One Business 99 Lessons by Nanz Chong-Komo

One Business 99 Lessons by Nanz Chong-Komo

Synopsis

Courtesy of Berkshire Business Books website

ONE.99SHOP took Singapore’s retail market by storm when it launched in April 1997.

Taking the one-priced store concept many notches higher, ONE.99shop offered the consumer quality items at one low price, plus a classy shopping experience in the ambience of a high-end mall.

In Singapore, where shopping is considered as a national pastime. ONE.99shop filled a niche in the market. So well, in fact, that within seven short years, it grew from one to 14 stores and turnover totaled $60 million.

Founder Nanz Chong-Komo, a former model and boutique owner became Singapore’s poster girl for the successful businesswoman, winning the “2000 Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year” award from the Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (ASME).

Things took a turn in 2003 when the SARS epidemic broke out in Asia. Singapore went into a state of panic and self-quarantine. Within a year with sales reduced by half, ONE.99shop found itself undergoing receivership. But not before Chong-Komo toiled endlessly to save the business, and more importantly, her staff.

ONE.99shop finally closed in 2003, leaving many asking: why did it fail, and what will Nanz Chong-Komo do next?

This book answer both questions. A labour of love that marks Nanz Chong-Komo’s return to the public eye, ONE BUSINESS 99 LESSONS is an honest, humorous and insightful collection of precious business and personnel lessons which this dynamic entrepreneur has gleaned from having run a multi-million-dollar empire.

About the author

Born in Hong Kong, raised throughout Asia and schooled in Singapore, Nanz Chong-Komo, 37, is best know as an entrepreneur and the founder of ONE.99shop.

Fresh out of school at 17, she jumped into a career in modeling. At 23, she caught her father’s entrepreneurial bug and opened up a clothing boutique called Klis, which was so successful she sold it within 11 months for a profit of $80,000. One.99Shop followed, which had 14 stores and closed in 2003.

Married for 8 years to Larry Komo, a Japanese-American investment banker, they had their first child, Zara, in 2004, followed by Christian in 2005.

Today, Chong-Komo is enjoying motherhood while counseling business people seeking advice on issues she had been through. She is one of the most sought-after corporate speakers and trainers today, bringing her large personality and even larger heart into boardrooms to encourage teamwork and impart wisdom to leaders. She is also the face of Shi’Jano, a Swedish science-based range of skincare recently launched in Asia.