TODAY

Throughout the world, there is the ongoing existence of family-owned companies which have endured and flourished for years and years. Also in those well-known companies which have gone public, family members still hold the reins or the same families influence the decision-making of the companies to a certain limit. In the world famous Ford automobile company, William Clay Ford, the grandson of company founder Henry Ford, assumed the duties of CEO and Chairperson and is currently acting as Executive Chairman. In Asia, among the most successful second generation entrepreneurs who inherited their fathers’ businesses is Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Group. According to Businessweek magazine, the income generated by Samsung Group amounts to 17% of South Korea’s GDP.

In Myanmar, the majority of businesses are family-owned. The second generation individuals of some of these family-owned businesses who have taken charge of their respective companies have been approached and inter-viewed by us and their views on how to maintain and develop their business, how they retain the good legacy handed down by the founder, and how they handle the changes and challenges, are featured in this story.

U Kyaw Win
Managing Director, U Hton Goldsmith
and Jewellery Shop

In my father’s days, an apprentice had to study the craft for two or three years under my father while doing odd jobs for him at the same time. After such a period only, he could become a pieceworker. It was hard-earned skill so goldsmiths placed value on their knowledge. In my time, however, an apprentice need study only about a year. Formerly, goldsmithing had to be studied from beginning to end. Without machinery, an apprentice had to learn to use hand tools to make one gold chain and one gold ring out of one gold piece. And we had only manual rolling machine. Now in our times, there are automatic jewellery-chain making machines and pattern machines so these can be used conveniently. Since these automatic machines are widely in use, goldsmithing craft is not studied as thoroughly as before.

I can recall that when I was a sixth or seventh standard student, my father taught me that one shouldn’t be greedy, one should be able to control one’s temper, and that one’s own wealth is one’s own making. I was young and I didn’t understand all so I kept asking my father questions. And so he said ‘You just remember one thing and that is never to bear another person any illwill’. This advice was a pointer to shun greed, anger and ignorance altogether. To this day, I consistently adhere to these words.

In my father’s days, a majority of goldsmiths also opened jewelry shops. These days, if one has capital and management knowhow, one can open a jewelry shop. Most of my father’s colleagues are no more. When I was a university student, I had to deliver the items from our goldsmith workshop to the jewelry shops from which we had taken the orders. Especially those popular gold jewelry shops in Latha area which entrusted us with the orders. Father made me talk with the proprietors of those shops and so I picked up the techniques of business dealings and relationships.

Previously the methodology was not well-advanced and communication was not as good. If we created a new design,we could use that design for quite a number of years. Nowadays, communication is swift and jewelers have become knowledgeable. New designs spring up quite fast and so we have to study those and modify our own ones. In the past, we only had rolling machines but now besides that, we are able to use modernized automatic machines, molding machines, etc. Cutting machines have taken the place of manual cutting. Current designs are definitely much novel than the old ones. The strange thing is, because of depend-ency on machinery, most people do not know how to make the former designs. For example, the peacock necklace of olden days is a rarity now. From my observations, I notice that periodical changes happen once in about ten years. Only if we can catch up with the changes we will be successful in our trade. Nowadays in the goldsmithing business, the designs in my father’s times are no longer current. In the past, the Omega wrist watch bracelet could be designed identically with manual methods. Now this can’t be done. In my father’s times, one just had to show the design one wanted and it could be replicated one way or another.

The designs these days are modern and we have to keep track of those designs and create our own new ones. Other successful gold shops also create their own new designs. I myself am an established goldsmith but I have to keep learning modern designs. Currently, design and molding can already be created on the computer and although it is not yet practised widely in Myanmar, it will soon take its place. We are trying to catch up with the times. Because modernization is prodding us, we have to try harder and harder.

I have plans to transfer knowledge to the next generation especially because when I look around, I find that goldsmithing has almost ceased to exist. Another thing is, this business has been founded with honest blood and sweat and I wish to leave it as a family legacy. My eldest son is presently taking a course in the States on GIA gemmology. The middle son is being trained on social relationships. I have plans to have them trained in goldsmithing also.

Translated by Mra Hninzi