By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 13: A former salesman’s unconventional retirement plan to go into the Kolok Mee business has paid off.
Twenty years later, 76-year-old Billy Lim has made a name for himself and the popular noodles he serves.
When met recently, he told DayakDaily that his job now is the opposite of his former sales job, as now his customers come to him instead of him having to go looking for them.
He said that he used proper planning as a management tool to gain insight into what he wanted to achieve in his work or life.
“After retirement, I used the skills I learned while working for an international company to become a Kolok Mee maker.
“With this expertise from my work, I serve delectable noodle dishes.”
Lim said he was competitive, so he wasted no time learning the trade of making Kolok Mee from a well-known Kolok Mee maker at the now defunct Palm Road Hawker.
“As salesmen, you are trained and must have a good product that can sell. I saw Kolok Mee as a potential fast-moving consumer good, even though it is a savoury dish.
“There were no better options and (he thought) this product should give me income,” he said.
“That was how I saw the opportunity and learned from the best kolok mee maker.
“For a product to sell, it must be good. If there are similar products on the market, yours must be better. In my case, I learned from the best in town to produce a delicious product that consumers like.
“I am happy that now every bite of my Kolok Mee, my customers have liked it over the last 20 years serving it at my stall,” he said.
To differentiate his Kolok Mee from his competitors, Lim decided to brand his version of the iconic Sarawak dish ‘Billy Kolok Mee’.
“As salespersons, we must know how to make a product distinctive from similar products. I continued to hone my skills and ingredients. Over the years, I developed noodles which taste has suited my customers,” he revealed.
“For example—soaps, shampoo, toothpaste and others. There are similar uses but different brand names give a distinct recognition of the product they want. Marketing knowledge comes in handy too. So I used this strategy in my sales of Kolok Mee,” he explained.
“A good name for my stall and noodle is how I wanted to be remembered and people come from near and far will know of my Kolok Mee,” he said.
After five years of initially renting a stall at a nearby eatery, he decided to use his own residence as a place of operation.
“I have customers and regulars coming for 15 years now, and I am glad they all still come back to me. We also do e-delivery services and these days you don’t see your customers, only their orders,” he added.
Lim said he was surprised but glad to discover customers promoting his business on a social media post.
“The marketing has changed, and technology is at your fingertips. I am glad there are enough customers for old noodle sellers like me to earn a living.”
He added he does not have many years to continue his trade, but it provides a small income to keep his retirement busy and to keep him and his wife fit.
Hailing from Mukah, Lim is fluent in Iban and other local dialects, which is an.advantage in terms of public relations and communication skills.
“In sales, communication skills help your product to move and build rapport with your customers. Fortunately, when you come from small towns with many races, you tend to speak many the local languages.
“This has helped me in my job as salesman and now when selling noodles,” he revealed.
Lim is also glad his noodles stall at Jalan Urat Mata has attracted his neighbours, some of whom are public figures.
“They came with family and friends and, over the years, have been my regular customers.”
He added that as age is catching up with him, he only operates his stall four hours daily and takes one day off in a month.
“I am glad one of my two children is back to help me. He just came back and is still learning the trade. I will continue for now. Being active in serving customers keeps me energetic,” he said.
Billy Kolok Mee is located at No. 350, Jalan Urat Mata. It operates daily from 7am to 11am. For more information, call 014 699 6840. — DayakDaily
