World

A Singaporean Earned $6.7M from Flowers, Furniture and Food Venture in 2018

Published

7 years ago

May 25, 2019

A Singaporean florist, Joseph Soh, established his venture based on flowers, food, and furniture some years ago which led him to make $6.7 million in 2018. From the early days of running a small business of selling flowers, he launched an online medium known as Xpressflower.com which helped him gain huge popularity among people. With the passage of time, he learned about introducing food and furniture into his venture due to which he managed to earn such a huge revenue in 2018.

Joseph Soh had involved himself in flower selling to help his sisters in handling their flower business. He faced a lot of challenges in the earlier days of life as there was no means to spread the word about the business online. Joseph said that he could not afford much education as his family was not rich and so it prompted him to jump into the outside world to find some work. He got an idea of importing flowers when he learned about the demand for dry Australian flowers in Japan. However, soon he realized that only selling the dry flowers in Singapore’s small market would not suffice which led him to sell fresh flowers too. Soon, by facing huge challenges, he opened a cafe and furniture shop along with flower shops in a limited space. People who look for Coffee Table in Singapore visit his cafe and also buy flowers as well as other decoration related stuff.

In the earlier days, he got his first retail store with the help of the landlord at Century Square. Realizing the role of the internet in the future, he launched his online business in the form of Xpressflower.com. Currently, he has two spacious office units with cold rooms to place imported flowers and a license for producing Disney characters design. Xpressflower.com started its first branch in the Philippines and made a revenue of $6.7M in 2018. Joseph got inspired by a florist in Hong Kong which led him to introduce two new verticals namely F&B and furniture in 2016. In order to expand on a large scale, he invested to buy 2,600 sq. ft. warehouse at a price of $4million to create Knots Cafe and Living.

World

Swiss International University Makes Global Impact with Top 500 Times Higher Education Ranking

Published

4 weeks ago

June 24, 2026

Jenny Jackson

Swiss International University (SIU) got a real kind of milestone , when it landed inside the worlds top 500 universities in the newest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. Which is kind of huge because it is SIU’s first time appearing in those widely respected rankings, and it also shows how its influence keeps growing in international higher education.

SIU was competing with nearly 2,000 universities from different parts of the world, and that first debut basically underlines its dedication to academic quality, sustainability and a real societal footprint. Overall it seems like the result mirrors SIU’s own plan for delivering solid education , while also aligning with bigger global development objectives.

Now, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings look at universities through what they do for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , or SDGs. So the assessment is about universities creating verifiable positive change through education, research, community activities, plus governance— not just statements.

One of SIU’s strongest areas was the recognition tied to SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. In that section, SIU placed roughly within the top 100 to 200 universities worldwide, and that points to its focus on advancing ethical leadership, transparency, accountability, and those institutional values that actually stick.

This recognition shows SIU keeps working hard to get students ready, with the know-how , the ability to act and those ethical foundations, so they can face tangled global problems. And you know, by supporting responsible leadership and pushing for good social results, the university keeps building up its part in shaping the next generation of professionals and people who make real decisions

Key Highlights of SIU’s Achievement

• Ranked Among the World’s Top 500 Universities

In its first-ever participation in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, SIU managed to land a spot among the top 500 universities worldwide.

• Outstanding Performance in SDG 16

SIU reached a ranking in the top 100 to 200 range, across the globe, for its work related to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

• Strengthening Global Academic Presence

This win also reinforces SIU’s long-term vision, and it further tightens its standing as an emerging influence in international higher education.

Recognition from Times Higher Education is an important endorsement of SIU’s mission, to give accessible high-quality education while also making a positive impact in society. As the university keeps expanding its academic offerings and international reach, this milestone , works like a solid base for what comes next—future growth, more innovation, and that global recognition everyone is aiming for.