TODAY

Mr Victor Yeo

Growing international interest in Myanmar also means more foreign travellers coming here. It was 97 percent more growth in 2013 and is still counting. Mr Victor Yeo, a Singaporean who is into tourist souvenirs business in Myanmar, was interviewed by TODAY magazine at Travel Trade show 2014 as follows…..

Your company and business…
Kelly J Trading Ltd was established last year to help create Myanmar tourist souvenirs like T-shirts, keychains, magnets, badges, drink coasters and luggage tags, etc.  Besides tourists buying them as mementos, local companies may also use them as giveaways to customers as a way of promotion.

Why did you, a Singaporean decide to manu-facture and distribute gifts and souvenirs in Myanmar?
I started a gifts & souvenir business in Singapore more than 20 years ago.  I decided to introduce the same concept to Myanmar since 2005.  Now our products are available on sale at the airports, hotels, shopping centres and Bogyoke Market, where most tourists visit.  It is my wish to transfer our design expertise, experience and quality products here.
How do you develop business prospects in Myanmar?
I travel frequently to many places in Myanmar as it is a vast country with many scenic places of interest.  I have even hired a guide and hiked from Kalaw to Inle and  observed the rural lives of paddy farmers and villagers.  I visited the ancient pagodas at Bagan and NyaungOo and the streets of Mandalay.  In this way, I try to obtain a deeper understanding and knowledge of the diverse cultural heritage and icons that represent the Golden Land of Myanmar.

What impression do you have of the Myanmar people?
I feel they are very friendly and hospitable, which are part of their ancient culture and DNA.  The youths especially are very courteous and respectful towards their elders.

Are your businesses jointly run?
Our company in Singapore, Kellicrafts Pte Ltd was established more than 20 years ago.  Kelly J Trading Ltd was incorporated locally for our expansion into the Myanmar market.  There is no merger with any other company.  We target the growing foreign travellers and try to create special made-to-order corporate gift services for both local and foreign companies.

Finding and penetrating new markets…
Our marketing is being improved upon constantly .  Several shops retail our merchandise at Yangon Airport, as well as in retail outlets at the airports in Bagan and Mandalay.  We do not sell our goods directly, but wholesale them to retail shops at discounted prices.  So we are not in direct competition with them but they would become our distributors.  Moreover, designs of our own are distributed throughout major hotels and travel agencies in Yangon.  Companies, individually may place an order with us for corporate or promotional premiums with their own corporate logo.  The premiums could be used as corporate gifts to employees and customers alike.  In this way, customers may increase their brand awareness and create brand loyalty for their own products.

Why are your goods currently not locally-made?
Myanmar already has a very strong tradition of artworks and handicrafts of its own, like lacquerwares, jewelleries, silver articles, bronze casting and traditional potteries.  So for souvenirs, I choose objects and themes that are more modern and trendy to the Myanmar public.  I had once tried to place an order with a local company to produce T-shirts, but the quality of the goods delivered and workmanship were lower and did not meet my expectation. So, eventually I had to outsource them to China and Thailand.  A good T-shirt should never shrink after washing.  Then only will the buyer be willing to pay a higher price for better quality.  Myanmar should welcome experienced foreign investors to set-up high quality manufacturing plants in your country, in order to grow your manufacturing capability.

How do you obtain “raw materials” for design?
I have been fortunate to be able to travel to many countries.  I like to study their culture and architecture on the go to draw inspiration for design.  I try to think out of the box together with my designers and turn our ideas into designs of interest and, often humour as well.  For example, one of our T-shirt designs is called “FASHION WEEK”, which features images of Kayan, Kachin, Chin and Kayin ethnic groups that prove to be very popular with foreign visitors to Myanmar.

How much does Brand matter?
Very much so indeed. Goods without a Brand could see them fade away overtime and forgot-ten. A branded product really takes pride of place in design and quality. Therefore, our designs and products for the Myanmar market are all legally registered in Myanmar to further protect our intellectual property (IP) rights.

How did you come to name your Myanmar company, Kelly J?
Although, it is derived from Kellicrafts Pte Ltd in Singapore, it is completely autonomous and independent.  The “J”actually stands for Jesus, whose guiding inspiration and example gave birth to our company.

Communication with  Myanmar employees …
They are very capable and responsible. Comm- unication runs smoothly between our Myanmar Sales Managers/Administrators and our custo-mers because they can speak fluent English.
Apart from Bagan and Inle, where have you been to and which do you fancy?
I’ve also been to Ma U Bin and Chaungtha.  With a love for adventure and travel, I fancy going to the hilly regions of Kachin and Chin States, especially to the jade mining areas.  Security reasons don’t permit it yet, but one day I will go and visit.

What destinations do you suggest for would-be visitors to Myanmar?
There are fairly numerous places worth visiting.  The last Royal Palace and U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, hiking in Shan State (around PyinOoLwin/Kalaw) and bathing in beaches like Ngapali and Chaungtha are highly recommended.

Tell us about your own family…
I’m married with two children, a daughter and a son.  My wife is a dentist; my daughter is training in a design college in America.  My son, aged 15 is a high-school student in an international school in Singapore.  I personally travel the world for my business every year.

From the perspective of a parent of two youths, what do you perceive are the differ-ences between Myanmar youths and their Singaporean counterparts?
The youths in Singapore, a developed country, keep abreast with the latest developments in education, culture, entertainment and are quite Western-oriented.  Myanmar youths are partly so, but to a lesser degree.  They show more respect for the elderly than Singaporean youths, but this is not necessarily a virtue.  The youths in Singapore are not disrespectful to their elders,but they don’t hesitate to question and say what they think is right.  Myanmar youths have been taught since childhood that it is wrong to present one’s views that are different from those of their elders.  So they usually remain silent.  They should remain respectful, but they should be encouraged to be inquisitive and explore new ideas and new ways of doing things.  Then, they can begin to grow and help the country to progress and move forward.

What should foreign investors expect of the work force in Myanmar when investing in this country?
Besides financial investments, they should provide technical training to improve the skills of the workers.  Myanmar youths and even adults are eager and willing to learn, but they are afraid by custom to speak up and ask the right questions.  In most cases, they would say they can do something even when they really can’t.  So a foreign trainer must have great patience with their trainees.  Thus, I would advise would-be investors to lower their expectations somewhat and be extremely patient with the lovely people of your country.

Your last word of advice for our readers?
Hospitality is Myanmar’s strength. Most Myanmar youths are willing to work, but they are often tempted to job hope for better salaries.  Unfortunately, their first company, which has hired and trained them well is often left short-changed.  Job loyalty should be ingrained in the workers as a key to long-term success, if Myanmar is to grow and prosper in the years to come.

Thanks for your time given for this interview!