Lelong, lelong! Car boot sale at Changi Airport
By Esther Ng, TODAY | Posted: 13 November 2009 0753 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The concept is simple: Load your car boot with goods you want to sell.

Car boot sales-cum-flea markets have been around for some time now, at various places such as Turf City, Zouk and Playground@Big Splash, to name a few. But a car boot sale at Changi Airport?

"I've travelled to a few places and I haven't come across a flea market in an airport before," said Mr Andre Soetiwan. "I suppose Singapore is so small that people don't mind making a trip to the airport."

The permanent resident was having lunch with his family at Terminal 3 (T3) on Sunday when he discovered the flea market in its basement car park.

It was the second time Changi Airport Group (CAG) was organising it; the first was held last month.

CAG said 34 vendors paid $100 for a spot, from 11am to 9pm over one weekend at its first car boot sale. There were a "few hundred shoppers".

Its second market included push carts in the air-conditioned area just in front of the car park entrance and drew 50 vendors, consisting both seasoned sellers and newbies.

"Saturday was good. We sold $300 worth of old clothes," said Ms Ho Zhili, 24, who works at CAG.

Housewife Noor Hudah bought a handbag for $23 and a necklace for $6.90. She had driven all the way from Yew Tee with her family.

Teacher Yana Dris bought a dress for $5. "I'll bring more cash the next time round," she said.

The crowd was thinning out at 3pm when MediaCorp visited, but vendors say that business gets better after lunch and dinner. Most of them had already recovered their rental.

Last year, slow sales and low customer traffic were reported at T3.

Asked if the car boot sales were organised to increase traffic to its shopping belt, a CAG spokeswoman said: "Passenger traffic at Changi Airport has been increasing – up 6 per cent year-on-year to 3.06 million passengers for the month of September."

Since the beginning of this year CAG has had a sustained campaign of monthly promotions and activities, such as the Changi GP Festival, Free Yourself From GST Shopping Promotion and Let's Do Lunch at Changi.

There are plans for another market next month. A decision may be made after that on whether to continue the car boot sales.


- TODAY/so