In December of last year, Lim Yuan Ming, a 23-year-old finance student at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, teamed up with his brother Brandon Lim to launch What The Puff!, a curry puff business based in Singapore. Starting with an initial investment of SG$10,000, the brothers opened their first outlet near Singapore’s Changi Airport and have since expanded to three hawker stalls, employing four staff members. Despite the notoriously high failure rate in Singapore’s competitive food and beverage industry, What The Puff! has quickly gained traction, selling approximately 1,000 curry puffs daily across all outlets and generating between SG$1,500 and SG$2,000 in sales each day. Their offerings include both traditional flavors, like the original chicken, potato, and egg curry puff, as well as innovative twists such as cheesy chicken and black pepper chicken, which have proven popular among customers.
Balancing his academic responsibilities with the demands of a growing business has been challenging for Lim Yuan Ming. He often sacrifices his social life, takes supplier calls during classes, and works long hours that leave his hands sore. The brothers begin their day as early as 1 a.m. to prepare dough and fillings, opening their stalls at 7 a.m. and wrapping puffs continuously until closing around 3 p.m. Afterward, Lim handles administrative tasks like bookkeeping and bill payments. Though his father suggested he drop out of college to focus fully on the venture, Lim has chosen to continue his studies while giving himself a three-year „runway” to build the business into a sustainable full-time career by the time he graduates.
Raised by parents who have long been involved in the F&B industry—running both a laksa steamboat restaurant and a Teochew porridge hawker stall—Lim gained early exposure to the food business by helping with cashiering and food preparation on weekends. This background, combined with his hands-on work ethic, has fueled his ambition to avoid a conventional corporate job. He values the flexibility and fulfillment that comes from entrepreneurship, especially positive customer feedback, which he cites as a major motivator. With a clear timeline and dedicated effort, Lim aims to grow What The Puff! into a lasting success, proving that passion and perseverance can thrive even in a demanding market.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.