Leung Tak Wah’s has never left Kwun Tong since birth. He grew up in “Kai Liu”, the resettlement estate, and worked with his parents as hawkers in the 1960s. The family with 6 members united together to make the ends meet for couple of decades. The street stall has been transformed into a regular shop, and the products have been changed from apparel to medicines. Today, Leung Tak Wah’s nephew has grown up. The drugstore is entering a new page, interweaving with the new ideas from third generation. His nephew is in charge and has facilitated the social media strategies into the physical shop for marketing and sustainable business.
The 58-year-old uncle, Leung Tak Wah, is introverted and subtle. The nephew, Wong Ka Ho, is as shy as his uncle. They would be more talkative only when they talk about their families and business. “I am the second oldest amid four siblings. When I was young, I helped my parents to push their carts to sell clothes. Later in 1986, we finally opened a store in Yue Man Square. However, our shop was engulfed in the blaze at the time of 1995.” The fire happened for over 26 years, but Leung Tak Wah still remembers the incident very clearly. Although the family was allowed to reopen the store nine months later, Leung’s father was getting old and planning to retire at that time. Hence, the shop had to pass to the next generation. After doing some in-depth research and data collection, the four siblings started proposing to transform their business. Later, their father accepted the proposal and then opened the drugstore “Tai On” in Yue Man Square.
Although it was only a drugstore selling shampoo, body wash, and medicines for minor illnesses, it tailor made the needs of the market in the neighborhood. Hence, the business flourished. “The old shop was about 500 square feet and with a loft. As our daily turnover was mammoth, we had to use the loft as a warehouse. Division of labour for 4 of us, , I was the counter sales, some of them were in charge of the back office, e.g. administration, others manned the warehouse. We would run off our feet in the peak season, especially.”
Time flies and the children of the siblings have grown up. Kwun Tong has undergone redevelopment, and Leung Tak Wah has been waiting to return to Yue Man Square since then. Today the shop is reopened in Yue Man Lane, and the third generation takes the throne for the family business. Though the location remains unchanged, the name of the store has changed from “Tai On” to “Hoi Wui”, and the drugstore has become a registered dispensary. The new generation Wong Ka Ho, who is born in the 1980s, who dedicated to serve the neighborhood with a more personal and intimate approach.
“I have worked for other pharmacies to gain experiences before. Now I return to Kwun Tong with my uncle, knowing that the population is aging here, so I will reenergize my turbo to attract more customers. As a modern registered dispensary, it has to be like a small department store. Though our shop is small, the variety of products has to be comprehensive. Therefore, I would import and purchase more diversified products.” In addition to the physical store, Ka Ho is also planning to open an online shopping page. “Online products will be sold at cost price, and some prices might more amazing. We hope to expand customer base and open more branches in the future.”
Address: 1C1, L1, YM², 33 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
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