Latest news with #1880
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Local investor eyes acquisition of Singapore private club 1880 amid Hong Kong branch collapse
[SINGAPORE] A local investor is looking into the potential acquisition of Singapore private club 1880, following the sudden closure of its Hong Kong branch last Friday (Jun 6) – just seven months after opening in the territory. A source close to the matter told The Business Times that the potential buyer is 'in the very early stages' of doing due diligence, and sees the Singapore club as 'a viable and very decent' business. However, its ambitious expansion to Hong Kong has impacted the entire group. 1880 was founded in 2017 by Canadian entrepreneur, former adman and child actor Marc Nicholson, who has lived here since 2002. The club's luxurious 22,000 square foot space on the third level of InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay was conceived by star British designer Timothy Oulton. Its name, 1880, refers to the decade Robertson Quay was founded. 1880 founder Marc Nicholson at the escalator shaft – designed to look like a giant kaleidoscope – leading to the club. PHOTO: BT FILE The club has since established itself as a hub where individuals can come together for discussions on topics ranging from global conflicts to social justice – just like the weekly gatherings of opinionated individuals that Nicholson's bohemian-minded parents used to organise in Montreal. There are about 100 to 150 programmes a month, including talks and dinners meant as platforms for social interaction and debate. The Hong Kong branch started operating in November last year. But unlike the Singapore version, part of it is open to the public. The club was also to have expanded to a six-storey beachside hotel it was constructing in Bali, but that business never opened. Citing former employees, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) said 1880 Hong Kong had about HK$20 million (S$3.3 million) of debts. It is now facing a probe by authorities after owing wages to over 100 staff. The club is also in rental arrears, having taken four storeys in Swire Properties' Two Taikoo Place office complex in Quarry Bay. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up SCMP reported that each member in Hong Kong had to pay a joining fee of around HK$24,000 and a monthly subscription fee of HK$1,300, or HK$14,000 for a full year. In an email to its Hong Kong members, Nicholson said the company had 'run into cashflow difficulties' and had not been able to recover from them. 'We have made every attempt to raise funds to continue the operations but were unsuccessful,' he wrote. He said 1880 Singapore will retain its brand and 'continue under a new group'. 1880 Hong Kong's members will be granted a one-year overseas membership to the Singapore club, as well as all reciprocal clubs around the world. Separately, in a letter to employees, Nicholson acknowledged the failure to secure new funding and apologised. In Singapore, the source told BT that 1880 is still able to pay its employees here and make partial payments for rent and to suppliers. Work is underway to fully understand how extensive its liabilities are – including the potential impact of Hong Kong members using the Singapore club. 'From a standalone perspective, without the burden of the Hong Kong branch, the business in Singapore can sustain itself,' says the source. 'It's not as toxic as it is in Hong Kong.' BT understands that there are over 2,000 members in Singapore and membership fees are reported to be S$5,000+, with monthly fees of $180+. In a 2019 interview with BT, Nicholson said he was looking to attract a maximum of 2,000 members. 'A sufficient base of members who come frequently, use the facilities and bring their guests will keep us profitable,' he said, adding that the club here has seven business units, including a restaurant, bar, spa and co-working space. 'And if each of these is profitable, turning a 10 per cent or so, that can cover the rent, cost of goods sold, staff wages and so on.' Should the club be acquired, the source said the potential buyer plans to retain its brand and focus on running the business properly with fresh capital and new ideas.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
How can consumers avoid being burned after collapse of Singaporean 1880 club in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong branch of a Singapore-based private club has proceeded with liquidation with debts of about HK$20 million (US$2.5 million), following its abrupt closure after just seven months in business. Advertisement The Post unpacks the potential pitfalls of joining a private club and what consumers should do to protect themselves. 1. What's happened to 1880 Hong Kong? The private club, located at Swire Properties' Two Taikoo Place office complex in Quarry Bay, on Friday announced it was closing, citing 'cash flow difficulties' and failed attempts to raise funds. All memberships and associated privileges were discontinued. The move has left 100 employees without pay for two months and some members angered by sales made shortly before the closure. The company is believed to have owed staff members about HK$4 million in unpaid wages and around HK$15 million to suppliers and its landlord, Swire Properties, which has repossessed the premises. The club, which opened its doors on November 8 last year, occupied four floors offering event spaces, a gym with spa facilities and several restaurants. The sudden closure of 1880 Hong Kong club has left 100 employees without pay for two months. Photo: 1880 Each member had to pay a joining fee of around HK$24,000 and a monthly subscription fee of HK$1,300, or HK$14,000 for a full year, according to the founding member rates seen by the Post.
Vogue Singapore
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Vogue Leaders celebrates its inaugural class of trailblazing women
It began with a question: What does leadership look like today? At Vogue Singapore, we believe the answer is as multifaceted as the women who inspire us—resilient, creative and dedicated to something bigger than themselves. In order to celebrate these very figures, we unveil Vogue Leaders: a new editorial initiative that honours female thought leadership in all its forms. The inaugural edition of Vogue Leaders shines a spotlight on 10 remarkable women from Singapore shaping their respective industries with vision and courage. From scientists to storytellers, these extraordinary women are reclaiming the narrative of what it means to lead—and using their platforms to drive change for good. The event was held at private members' club, 1880 Singapore, and the space was decked out with florals from Amyt Fleur. Sam Xr Launched in March via an open call for nominations, the initiative drew responses from across the nation. Each submission was reviewed alongside internal nominations and industry recommendations through a rigorous editorial process. 'Our goal with Vogue Leaders was to honour a spectrum of women who have contributed to the richness and diversity of Singapore's social fabric,' says Natasha Damodaran, Publisher of Vogue Singapore. 'Each honouree brings a unique perspective and purpose to the table. Through this initiative, we hope to broaden the narrative of leadership—one that embraces difference, drives dialogue and inspires future generations.' The evening began with speeches from Vogue Singapore publisher and publisher-at-large, Natasha Damodaran and Bettina von Schlippe. Sam Xr The final list reveals a class of inspiring figures who are not only trailblazers in their own fields, but have consistently been laying the groundwork for others to rise. To honour their achievements, we hosted an intimate dinner at private members' club, 1880 Singapore, on 16 May, bringing together honourees and our wider circle of women changemakers and visionaries. A three-course dinner spotlighting seasonal ingredients was served at 1880. Sam Xr 1880 set the tone for the evening with its quiet elegance and luxurious charm. Known for fostering connections that shape the region's cultural future, the venue was the perfect host for the moment. The evening felt like a delicate ode to spring: ethereal botanical arrangements crafted by floral design studio Amyt Fleur decked out the space, while a sumptuous three-course dinner spotlighting seasonal ingredients was served by 1880's stellar culinary tean. Vogue Leader honourees took to the stage to share their messages of empowerment. Sam Xr During the dinner, the honourees in attendance each took to the stage to give rousing speeches. While each speaker brought distinct messages of empowerment to the forefront, what they shared in common was the palpable heart behind their words. Space Faculty CEO Lynette Tan, who has spent decades shaping Singapore's industry, began with her mission to demystify space—and a belief in its potential as a platform for education, empowerment and transformation. Karen Tan, the founder of The Projector, then took the spotlight to tell us about her unconventional journey to transforming one of Singapore's oldest theatres into a beloved and enduring indie space. Space Faculty CEO Lynette Tan shares her mission to demystify space. Sam Xr Karen Tan, founder of The Projector, on the value of thoughtful urbanisation. Sam Xr Poet Pooja Nansi delivered a stirring ode to empathetic leadership. Sam Xr Publisher and educator Usha Chandradas shared riveting anecdotes from her stint in parliament, where she had just ended her term as an NMP advocating for the arts industry in Singapore. As the head of advocacy and research at Aware, Singapore's most prominent gender equality organisation, Sugidha Nithiananthan spoke of the power of voice and visibility, beginning with a powerful tribute to her own mother and ending with an invigorating call to action for women all over Singapore. Publisher, educator and former NMP Usha Chandradas has spent the last 18 months leading arts advocacy in parliament. Sam Xr As the head of advocacy and research at Aware, Sugidha Nithiananthan spoke of the power of voice and visibility. Sam Xr As one of our nation's most trailblazing literary voices, poet and former Singapore Writers Festival director Pooja Nansi reflected on the nuances of being in leadership as a Brown woman. In her stirring ode to empathetic leadership, she spoke not of accolades, but of community, care and the quiet resilience that often goes unrecognised in traditional power structures. At its core, Vogue Leaders is about more than recognition. It is about rewriting the architecture of leadership itself. By inviting women to lead not in spite of who they are, but because of it, we celebrate a new vocabulary of influence—one that is measured not only by titles or triumphs, but by cultural impact and the generosity to uplift others. Conversations flowed freely from table to table as guests exchanged stories, sparked ideas and revelled in a collective sense of purpose and possibility. Sam Xr The night came to an end in high spirits as conversations flowed freely from table to table. Honourees, guests and Vogue editors exchanged stories, sparked ideas and revelled in a collective sense of purpose and possibility. To send our guests off in grand fashion, gift bags were thoughtfully assembled, including a 60-minute facial from Helena Rubinstein to restore; Vogue Singapore's 'Sonder' May issue to inspire; and, exclusively for the honourees, a year-long membership at 1880, alongside S$200 vouchers from Love, Bonito and a framed Vogue Leaders portrait—tokens of celebration that extend far beyond the night. Learn more about Vogue Leaders.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil rights leaders alarmed after bible and other artifacts are removed from Smithsonian African-American museum
A Bible carried during civil rights demonstrations and other artifacts are being quietly removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the nation's capital, according to reports. Rev. Amos Brown, a pastor and civil rights activist for more than five decades, received an email from the museum informing him that a Bible he carried during civil rights protests with Dr. Martin Luther King as well as other pieces he donated would soon be returned to him, he told WUSA9. The Smithsonian museum opened its permanent location on the National Mall in September 2016. The reverend's bible has been a part of its collection since. But now, the museum said it would be returning the items it first borrowed nine years ago. 'We are grateful for the loan of these important objects and the ability to share them with the public. In order to preserve them and not display them for too long, we are now returning them to you,' the email said. The Independent has reached out to the museum for comment. The move comes one month after President Donald Trump's March 27 executive order aiming to 'restore truth and sanity to American history.' The order targets Smithsonian museums, which have 'come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,' the order says. To achieve this restoration, the order says, expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy' are prohibited. Brown doubted that the items were being returned to his possession due to fear of harming their condition: 'The flimsy excuse was because they were under too much light.' His copy of The History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880, a historical account of the treatment of Black Americans from the slave trade through the 19th century, was also being returned to him, he said. 'I had called them and told them how unfortunate and ideological it is,' he added. In a statement to the outlet, the museum said it 'routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian's high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover.' The statement continued: 'Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false.' Brown told NBC4 he was never asked about renewing the loan. "It is downright dishonest and it is demeaning," he told the outlet. "I hope people of good will, of conscience and common sense will rise up and say 'we need to stop this." Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson also denounced the museum's decision to remove artifacts. He wrote on X over the weekend: 'The Trump administration's attempt to remove exhibits from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is a blatant attack on Black history. Erasing our past won't change the truth. We will not be silenced.'
The Independent
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Civil rights leaders alarmed after bible and other artifacts are removed from Smithsonian African-American museum
A Bible carried during civil rights demonstrations and other artifacts are being quietly removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the nation's capital, according to reports. Rev. Amos Brown, a pastor and civil rights activist for more than five decades, received an email from the museum informing him that a Bible he carried during civil rights protests with Dr. Martin Luther King as well as other pieces he donated would soon be returned to him, he told WUSA9. The Smithsonian museum opened its permanent location on the National Mall in September 2016. The reverend's bible has been a part of its collection since. But now, the museum said it would be returning the items it first borrowed nine years ago. 'We are grateful for the loan of these important objects and the ability to share them with the public. In order to preserve them and not display them for too long, we are now returning them to you,' the email said. The Independent has reached out to the museum for comment. The move comes one month after President Donald Trump 's March 27 executive order aiming to 'restore truth and sanity to American history.' The order targets Smithsonian museums, which have 'come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,' the order says. To achieve this restoration, the order says, expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy' are prohibited. Brown doubted that the items were being returned to his possession due to fear of harming their condition: 'The flimsy excuse was because they were under too much light.' His copy of The History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880, a historical account of the treatment of Black Americans from the slave trade through the 19th century, was also being returned to him, he said. 'I had called them and told them how unfortunate and ideological it is,' he added. In a statement to the outlet, the museum said it 'routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian's high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover.' The statement continued: 'Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false.' Brown told NBC4 he was never asked about renewing the loan. "It is downright dishonest and it is demeaning," he told the outlet. "I hope people of good will, of conscience and common sense will rise up and say 'we need to stop this." Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson also denounced the museum's decision to remove artifacts. He wrote on X over the weekend: 'The Trump administration's attempt to remove exhibits from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is a blatant attack on Black history. Erasing our past won't change the truth. We will not be silenced.'
