Heartware, Software and Hardware
Put people first, and everything else will fall into place. This is the commitment of care shared by the two small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) featured in this issue of SME Showcase. One is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shop located in the heartlands while the other offers customised 3D scanning services from its office in the central business district.
As core businesses go, they are as different as can be, but as business approaches go, they know that heartware – putting people first – is their guiding light, and it is supported by a strong brand that resonates with people, sound strategies and technology.
Follow the journey of a 92-year-old matriarch, who continues to fill TCM prescriptions at the medical hall she set up decades ago, but now, working alongside her son and daughter-in-law. Grandson Lee Chin Siong has expanded the business by going online and reaching out to a new generation of customers. “3D scan man” Bernard Lim’s business dates back just five years, and his speed – from idea to business setup – is symptomatic of modern-day entrepreneurs. He had chanced upon an opportunity at an overseas trade event, and on his return, jumped straight into his “people’s business”, as he calls it, reinforcing his business focus.
The two SMEs show that lean resources do not have to be an impediment to growth. Instead, by placing their customers front and centre of all they do, they can achieve business success.
We hope their stories can inspire other SMEs who are at the crossroads, and deciding which way to turn. Perhaps one consideration is to come at the issue from the other end. Where do you want to be? Who are you serving and what do they want? And importantly, what are you doing to fulfil their demands?
With some food for thought, we wish you an enjoyable read.
| Heng Foh Tong Medical Hall: A Healthful Concoction of Tradition and Technology | |
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The story of Heng Foh Tong Medical Hall (HFT) has always been about supporting families and caring for people. Since its establishment in 1957 by Madam Ng Sock Eng, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) has stayed true to its mission to empower customers to live a full life complemented by TCM herbs and solutions. Read more |
| 3. Arts Concept: Keepsakes of Likeness and Legacy | |
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It all began at the end of 2015, when he was attending a technology fair in Hong Kong. There, Bernard Lim, then 32 years of age, came upon a sophisticated 3D (three-dimensional) printer, and was immediately captivated by its immense possibilities. After all, 3D technology was still in its infancy then, and in Singapore, its applications were largely limited to industrial use. “The man-in-the-street doesn’t get a chance to interact with 3D technology at all,” he said. That sparked his determination to bridge the gap and convert the “culture” of 3D technology into a “people’s business”. Read more |
