Avendi Singapore · a traveler's guide
Avendi Singapore: shop like a local in Singapore — without tourist markups
Travelers arrive in Singapore with a short window and a long list: something meaningful to take home, something a local would actually buy, and a fair price. Tourist markets rarely deliver on all three. This guide walks through how residents of Singapore actually shop — and how to bring home gifts at local-market prices without chasing addresses across the city.
The three problems with typical souvenir shopping
- Tourist markups. The same product in a tourist market often costs 2–5× what a local pays at the maker's workshop. Prices are calibrated to travelers who don't know the local rate.
- Reseller confusion. Many "local" souvenir shops are resellers of mass-produced or imported goods. The story behind the product rarely checks out.
- Time cost. The good stores — the ones residents actually buy from — are scattered across neighborhoods. Tracking them down eats into time most travelers don't have.
How locals in Singapore actually shop
Residents of Singapore don't shop where tourists shop. They buy directly from the workshops, family-run studios, and small independent brands they grew up with. Prices are the list price — no markup for being new to the city. The items tend to be:
- Local Snacks
- Traditional Crafts
- Modern Lifestyle
- Tea & Spices
These are the products Singapore residents give each other as gifts — not the ones piled in airport shops.
A Singapore maker story: Meet Samantha Colbert
Founder, Strait Lights Singapore
Strait Lights began as an Australian expat’s tribute to her adopted home: a way to bottle the scents and stories of Singapore’s neighborhoods, shaped by both longtime locals and the many who have made this city their own. Each fragrance is a small ode to the multicultural heart of the Lion City: scents inspired by a city built by many.
The journey started when Samantha, navigating an autoimmune condition, began seeking cleaner, safer scents for her own home. The candles she created are intentionally toxin-free, crafted with partners who share her commitment to wellness and care. Beyond craft, the brand is grounded in purpose. With B1G1, Strait Lights supports women’s empowerment projects worldwide, turning every purchase into meaningful impact.
We’re honored to share their story and spotlight the difference your purchase helps create.
How Avendi Local makes it easy
Avendi Local is the hotel-integrated local gifting marketplace. We do the sourcing legwork in Singapore, meet residents, and stock only products from KYB-verified makers — priced at what a local would pay. From your hotel room:
- Browse curated Singapore products at local prices, no tourist markup.
- Order before 5 PM, receive same-day delivery to your hotel (typically under four hours).
- Orders after 5 PM arrive the next morning.
- Travel-packaged. Handed to your front desk. No customs, no chasing couriers.
- Free returns and exchanges within Singapore.
How to tell an authentic Singapore product from a tourist-market one
- Traceable maker. The seller can name the workshop, the city neighborhood, and the person who made it. On Avendi Local, every listing links to a verified vendor profile.
- Local price. The price is the same as the workshop or trusted city market. If it is dramatically more expensive because you are a traveler, it is a markup.
- Specific materials. Authentic items tend to have specific, traceable materials (Local Snacks, Traditional Crafts) — not generic descriptions.
- KYB-verified vendor. On Avendi Local, every maker has passed a Know Your Business check. Read how at avendi.me/avendi-authentic.
Ready to shop?
Browse curated, locally made Singapore gifts at local prices — delivered to your hotel.
Shop Singapore on Avendi LocalDelivery hotel-to-room within Singapore, Singapore. Same-day for orders before 5 PM.