There is no hard and fast rule that you have to be a seasoned industrial veteran to kickstart your own brand. Lim Wei Yung founded Sonic Bowl, a recreational bowling alley chain, when he was just 26 years old, his very first entrepreneurial project that he undertook with nothing more than just a love for bowling and a taste for new experiences. That said, this driven self-starter was more than ready to introduce an abundance of inventive ideas to shake up the bowling scene, eager to transform a mature field into a contemporary recreational way-of-life.
Unfortunately, he would soon find out that there are many who felt that he was just too young and inexperienced for an undertaking of this magnitude.
We speak to Wei Yung to learn more about his journey as a young entrepreneur and how it was like to operate, manage and grow a business at such a young age.
An enterprise born out of his love for bowling
Though Wei Yung had always wanted to start something that he could call his own, he had never expected to spearhead a thriving chain of contemporary bowling centres. Just 4 years ago, he was assisting his parents to manage their family-owned F&B business while exploring Singapore’s latest lifestyle trends.
An avid scout with a passion for volunteering , he had gone to great lengths to inspire youths like himself to be involved in social work, spending a great deal of his time as chairman of the Asia Pacific Youth Representatives of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement. Still, he was not exempt from the existential question that troubles most youths – What’s next?
Like most, he decided to pursue an undergraduate education at a local university, majoring in Communications at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. It was on a casual bowling trip to The Chevrons, a clubhouse for SAF Warrant Officers and Specialists, that a lucrative business opportunity manifested itself.
“A guy happened to know the owner of Orchid Bowl and introduced us. This opportune meeting led to lengthy discussions before I eventually bought over some of Orchid Bowl’s assets,” he shared. Almost a year later, he became the owner of bowling centres.
Trials by fire at Sonic Bowl
Wei Yung may have been the owner of Orchid Bowl’s various assets, but he wanted to transform the bowling alley into a lifestyle brand. There was much to do, and time was not on his side. Unfortunately, so were a few of his new employees.
“Staff retention was definitely an early issue that was brought up frequently. The deal was closed during the onset of Covid-19, so there were concerns about the sustainability of the business in the face of an epidemic. There were also a few who were just unwilling to work for me because of my age. A now ex-staff said to me, “I cannot, and will not work for a young boss”. It’s really unfortunate since they were industry veterans, and them leaving meant their experience and insights leaving with them,” he recalls, adding “I’m just so thankful for those who stayed. During the start of the business, I relied a lot on their experience to navigate around the uncertainties.”
Wei Yung realised early on that authenticity and communication were the cornerstones of any positive working relationship. “It’s always good to ask, clarify and understand various viewpoints so that they know they are heard. That way, they become more receptive to working collaboratively,” he shares. In fact, some of his greatest lessons in his entrepreneurial journey come from his own employees, both young and old.
The entrepreneurial manifesto
Sonic Bowl not only survived a truly volatile period in Singapore’s history, but prevailed against all expectations. In just 4 years, Sonic Bowl has grown 4 outlets stronger, with bowling hubs located at SAFRA Punggol, SAFRA Yishun, Our Tampines Hub as well as its latest venture at SAFRA Choa Chu Kang.
He believed in it during his scouting days and he still believes it today – you can never go astray if you invest in people. “Sonic Bowl would not be what it is today without a strong team behind me,” he shares. Wei Yung always has faith in the good in people, and expands on it by empowering and raising everyone around him upwards. “I believe if we invest wholeheartedly in our staff, they will see our genuineness in wanting to foster a more positive and cohesive working environment.”
This revelation did not always come naturally for this eager high-achiever. A perfectionist himself, Wei Yung initially found it difficult to accept anything that deviated from his high expectations. As much as he loves efficiency, he also realised that part of empowering his employees is to embrace mistakes, and learn from them.
Wei Yung too has his own fair share of lessons attained from his metaphorical battle scars. “Financial prudency cannot be overstated enough. How you save for yourself is exactly how you will save for your business. Moderation really is the name of the game – whether it is work, recreation, finances or time management,” he says.
An intergenerational recreational hub
There is no doubt that his journey plays a pivotal role in shaping and maturing his point of view, but it has not tempered his drive and ambition one bit. “By 2027, Sonic Bowl should be the synonym for bowling in Singapore,” he professes. He made it clear that he didn’t start this venture to simply run a bowling rink, but rather, disrupt the industry. And he does so during an opportune time – Covid-19 has displaced the local bowling scene, as many had swapped their bowling balls for masks. It’s time that they came back home (metaphorically, of course).
Working with young entrepreneurs like himself, he sought to restore that feeling of conviviality one gets from a social-centric sport like bowling. At Sonic Bowl’s newest outlet at SAFRA Choa Chu Kang, all the bowling lanes are installed with interactive displays to transform an otherwise ordinary strike into a celebratory experience. Additionally, the bowling centre also houses a retail installation by SPLACE, a local sneaker reseller; Addiction Vintage, a local vintage clothing store, as well various arcade machines.
Ultimately, he hopes to see Sonic Bowl bring people of all ages together through a shared love for fun.
“Fun manifests differently for everyone. We should do our best to consider all forms of entertainment so that everyone can find a place at Sonic Bowl,” he explains.
That said, there is also a lot of effort invested in uplifting the competitive element that comes with the sport. Its signature Sonic Bowl International Classic, held in April 2024, got the attention of bowling enthusiasts from all over the globe, as did the event’s prize pot of $92,000.
Wei Yung hopes to be an inspiration for young go-getters, who, like him, are willing to go against all odds for that shot at entrepreneurial success.
He leaves us with this: “People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
SAFRA Members get 15% off lane use and 20% off F&B offerings. More information at safra.sg/sonic-bowl
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