{
  "id": 18109202,
  "title": "S'porean man, 61, suffered stroke, used last S$300 from insurance payout to start sex toy business",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/sporean-man-61-suffered-stroke-used-last-s-300-from-insurance-payout",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T11:14:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/11/sex-toy-store-stroke/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Desmond Goh, now 61 years old, once suffered a stroke which left him physically weak and unable to work. Having received an insurance payout, he turned to selling sex toys online to support his family. In 2013, Goh started with an initial investment of S$300, buying a small batch of products to sell on Qoo10. His daughter discovered the business while she was on a trip to Amsterdam. After building his online presence and eventually moving to physical stores, Goh opened his current showroom in Yishun in 2020. Despite the success of his business, Goh's work has impacted his personal life, causing some difficulty in dating and making him more reclusive. However, he finds meaning and purpose in his work, which supports his ageing mother and his one-year-old granddaughter, who he adores.",
  "summary": "He entered the business so as to avoid being a burden to his family.",
  "key_points": [
    "61-year-old Desmond Goh suffered stroke, became physically weak",
    "Used last S$300 insurance payout to start sex toy business in 2013",
    "Supports ageing mother and one-year-old granddaughter with business"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Turning a small insurance payout into a physical retail presence demonstrates how niche online entrepreneurship can provide vital financial stability for aging caregivers facing sudden physical disability.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}