Blue Label DEEP TIES

In collaboration with Prestige, Johnnie Walker Blue Label talks to NICKSON AU YONG and ANSON AU YONG, two brothers deeply connected to their family's legacy as overseers of Tiong Tat Printing Industry.

- KIRAN PILLAY

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an unrivalled masterpiece that combines Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies to create the perfect drink. Likewise, brothers and entrepreneurs Nickson and Anson Au Yong leverage combining their best traits, creative interests and close relationship to elevate Malaysia’s printing industry.

Elder brother Nickson is the General Manager of Tiong Tat Printing Industry, with Anson the Sales Administration Manager of the company. The dynamic duo has worked for 14 and 10 years, respectively, as second-generation owners of the 30-year-old company founded by their parents. What began as a humble enterprise comprising a small shop lot with a production line equipped with just one second-hand machine has since scaled up into a multimillion-ringgit empire.

“We grew up watching our parents working very hard, and supported them with the factory as kids,” Nickson says. The experience gave him an understanding of the industry from an early age, as he learned at his father’s knee before venturing abroad to study business, accounting and finance.

Today, the brothers are bold in their vision to grow further, constantly paying attention to market needs. We were mainly involved in packaging gloves, medical devices and other healthcare products but have evolved to explore F&B and lifestyle brands. It’s a big change of direction from clean and basic packaging to artsy and creative solutions,” Anson explains.