📝 Off Grid #2: Singapore’s Fengshui Mallster
A Fengshui master has cornered the shopping malls in Singapore.
I like reading fortune predictions displayed at Singapore’s shopping malls and I usually compare a few to see if there’s a common pattern.
So I was dismayed to discover that three malls I visited over the past few weeks had showcased the forecasts of the same Fengshui master.
The traditional Chinese practices of Fengshui and Ba Zi are a multi-million-dollar business in the city-state, with top masters easily commanding thousands or even tens of thousands per consultation.
The property sector is a big source of clients for these Fengshui masters, who provide “audits” of apartments, landed homes and office buildings.
For example, one of the masters pitched an analysis of floor plans and compass readings of doors to offer advice on how to improve the “qi flow” throughout a client’s dwelling.
Standing Out
Industry figures are hard to come by, but a web scraping service that pulls relevant websites estimated that there are at least 65 Fengshui consultants operating in Singapore.
This number only covers those with an online presence, but let’s take it as a ballpark.
Fengshui masters are increasingly adapting their strategy to stand out in a competitive market. For example, the tech-oriented consultants are making their insights “more digestible” via computer-generated charts and app-based reports.
In contrast, the Fengshui Mallster has taken the brick-and-mortar route by supplying his predictions to multiple retail outlets. This shows considerable marketing savvy because the footfall at the malls should translate to eyeballs that can be converted to paying clients.
Apart from enticing mall-goers with more detailed predictions, the billboards also generate cross-selling opportunities.
For example, one of the products recommended by the Fengshui Mallster to improve my mixed fortunes is a “7-Eyed Peacock Feather Protector”.
Plausible Deniability
Are these predictions accurate?
After reading them, I usually carry on with my life without checking whether they square with how the reality unfolds. But it might be a different story if one had shelled out tens of thousands on a reading that turned out to be disastrously wrong.
Some of these masters have built plausible deniability into their forecasts. Let’s take a look at a particular prediction for my Zodiac.
Putting aside my confusion on whether I’m clashing or not clashing with Tai Sui (heavenly deities that rotate annually) this year, virtually any scenario can fit into this prediction.
I have mixed feelings about the fixation with Fengshui: On the one hand, it shows a belief in larger forces beyond an individual’s own capability. On the other, sometimes misfortune is the result of bad choices – not Tai Sui.
While I’m hoping for more diverse fortune-telling voices in Singapore’s malls, the Fengshui Mallster has shown marketing foresight that may pay dividends for his business.