‘What else can I do?’: S'pore ice cream vendors plan to keep selling for 'as long' as they can, but how long will that be?
Decades-long traditional ice cream vendors explain why they entered the business, and what keeps them going.
The traditional ice cream vendors in Singapore are planning to keep selling for as long as they can, despite the challenges they face. Many of these vendors have been in the business for decades, with some operating their carts for over 50 years. Operating a cart is not easy, as business varies day by day, and vendors often face issues such as rain, price hikes, and their own age.
Some vendors, like Uncle Soh and Uncle Tang, started selling ice cream out of necessity when they couldn't find other jobs. They earn around S$40 to S$50 or S$200 to S$300 a day, respectively, and have to restock their supplies at designated locations. With no new street hawking licenses being issued, the industry is gradually declining, and vendors are likely to continue working until they are no longer able to or when their licenses expire.
It is estimated that the traditional ice cream business could last another five to 10 years, but this depends on how the economy evolves.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.