Retrenched Banker Starts Online Biz Selling “The Hermès Of Durians”
By YIP JIEYING
The-Durian-Law
He’s related to the folks behind 818 Durians & Pastries.
Published07 AUGUST, 2020UPDATED 08 AUGUST, 2020
BROUGHT TO YOU BY 8 DAYS
He’s related to the folks behind 818 Durians & Pastries.
Former banker Michael Law, 27, grew up in a family of durian lovers. He’s a distant cousin of Goh Meng Chiang, the boss of local durian stall 818 Durians & Pastries (whose father, incidentally, owns famous durian chain 717 Trading). But Michael initially had no plans to go into the durian trade like his relatives. Instead, he graduated with a university degree in finance and economics, and became a bank relationship manager for a local bank.
1 of 6From banking to selling durians
His banking career unexpectedly ended during the Circuit Breaker period this year. “I was one of the few unlucky ones who got retrenched due to Covid-19. I had to look for other jobs to feed myself and my family — I’ve my elderly parents to take care of, so I reached out to my relatives to see what I could do,” he tells 8days.sg. I didn't expect to go into this line, but I was open-minded about it.
And that was how his online durian business, The Durian Law, started in May 2020. While the moniker is a riff on Michael’s surname, he says it also came about as “we want people to know how to taste durians, and for them to know us as the Hermès of durians”.
2 of 6Same shop, different branding
According to Michael, The Durian Law is the “online platform” for 818 Durians, and sells the varieties that the latter has at its Defu Lane shop, albeit online. Where you previously had to call or text 818 directly to get durians delivered, you can now order its fruits via TDL’s online Google form (a plus if you hate interacting with human beings, we guess).
But The Durian Law is branded as a separate entity, as Michael explains that “we want it to be more premium than 818[‘s branding], and more aesthetically pleasing”. While 818 only offers whole durians delivered in their husks, like Mao Shan Wangs from the family’s own farm in Raub, Pahang, TDL sells the durians conveniently dehusked and boxed.
3 of 6Organic Mao Shan Wang
It also offers an atas “organic” Mao Shan Wang, grown on 818’s plantations using Japanese organic fertiliser and a “Japanese farming technique”, which Michael says is similar to how the pricey Kyoho grapes are grown. “The organic MSW trees only bear around 30 fruits each. It’s very limited, and I would say 85 percent of the seeds are much flatter [than regular MSWs’]. The taste is stronger, more bitter and creamier.” 818 has been selling the organic durians, which is unique to its plantations, since 2013.
For the pleasure of eating these premium durians, you’re expected to shell out $98 for a 500g box (or pay $48 for a 500g box of regular 818 MSW). “We don’t keep our durians overnight,” says Michael, as it would introduce moisture that ruins the quality of the MSWs. But unlike other durian varieties, you can only order the organic MSW by messaging The Durian Law on its Instagram or Facebook page. Michael shares, “We only get about 20 organic durians a day, and it usually sells out. So I don’t put it on my Google form, ’cos closing the orders for one item would mean closing the entire form.”
4 of 6“Premium” durian puffs
Other than fresh durians, The Durian Law also offers its own MSW puffs and mooncakes. “Our puffs are made with a different recipe from 818’s puffs. The MSW pulp we select for the puffs are of a higher quality and creamier, which is why it’s more expensive than 818,” says Michael. A box of 10 TDL puffs costs $18, while 818’s version costs $14.
5 of 6Durian mooncakes
For the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, the shop is selling house-made mooncakes in five flavours: Grade AAA Mao Shan Wang, Dark Chocolate, Adzuki Red Bean, Matcha Green Tea and Lotus Bean Paste. An eight-piece box of either assorted flavours or purely durian goes for $98. There’s also a one-for-one promotion, where you get a free box of assorted mooncakes with every mooncake box purchased.
6 of 6Which job is harder, banking or selling durians?
Michael reckons, “Selling durians is not as stressful as working in a bank. F&B is different from an 8-to-5 job. Working in a bank, you have targets to meet. But for durians, you’ve a customer base who reaches out to you, as the 818 brand is good.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, he has no plans to return to banking for now. He muses, “I see potential in this, and I feel like I can help grow the brand. Banking is too competitive!”
Click here for The Durian Law’s online ordering form. Islandwide delivery at $10 per location, or self-collect at 818 Durians & Pastries’ shop at 26 Defu Lane 10, S539207. www.instagram.com/durian_law.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL LAW/ THE DURIAN LAW
Read more at https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandopening/retrenched-banker-starts-online-biz-selling-the-herm-s-of-12999370
By YIP JIEYING
The-Durian-Law
He’s related to the folks behind 818 Durians & Pastries.
Published07 AUGUST, 2020UPDATED 08 AUGUST, 2020
BROUGHT TO YOU BY 8 DAYS
He’s related to the folks behind 818 Durians & Pastries.
Former banker Michael Law, 27, grew up in a family of durian lovers. He’s a distant cousin of Goh Meng Chiang, the boss of local durian stall 818 Durians & Pastries (whose father, incidentally, owns famous durian chain 717 Trading). But Michael initially had no plans to go into the durian trade like his relatives. Instead, he graduated with a university degree in finance and economics, and became a bank relationship manager for a local bank.
1 of 6From banking to selling durians
His banking career unexpectedly ended during the Circuit Breaker period this year. “I was one of the few unlucky ones who got retrenched due to Covid-19. I had to look for other jobs to feed myself and my family — I’ve my elderly parents to take care of, so I reached out to my relatives to see what I could do,” he tells 8days.sg. I didn't expect to go into this line, but I was open-minded about it.
And that was how his online durian business, The Durian Law, started in May 2020. While the moniker is a riff on Michael’s surname, he says it also came about as “we want people to know how to taste durians, and for them to know us as the Hermès of durians”.
2 of 6Same shop, different branding
According to Michael, The Durian Law is the “online platform” for 818 Durians, and sells the varieties that the latter has at its Defu Lane shop, albeit online. Where you previously had to call or text 818 directly to get durians delivered, you can now order its fruits via TDL’s online Google form (a plus if you hate interacting with human beings, we guess).
But The Durian Law is branded as a separate entity, as Michael explains that “we want it to be more premium than 818[‘s branding], and more aesthetically pleasing”. While 818 only offers whole durians delivered in their husks, like Mao Shan Wangs from the family’s own farm in Raub, Pahang, TDL sells the durians conveniently dehusked and boxed.
3 of 6Organic Mao Shan Wang
It also offers an atas “organic” Mao Shan Wang, grown on 818’s plantations using Japanese organic fertiliser and a “Japanese farming technique”, which Michael says is similar to how the pricey Kyoho grapes are grown. “The organic MSW trees only bear around 30 fruits each. It’s very limited, and I would say 85 percent of the seeds are much flatter [than regular MSWs’]. The taste is stronger, more bitter and creamier.” 818 has been selling the organic durians, which is unique to its plantations, since 2013.
For the pleasure of eating these premium durians, you’re expected to shell out $98 for a 500g box (or pay $48 for a 500g box of regular 818 MSW). “We don’t keep our durians overnight,” says Michael, as it would introduce moisture that ruins the quality of the MSWs. But unlike other durian varieties, you can only order the organic MSW by messaging The Durian Law on its Instagram or Facebook page. Michael shares, “We only get about 20 organic durians a day, and it usually sells out. So I don’t put it on my Google form, ’cos closing the orders for one item would mean closing the entire form.”
4 of 6“Premium” durian puffs
Other than fresh durians, The Durian Law also offers its own MSW puffs and mooncakes. “Our puffs are made with a different recipe from 818’s puffs. The MSW pulp we select for the puffs are of a higher quality and creamier, which is why it’s more expensive than 818,” says Michael. A box of 10 TDL puffs costs $18, while 818’s version costs $14.
5 of 6Durian mooncakes
For the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, the shop is selling house-made mooncakes in five flavours: Grade AAA Mao Shan Wang, Dark Chocolate, Adzuki Red Bean, Matcha Green Tea and Lotus Bean Paste. An eight-piece box of either assorted flavours or purely durian goes for $98. There’s also a one-for-one promotion, where you get a free box of assorted mooncakes with every mooncake box purchased.
6 of 6Which job is harder, banking or selling durians?
Michael reckons, “Selling durians is not as stressful as working in a bank. F&B is different from an 8-to-5 job. Working in a bank, you have targets to meet. But for durians, you’ve a customer base who reaches out to you, as the 818 brand is good.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, he has no plans to return to banking for now. He muses, “I see potential in this, and I feel like I can help grow the brand. Banking is too competitive!”
Click here for The Durian Law’s online ordering form. Islandwide delivery at $10 per location, or self-collect at 818 Durians & Pastries’ shop at 26 Defu Lane 10, S539207. www.instagram.com/durian_law.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL LAW/ THE DURIAN LAW
Read more at https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandopening/retrenched-banker-starts-online-biz-selling-the-herm-s-of-12999370
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