KUCHING: Tucked away on the ground floor of Wisma Hopoh, a modest printing shop named Tazen Services has quietly become a familiar name among locals seeking reliable and personalised printing.
Behind the counter is soft-spoken and friendly Patrick Lau Kee Yong, 60, who has spent the past two decades building not just a business, but a reputation for consistency and trust.
When asked about his inspiration to start meddling in the printing industry, he revealed that he was not passionate about this business.
“I didn’t start this business with any passion for design,” Yong admitted with a laugh.
He then revealed that before building Tazen Services, he used to sell medicine to medical departments.
“I used to sell medicine to pharmacies and doctors. Slowly, I moved into printing stickers.
“At the time my shop was nothing but a small booth on the ground floor here,” he said.
That humble beginning led to the opening of Tazen Services in 2005.
What began as a small booth has grown into a trusted small-scale operation, known for its walk-in convenience and warm customer service.
While the printing world has evolved, with AI-assisted designs and online services becoming more common, Yong believes in the beauty of dealing with customers in person.
“Online printing services take time. And if something goes wrong, you have to bear it yourself.
“Here, you can talk to me directly and I will do my best to assist you, whether it’s for a return or any changes in the order.
“That is what makes Tazen Services different from others,” he said.
Despite never running promotions or offering free gifts, Yong’s customers keep coming back because of their awesome customer service.
“People don’t like changing shops once they frequent a certain shop or store,” he said.
It was then revealed that most of Yong’s customers are loyal walk-in customers rather than online customers.
“Most of the customers start as walk-ins, then continue through WhatsApp to place their order.
“Then, they just come to the shop on their own free time, within our business hour which is 10.00 am to 7.00 pm to collect their orders,” he stated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when lots of businesses suffered some slow business, Tazen Services was not affected much.
“Business was not slow during the pandemic but there are seasons where business is good.
“For example, during fasting month or back-to-school time, things get busy. But even on normal days, there’s always something to do,” he explained.
Since his business is only a small-scale business, Yong only accepts orders for quantity that is below a thousand only.
“However, since I run a small-scale business, if someone needs thousands of prints, I recommend them to a printing factory instead,” he further added.
At 60, Yong has no plans for expansion.
“At my age, there are no more big hopes,” he says honestly.
“If you want to expand, you need to bring in new products or get big clients and apply for business aid from government. But I’m happy with what I have,” he said.
For Kuchingites looking for dependable, straightforward printing services with a great customer service, Tazen Services is open daily from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm, located on the Ground Floor, Wisma Hopoh.
In an industry chasing speed and scale, Yong’s story is a quiet but powerful reminder that passion, patience and genuine customer care never go out of style.
