VICTORY OF A DIFFERENT KIND

Redefining what success and failure is for himself, design-trained Alvin Chan, 34, set out on his own journey to rediscover and redefine definitions. When he decided to leave the corporate world and start his own brand, he knew it would be ten times more satisfying. But he knew acutely that it would be ten times tougher as well. He chose the less traversed path, determined to make things work.

Words associated with the Singaporean definition of success must involve some of these: career progression, millions, properties. Our parents insist, our peers nudge, our future beckons — success is molded by the reality we live in, many say.

But we wonder if success, rooted in reality, can take a different typeface. It is like… success, italicized in typeface but the same in definition. In between the notion of naïve idealism and bitter realism is a sweet spot of practical passion, which happens to also be success. 
 

In between the notion of naïve idealism and bitter realism is a sweet spot of practical passion, which happens to also be success.

Collections of Alvin's works, displayed at his work studio, Concrete Everything.

Asked if failing is a possible option, he replies candidly, ‘Failing is possible, and failing gloriously is possible too.’ He sees failure of a kind, and success of a different kind as well.

For Alvin, chasing one’s dreams is to ‘take small steps because of one’s situation, and with more calculations’. A design student by training, his hands always revolved around some form of design: woodwork, architecture, product design. Switching to a desk-bound job upon graduation made him slightly ‘confused’. Still, his hands never gave way to the desktops. There was a fateful season that he encountered concrete, made concrete and sold concrete.  

After several tries of using concrete to make everyday lifestyle products, he began to see the demand and support of the then-side business, which still bears the name till date: Concrete Everything. The journey began in 2014 and has since continued for five years and going. 

Started in 2014 from his home space, the brand has grown into a studio space in Tampines.

Alvin Chan, founder of Concrete Everything.

That was the start of his entrepreneurial business, Concrete Everything, that explores design with the use of cement. The e-commerce business then extended into a workshop arm, which teaches the art of cement-moulding to the local community in hopes of inspiring others to have their hands on the craft. Today, he is able to move out of his home studio to an industrial unit in Tampines, where it becomes his second home.

In this world, the stakes are what was never taught before. The first few years managing the business — on top of his full-time career and father-of-two — was also learning what it takes to be a jack of all trades. Interestingly, he emerged as a master of all. When he rented over a space purely for the use of Concrete Everything in 2019, the space was as real as his hard work can be, cemented into a tangible space for dreams to be realized.

Transiting into full-time meant a match that is on a different playing level, too. He recounts how rental of space was a learning curve for him — when he had to take into consideration everything from heavy-duty machines, guidelines, rental, etc. He mentions how local businesses are a lot more supportive of entrepreneurs, but the framework and structure of support needs more growth.  

Asked if failing is a possible option, he replies candidly, ‘Failing is possible, and failing gloriously is possible too.’ He sees failure of a kind, and success of a different kind as well. 

After coming on-board full-time, Alvin is more able to take up commissioned projects.

Machines invested for his studio space.

This match, as idealistic as it sounds, wasn’t built on just dreams. Alvin considers himself a pragmatic person, factoring in various costs before deciding to venture full-time. A discussion with his wife, a financial breakdown of the costs involved, and the possibility of expansion were all weighed carefully before the move in 2019.

And contentment is, by far, one of his greatest takeaway lessons. Yet, contentment is never as straightforward as a rising e-commerce. By the second year, he knows that the stakes will be higher, the players tougher and the margin thinner. Yet by the second year, he also hopes that the demand increases, the idea of hands-on craft increases, and the projects undertaken increases.  

He reminds us that success is a relative business... and it takes courage to live seasons by seasons, or even, in his own words, ‘month by month’.

Alvin working on his crafts in the studio space.

Weighed hand in hand, he is hopeful as much as he is grateful. Which is why his is victory of a different kind, and defeat of a different kind as well.

‘If I fail, it is okay. At least I tried, and I’m glad I tried,’ he says. He has plans to expand the types of materials that he works with, dabbling into jesmonite and resin. He envisions a day when he gets to take the backseat and hire someone to do the operational side of things. But till then, he will take it ‘one month at a time.’

He reminds us that success is a relative business. For him, he has found his level-playing field. And it takes courage to live seasons by seasons, or even, in his own words, ‘month by month’. It is the tougher journey, no doubt, but a very satisfying one.

Asked if he loves what he’s doing, he brightens up and says: ‘Absolutely! I get to do something I’m proud of.’