Melissa Gail Sing meets Winnie Chan at the newly opened Bynd Artisan atelier where she learnt about the important bonds at the heart of the new business and how family comes first for the mother of two.

You’ve heard of corporate bonding sessions over cooking, singing and sports. Increasingly, the options have become more varied and unconventional. Think 3-D printing and mystery solving with your colleagues. The latest to join the list of atypical bonding sessions—and boasting a good dose of heritage to boot—is personalised stationery making.

The brainchild of Winnie Chan, the third-generation scion of one of Singapore’s longest-running stationery business Grandluxe, these workshops give not just colleagues but also families and classmates the opportunity to foster stronger ties amongst themselves while bringing alive an age-old tradition in craftsmanship. Over at the uber-chic Bynd Artisan atelier tucked away in Boon Lay, participants can feel their way through different paper stock and luxurious leathers in attractive shades like taupe, red and teal, and learn about the different types of binding and letterpress techniques before customising their very own notebook under the tutelage of master craftsmen who have honed their skills over decades. Notebooks aren’t the only things participants can create as they get to know each other better outside of the usual settings (a complimentary beverage bar  at the atelier is the perfect accessory to this!); there are also workshops where they can create leather cardholders and unbelievably soft journals with Chinese bookbinding. Talk about the ties that bind!

What is a typical day at Bynd Artisan like for you?

My day starts at 4am and work ends at 8pm. I am in bed by 11pm. I wake up early because this is when my mind is crystal clear and I can have my own quiet time while everyone else in the family is fast asleep. Some people meditate while others pray at this time, but I just enjoy going through my email, having my coffee, listening to music on my headphones and just mousing around a little while planning for the day ahead. At the Bynd Artisan office, my team and I work together on product development and raw material sourcing. Much of my time is also spent seeking out new collaborators since the branding and the concept for Bynd is already done. The next stage is to franchise this concept overseas, which explains why I have to attend many internal and external meetings.

What’s top of your agenda now?

To grow Bynd Artisan to become an iconic Singapore brand.

Who does the business cater for?

We have a few unique selling points. Our bespoke goods cater for individuals who want to be unique in their selections. Our workshops can impart skills and also foster team bonding. We also use unique raw materials such as paper made with recycled by-products of food processing plants (coffee, citrus, fruits & nuts) in our ready-made products. As a whole, Bynd is for people who are into good design and quality.

What are some of the challenges you have overcome to start this concept?

The original idea was scrapped 12 months into the project when we realised we were not making use of our more than 60 years of heritage and lacked a strong unique selling point. We had to start over and catch up on lost time. We also could not find an appropriate location to start the flagship to house all our unique features like customisation corners and workshop. We eventually decided to build Bynd in our factory. That presented us with a new set of challenges because retail on factory space is not allowed by the Jurong Town Corporation and Urban Renewal Authority. We had to convince them that the concept of Bynd was not only novel but also feasible.

Quality and sustainability are two of the company’s ethos. How does it exemplify this?

The family has been in this business since 1945. We have made many good products for private banks and royal families. Bynd builds on these experiences and knowledge and we can only do better because we only answer to ourselves when we make these products. We use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper and leather from EU-certified tanneries. You always hear of European brands making their products in China. No one really mentions about Asian brands using European raw materials.

What do you enjoy about working in the family business and what are some of the challenges?

I get to see my husband (James Quan) more than if we were working in separate companies, although his frequent travels in the first half of the year mean that we only see each other on alternate weeks. Challenges include blurring the lines between work and home. We tend to discuss work at home quite intensely to the point of arguments, although we conscientiously try to limit this and instead spend more time with our children when we are home so we can catch up with what’s happening in their lives. Another plus is that we sometimes bring our kids along for meals with clients on weekends so they get to understand more about our business and what we do for a living.

In what way is your approach to business similar to/different from that of your forefathers who started Grandluxe?

I am more consultative and like to listen to others’ point of view before making decisions. My father (Percy Chan) thinks I am too democratic, however, I do make unpopular decisions if I am convinced it is for the better from a macro perspective. I am also more pro-design and will only let something go into mass production when I am proud to hold or use it myself.

What’s the biggest lesson you learnt from your forefathers?

My grandfather Chan Koon Song lived in much easier times when he had only a few item ranges and profits were easily made. I did not get to meet my grandfather as he passed away before I was born. My father took over the business at age 18 when my grandfather passed away. He went through many turbulences in the business environment, and survived at least five cycles of recessions. I am proud to say that under my father’s stewardship, our family business is the only one in the same industry locally that has survived through all these years. The most important lessons my father instilled in me are Integrity (do what you say and say what you do) and Resilience (always keep trying if you believe in something and don’t give up too easily).

Which Bynd Artisan item do you never leave home without?

The Quadro bag in Taupe is the item that I carry with me every day. It can be used in four ways (hence the name)—as a tote, sling bag, messenger bag and evening clutch. It’s a great bag to have when travelling as it brings me from work meetings to weekend hikes to evening dinners without having to pack another bag, which means more luggage space for shopping. I’ve actually received many compliments from people when I carry this bag! 

Credits: Photography: Max Chan/101 Teamwork; Hair and Make-up: Sha Shamsi 

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