Guan Hoe Co. (PG) Sdn Bhd

Here I am with Mr Teo Ee Siew, the Director of Guan Hoe Co. (PG) Sdn Bhd (8 March 2017)


B. Melayu

Guan Hoe Co. (PG) Sdn Bhd (GPS: 5.41941, 100.32477) is a famous motorcycle dealership in Penang. It occupies Bangunan Guan Hoe, a standalone 3-storey (and a mezzanine) building on Aboo Sittee Lane, George Town. Originally established in Singapore, Guan Hoe has been in Penang since 1950, when the son of the founder, Mr Teo Choo Bee, moved from Singapore to Penang, and established the business dealing in bicycles and spare parts for Austin and Bedford motorcars, lorries and buses. So we can say that Teo Choo Bee is the founder of Guan Hoe in Penang.

Initially, Guan Hoe Co. was located on Gladstone Road. When they had to make way for the Komtar urban redevelopment project, the company moved to rented premises on Tye Sin Street before acquiring a piece of land on Aboo Sittee Lane, where they erected the present building.

With such a long history, Guan Hoe has seen its share of ups and downs, but manages to survive till this day. Its high water mark was when the company managed to become the franchise holder for Suzuki motorcycles. This came about when Teo Choo Bee visited Japan to negotiate with Suzuki, and it resulted in Guan Hoe obtaining the rights to import CBU (complete built up) motorcycles from Japan. For this purpose, the Guan Hoe Group bought a factory in Prai. For a while, the company became so synonymous with the motorcycles it sold, that it became known as Guan Hoe Suzuki. Unfortunately, one of the business partners got into financial difficulties, and the company had to surrender the franchise in order to rescue the partner. The Suzuki franchise was eventually sold to the Lion Group, and Guan Hoe became a dealership for Suzuki ever since.

In 1989, Guan Hoe added Yamaha dealership to its business. The Yamaha business has since grown to be a dominant part of the company, which today sells not just Yamaha motorcycles but also various Yamaha motoring accessories.

The present director of Guan Hoe Co. (PG) is Mr Teo Ee Siew, the second eldest son of Teo Choo Bee. He was persuaded by his father to consider taking over the business, and after a year or so of deliberation, finally accepted his father's offer to join the company. He worked alongside Choo Bee until the latter's retirement just a few years ago.

Guan Hoe Co. survives to this day, and with the passing of time, faces present-day challenges, chief among them the difficulty in acquiring manpower. Although there are new workers, many in the Guan Hoe workforce have been with the company for decades. The company also sees an evolution in the demographics of its buyers, with present motorcycle buyers coming mostly from the Malay community.

I had the opportunity of meeting Mr Teo Ee Siew, the director of Guan Hoe Co. It was the very first time I have ever explored a motorcycle dealership, and Mr Teo was gracious in showing me around. We climbed the stairs to visit every floor, and at every floor, I saw rack upon rack of motorcycle spare parts. I was quite astonished by the amount of capital sitting there waiting for some buyers to get the cashflow running. At the back of the building is a goods elevator where boxes of spare parts can be lifted to the various floors. It was an eye-opening experience and I thanked Mr Teo for showing me around.

Mr Teo Ee Siew, Director of Guan Hoe Co. (8 March 2017)


Bangunan Guan Hoe at Aboo Sittee Lane, George Town. (8 March 2017)


Mr Teo showing me the original company plaque of Guan Hoe Co. (8 March 2017)


The front desk staff at Guan Hoe Co. (8 March 2017)


Yamaha baseball caps are some of the motoring accessories available at Guan Hoe Co. (8 March 2017)


This Yamaha jacket is among the motoring attire available at Guan Hoe Co. (8 March 2017)


Goods lift at the Guan Hoe warehouse. (8 March 2017)


Goods galore at the Guan Hoe warehouse, with me pointing to a motorcycle diagram. (8 March 2017)


We climb up to the next floor of Bangunan Guan Hoe, and what do we see? More spare parts! (8 March 2017)


Up the stairs again and yes, more spare parts! (8 March 2017)


Repossessed motorcycles of buyers who defaulted on their installment payments. (8 March 2017)

Address

Guan Hoe Co. (PG) Sdn Bhd
21, Lorong Abu Siti,
10400 George Town, Penang.
Phone: +60 4 226 6706 & 226 3832
Fax: 04 226 3873
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuanHoeYamahaPenang/

Guan Hoe Co. (PG) Sdn Bhd is on the Map of Lorong Abu Siti, Penang

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