SENHENG, an electrical and electronics chain store with over 60 outlets started off humbly in half a shoplot in 1989 in Pandan Jaya, Kuala Lumpur and merchandise worth less than RM300,000.
Founder Lim Kim Heng and wife Tai Nyet Lian had taken up a shoplot for its three-phase electrical supply to support their expanding tutu cake business, and had found it a waste to leave half a shoplot under-utilised.
“Without the tutu cake, there would not be a Senheng,'' Lim said.
The Lims had started the tutu cake business with RM14,000 and their first stall in Yaohan, the Mall was a success. However, as the electrical business had unexpectedly brought in more revenue than the cake business , the couple had then decided to sell the cake shop lock, stock and barrel to a friend.
Today, Lim runs the business with two of his brothers from the head office in Pandan Jaya, while Tai has retired from business to be a full-time homemaker.
It was certified by the Malaysian Book of Records as the nation's largest electrical retailer with 62 stores nation-wide on July 2002.
Rival chain, the listed Hock Sin Leong Group, which seems to be equal with Senheng in terms of number of stores, took almost 40 years to become what it is today.
Would Lim consider listing Senheng ?
“Naa, not yet,” he said.
The strength of Senheng lies in the speed in adopting new and radical, changes - a quality Lim fears would diminish if board meetings and approvals have to be sought each time.
“Maybe I'll list it when I'm ready to retire. Right now, I prefer to have full control on the direction of the company,” he said.
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