Jimi Tan of Kenko Wellness

The two major pillars in Jimi Tan’s business career are operating Reflexology chains and F&B businesses. An old Chinese proverb stated that, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Kenko Wellness operates a reflexology chain store. It’s founder, Jimi Tan, would often say that the human legs are like the tree roots and if there is a solid foundation, they will grow sturdily.

Kenko’s businesses during the starting years in the early 1990s was indeed not on the smooth track at first. However, over a period of nearly 30 years of operations, Kenko has opened at least 20 branches located not only in Singapore but also overseas and employing at least 150 professional masseurs, making the chain store a well-known brand among Singaporeans.

The person who had a great influence on Jimi’s career path was his grandmother. As she brought him up from a young age, she would sometimes treat the bruises and sprains of injured patients. After a long period of observing his grandmother’s skills, Jimi developed a strong understanding about the human skeletal system.

Mr Jimi Tan, Founder of Kenko Wellness and CEO of multiple restaurant chains

Jimi was 9 years old when his father passed away, making him aware about the importance of good health and as a result, he started to learn TCM and Tuina massage skills and was on his way to learning about healthcare. He used to be rebellious when he was young and after completing his O Level examinations, he left home and started to lead an independent life. At that time, he took up all sorts of jobs ranging from being a construction worker, driver, selling satay and moving cement.

In 1987, Jimi and his wife started their first business by renting a stall at Sims Drive Market selling clothes. Three years later, the stall owner took back his stall and the couple had no choice but to start all over again. This time, they found a shop at Joo Chiat Road and started to do what they loved most – The foot massage industry. Although the rental of the Joo Chiat shop was cheap, the operations were not as smooth as they had expected. On the first of operations, only one customer appeared after an entire day and as a desperate measure to boost their business, Jimi called his friend to be his new customer. However, after his friend arrived at his shop, they felt embarrassed about Jimi massaging his feet. At that time, very few knew about the positive health effects from foot massage and as a result it was being misunderstood and despised by them. Therefore, it was not easy to employ a foot masseur and everyone perceived this industry as a lower status jobs and only people of lowly status would touch the feet of others.

A typical shophouse at Joo Chiat Road where the first Kenko Wellness store was located

However, in Jimi’s perspective, the meridian massage is focused on the human sole and the knowledge of foot massage is broad and profound. He believes that based on his perseverance, more people will get to know about this reason behind foot massage and eventually eliminate any prejudice against the industry. Therefore, he regards foot massage as his lifelong career and pursue this goal from that time onwards.

Jimi’s main goals in his business consist of scaling Kenko’s operations, intensive management among his employees and offering professional services to customers. Over a series of research and innovative ideas, Kenko’s foot massage techniques has a combination of traditional foot massage, Chinese Tuina, Japanese Shiatsu Acupressure and multiple massage skills.

Reflexology massage in action 

“The success and failure of franchising a business depends on whether the employees are consistent in following the management style which includes the standard of goods and services if they have satisfied the customers’ expectations. For this reason, I allow the franchisees to renovate our reflexology stores in a democratic design to suit our customers’ requirements. However, the franchisees have to strictly abide by our rules in not taking shortcuts for reflexology skills and therefore, I have to personally send them for training courses to upgrade themselves.”

Jimi has multiple Food and Beverages portfolios under his name that includes Fortunate Yum Cha, Swatow Seafood, Luk Yu and Bao Today in addition to his reflexology business. In 2016, he founded The Peak Bistro restaurant which was of a new flavor. Unlike his other restaurants that serve either Cantonese Dim Sum or Teochew cuisine, the menu of The Peak Bistro consist of a mixture of Chinese, Western, Malay and local cuisine dishes ranging from lamb chop with truffle French fries to Tahu Telor.

Some of the signature dishes of The Peak Bistro

He reiterated that the restaurants he owned do not operate in a central kitchen concept and each Swatow restaurant branch has its own management style and signature dishes. The Chief cooks of both the Chinese and Western cuisine showed their respect to each other’s professionalism and put in their fullest potential in their culinary skills with Jimi Tan’s wise and successful management. His business philosophy is such that as long as he does not possess what he used to own before, his restaurants will not only last longer with improved reputation, the other F&B restaurants will also be prosperous.

Tossing Yusheng during the annual Chinese New Year celebrations at Swatow Seafood Restaurant in Toa Payoh