Mr Soh added that customers tend to visit the Army Market when they need to procure an item immediately, as opposed to waiting for an online delivery to come through.
“We do our business, and they do their business,” he said, referring to online stores.
“The times are always changing, there’s no choice. Because now it’s the digital age, we have to move with the times for our country and society to improve.”
While this reporter was speaking with Mr Soh, a customer approached with a photo of a pair of black boots on his phone screen.
The storeowner took one glance and said he did not stock the boots, but gave the customer the exact unit number of a shop that would have them.
Later, Mr Soh explained that the key thing was to provide convenience to customers, and to make sure that if they are looking for an item, they can find it at the Army Market.
Another customer, Mr Luven Ng, 23, told CNA he appreciated the environment at the market and the friendliness and honesty of stallholders.
He has been a regular at A.I.M. Spec, a shop selling imported tactical gear, for eight out of its nine years of operation.