Lam Leung, President of Honorary President, a man of legend. During the 6 decades of his entrepreneurship in toy business, he has created three “First”. He is among the first Hong Kong toy merchants to make invest in mainland China. He is also the first one to move and expand his factory to mountain area of northern Guangdong. Moreover, Lam initiated the sales of Hasbro’s Transformers in domestic China. Though he has been over 80 years old, the elite of prestige, who is addressed respectfully as the “Father of Transformers in China”, has not stopped running for China’s charity.
“You can tell everyone. As long as we muddle though, toy industry will have more prosperous future in motherland,” Lam Leung tells TOY INDSUTRY that. He particularly encourages young enterprisers: conquering difficulties is one trial in our life.
With outstanding contribution in toy industry, Lam Leung frequently shuttles back and forth throughout China for his charity career, donating fund for educational undertaking and aid financially students in depressed area. He has provided long-term donation to Cornell University in USA since 1995, so as to help those with outstanding school work but difficulty in living. However, he has one requirement: Cornell must provide financial support to at least one Chinese student to study there. During all these years, Lam’s charity fund has exceeded 10 million in all kinds of affair.
Lam’s generosity is only dedicated to others, expect for himself. He always leads a frugal life. He never mind wearing common worn-out clothes and the historical materials he share with us are packed in old plastic bag. We find that, his strict manner of living has passed through the 60 years of his enterprising life. His dedication of determined effort to develop China is unalterable during the decades.
Taking the initiative to open factory in mainland
Lam’s Forward Winsome Industries Ltd produces over 1 billion units of toys every year, which is huge toy manufacture group with over 15,000 employees. Why he is addressed respectfully as the “Father of Transformers in China”? There is a small story.
In 1988, Lam’s Forward Winsone Industries Ltd (Nanhai) made a suggestion to Hasbro, the second-largest toy maker in US: producing Transformers toys to tap into China’s market. As expected, the small robot hit the market as soon as it was launched. In order to buy the toy, kids lined up at store gate in early morning. Since supply fell short of actual demand, some stores had to offer limited unit and every consumer could only get two units at most.
Transformers toys had been in full bloom for 4 years, making a historical duration for toy bestseller. Afterwards, Lam is considered the “Father of Transformers in China”.
Well, it really goes like novel plot. After Lam founded his toy factory in Hong Kong in 1947, he have expanded his business outwards. By chance, the years he had big action all end up with the number of “9”. His branch factories in mainland, Taiwan, Thailand and other places were established in 1949,1959,1969,1979 and 1989.
In 1949, right before People’s Republic of China was founded, many merchants moved to Hong Kong with their funds, but on the contrary, Lam opened his plastic toy factory in Guangzhou, Guangdong. Though he had not made a success at that time, he incorporated two Hong Kong companies into Forward Winsome in 1959 and when it came to 1969 when he opened a branch in Taiwan with his friend, his business began to flourish.
The year of 1979 sees opening-up and reform policy of mainland China, Lam resolutely came back to motherland to make investment.
Lam’s persistence took root in a pure notion: mainland China needed to be rejuvenated and only developed industry could make a powerful country. Lam known this when he was young. Only when China gets stronger, it would no longer be invaded and bullied.
Driven by the notion, Lam has constantly strived to become stronger. After he had made great achievement in his business, he did not hesitate to make huge donation for education of students and regions in property.
Success know-how
There were only 25 workers in Lam’s first toy factory in mainland China, which was founded in 1979. However, with 20 years’ development, it has evolved into large group with over 15,000 employees, combing various limited corporations and toy factories. Is there any know-how in the successful process?
“Be kind to your employees is the best management, I think. It is also essential for a company’s success.” Lam tells TOY INDUSTRY. Lam believed that, employees are the wealth for a company so he will care for them both and provide easy and amused living environment for them. Room and board, property keeping and transportation safety are all under his concern. Moreover, prime reason for increasing growth of Lam’s business can be attributed to his good faith.
Sincere dedication to his country
The passing 6 decades of Lam’s striving history has created an admirable miracle. Concerning the outstanding achievement made by Lam and his family, in January 1997, the year that seen Hong Kong returning to China, Wenwei, a newspaper of Hong Kong even used a whole page to introduce Lam and his business, especially noted his right way in educating his children. In fact, Lam’s sons and son-in-law are all celebrity in Hong Kong toy realm. His elder son, Jeffery Lam is member of C.P.P.C.C, member of HK Legislative Council and chairman of TDC Toys Advisory Committee. Lawrence Chan, his son-in-law is chairman of Hong Kong Toys Council and vice president of International Council of Toy Industries. Lam’s second son is also famous personnel in toy circle of Hong Kong.
Though he is now nearly 84 years old, Lam always pays attention to development of the whole industry. For instance, in view of possibility of toy makers’ moving outwards, Lam holds that, it might not be a good method to solve problems, since different cultural background in Vietnam and Thailand will not facilitate makers’ growth necessarily.
Lam definitely tells TOY INDUSTRY that, Pearl River Delta now boasts perfect industrial chain. Whether a company can get better development depend on environment greatly. Difficulties appear at any time and the key is what’s the solution to them. India and Vietnam have their difficult condition as well. In view of status quo, what companies encounter now can be solved.
“You can tell everyone. As long as we muddle though, toy industry will have more prosperous future in motherland,” Lam says. He particularly encourages young enterprisers: conquering difficulties is one trial in our life.
Only 29 years after reforming policy was carried out, Guangdong rapidly grows into the largest production base for global toys, creating a miracle in economic development. The root for this miracle is grown by painstaking effort and perseverance of a generation of enterprisers, who are cautious and conscientious, just like Lam Leung. █
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