of the tribulations and challenges.
They’ve seen the third generation of
the family grow up, playing among
the boxes and boxes stacked three
storeys high in the cavernous
depths of the warehouse, helping
with packing and deliveries, and
now, being groomed to take over the
metaphorical wheel.
Keeping the company close and
tight-knit is beneficial for many
reasons. “Every decision that we
make is never for the purpose of
advancing our own self-interest.
Instead, we always act for the good
of the company,” says Esther. Cast
aside your petty office politics
or intricate plots of knifing a
colleague in the back for your own
career advancement; none of that
is welcome at Tai Sun. Rather, go
ahead and gorge on funky-flavoured
snacks from all over the globe –
“all part of research, of course!”
– in an amiable, people-centric
working environment.
There is one downside to a family
business. “It’s hard to switch off from
work. Our family gathering chats
tend to gravitate towards discussions
regarding the business,” says Esther.
Another downside specific only to
Esther is the immense pressure
heaped on her not only to consistently
outperform her colleagues but to be a
paragon of perfection, solely because
she is the eldest in the clan. She’s not
complaining though. “It’s part and
parcel of being in the Tai Sun family.”
IT’S A NEW WORLD
The future is beckoning for Esther
and her third-generation compatriots.
Thirty odd years ago, Sandy, Winston
and Lawrence were forcibly thrown
into the deep business end when their
parents decided to drop everything
and go on a one-month holiday to
China. Calculated manoeuvre or rash
act, it’s debatable, but the experience
made them tough nuts.
Sandy recalls: “We did everything
– delivery, sales and production –
ourselves. We learned how to move
the business along and to show more
seriousness in our work. After all,
when our parents were around, they
were the safety catch, so to speak.
When they disappeared, there was no
safety net.”
Perhaps it’s also time for Esther and
team to also go through a similar trial
by fire, especially now that Tai Sun
is beginning to crack the overseas
markets around the region and in
Europe. Esther is already flexing
her marketing prowess, pushing
the brand to become a constant
presence in the hearts and minds of
consumers. On top of the revamped
look, Esther created sampler packs,
many of which have made their way
into the goodie bags and fun packs
of a variety of events that include
mass runs, the annual National Day
Parade and even the upcoming SEA
Games in 2015.
In an increasingly crowded a