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When Family and Business Collide: A Difficult Succession Journey [TBS 44 ft Presto Drycleaners]

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What happens when the second generation takes the reins of a family business?

We dive into the incredible journey of Presto Drycleaners, led by Chan Wei Tian, a former software engineer turned dry cleaning visionary.

Key Highlights:

  • Chan Wei Tian shares the unique story of how he left the tech world to take over the family business, breathing new life into it with cutting-edge solutions.
  • Discover what happens when your business goes viral and how it impacts both the brand and family dynamics.
  • Get a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles and triumphs of working with family, and how therapy helped them navigate generational differences.
  • From rebranding to evolving the business model, hear about the tough decisions and unexpected consequences of trying to modernize a 30-year-old brand.
  • Chan Wei Tian shares invaluable advice on leadership, managing family businesses, and finding your own path when the stakes are personal.

You don’t want to miss this fascinating conversation that goes beyond just business—it’s about family, change, and resilience.

Tune in now!

What We Discuss:

  • 01:30 - Why did you decide to go all the way to the US to learn dry cleaning?
  • 02:20 - What made you leave tech to join a dry cleaning business?
  • 03:44 - When you first joined 8 years ago, what shape was the business in?
  • 06:57 - When did you truly feel you became the one leading the business?
  • 07:58 - What was the hardest conflict between you and your parents during the transition?
  • 11:38 - When did you realise the rebrand/logo change was emotionally painful for your dad?
  • 12:02 - What made you decide therapy was the right move, and how did you bring your family into it?
  • 16:01 - When things got really tense, what stopped the family from breaking apart?
  • 18:32 - How did you earn credibility and trust from the older generation?
  • 19:55 - Why Maryland specifically, and why that US school?
  • 20:16 - What’s the school called, and what did it teach you that you couldn’t learn at home?
  • 23:43 - For someone who’s never used one, what actually happens behind the scenes in a dry cleaning business?
  • 25:15 - What key numbers do you track weekly to keep quality and complaints under control?
  • 31:02 - What’s been your biggest “growth bet” to stand out, and what experiments did you try?
  • 36:12 - What are your top priorities for the next 12 months - growth, quality, delivery pickup, or something else?
  • 39:27 - What’s your best advice for someone about to take over a family business?

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