FOUNDED ON PASSION
Serene’s career path has followed the fashion-retail industry since she was fresh out of university. Finding a niche that could be filled after many years of relevant experience and research, she founded Wah Yang in 2002. Her strong connections abroad and her great empathy towards what women need in functional fashion spurred modest growth in the fledgling company. As the business prospered steadily, on the request of Serene, Johnny left his promising corporate career to support his wife. Recognising Serene’s fervour and the rare opportunity to come alongside Serene and grow Wah Yang into a solid business, Johnny joined Serene in 2003.
Together, Serene and Johnny cover all the bases: Serene with her innate sense for good clothing concepts and Johnny with his acumen for management and marketing. With this formidable couple at the helm, Wah Yang has increased its influence from only two retail stores to the 30 outlets found all over Singapore, and the specialised brands distributed across Asia.
IT TAKES A WHOLE FAMILY TO BUILD OUR BRAND
Beginning with a staff comprising only four in 2002, Wah Yang is currently 70-strong. Around three-fourths of the staff members have been with us for more than a decade. This staying power speaks of the culture forged by Serene and Johnny, who value professionalism and integrity and treat their colleagues as family. As Johnny attests, skills are developed from the inside, so workers feel their own personal growth while working with Wah Yang. Every worker is deemed important, with each one considered as a member of one team, one family. This premium that Serene and Johnny put on relationships carries through both inside and outside their company, and this is key to Wah Yang’s enduring strength in the field.