Royal Selangor Singapore’s 50th Anniversary Celebration was cause for nostalgia as the company traced its history from its modest conception to its extensive presence in Singapore.
The brand was brought into Singapore in 1968 by Mr Yong Poh Shin, current Chairman of Royal Selangor Singapore, son of Mr Yong Peng Kai who was the owner of Selangor Pewter in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was early 1968, the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore paid us a surprise visit at our KL factory. They said they would like to invite us to set up production of pewter in the Republic of Singapore (to help with the unemployment issue in the Republic of Singapore).” Yong said at the event in Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.
Yong and his young team of Malaysian artisans hopped onto the southbound train and dived straight into the business of pewter crafting in the company’s first overseas endeavor.
“We asked EDB what made him consider us and he answered because you are labour intensive which is still practiced up until till today.
He further elaborated he will be writing to us officially with an offer of pioneer status.” reminisced Yong.
Today, Royal Selangor Singapore offers a wide range of different tableware and gift items through a solid network of showrooms and dealers.
Amidst the celebrations, guests were treated to a specially curated heritage gallery and live demonstrations of engraving by pioneer employee, Wong Suet Mooi who has been with the company for 50 years.
Royal Selangor also honoured all pioneer employees as the Guests of Honour at the launched of the new Savoy collection of bath accessories by renowned Singapore-based Australian designer Mr. Jarrod Lim in conjunction with the event.
Executive Director of Royal Selangor Marketing, Mr. Chen Tien Yue also highlights that the Royal Selangor is now a souvenir brand representing Malaysia and Singapore, a country mile from their humble beginnings.
“We see both Malaysia and Singapore as our home markets, not just because the last two generations in these countries have grown up with this brand, or because tourists buy our products as something to commemorate their trips to these two countries, or because companies on both sides of the Causeway give Royal Selangor items as something from this region to their visitors from around the world.
“More than that, we feel that over the last 50 years, we have grown together with Singapore: in the early days the focus on hard work to survive in difficult circumstances, then the excitement of adolescent growth, the shift from low cost to value-add, the maturing phase with confidence in our heritage and identity, and today the search for that next growth stage driven by creativity and technology,” said Mr Chen Tien Yue, Executive Director of Royal Selangor Marketing.
