Last Letters

NEW BUSINESS

One man is helping others say that final farewell

Loh Chee Kong, cheekong@mediacorp.com.sg

DRIVEN to desperation by the Asian financial crisis, Mr H Y Teo faced the prospect of losing his home right after his IT business went bust — had his parents and siblings not helped him repay his mounting bank loans.

He recalled: "I wanted to tell them how much I appreciate and love them but I didn't know how to say it."

So, he wrote them heartfelt letters, and it struck him then that there must be many others like him, "who had something to tell their families but they didn't have the opportunity, or the time was not right, they were not ready, or they were too embarrassed".

Eleven years on — and facing another recession — Mr Teo, a part-time IT consultant, has turned that realisation into a business: The idea is to get people to pen their last words in advance, leave them in the hands of a total stranger who would deliver the letter to the intended recipients — wherever they are — for a modest sum of $39.90 (until June, when Mr Teo will review the pricing strategy).

Lastletters.com.sg has, since its launch in January, attracted an average of 60 to 100 visitors a day from around the world (mainly from Americans and Australians, with Asians making up less than 10 per cent).

According to the website, the company would contact the client once a year for the first two years upon receipt of the letter — and once every six months thereafter.

Should such attempts fail to contact the client, the letter would be delivered to the recipients.

Unconvinced? Apparently, some 400 or so people out there beg to differ. They have been interested enough to contact Mr Teo to ask for more details — on top of pouring their sorrows over marital problems or complaining about the neighbours.

"There was this Australian who said he wanted me to pass a letter to his neighbour when he dies. He wanted to tell his neighbour to be nicer to the next guy who moves in, and make sure his dog doesn't bark so loudly," Mr Teo recalled.

A common refrain among the enquiries was while they liked the idea of penning so-called "last letters", they were unsure how to do it. Apart from letters — which have to weigh less than 100 grammes — Mr Teo also offers to safekeep and subsequently deliver personal artefacts to intended recipients. A 75-year-old Briton has already asked Mr Teo if he could help him pass a grandfather clock to his son after he dies.

Mr Teo has yet to close any deals but he is optimistic — so much so that he is planning to retire in two years and concentrate on building up what his friends have disapprovingly described as a "black business".

Some friends have argued that people contemplating suicide can now count on Mr Teo to deliver their last words.

But Mr Teo is adamant he is doing more good than harm.

Said Mr Teo: "If people want to take their own lives, nobody can stop them." What his business intends to do is to give people the peace of mind to "go anywhere they want, and take on any jobs they want".

And he was convinced he would be making the world a "better place"— even if people do not buy his idea, which was exactly what some have told him via email.

Said Mr Teo: "They said they were not going to be my customers. They said something like, 'I'm going to spend more time with my loved ones because I realised that I neglected them a lot. I'm now going to speak to them a lot more.'"

Mr Teo continued: "My tears rolled down after I read these — not because I'm sad that I'm not getting business. I think I have done some good to educate people out there."

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There was this Australian who said he wanted me to pass a letter to his neighbour when he dies. He wanted to tell his neighbour to be nicer to the next guy who moves in, and make sure his dog doesn't bark so loudly.

Mr H Y Teo, www.lastletters.com.sg

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Never mind the moral lessons, the business concept certainly has moneymaking potential. Mr Teo has already received a handful of propositions from major technology corporations, which were sounding him out for a joint venture. One even said it might consider acquiring his business.

"I won't sell my business for whatever amount they can offer... at least not in the near future. I want to see it grow," Mr Teo insisted.

And yes, those letters he had written in 1998 are still with him — lovingly preserved in air-tight plastic bags and locked away in a safe. "My wife and children know what to do with them should anything happen to me," he added.

WEEKENDXTRA

From TODAY, World – Weekend, 25/56-April-2009

Giving new life to old wood

D-BODHI

Tan Hui Leng
huileng@mediacorp.com.sg

WHEN Ms Anita Sam (picture) started importing eco-friendly furniture five years ago, customers snapped up pieces based on their design and craftsmanship. Today, consumers consider the environmental sustainability of the furniture's raw materials first, and design second.

"I think Singaporeans have reached a level of maturity where they love good design and quality, but they also want to be socially responsible," said the Singapore Permanent Resident and furniture industry veteran.

"It's the 'feel-good' factor… not only does the furniture look good, it is also good for the environment."

Last Friday's official opening of the flagship d-Bodhi concept store, which Ms Sam said saw "very substantial sales", is testimony to her passion for environmental sustainability. In fact, sales at the eco-friendly furniture business have grown almost 10-fold from 2004 when it would ship out two containers a month to the 18 to 20 containers monthly now. The company aims to expand its monthly exports to some 30 containers this year and 50 next year.

d-Bodhi is one of a few reclaimed wood industry players in Singapore. The furniture range was started in 2002 by Dutch national Raymond Davids, a partner of the company. It recently set up a 3,200-square-foot flagship store at Alexandra Industrial Estate here and hopes to have 200 d-Bodhi shops worldwide by 2015.

d-Bodhi uses reclaimed teak from Indonesia, with pieces salvaged from buildings and railway sleepers and can be up to 100 years old.

"Reclaimed wood poses other challenges, such as the tedious collection of wood," said d-Bodhi's co-owner and director Ms Sam. A team of 700 in Indonesia is involved in the business — from sussing out buildings for sale to collection of wood.

Unlike buying new wood by volume, reclaimed wood comes in all shapes and sizes. It has to be processed more arduously, as items like nails, nuts and bolts and screws have to be removed before they can be stripped down. The planks then have to be sorted according to the type of furniture they are more suited to be in their next lifetime.

However, such teak has a special quality which Ms Sam and other aficionados love for the character its grain, natural finish and age lend.

The d-Bodhi line is marketed as a premium brand, with prices starting at $300 for chairs and over $3,000 for bedroom sets. d-Bodhi also distributes to 13 countries globally and aims to sell in 25 countries by next year.

It has been successful in getting the United States-based Forest Stewardship Council to start a new certification category, that is, "100 per cent recycled wood" for such furniture, different from new wood sourced from sustainable plantations.

"For many of our customers, it's a conscious decision to buy from us rather than from other shops," said Ms Sam.

"Some of them also tell me frankly that they entertain friends and business associates who are environmentally friendly."

That d-Bodhi's furniture come with an international "green" certification is the icing on the cake. The company has extended the eco-friendly aspect of the business to reuse sawdust generated during the furniture making process as they are pressed with a resin to be made into home accessories like tealight holders, coasters and table lamps.

Looking ahead, d-Bodhi is open to using other types of reclaimed wood. It is also looking into working with more Singapore designers through Spring Singapore.

From TODAY, Enterprise – Wednesday, 22-April-2009

Something extra is brewing at Han’s

EXPANSION PLANS

It aims to open two new outlets and invest in training and upgrading equipment

 

Valarie Tan, valarie@mediacorp.com.sg

Han’s managing director Han Choon Fook hopes to raise the standard further. Wee Teck Hian

 

DESPITE the recession, something’s brewing at Han’s Cafe and Cake House.

The 28-year-old chain is investing over $900,000 to expand its operations. This includes new gourmet coffee machines for its 21 outlets across Singapore.

Mr Han Choon Fook, Han’s managing director, said: “We’re hoping that if we can raise the standard further, we can one day make gourmet coffee a strong beverage in Han’s.”

It already sells about 3 million cuppas each year.

The chain said the recession has not significantly affected business so far, but its management warned turnover could fall by about 5-to-10 per cent should the economic situation worsens.

In the meantime, it is tapping on government subsidies to seize new opportunities, including upgrading staff skills.

It is taking advantage of subsidies from the Workforce Development Authority and SPRING Singapore to engage consultants for in-house customer service training for some 300 frontline staff.

Its courses, conducted in two phases, will cost the firm about $300,000. Training started even before the recession kicked in late last year.

“We know that in the competitive market we have got to raise our standards,” said Mr Han.

To maintain staff morale, the company plans to pass on to its workers money it receives under the Jobs Credit Scheme.

Under this scheme, the Government is providing cash grants to employers to help them preserve jobs by subsidising their manpower costs.

Employers are receiving a 12 per cent cash grant on the first $2,500 of each month’s wages for each employee on their CPF payroll. Few firms have been passing this on.

Han’s business is growing organically with plans to open two new outlets by May, each costing about $250,000. A new outlet in Buona Vista will open by the end of April and another in Jurong in May.

Its main challenge right now is finding young, qualified Singaporeans to fill frontline and operations positions. Even though half of its current 360-strong workforce are from overseas, Han’s hopes the government can be more flexible to allow them to hire more in the future.

Han’s annual turnover grew 16 per cent last year to $28 million.

It is no stranger to recessions, having survived the Sars crisis in 2003 when it saw turnover fall by about 10 per cent.

Looking into the future, it is working on new concepts to reach out to a younger market to cater to younger people’s food and drink tastes.

It is also not ruling out expanding into overseas markets, like China and Vietnam. Han’s has sent officers to franchising exhibitions to further explore the idea.

CHANNEL NEWSASIA

From TODAY, Enterprise – Wednesday, 15-April-2009

Passion is the key

I wanted to be in this (younger) man’s shoes some day, and oh, to wear my own shoes by then! That would be some achievement!

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Recession sees more interest in Talentpreneur Hub’s start-up programme

Tan Hui Leng

huileng@mediacorp.com.sg

 

IT IS the worst of times. It is the best of times. As a pall darkens over the economy, costume designer Muhammad Razy Ibrahim thought it was an opportune time to set up his own business.

The 28-year-old resigned from his regular job in January to strike out on his own. Today, he runs his start-up Costume Di Amour from his parents’ four-room flat in Jurong West.

“My friends thought I had a mental disorder,” he said. “They thought it was a very risky move because there’s no safety net if something goes wrong.”

But for the fashion graduate from the University of Huddersfield, it was time to set up shop — recession or not. Thankfully, his family was supportive.

“I’ve always wanted to set up my own business in fashion and have been thinking about it for a while,” he said. “So, I finally stepped forward and did it.”

For now, Mr Muhammad Razy does everything himself, from designing to sewing.

Like many small businessmen, cash flow has been his number one problem.

Fortunately, he has been winning clients by collaborating with event management companies. He has found some corporate clients, like Standard Chartered Bank.

Mr Muhammad Razy is currently in the midst of a 10-week start-up programme with private company Talentpreneur Hub, which helps young companies develop their businesses.

Talentpreneur Hub’s founder Ken Koh has been seeing more interest in the programme, especially from 20- and 30-somethings who have been toiling as salarymen and women for years.

“In a recession, opportunity costs are lower. You have more time to plan. Overhead costs like rental and manpower are lower,” said Mr Koh, who is an entrepreneur himself.

Furthermore, people may be more willing to work for an SME when big multi-nationals tighten their headcounts and budgets.

Another start-up that has benefitted from Talentpreneur Hub’s mentorship is Optimal Online Marketing (OOM), which offers online marketing solutions like search engine optimisation.

Set up two years ago by three secondary schoolmates from Deyi Secondary School, the business is now profitable with over 50 clients. Among them are familiar names like restaurant chain Jack’s Place.

“I think we are very lucky to be living in times when you don’t need a lot of capital,” said managing director of OOM, Wayne Eo.

If aspiring Singapore entrepreneurs want some inspiration, they should perhaps take a look at David Evans who started his business Grass Roots in London in the thick of the 1980 recession.

Toiling long hours in a basement office in Oxford Street with just himself and a typist, the then-32-year-old was clear about what he wanted and where he wanted to take his firm. Today, his performance improvement firm is a multinational operating in 16 countries with over 1,000 staff worldwide. Even in the downturn, it is now expanding in Asia with Singapore as its hub.

Rolls Royce and Bentley, Toyota, Barclays and HSBC count among his clients.

“Whether you start a business in a recession or during good times, the key is passion,” Mr Evans said.

 

From TODAY, Enterprise – Wednesday, 08-April-2009

Striking out on their own

Fresh Graduates

More graduates turn to entrepreneurship as job market sours

Lin Yanqin

yanqin@mediacorp.com.sg

HE IS looking out for job opportunities but undergraduate Wang Wei Xiang, 26, has more than employment on his mind as graduation looms.

The Singapore Management University business management student is also considering a partnership to start a consulting firm, given that the job market is less than rosy.

“Having a job would mean more security and that’s important for me, but if there is a promising idea I would explore it to see if it could become a business,” said Mr Wang, who attended the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) first job fair for graduates yesterday.

He is not the only one thinking of striking out on his own. According to Ms Corrine Ong, director of the National University of Singapore’s Career Centre, more graduating students have been bringing up this idea.

The fair — which drew 800 jobseekers — also catered to the enterprising. Spring Singapore was present to introduce its Young Entrepreneurs Scheme for Startups for those under 26. Over 300 graduates are already registered to be part of Spring’s database, with a handful equipped with plans to start a business, said Mr Patrick Lim, Spring’s head for new business support.

But most do not know what being a young entrepreneur really entails. According to Spring, just 13 of the 30 applications received since the fund was launched in November have been accepted.

Apart from good ideas, entrepreneurs need to be prepared to work even harder to drive sales in a poor economy. They should also ensure they have sufficient partners to execute a business plan,  said Mr Lim.

But even with the interest from graduates, the fair focused mainly on job and attachment positions, with 2.48 per cent, or about 149 of the 6,000 openings, related to entrepreneurship.

NTUC assistant secretary general Josephine Teo said yesterday that some 8 per cent or about 1,000 of this year’s 12,000 graduating university students may find themselves without a job even after six months — if the employment rate of 87 per cent during the Sars period in 2003 is anything to go by.

Meanwhile, the labour movement will be organising three sector-specific networking sessions for graduates this year. Those seeking employment advice can also access NTUC’s new online advisory service at www.youngntuc.org.sg.

NTUC secretary-general Lim Swee Say urged graduates to keep an open mind. “One door will lead to another and you never know where life will take you to. If you give your very best… any job (which) may not come across as a dream job can turn out to be better than your dream job.”  

From TODAY, News

Tuesday, 07-April-2009