Expansion is the name of the game, and Singapore-based footwear brand Charles & Keith ups the ante by venturing into Asia, the Middle East and Europe via a partnership with DBS Bank. Hear the full story from Charles Wong himself in DBS Dialogues.
"It may be unexpected, but then I've never gone by the book," says Charles Wong, co-founder and Managing Director of Charles & Keith in an interview for DBS Dialogues. Together with his brother Keith Wong, Charles made the bold decision to transform his mother's shoe shop in Ang Mo Kio into a regional empire selling 3.3 million pairs of shoes annually around the world.
Now, Charles wants to raise the bar even higher by going global-stepping into China, Europe and the US.
"Of course, having a bank that believes in me makes it easier to make bold decisions."
Charles shares how DBS, Singapore's largest bank, has backed his business over the last 10 years. In 2008, amidst the global economic crunch, DBS granted Charles & Keith a loan to construct a dream building that will enable the company to grow even faster over the next five years.
"We should always look at how we can be better at what we do. Our motivating factor is having a good business plan or a new business goal to bring positive change. As long as we remain proactive in achieving better results and new innovations, our business will be attractive to partners like DBS Bank who believe in our long-term strategy."
Charles' story underscores the importance of boldness backed up by solid business plans, which DBS highly esteems. Like Charles & Keith, small and medium enterprises can dream big and conquer the world with a sound strategy, audacity, and reliable financial support.
Find out more about Charles & Keith's story at DBS Dialogues, DBS' newest website that features the latest SME news and events, along with exclusive interviews with Asia's leading entrepreneurs. It's designed to engage and inspire business owners in Singapore and across Asia.
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