling, but it’s an awesome and exciting time for businesses to take advantage of it to create meaningful engagement and content that channels the right brand messaging to customers.

Getting this right can be challenging, and has posed some ongoing hurdles for me. I’ve learnt that the secret is time and planning. Invest time in making sure the content you’re producing is relevant to your audience.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt?

Being an entrepreneur propels you into networking, and it has opened up wonderful opportunities to forge meaningful friendships and relationships for me, both for my business and personally.

However, with all these positive interactions, it leaves the door wide open to pitfalls in trusting and working with the wrong people. That’s something I experienced, but it’s all part and parcel of the journey, and I believe everything happens for a reason. Embrace the plethora of people you come in contact with, but be discerning about the process. Know yourself, trust your gut and surround yourself with positive people. You gave birth a year ago to beautiful baby Jack, and we understand you were adopted.

Has this changed your perception of motherhood in any way?

I always knew I wanted to be a mum, but had no expectations going into it, which is probably lucky because man, did it surprise me (in a good way, of course!). It tests you from all angles; some that you never even knew existed. Having been given the chance at “a better life” myself, it’s something that I will always be eternally grateful for, and each day I count my blessings.

Now that I’m a mum, it’s only deepened my respect for women and mothers all over the world. I do love men (for obvious reasons!) but women are truly the most amazing creatures on the planet in my eyes.

How have you coped juggling family and entrepreneurial life?

I’m not the most organised person, so learning to prioritise is a challenge. In general, balancing work and life is a struggle for many, and having a child and a business can put an enormous strain on your relationship or marriage. To be honest, there have been times where I really haven’t coped, so taking a step back, some deep breaths or some time out is important for your own mental and physical health. Having clear and open lines of communication makes things a lot easier when coping with the hard times.

Name someone who inspires you and why.

On a personal level, my parents are my greatest inspiration because of their boundless support, generosity and love. On a professional basis, I’m very inspired by Tony Robbins. I find his talks uplifting and motivating, and they jolt me into action, reminding me that I’m the one in control of my situation. He always inspires me because he’s dedicated his whole life to helping others, using all the negatives from his past life experience and made it his mission to assure others they don’t have to suffer.

What would be your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Have a plan – you can always amend it. Set goals – it’s imperative to have something to strive towards. Research your competitors (thoroughly!) so you know that your product or service fulfils a need in the market. Know who your audience is – marketing is everything. Know your financials, do not be afraid to ask for help, reach out to experts in the fields you are not familiar with or take time out to learn it for yourself. If you have a team, make sure they clearly understand your vision. Finally, surround yourself with positive people and never stop believing in yourself, because if you don’t, others won’t. These are all things I’ve done, not done, have learnt, am currently learning or have just started doing. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

What key life lesson would you pass on to your son?

Know your self-worth and never ever stop believing in yourself. The buck always starts and stops with you.

 

This article first appeared in the March 2017 edition of Expat Living. Shop now so you never miss an issue!

Categories: Style & Beauty Tags: International Women's Day Interview online shop Online Shopping the wyld shop thewyldshop

Anthia Chng

Born and bred on this little red dot, Anthia is obsessed with all things beauty and food. When she's not trawling the web for the latest makeup launches and best hair salons, she's busy sussing out the hottest restaurants and bars to visit. Occasionally, she writes about her Muay Thai and baking adventures, too.

You May Also Like

Shop dress shoes for men in Singapore

Dress shoes for men – finding the perfect pair in Singapore

Her Story: Creating a lingerie brand in Singapore

Tiffany Cook and Caroline Chin Geyler from T&C Gemstones and Jewellery

Bespoke jewellery created by a pair of gem lovers!

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.