Homepage
PR Newswire
29-07-2011, 06:11 AM
There are some serious jokers in this world. This guy bluffs his customers and now seeks their pity? Please don't be a hypocrite!
Jul 29, 2011
Beleaguered hairstylist 'not running away'
Jonal Chong says he has no money for refunds, plans to reopen shop
By Daryl Chin
Mr Jonal Chong had earlier lied about having styled actress Nicole Kidman's hair. His shop in Orchard Central has been shut due to rental arrears. He also owes more than a thousand customers packages worth between $100 and $1,000 each. -- ST PHOTO: MALAVIKA SINGH
View more photos
TROUBLED hairstylist Jonal Chong is a contrite man at the end of his tether.
His salon in Orchard Central is locked up due to rental arrears, his reputation is in tatters after he lied about styling Nicole Kidman's tresses, and many customers believe him to have left in a hurry.
Despite this, the 48-year-old, who owes more than a thousand customers packages worth between $100 and $1,000 each, is staying put - and even plans to make a comeback by reopening his shop.
'Right now, I can take my barang barang (tools) personally to my client's house and provide hair-cutting services,' the beleaguered stylist told The Straits Times on Tuesday. 'That's all I can do. Don't ask me for a refund as I don't have the money, but I'm definitely not running away.'
The Consumers Association of Singapore said there have been 22 complaints and inquiries about him, up from nine last week.
Mr Chong is the managing director of his 1,900 sq ft salon, now called Jonah Choong Hair Couture. It opened in 2009 with the aim of providing 'lux services at affordable prices'. It was closed two weeks ago.
But Mr Chong's troubles began in earnest earlier this year after media reports exposed him for lying about having styled the A-list actress' hair. He later came clean.
'Regarding Nicole Kidman, I already said I was sorry so I hope people can move on,' he said. 'But the branding of the shop was tarnished and that affected my customers, which also made it difficult for me to survive,' he added, burying his head in his hands. Adding to Mr Chong's stress are his salon's high operating costs.
He said he pays $32,000 a month in rent to landlord Far East Organization. Another $30,000 goes to miscellaneous costs as well as the salaries of his staff of 10. This led to his shop falling 3 1/2 months in arrears. He also had to move out of his rented apartment in Cairnhill Residences two weeks ago, due to financial difficulties.
'This was the same day I came to work and discovered my salon shut with all my equipment inside, a changed lock and a notice on the grille,' he said. 'I was shocked.'
Since then, he has been running around trying to entice strangers, friends and acquaintances to become shareholders in his shop, but the going is tough.
'All my friends have run away because they are afraid I'll ask them for money,' he said, adding that he has lost more than 6kg since the latest saga began.
Mr Chong admitted that he could not give a deadline for when his shop would reopen, but said he was trying his best. He said negotiations with Far East Organization are ongoing.
Asked whether she will continue using the salon, customer Angel Pang, 25, an advertising executive said: 'Hopefully it will get even cheaper after this, so it works out for me.'
Human resources officer Karen Lim, 34, said: 'I'll go back once it's up again to use up the money already dunked in. I will not be renewing though, as I don't know when this might happen again.'
Mr Chong said he hoped to regain his customers' trust.
'Take pity on me and forgive me,' he said dejectedly.
darylc@sph.com.sg
Jul 29, 2011
Beleaguered hairstylist 'not running away'
Jonal Chong says he has no money for refunds, plans to reopen shop
By Daryl Chin
Mr Jonal Chong had earlier lied about having styled actress Nicole Kidman's hair. His shop in Orchard Central has been shut due to rental arrears. He also owes more than a thousand customers packages worth between $100 and $1,000 each. -- ST PHOTO: MALAVIKA SINGH
View more photos
TROUBLED hairstylist Jonal Chong is a contrite man at the end of his tether.
His salon in Orchard Central is locked up due to rental arrears, his reputation is in tatters after he lied about styling Nicole Kidman's tresses, and many customers believe him to have left in a hurry.
Despite this, the 48-year-old, who owes more than a thousand customers packages worth between $100 and $1,000 each, is staying put - and even plans to make a comeback by reopening his shop.
'Right now, I can take my barang barang (tools) personally to my client's house and provide hair-cutting services,' the beleaguered stylist told The Straits Times on Tuesday. 'That's all I can do. Don't ask me for a refund as I don't have the money, but I'm definitely not running away.'
The Consumers Association of Singapore said there have been 22 complaints and inquiries about him, up from nine last week.
Mr Chong is the managing director of his 1,900 sq ft salon, now called Jonah Choong Hair Couture. It opened in 2009 with the aim of providing 'lux services at affordable prices'. It was closed two weeks ago.
But Mr Chong's troubles began in earnest earlier this year after media reports exposed him for lying about having styled the A-list actress' hair. He later came clean.
'Regarding Nicole Kidman, I already said I was sorry so I hope people can move on,' he said. 'But the branding of the shop was tarnished and that affected my customers, which also made it difficult for me to survive,' he added, burying his head in his hands. Adding to Mr Chong's stress are his salon's high operating costs.
He said he pays $32,000 a month in rent to landlord Far East Organization. Another $30,000 goes to miscellaneous costs as well as the salaries of his staff of 10. This led to his shop falling 3 1/2 months in arrears. He also had to move out of his rented apartment in Cairnhill Residences two weeks ago, due to financial difficulties.
'This was the same day I came to work and discovered my salon shut with all my equipment inside, a changed lock and a notice on the grille,' he said. 'I was shocked.'
Since then, he has been running around trying to entice strangers, friends and acquaintances to become shareholders in his shop, but the going is tough.
'All my friends have run away because they are afraid I'll ask them for money,' he said, adding that he has lost more than 6kg since the latest saga began.
Mr Chong admitted that he could not give a deadline for when his shop would reopen, but said he was trying his best. He said negotiations with Far East Organization are ongoing.
Asked whether she will continue using the salon, customer Angel Pang, 25, an advertising executive said: 'Hopefully it will get even cheaper after this, so it works out for me.'
Human resources officer Karen Lim, 34, said: 'I'll go back once it's up again to use up the money already dunked in. I will not be renewing though, as I don't know when this might happen again.'
Mr Chong said he hoped to regain his customers' trust.
'Take pity on me and forgive me,' he said dejectedly.
darylc@sph.com.sg
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
