a comparative analysis of businesses
TRANSCRIPT
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BUSINESSES
Group Members: Kimberley Ee Sze Ann,
Chia Sue Yi,
Cheong Siew Ying,
Yap Kar Juen,
Cheah Teck Wei
Research topic: Traditional Penang Biscuits
Module: English 2 (ENGL0205)
Session: September 2013
CHOSEN BUSINESSES
SOON SENG
Location: Lebuh Kimberley, Georgetown, Penang
Business type: Small stall
TONG HOE SENG
Location: Lebuh Kimberley, Georgetown, Penang
Business type: Small stall
WAH THAI
Location: Jalan Gottlieb, Georgetown, Penang Business type: Large shop
BACKGROUND
SOON SENG
o 30 year old businesso Mr Soon : the founder of the shopo receives help from family members
TONG HOE SENG
o 60 year old businesso Started in 1954o Has existed since before World War 2.o Family-owned, passed down from father to
daughtero Current owner has run the business for 30
years
WAH THAI
o 40 year old businesso Started in 1977.o 32 years of established experience and
reputationo Employs dozens of workers
AVAILABLE PRODUCTS
SOON SENG
Tambun Biscuits
Medicated Oils
Pickled Fruits
TONG HOE SENG
Tambun Biscuits
Medicated Oils
Snacks
WAH THAI
Tambun Biscuits
Coconut Biscuits
Herbal Soup Snacks
COMPETITION
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENG
o Other stalls selling similar products.o Many of such stalls exist.o These similar stalls are all located very close together.
Lebuh Kimberley
Pin Kuan Enterprise
Soon Seng
Tong Hoe Seng
WAH THAIo Other stalls selling similar products.o Small stalls e.g. Tong Hoe Seng and Soon Seng
which may sell for cheaper prices and are more easily accessible (located at tourist areas).
o Other large companies selling similar products in Georgetown.
Ghee Hiang
Him Heang
Wah Thai
PRICE COMPARISON
TONG HOE SENG
WAH THAI SOON SENG
PRICEQUALITY
OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENG
Many competitors exist in the form of stalls selling similar products.
Different stalls may be able to offer cheaper prices.
Different stalls sell larger ranges of products and therefore can attract more customers.
WAH THAI
o Many competitors exist in the form of other stalls selling similar products.
o Smaller stalls offer cheaper prices due to cheaper packaging.
o Smaller stalls know their customers on a personal level therefore having the advantage of customer loyalty.
NATURE OF BUSINESSES
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENG
o Small local business.
o Main customers are locals and tourists.
o Sells tambun biscuits.
o Exist in a purely competitive market.
WAH THAI
o Large business.
o Main products are tambun biscuits but also offers a large range of other local food products.
o Exist in a purely competitive market.
STRATEGIES USED
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENGo Produce original homemade traditional biscuits.
o Maintain customer loyalty.
o Sell near tourist areas.
o Cheaper price
Popular food street located close to many hotels
WAH THAI
• Large business.
• Main products are traditional biscuits but also offers a large range of other local food products.
• Maintain status and quality
Packeted Bah Kut Teh is another popular Wah Thai product
Tong Hoe Seng & Soon Seng
- 2 flavours only
Wah Thai
-many different flavours
allow customers to try their products
FUTURE PLANS
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENG
o Continue to provide friendly service to customers.
o Maintain quality of products
o Maintain customer loyalty by being courteous and providing high quality goods.
o No plans for expansion.
WAH THAI
o Maintain high status.
o Maintain brand name quality.
o Introduce a wider range of local food products e.g. packeted Bah Kut Teh.
o No plans for expansion.
POPULARITY
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENG Attracts local customers as well as tourist. Regular customers keep returning as they are familiar with
the stall owners. Many years of reputable service (high quality goods and good
attitude).
WAH THAI
o High popularity
o Advertising through newspaper and magazine
o Winner of FOODSION's Magazine Award
o Famous Tourist Place
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT
SOON SENG AND TONG HOE SENG
Advertise- These businesses rely on their long standing
reputation and do not feel the need to advertise.
- However, they do not realise that the modern generation may not be aware of their stalls and will visit the larger businesses that advertise aggressively.
- Advertise through: Facebook pages, blogs, newspaper articles, magazines.
WAH THAI
Consider expanding the business- Currently Wah Thai’s main goal is to preserve
ONLY the quality of their products and they see this as their main priority.
- This may serve as a weakness as they are unable to see the bigger picture.
- Wah Thai is slowly becoming more and more successful, in time the business will come to a standstill.
- Wah Thai should aim big as they have the potential to achieve great success.
REFERENCES
1926heritagehotel.com. (2014). Him heang – famous for their tambun biscuits | 1926 heritage hotel penang malaysia. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.1926heritagehotel.com/him-heang-famous-for-their-tambun-biscuits/ [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Dodol-mochi.blogspot.com. (2009). Dodol & mochi | where east meets west ...: "my sweet malaysia": tambun biscuits or tau sar beng 淡汶豆沙餅 . [online] Retrieved from: http://dodol-mochi.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-sweet-malaysia-tambun-biscuits-or.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Facebook. (2014). Lim wah thai local food products. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lim-Wah-Thai-Local-Food-Products/296988758761 [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Ggmu.blogspot.com. (2009). Get a life!: ghee hiang,penang. [online] Retrieved from: http://ggmu.blogspot.com/2009/03/ghee-hiangpenang.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Gourmet Garden. (2014). Gourmet garden. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.gourmetgarden.com.my [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
II, A. (2014). Going to penang? bring back some tambun biscuits!. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal3/where-to-eat/where-to-eat/1511-going-to-penang-bring-back-some-tambun-biscuits.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Kevin, C. & Profile, V. (2009). The podanys | welcome to our word: bak kut teh night!. [online] Retrieved from: http://thepodanys.blogspot.com/2009/02/bak-kut-teh-night.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Limwahthai.com. (2014). Welcome to lim wah thai local food marketing sdn bhd. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.limwahthai.com/aboutus.asp [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Penangstreetfood.com. (2014). Battle of the biscuit: ghee hiang v him heang | penang street food | penang delicacies. [online] Retrieved from: http://penangstreetfood.com/2010/12/battle-of-the-biscuit/ [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Penang-traveltips.com. (2014). Kimberley street (lebuh kimberley), george town, pulau pinang. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.penang-traveltips.com/kimberley-street.htm [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].