Kien Tan
@kientan74.bsky.social
Retail consultant and analyst by day, gym instructor and beer drinker by night.
All about shops, pubs, planes, gyms... and the views are mine, all mine.
All about shops, pubs, planes, gyms... and the views are mine, all mine.
Pinned
Kien Tan
@kientan74.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Right. Where are you at #Retail people? Surely you can’t all be hanging out on LinkedIn and Threads? The best retail bantz is gonna be here.
HMU if you want to be added…
go.bsky.app/ThbCH86
HMU if you want to be added…
go.bsky.app/ThbCH86
☔️ Like, you just KNOW there’s going to be a hosepipe ban in summer, don’t you?
February 11, 2026 at 5:57 PM
☔️ Like, you just KNOW there’s going to be a hosepipe ban in summer, don’t you?
🇲🇾 Ok, it’s not *quite* as backward as this article suggests (a lot more than 30% drink alcohol, Carlsberg/Tiger are locally brewed, hoppy IPAs via Brooklyn/Aussie imports), but Paperkite has done an excellent job establishing a true local craft brewery - wish it was better distributed in KL though
It's pretty huge to have a craft brewery in Malaysia. Great snippet this
fredgarrattstanley.substack.com/p/alvin-lims...
fredgarrattstanley.substack.com/p/alvin-lims...
Alvin Lim’s mission to build an independent beer brand for Malaysia
The founder of Paperkite Brewery is flying the flag for beer in a country where most people don’t drink, and making serious progress
fredgarrattstanley.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 AM
🇲🇾 Ok, it’s not *quite* as backward as this article suggests (a lot more than 30% drink alcohol, Carlsberg/Tiger are locally brewed, hoppy IPAs via Brooklyn/Aussie imports), but Paperkite has done an excellent job establishing a true local craft brewery - wish it was better distributed in KL though
Reposted by Kien Tan
"Was 2025 as bad as it felt? No. It was simply not the year we all expected. Is 2026 without risk? Absolutely not."
Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC’s Lisa Hooker.
www.retail-week.com/opinion/im-o...
Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC’s Lisa Hooker.
www.retail-week.com/opinion/im-o...
‘I’m optimistic about UK retail even though this will be a finely balanced year’
Last year was not the disaster many retailers feared and 2026 will not be without risk. Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC's Lisa Hooker.
www.retail-week.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:49 AM
"Was 2025 as bad as it felt? No. It was simply not the year we all expected. Is 2026 without risk? Absolutely not."
Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC’s Lisa Hooker.
www.retail-week.com/opinion/im-o...
Retailers should double down on the basics of value, quality and trust, believes PwC’s Lisa Hooker.
www.retail-week.com/opinion/im-o...
Reposted by Kien Tan
One of the easiest ways to shoot down the idea that "AI" is an expert is to show how it deals with something people know about.
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
February 6, 2026 at 5:20 PM
One of the easiest ways to shoot down the idea that "AI" is an expert is to show how it deals with something people know about.
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
Britain’s barmy planning system:
Got notice of a planning appeal 2 blocks from my flat. Application to paint shopfront black rejected because “not in keeping with the local conservation area”
The conservation area… 🤦♂️
1. Who cares what colour it is?
2. What a waste of time and money
Got notice of a planning appeal 2 blocks from my flat. Application to paint shopfront black rejected because “not in keeping with the local conservation area”
The conservation area… 🤦♂️
1. Who cares what colour it is?
2. What a waste of time and money
February 8, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Britain’s barmy planning system:
Got notice of a planning appeal 2 blocks from my flat. Application to paint shopfront black rejected because “not in keeping with the local conservation area”
The conservation area… 🤦♂️
1. Who cares what colour it is?
2. What a waste of time and money
Got notice of a planning appeal 2 blocks from my flat. Application to paint shopfront black rejected because “not in keeping with the local conservation area”
The conservation area… 🤦♂️
1. Who cares what colour it is?
2. What a waste of time and money
No, no, no... This was an *invaluable* source of information growing up and in my first job(s) - y'know, in pre-Google, pre-Wikipedia times (can you imagine, my kids?). It truly made the world a smaller place.
HT @martysg.com
HT @martysg.com
The Factbook survived the Cold War and became a hit online. It mixed quirky cultural notes and trivia with maps, data, and photos taken by CIA officers. But it was discontinued this week.
The CIA World Factbook is dead. Here's how I came to love it
The Factbook survived the Cold War and became a hit online. It mixed quirky cultural notes and trivia with maps, data, and photos taken by CIA officers. But it was discontinued this week.
n.pr
February 7, 2026 at 11:11 PM
No, no, no... This was an *invaluable* source of information growing up and in my first job(s) - y'know, in pre-Google, pre-Wikipedia times (can you imagine, my kids?). It truly made the world a smaller place.
HT @martysg.com
HT @martysg.com
🤳 Manchester ok, booking-dot-com?
*Manchester*, not Makkah… Just because my fat fingers pressed the wrong city, stop sending me notifications about places to stay and things to do in *Makkah* 🤦♂️
*Manchester*, not Makkah… Just because my fat fingers pressed the wrong city, stop sending me notifications about places to stay and things to do in *Makkah* 🤦♂️
February 7, 2026 at 9:38 AM
🤳 Manchester ok, booking-dot-com?
*Manchester*, not Makkah… Just because my fat fingers pressed the wrong city, stop sending me notifications about places to stay and things to do in *Makkah* 🤦♂️
*Manchester*, not Makkah… Just because my fat fingers pressed the wrong city, stop sending me notifications about places to stay and things to do in *Makkah* 🤦♂️
Reposted by Kien Tan
Because supermarkets are not allowed to "promote" high-sugar food by placing them at the end of an aisle, the puddings in Asda's Valentine's Meal Deal have to be moved around the corner🙄
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
February 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Because supermarkets are not allowed to "promote" high-sugar food by placing them at the end of an aisle, the puddings in Asda's Valentine's Meal Deal have to be moved around the corner🙄
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
🚨 You can’t say there isn’t a societal problem when 92% of Brits say shoplifting is common, making UK shops appear more vulnerable to crime that literally anywhere else in the world…
Fascinating stuff from @retailweek.bsky.social
Fascinating stuff from @retailweek.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
🚨 You can’t say there isn’t a societal problem when 92% of Brits say shoplifting is common, making UK shops appear more vulnerable to crime that literally anywhere else in the world…
Fascinating stuff from @retailweek.bsky.social
Fascinating stuff from @retailweek.bsky.social
Busted…
“Britain's aviation authority has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing Dreamliner passenger jet which was grounded on arrival in India for safety checks took off from London on Sunday with a possibly faulty fuel switch”
“Britain's aviation authority has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing Dreamliner passenger jet which was grounded on arrival in India for safety checks took off from London on Sunday with a possibly faulty fuel switch”
UK asks Air India to explain Boeing Dreamliner fuel-switch incident
www.reuters.com/world/india/...
www.reuters.com/world/india/...
UK asks Air India to explain Boeing Dreamliner fuel-switch incident
Britain's aviation authority has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing Dreamliner passenger jet which was grounded on arrival in India for safety checks took off from London on Sunday with a possibl...
www.reuters.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Busted…
“Britain's aviation authority has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing Dreamliner passenger jet which was grounded on arrival in India for safety checks took off from London on Sunday with a possibly faulty fuel switch”
“Britain's aviation authority has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing Dreamliner passenger jet which was grounded on arrival in India for safety checks took off from London on Sunday with a possibly faulty fuel switch”
🍺 Niche pub news for City folk:
The Hoop and Grapes on Farringdon Street has finally reopened… and busy with mysterious balloons on the roof… Let’s hope the beer is better kept than before it closed 😬
The Hoop and Grapes on Farringdon Street has finally reopened… and busy with mysterious balloons on the roof… Let’s hope the beer is better kept than before it closed 😬
February 4, 2026 at 7:29 PM
🍺 Niche pub news for City folk:
The Hoop and Grapes on Farringdon Street has finally reopened… and busy with mysterious balloons on the roof… Let’s hope the beer is better kept than before it closed 😬
The Hoop and Grapes on Farringdon Street has finally reopened… and busy with mysterious balloons on the roof… Let’s hope the beer is better kept than before it closed 😬
Are you looking forward to riding D-ADDY?!
February 4, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Are you looking forward to riding D-ADDY?!
(*I suspect HMRC will beg to differ, but one for @alphaville.ft.com to adjudicate, methinks)
February 4, 2026 at 12:34 PM
(*I suspect HMRC will beg to differ, but one for @alphaville.ft.com to adjudicate, methinks)
🧮 One for the tax experts: the £6.50 Pret Meal Deal is to take away. If #VAT is charged on sandwiches to eat in and the saving is £3.30, how much VAT should be charged?
If the whole discount is applied to the sandwich* and not proportionally across all items, then it's 42p, not the 68p charged here!
If the whole discount is applied to the sandwich* and not proportionally across all items, then it's 42p, not the 68p charged here!
February 4, 2026 at 12:34 PM
🧮 One for the tax experts: the £6.50 Pret Meal Deal is to take away. If #VAT is charged on sandwiches to eat in and the saving is £3.30, how much VAT should be charged?
If the whole discount is applied to the sandwich* and not proportionally across all items, then it's 42p, not the 68p charged here!
If the whole discount is applied to the sandwich* and not proportionally across all items, then it's 42p, not the 68p charged here!
Reposted by Kien Tan
I think it was @kientan74.bsky.social I saw talking about a "vibes based recession". Things feel recessiony, even if they're actually not, which ends up manifesting an actual recession.
February 4, 2026 at 10:43 AM
I think it was @kientan74.bsky.social I saw talking about a "vibes based recession". Things feel recessiony, even if they're actually not, which ends up manifesting an actual recession.
It was me. Despite the cost of living crisis, disposable income is rising for the average person on the street. But it doesn’t *feel* like it’s rising, so consumers are saving instead of spending. If 2/3 of the UK economy is driven by consumer spending, that becomes a problem for businesses…
February 4, 2026 at 12:30 PM
It was me. Despite the cost of living crisis, disposable income is rising for the average person on the street. But it doesn’t *feel* like it’s rising, so consumers are saving instead of spending. If 2/3 of the UK economy is driven by consumer spending, that becomes a problem for businesses…
This.
And as a representative of a big professional services firm with a decent-sized following, the corporate affairs team keep asking me to post stuff for them in LinkedIn (thankfully not on Twitter any more). Most of it is far too cringe, so I conveniently “forget”…
And as a representative of a big professional services firm with a decent-sized following, the corporate affairs team keep asking me to post stuff for them in LinkedIn (thankfully not on Twitter any more). Most of it is far too cringe, so I conveniently “forget”…
February 3, 2026 at 12:48 PM
This.
And as a representative of a big professional services firm with a decent-sized following, the corporate affairs team keep asking me to post stuff for them in LinkedIn (thankfully not on Twitter any more). Most of it is far too cringe, so I conveniently “forget”…
And as a representative of a big professional services firm with a decent-sized following, the corporate affairs team keep asking me to post stuff for them in LinkedIn (thankfully not on Twitter any more). Most of it is far too cringe, so I conveniently “forget”…
Yes it was… I’ve written extensively about it…
www.linkedin.com/posts/kienta...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kienta...
I don’t think Amazon is serious about running grocery stores…
February 3, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Yes it was… I’ve written extensively about it…
www.linkedin.com/posts/kienta...
www.linkedin.com/posts/kienta...
🍺 “With every change the beer became more and more enjoyable, says the brewer”
tbh, I quite liked it when it was one of the few consistently widely-distributed Viennas (and then IPLs) 😒
tbh, I quite liked it when it was one of the few consistently widely-distributed Viennas (and then IPLs) 😒
Lost and Grounded Brewers’ popular Running With Sceptres beer is evolving — into a 5.2% ABV IPA, the Bristol based business has announced beertoday.co.uk/2026/02/03/l... #beer #beernews #IPA @lostandgrounded.bsky.social
Running With Sceptres: from lager to IPL to IPA - Beer Today
Lost and Grounded Brewers' popular Running With Sceptres beer is evolving — into a 5.2% ABV IPA, the Bristol based business has announced
beertoday.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM
🍺 “With every change the beer became more and more enjoyable, says the brewer”
tbh, I quite liked it when it was one of the few consistently widely-distributed Viennas (and then IPLs) 😒
tbh, I quite liked it when it was one of the few consistently widely-distributed Viennas (and then IPLs) 😒
…it would be very “on brand” for Amazon if Whole Foods does not thrive. That end of Islington is already satisfactorily served by Planet Organic, indies and mainstream premium supermarkets…
February 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM
…it would be very “on brand” for Amazon if Whole Foods does not thrive. That end of Islington is already satisfactorily served by Planet Organic, indies and mainstream premium supermarkets…
🛍️ Camden Passage has been a bit of a kiss-of-death location for retailers since it stopped being an antiques market… Jack Wills, Superdry, Sofa-dot-com, Amazon Fresh… So is Whole Foods going to succeed where the others have all failed?
February 3, 2026 at 11:23 AM
🛍️ Camden Passage has been a bit of a kiss-of-death location for retailers since it stopped being an antiques market… Jack Wills, Superdry, Sofa-dot-com, Amazon Fresh… So is Whole Foods going to succeed where the others have all failed?
Happy birthday (I think?!) and thanks for our daily history lesson!
February 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Happy birthday (I think?!) and thanks for our daily history lesson!
Yeah, that I agree with... More widely on infrastructure, it blows my mind, given such a notionally bountiful public purse, how uninvested Dublin's public transport network is 🙈
February 3, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Yeah, that I agree with... More widely on infrastructure, it blows my mind, given such a notionally bountiful public purse, how uninvested Dublin's public transport network is 🙈