How shall I describe your business?
I am in the service line. Hairdressing and freelance make up artist.
What business was your father in?
He was a hawker selling beancurd at changi.
Did you consider going in his business?
No. Because it was out of date and I wanted to come out on my own to start something instead of relying on him.
Do you have children in business?
No.
What do they do?
N.A
What do they do?
N.A
Did they go to school in Singapore?
N.A
The same number of grades (college) as you?
N.A
Does your wife work?
Not married yet.
Has your business always be located here?
Yes.
Why did you choose this location?
It is a crowded area and the traffic is high. The rental is also low.
What is special about it?
There are more neighbours and residents here. In the whole of pasir ris, we started here. The residents are more stable.
Did you have to get a license to do business here?
Yes.
May I see it to see how the government categorizes your business? What name do they give it?
Basically, it's the service line.
How easy was it to get this license?
About 2 days. It's quite easy.
Did you need something separate from the government to be at this location?
No. Just a name. must be different name.
How long do you think you will stay here?
My home is here. The residents are all situated here. Depends on the contract too with HDB.
Do you have any partners?
No, it's a sole proprietorship.
Are they related? How?
N.A
Tell me some stories that give me an idea of the hardships in starting a business from scratch.
First of all, my skill had to be first class. Secondly, I had to develop my P.R relations which are very important in this service line. One had to be very very hardworking too. Lastly, I had to be very open and receptive to criticism. Handling rental and staff is not easy.
I had to try a lot of lines and gave up a lot of times. My life is very diverse and colourful. Let me tell you abit about my life story and the things I went through. In school, I was learning maintenance as a technician. In the army, I did vehicle maintenance. After Army, I went Japan for a year around 1981 with bearing company. In 1984 I went to understudy bread making. In 1985, I joined SBS for a year. After that I went to attend a hairdressing course in 1986 with a saloon called "Vernica" to get experience. That was my first touch with hairdressing. In 1987, I temporarily give that up as I my skill was not good enough. In 1987, I was a cook trainee with Westin. In 1988, I was with Allson hotel as a driver in the training school.
In 1989, I went back to the saloon. It was at People's park complex shopping centre. They sent me to Hong Kong for higher training for 3 months. After that, I joined the nearby saloon near my present saloon as a hairdresser in 1990. In 1991, I decided to freelance around Singapore for 2 years to build my customer base. Didn't like working under others. No freedom, cannot expand. Always have to meet expectations. Have to meet set limits by them. In 1993, I went "Cosmoprof" for make up school on training for 3 months. In 1995, I decided to try acting too at TCS. Part time. Acted in Crime watch and serial dramas, English series.
Finally in 1996 on 28th June, I found the pasir ris location. High rental, about 6K but worth it. So here until now.
What are some of the things you have had to overcome to succeed?
Hardship such as long hours, have to train up the staff and staff management. Pricing of our services too.
The worst thing I had to overcome was Betrayal. A few of my ex Staff ganged up to set up their own business hairdressing too. There was competition and opposition. This caused out sales to decrease by 50%.
Tell me some stories of your best day in business.
Weekends and public holidays are my best days in business. People tell me they admire my skill and also find me for make up. This was achieved through recommendations. I can organize things very smoothly on best days. And also because of my acting at T.V broadcasting, people from as far as Hougang and Bedok come to find me through friends recommendations. So my acting also help to boost business.
What about your worst day. (Have you ever feel like giving up before, how many times, when does it happen and why?)
For business worst days they can occur every month on month end Wednesdays. I don't know why. Sometimes can be zero profit. The whole months profit is lesser.
The worse times was when the economy was bad. This happened two times. The high rental present, cannot negotiate, fewer customers came.
Did you have the capital to start the business or did you borrow it from someone to get started?
No. I borrowed 10K from parents, the other 10K was from my own pocket.
Who competes with you?
We are a new saloon that time. Within one year, 2 to 3 saloons started. Then there's the barber.
Have you ever thought of going in business with them to make a bigger business?
No. More people more opinions more problems. I would prefer sleeping partner. Just put money in.
Did you start as a businessman as a child selling things to your friends and family?
N.A
When did you decide that you would strike out on your own instead of working for someone else?
In 1991, when I was working for the saloon opposite my present saloon. It was no good to work for her. No good benefits. Pressure. Cut pays. When business bad, the staff and my pay was cut. When business was good, still normal.
So I left, freelance, comeback 5 years later and take over the shop opposite hers. I wanted to come back to compete with her. Its like the Gulf war, I am back to fight.
When you started what did your wife or family think? (The different stages of your business from the beginning to now. What have you gone through?
Are there any points in your business life that you experienced something so significant e.g. war, racial riot, economic crisis, new competition, shift in market behavior and trends that affect or influence your life and business that make you change the way you do business and thinking?)
My family supported me all the way. No matter what I still insist on my own business all the way. I promise my staff no retrenchment and no pay-cut but they must give high standards. Keep giving better service on customers. Then I have loyal staff and loyal customers.
Do you have kids? Do they live around here?
N.A
Have they ever given you advice on the running of the business?
N.A
Will any of them follow you as business owners?
N.A
What would happen if you got sick, who would run your business?
When sick, I will instruct the senior staff to take care of it.
How does your business work? You get a commission on goods you buy or are on consignment?
Basic Pay and commission.
What qualities that you have do you think differentiates you from someone who works for others?
I have excellent P.R skills with customers. I try to be the best that I can be rather than always be working for others.
Why does someone decide to be on their own rather than join an existing company?
The opportunity to expand and no being under control. Those with family problems can come to work by themselves better.
What qualities does it take to succeed?
Experience.
How old were you when you first realized you wanted to be in business on your own?
34 - 35 years old.
Did your family and friends encourage you?
Yes, they did. Family and friends.
When was the moment you realized that the business would work and support you?
In 1996 when I had loyal customers coming back from my freelancing days. And through recommendations and my own regulars, I was happy.
Tell me about your first few customers and first few years of business.
My first few customers had a lot of satisfaction. Income not bad when I started. I set a quota and the staff need to adjust to it. In 1996, 97 and 98 were my good years. I was not affected by the asian financial crisis. My customer base was very strong. In 1998, when I was in Australia securing another location, some of my staff betrayed me. I came back to settle it and gave up the Australia commitement as business was affected. In 1999, 2000 business turn bad as customers moved house.
What are the qualities that it takes to succeed in business?
In the service line, service must be first class. Staff management must be excellent. Like when my staff quarrel, I tell them to go home for 2 days to quarantine! I do not allow personal differences to disrupt my business. Attitude towards customers must be excellent.
What would you advise young people to do today in starting a business? (Who is your role model and mentor?)
Must go through hardship. Know more knowledge. Service attitude must be good. Personality must be good. Idea must be good and must be flexible.
My role model is Li Ka Shing. Not like Lee Kuan Yew. Li Ka Shing, he think first, act later, but with the correct decision, when his staff approach him. He thinks how long the benefit will return if he makes the decision, that's why the thinks longer. Thus from failures, one can learn the best.
Locally, Lee Kuan Yew, I also respect and admire. His philosophy is discipline.
My mentor is anyone who criticizes me in my work, that is my mentor.
What do you do about retirement funds? You just save on your own?
No. I save for expansion. I want to set up a training school to train others below. Maybe in HongKong but must be overseas.
Did you ever think of expanding the business in some way or in multiple locations?
Yes. Overseas in China. Low costs and can build at multiple places.
As we try and pick the final 38 entrepreneurs from all the people we interview what qualities would you think a person should have to inspire others?
The idea. One must have the knowledge, the right attitude, the skill which must be first class. A creative mind. If can create something well, how much will you charge? And will people buy? If they do, u are successful. Low cost, idea must be excellent. Combine all ideas and these qualities, and you got survival.
What story would they tell younger people?
Don't take success as a satisfaction, need to go through hardship then you know its good. Management, quality, then business will be good. From hardship, if you are successful, better still. If you are successful, then you go through hardship, you won't learn much. One must constantly upgrade himself.
If you are chosen as one of the 39 winners will you come to the ceremony to be honored?
Yes.
Will you be comfortable with the press and TV asking you many of the same questions if you are a winner?
Yes.
Do you have any objection to this interview being posted on the Community Web Site or published in the newspaper prior to being chosen?
No.
If part of the Spirit of Enterprise is a scholarship given in your name directed to any school you would like to give it to: any idea now where that would be? You don't have to decide now, but if some day you are asked - any ideas? Primary school, secondary, college, technical or university?
Scholarship I would prefer to give to those who want to start their own business. Probably those in University.
Who do you admire in business?
Sim Wong Hoo. His history is about the same as mine. Uses money wisely to start other things. He went U.S to knock on doors before Singapore government helped him. He depends on creativity. Went through hardship. Thrifty, save a lot.
Who do you admire in general in any field?
Lee Kuan Yew. He has a discipline approach.
What are your thoughts on the "secrets" to having a successful business?
Think twice before you take action. Absorb people's ideas and analyze. A lot of friends didn't do this and failed in business.
Do you have a suggestion for someone else we ought to interview who you think has an interesting story to tell?
No. A lot of friends gave up in this line.
Before I go any other story you would like to tell me?
Not really. Just that without SARs, which affects our economy and my business and without all these, life would be better. Hahaha…
Thank you Alan.
You are welcome.
Student Interviewer's Personal Comment
|
