WBS Connect is a special lunch initiative where we will invite 3 members each time to personally find out more about their business needs and wants. This gives a deeper insight into each of our member’s businesses and enables us to connect them better with what they’re looking for, within WBS or outside of WBS.
Name: Josephine Yoong
Company name: Precious Ones Collections/ Precious Pages Resource
Type of business: Educational Toys/ Book Retail & Publishing
How did you get started in this biz?
When I had my first child, I became interested in educational resources and heard that we can start engaging our children from when they are babies. I got involved with marketing a new high-quality program of flash cards for babies and young children to start and ventured further into other very interesting games and toys.
I started the business from home and eventually bought shop on a well known street in the city, to run the business from, in 2006. A few years later, I added family related books and DVDs then spiritual books and subsequently specialise in locally published books, especially children books. We ventured into publishing books from 2009.
What do you love about your business?
I love everything about the business. I still love to source for new products, play new games & review new books, as well as engaging customers and helping them find suitable products.
What are your key products/services?
Educational toys: Construction toys, Strategy games, creative arts & craft, high quality Korean clay, school educational aids, toys for therapy/ learning disabilities.
Books: Family (marriage & parenting) books/ resources, motivational/ leadership books, children’s book publications (highlighting locally published high quality books), autobiographies, spiritual books/ gifts/ dvd’s/cd’s.
What are the unique selling points (USP)?
Toys: Promotes family bonding, stimulates creative/ problem solving/ strategy thinking skills. Comprehensive kindergarten & therapy resources.
Arts/ craft sets for hotels eg batek painting.
Books: Focus on inspirational books, books which help families.
Promote local publications. Promote books with moral values, esp Integrity.
As a result of our publication of a children’s book “Timmy Tapir learns to do What’s right!” and publishing Patricia Chew’s books, all which have good moral values and the main character of Tapir, our shop now has a special dedicated ‘Tapir Gallery’ where we feature products/ creations centred around highlighting this beloved endangered species.
How can WBS help you?
– By sharing with other parents/ kindergartens about the treasure trove in our shop of educational toys/ books.
– Educational talks/ workshops to help us grow in our entrepreneurial journey, running of our business.
– Connect us with retail outlets who wish to retail our publications.
How can you contribute to help WBS improve/grow?
Having co-founded WBS with Krista, we are truly grateful for the amazing women who have joined our network. I will continue to help in whatever way needed, from organising talks, sharing information, connecting/ networking/ guiding women entrepreneurs, supporting in any way.
Any ethical issues faced in business?
Many toys now have imitations in the market, often selling at half the price. The materials used may even be harmful to the children. Also imitations of CDs/ DVDs which infringe on copyright. We want to educate parents on ensuring only genuine products are purchased for the safety of their children and integrity reasons.
Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
– Continually innovate and find out what customers need, yet balancing between staying focussed on your vision/ mission.
– Tap on networks, alliances where you can leverage on, have encouragement/ support to persevere and grow.
– We are still on the journey but engage in social media actively, have fresh updates for customers.
– Make time to think ‘on’ the business (strategically) and not only ‘in’ the business; involves delegating and empowering staff to do the things which don’t necessarily need you.
Contact Josephine at josephineyoong7@gmail.com or 04-229 7678