Tropicana Nov-Dec 2020 #133 The Festive Issue

COVER STORY
Two decades on, Kens Apothecary
remains a trusted name in the beauty
retail landscape. The founder Ken
Lim introduced niche skincare brands
at a time when the retail scene was
mass market-driven. Today, brands
such as Diptyque and Creed are household names and
the word “apothecary” is a familiar one in our lexicon.
Presently, there are five Kens Apothecary stores located
in premier shopping malls in the Klang Valley.
The Early Years
Before Lim took the plunge into the beauty business,
he was a financial controller. The very first brand he
brought into Malaysia was Australian cult brand
Aesop. “When I first met a department store regarding
Aesop 20 years ago, they wanted to put the brand
in the homeware section instead of beauty. A lot of
buyers then didn’t understand about niche concept,”
recalls Lim. “Now these brands have become trendy and
appeal to the young market and people in the know.”
If you were to ask what he’d have done differently
if he could go back in time, Lim’s reply might surprise
you. “Maybe I wouldn’t have started Kens Apothecary
so early, it was too progressive and ahead of its time,”
says the Penang-born Lim.
He concedes, however, that being forward thinking
has served him well. “If I didn’t start it then, I wouldn’t
be in this position now. Back then, I had to educate
people on what apothecary meant,” muses Lim with a
smile. “Now when people in Malaysia hear ‘apothecary’,
they’d relate it back to our branding, so in a way I have
taken ownership of that word.”
Inspired by multi brand beauty stores Joyce Beauty,
Space NK and Mecca, Kens Apothecary is nevertheless
a game changer in its own right. “When I named the
shop Kens Apothecary, people were curious about the
person behind the name. At that time, it was unheard of
for a guy to be in the beauty business, so it helped people
to remember me.”
“Then and now, people called us the Joyce Beauty
or Space NK of Malaysia. Well, we’re not there yet.
Space NK, for instance, has 50 to 100 brands, and we
have 15 to 20 brands, and we’re still bringing in more
brands.”
Sometimes, it’s all about taking risks. “When I first
brought in Marvis, there was scepticism from my team
and now it’s selling like hot cakes. In that way, I was able
to foresee the trend of designer toothpaste,” explains
Lim. He is especially proud of his newest acquisition,
luxury fragrance Frederic Malle.
Lim counts himself lucky that he is able to do
what he loves. “After 20 years, we have gained our
customers’ trust as they see that we still uphold the
same beliefs and philosophy. Now self-care is more
relevant than ever; one has to live well and take care of
yourself.”
That’s What Friends Are For
In the early years, business was a struggle. Fortunately,
serendipity – or in Lim’s case, an invaluable friend
– intervened. The late fashion designer Sonny San
approached Lim about a collaboration. “Sonny wanted
a beauty bar inside his boutique, and that’s how the
business started to grow for me. He extended a helping
hand when I needed it the most.”
TM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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