The blooming florists
BRYAN Chew started helping out at his parents’ flower shop when he was nine, but he ventured far from the florist business.
He earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the United States in 2000, and stayed on after landing a job as a project manager for AT&T Wireless in Seattle. Washington. He was all set on a career in the IT field in the US.
But after a two-year stint overseas, he returned home to be closer to his family.
In 2002, he joined Intel in Penang and the following year, he launched a food business, a stone’s throw away from his parents’ shop, O’Hara Florist.
Chew never dreamt of taking over the family’s florist business in Georgetown, Penang.
“My parents started their flower shop from scratch. At nine years old, I was roped in to help out with daily operations. I knew how hard it was to run the business. I never intended to take over the business after stepping into the working world,” said Chew.
But Chew now manages Ohara Florist, which his parents – Chew Tat Hin and Honey Bee Lim Poh Bee – set up in 1970.
“As I grew older, I began to realise the importance of helping my parents in their old age. Till today, Dad still manages the finances while Mum is in charge of floral arrangement,” explains the 42-year-old Chew who joined the family business 13 years ago.
“Running my own business enabled me to have flexible working hours. During my free time, I would swing by my parents’ shop to help with the odds and ends. It started off as a part time commitment. Eventually, it became a full time job,” says Chew who sold off his food business in 2005.
Chew is happy with his career switch. He has no regrets giving up a corporate career to run his family’s business. “Essentially, family matters most. It’s nice being able to bond with Mum and Dad on a daily basis. Mum is always around whenever I need advice on floral arrangements. Dad is also around when I need advice on costing and orders. Even at her busiest, Mum always makes time for a chat during meals.”
Chew is happy to work closely with his mother.
“She keeps the business running like a well-oiled machine. While we may have disagreements on how to run the business, we make it a point to talk about it. It’s a good thing that Mum – despite being conventional – is open to new business ideas.”
Lim is happy to have her only son by her side. “Working with Chew means we get to spend time together. He is hardworking, creative and loving. The secret to running our business smoothly is appreciating each other’s strengths.
“Equally important is respect for each other,” says Lim, founder of Penang Ohara Floral Art Society and former World Flower Council (Asia) president.
The filial son has also learnt a few life lessons from his mother.
“From watching her over the years, I’ve come to realise that floral art is not just a means to make a living, but more as a platform where art can flourish. She’s shown me that with the right skills, even the simplest bouquet of flowers can be beautiful,” says Chew, who plans to treat his mother to a meal on Mother’s Day.