Dapper Statement: 4 Malaysian gents on their definition of style

Here, we spoke with four Malaysian gentlemen who have not only achieved career success but are also skilled in making a full-on fierce style statement.

THE HUSTLER

Ryan Tai, CEO of Jacob & Co Malaysia

Good afternoon, Ryan. Do you mind sharing with our readers a bit about your background?

I have always been in the healthcare industry particularly the pharmaceutical encompassing retail pharmacies, product research & development as well as the beauty industry; overseeing the entire business from charting directions to operations. To me, it is important to have hands-on experience in the industry you are in. That’s the best way you can continue to gain new knowledge in what you do and if there is anything that can be adopted from different industries. Although I find myself juggling many things at the same time, I do like the feeling of chasing after time and that’s when the adrenaline kicks in.

It wasn’t until five years ago that we had the opportunity to venture into the watch industry, which is something that we have always been passionate about. After a fruitful discussion with the brand owner at the annual watch fair in Geneva, we decided to set up the brand in Malaysia. Our Pavilion KL boutique has been serving the local and international clientele for the past three years. 

What do you take pride in as the CEO of a company which carries Jacob & Co in Malaysia?

Regardless of companies or industries we are in, people capital is the most important part in the whole equation. That is why it is important to make sure our employees are well taken care of before we can talk about the success of the company and profitability. I do emphasise a lot on trust and empowering them to do right by themselves and for the company.

What can you tell us about the company?

In Malaysia, we are just five years young; I’d say it is in its infancy stage, in comparison with other well-established companies out there. Even though we are young comparatively, we have a very dynamic team. Our focus is to continuously grow and expand the business. Looking at the brand’s perspective, we have more than 30 years of experience – from jewellery to timepieces – and we will never stop striving for excellence in product development and offerings.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement to date – both professionally and personally?

I’d think pulling together a team who not only work alongside the company, but also above and beyond what is expected of them is our greatest achievement to date. On a personal level, I haven’t given much thought about it. I suppose continuous learning about what life has to offer and living a life with no regrets are great achievements.

If not Jacob & Co Malaysia, what do you think you would be doing instead?

I love what I am doing. Given a second chance, I wouldn’t want a life different than what I have now. The primary idea is to provide our clientele with good service and products that satisfy their needs. That is what we have been doing, regardless of the different businesses that we have. On second thought, I probably would want to chase after my childhood dream of becoming a pilot. [Laughs] There is something cool about being able to fly a plane.

What do you take into consideration before making a decision?

I’d say trusting the people you choose to work with. Sometimes you need to take a step back and take a deep breath and relax before you start seeing the whole picture to plan the next course of action. I usually weigh all options and outcomes before committing to something. I also take into consideration all the facts and figures, if applicable. Of course, there’s also gut feeling that can be helpful in certain situations.

What is your strategy when it comes to adapting to the more digitally inclined way of shopping?

It has been fascinating and exciting for us to see the drastic change that is happening to the retail industry especially in the past decade. We are in the process of working towards incorporating a more digital-friendly environment to our business. This is especially true since the pandemic has accelerated the rate of digital transformation and adoption tremendously – although we’re maintaining our traditional retail model.

What can we expect to see from your company in the not-too-distant future?

While we continue to focus on the current portfolio that we have, there are plans for expansion. We’re positive that it will be worth the wait.

What do you think of the Malaysia luxury goods industry as a whole – and how can it improve?

We used to be slower in attracting luxury brands into Malaysia, but we are catching up fast. The purchasing power in Malaysia has always been strong and will get stronger moving forward. I would say the pandemic has somehow change the entire scenario of local luxury shopping pattern. This is driven by more labels, particularly independent ones, entering the market. There are still grounds for growth, and I do wish to see even more independent brands, which are just as good, if not better.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

It’s no easy feat but keeping the end goal in mind and momentum going is important to me. I constantly remind myself that I want to achieve so much more in life and wasting time is not an option. Whenever I work hard and accomplish a task, that’s enough to pump me up to want to start the next project immediately.

How do you strike a work-life balance?

While I love my work and everything that comes along with it, I make sure I still lead a well-balanced life. Having a physically and mentally healthy routine in life and making sure that it’s followed through is essential. When I’m not working, I enjoy being outdoor – playing outdoor sports, reconnecting with nature by going on a wilderness walk as well as photography. I’d consider myself as pretty adventurous and willing to try whatever is thrown at me. I guess that is how I’d define life: being passionate about something that gives you a sense of purpose and willing to try new things. And sometimes, when work is extremely taxing, I’m happy to unwind with a good cup of coffee at a nearby café.

What did you spend a lot on recently?

A collection of crystals and stones I bought during lockdown. It’s been an interesting experience receiving parcels packed with stones and crystals every day. Never again though. [Laughs]

As someone in the luxury goods business, how would you describe your personal style?

Anything that is simple, but does the trick, works for me. I don’t need my clothes to be from a famous designer brand – as long as they are comfortable and appropriate to the occasion or event, I’m fine with it. One thing’s for sure, I generally won’t leave home without wearing fragrances.

THE ALL-ROUNDER

Alex and Kelvin Cheah, co-owners of Skillet @ 163 & Beta KL

We know you as co-owners of Skillet @ 163 and Beta KL. What is your full-time profession?

Alex (A): I’m an engineer and I’m currently running my own engineering firm.

Kelvin (K): I’m an engineer at a German engineering firm.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as restaurateurs?

A: Be present, involved, lead and keep evolving. At the same time, if you have no experience with food, educate yourself by reading and watching as much as you can, everything about food, alcohol, design and even what it’s like being a chef.

K: I agree, you must be present, involved and lead. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the socialising aspect that comes with owning a restaurant and so it’s important for us to continually ask our team: why are we doing this? We have so many fantastic ideas and opportunities, and asking “why” before making a decision provides stability and ensures that we stay authentic to who we are.

What prompted you to venture into the highly competitive F&B business?

A: My passion for food, and because I love dining in the best restaurants in the cities that I visit, I’m inspired and eager to bring those experiences back to the city where I live.  

K: I have always been passionate about the F&B industry and I’m really interested in the process of crafting a dish like how flavours and aromas are put together to create amazing culinary experiences and how culture is interweaved to keep the taste true to its origins. I genuinely feel that a restaurant that serves high-quality food paired with your favourite drink can enhance the way you socialise. With this at the forefront of my mind, I want to create an environment that allows that to happen whilst we make special memories with our loved ones.

How do you define success?

A: My “never settle for average” mindset always pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and go the extra mile. There is also my “can and willing to do” attitude. Once I decide to pursue something, I will make sure I work hard and achieve the goal I set for myself. I always believe that you must first give before you take. 

K: The secret of success in all businesses is to not give up, especially within the first few years of operation and this will ring true for anyone in the F&B industry. We’re immensely proud of our team’s ability to stay creative and keep implementing changes that resonate with our brand, and their ability to adapt and modify when needed. We have a strong and supportive customer base and we actively ask them for their feedback because we want to ensure that we provide consistently good and unique experiences to our customers.

In your opinion, what makes a great restaurant experience?

A: There are three key factors. Firstly, good food – starting from menu planning which only includes dishes that use quality ingredients to food preparation to food presentation. Every item on the menu should enhance the dining experience. Secondly, friendly service staff who can provide personalised customer services. The customer should feel welcomed the moment he or she makes a reservation; being greeted with a genuine smile when stepping into the restaurant sets the tone, and of course, getting attended to by a knowledgeable service staff who is able to recommend dishes and explain the curations of the chef when serving them will elevate it to the next level. Thirdly, interior design with a memorable atmosphere plays a big role.

K: Of course, the food is the most significant factor in the whole dining experience. However, I believe that customer service is just as essential. At our restaurants, we pride ourselves on our customer service. From the very moment a customer walks through the doors, he or she is greeted by waiting staff who have extensive knowledge about the food and wine on our menus. It’s easy to get customers to read the dish descriptions on the menu but we want to take it a step further. As the food is brought to the table, our waiting staff take the customers on a journey across the plate, explaining every element, and at times, guiding them through the flavour profiles for a more complete experience.

What aspects of the Malaysian F&B industry should we pay more attention to?

A: One of the areas we should definitely look into is: service with attention to detail. Chefs put extensive time and effort into creating their menus, and it’s always a shame when the service is not of the same standard. The Malaysian F&B scene is famous for its wide range of different dishes with rich and diverse flavours, and all that we have to do is to improve on the way they are served and presented to give them the respect they deserve.

Since the pandemic, we have sadly seen many F&B outlets closed while many have recently opened. For new restaurants to be successful, they should have knowledge about creating positive experiences for their customers that will make them feel – “wow, that was fantastic, we must come back” – every time they visit. Something I’d also like to bring up is that single-use plastic consumption has been on the increase, and as F&B operators, we have to work harder together to make sure that does not continue by choosing more sustainable options.

And is there anything that you think requires immediate action?

A: Digital maturity. F&B has been a face-to-face retail business and that is why we’re affected badly by the pandemic. To me, enhancing our digital maturity is very crucial for the industry to thrive. This includes having a strong online ordering presence, a digital loyalty programme and a robust customer relationship management strategy.

What do you like to do during your downtime?

A: I enjoy outdoor sports, hiking, travelling and, attending musicals and theatre shows.

K: And I enjoy outdoor sports, hiking, travelling and food hunting.

You’re both health- and style-conscious gentlemen. Can you share with us your tips, and while you’re at it: your essentials?

A: Maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle that includes eating and sleeping well, exercising and don’t pass on recreation and leisure activities. My must-haves are a good pair of shoes, a watch and a suitable perfume.

K: Just like a good dish, it’s important to lead a well-balanced life! We both enjoy food a lot and that means we must stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. We always make time to work out in the morning, which keeps us away from our phones and to start the day right! A good haircut makes you feel great and confident, so I think it’s not a bad idea to befriend your barber! I have the same must-haves as Alex: a pair of good shoes and a good cologne.

THE DREAM CHASER

Kai Setiawan, founding member of Foreward Realty

Tell our readers about yourself.

I’m one of the founding members and also team leader and chief branding officer of Foreward Realty, a real estate agency focusing on selling brand new upper-middle-range properties in Klang Valley and Melaka. In 2021, Foreward Realty was recognised by the StarProperty as “Developer Preferred Agency”, and also recognised by SME100 as “One of 100 Fast-Moving Companies”.

As for my achievements, I was recognised as the reigning champion of personal sales and group sales in Foreward Realty from 2019 until 2021, having sold more than 800 units of properties since the beginning of my real estate career in 2016.

What is your secret to success – and how do you set yourself apart from the rest?

To me, a successful realtor is someone who can solve their clients’ problems. We’re in the service line, essentially our job is to find a house that fulfils our clients’ needs. Shelter is a basic need – and as long as you have the right product, clients will buy from you.

My secret to success is understanding the sequence of the real estate selling process correctly. Many realtors are focusing too much on the less important skills. For example, they focus too much on how to close a deal without realising that finding clients is far more important. So first things first, you must know how to find clients. Even if you’re not that good at closing deals, if you have a product that your client likes and suits their needs, the product speaks by itself and your client will purchase it from you if you provide good service.

I set myself apart from the rest by knowing what’s the most important factor in the real estate selling process, which is finding clients. As long as you know how to find clients, you will be able to survive in this industry even during a pandemic. We’ve been through one too many MCOs but 2020 and 2021 were my best years so far. I sold a total of 455 units of properties in those two years, more than half of all of the 800 units I sold in my entire career.

What excites you about what you do?

While it can be intimidating to not have an answer for everything, as someone who is very curious, my job provides endless things to learn like market trends, new technologies, investment knowledge, money knowledge, business knowledge, clients’ background, their success stories and many more others. There’s always something to learn.

How do you keep attracting new investors?

By showing results and keep raising the bar. It’s as simple as that. Investors only want to see numbers. If we can provide evidence of how good our numbers are, naturally investors would show interest. From the inception of Foreward Realty in 2019 until today, we have grown by 150.76% in sales with a total Gross Development Value of more than RM4 billion with over 5,000 units sold. It’s pretty impressive numbers considering we have only been in the market for three years.

Our goals and strategy for 2022 are to be more well-known in the real estate market and also to attract more developers and investors by putting ourselves and positioning ourselves in the market as a proper corporate and professional real estate agency representing educated realtors.

What are the most important factors in real estate investing?

The three most important factors when buying a house are location, location, and location. The condition and price of any house can be changed. You can even change the size of the house. The one thing you can't change is the house's location. A great location can change an entire neighbourhood overnight. But don’t buy in an already good neighbourhood because they are going to be expensive investments. Buy in a neighbourhood where you can see the potential. Do your research when it comes to neighbourhoods. For the best investment, you want a neighbourhood on the verge of being “next” best.

You’re a stylish gentleman. How do you keep you looking up to date?

Due to the nature of my job, stylish custom-altered well-fitted shirts are one of my fashion must-haves. It has to be comfortable as well because we would need to move around a lot. I have quite a range of stylish working shirts from Uniqlo to designer brands. I altered every single one of them to fit my rather lean body. Trust me, alteration is a must!

Just like women, working professional men need bags. For me, I prefer backpacks made from good quality leather. Backpacks make me feel young. It reminds me of my school days. [Laughs] It’s also stylish and more comfortable to carry.

And what about grooming?

Wearing make-up might not be very common among Malaysian men yet, so maybe that could be our aim for 2022. It doesn’t have to be face-altering. It could just be make-up to make your skin look healthier and to make you look like you take care of yourself without compromising the masculine traits. When you look better, you feel better, you do better. A little touch of concealer and eyebrow pencil wouldn’t hurt anybody.

What do you think is lacking in Malaysia’s realtor and real estate market?

I think real estate agents often get a bad reputation. We’re mostly genuinely good people. While we may compete with one another, we generally try pretty hard to help one another too. A real estate office is a great place to work. At least, mine is. The bad reputation is caused by a lack of professionalism by certain irresponsible individuals. So, I think what’s lacking is the implementation of practical and applicable regulations that will protect realtors, clients, and agencies. We might have good regulations but if no one implements it correctly and realistically, it’s almost the same as no regulation at all. Irresponsible individuals will find loopholes in the system to benefit themselves.

But other than that, I think overall Malaysia’s real estate market is healthy and full of potential. Malaysia is not lacking in lands like Hong Kong or Singapore. Singapore and Johor Bahru are the closest of neighbours. But in terms of property markets, however, the two are poles apart. Whereas Singapore is the second-most expensive city in Asia to buy a home after Hong Kong, property in Malaysia is among the most affordable. The quality of housing is on par with developments in Hong Kong and Singapore – and many of them are freehold! Malaysians are truly blessed.

What is your biggest investment to date?

I would say my house. Home is where the heart is. Home has always been my gathering place, shelter, and sanctuary, providing an escape from the daily busyness and intrusiveness of the world. I have a soft spot for house interior and deco, from collectible toys and sculpture, designer sofa, luxury mattress and bedding, to futuristic electronics. I only want the best things for my home. I do enjoy the finer things in life.

Where is your dream destination?

The space. No, I’m not kidding. Space tourism is becoming increasingly accessible. Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX are trying to make it happen. I always want to go further than anyone else – and the sky is no longer the limit.

Photography Marcus Wong