Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

My 5 Cents Worth   A few years back I was friends with a guy who managed a couple of F&B outlets as part of a bigger local chain of restaurants. I used to enjoy eating at the chain as the food was consistent, decent, well-priced, and of course, accessible to my home.   Late afternoon one day, I went to pick up some take-away for my dinner from an outlet I didn’t go to that much. The duty manager, as was the SOP, ‘manning’ the till (cash register), taking customer orders and processing payment. My bill: RM 19.95. I handed over my not-so-crisp RM20 note, and awaited my receipt (always ask for a receipt) and my change.   I got a receipt, but not my 5 sen (cents).   Duty manager shuffled off to get my order from the kitchen. When she returned with my order, I asked “where was my change”?   “Its only 5 sen lah, why do you care?” was her response. To which I gave her a very direct response: “Because it’s MY 5 sen and not yours”. She kept trying...

Building Brands | A Conversation with Farrell Tan With over two decades in advertising and PR, our Director Farrell Tan has worked on everything from Coca-Cola to Nokia. We sat down to talk about what he's learned about building brands that actually stick. 1. So, Farrell, you've been in this game for a while now. Take me through how you ended up doing what you're doing. Well, it wasn't exactly planned, I'll tell you that. I started as an intern - and honestly, I was just happy to get my foot in the door anywhere. The accounts I worked on... Reject Shop, Bank Utama, Sheraton Langkawi... not exactly glamorous stuff, right? But you know what? Best thing that could have happened to me. When you're working with smaller budgets, smaller brands, you can't just throw money at problems. You have to actually think. You have to be creative with RM5,000 instead of RM50,000. That discipline... I mean, it stayed with me even when I moved to McCa...

Say you’re in PR. You’ll get nods. Say you run food reviews for F&B clients? Suddenly, you’re everyone’s new best friend. The questions always come hot and fast: “So… do you eat everything?” “Champagne on tap, right?” “Do you write the review yourself?” Spoiler: it’s not one giant buffet on our client’s tab. More Than Just a Free Meal Food reviews are about storytelling. Helping our clients stand out in a sea of cafés, bars, and bistros. We curate the menu, frame the experience, and serve up a narrative that makes diners hungry before they even book a table. The Not-So-Secret Sauce Challenges? Always. Colleagues, clients, critics - sometimes even all three at once. But here’s the deal: we plate it up, smile, and handle the mess. (Want the unfiltered stories? Coffee or wine; your pick. We’ll spill.) Why Pictures Matter Words can make you hungry. But photos? They seal the deal. Think steak hissing on the grill. Chicken skin crisping golden. Chocolate cake me...

Elevating Communications and Cultural Engagement Skills | Oracle    Oracle is a global technology company that offer s IOT (Internet of Things, search it up) cloud solutions, and consultancy . If you like playing games, the game was most likely created with JAVA programming which is owned by Oracle (e.g. God of War, Castlevania, Minecraft). The services Oracle provides to its customers in associate with local IT (Information Technology) vendors and systems integrators is wide-ranging, including banking and finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, hospitality public services, commercial, utilities and oil & gas. During lockdown, Craig ran a six-week programme designed to elevate the communications and cultural engagement skills of Oracle Malaysia’s locally based Australian and New Zealand team, to help them be more effective in the execution of their day to day interaction with prospects and clients.  Because of the ongoing lockdown, face-to-face training could...

Some openings are low-key. This was not one of them. On 29 June 2018 , Hong Kong jewellery giant Luk Fook decided to make Genting Highlands even shinier. The location? Sky Avenue Mall . The occasion? A grand opening with all the bells, drums, and sparkle you’d expect when 1,600+ stores strong decide to plant another flag. VIP invited guests participated in the ribbon cutting Ribbon, Scissors, VIPs (oh my) The ribbon-cutting wasn’t just snip-and-done. It was led by Mr Wong Wai Sheung (big boss man, Chairman & CEO) with a line-up of equally distinguished guests - think government reps, trade association heads, and business leaders. Cameras flashed, ribbon fell, and the store’s glow-up officially began. Mr. Wong Wai Sheung opening speech A Brand That Likes to Sparkle (literally) Mr Wong didn’t waste the mic. He doubled down on Luk Fook’s ambition: “Brand of Hong Kong, Sparkling the World.” Genting, with its endless stream of tourists (and shoppers with altitu...

Heritage isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about identity. It’s about continuity. It’s about keeping stories alive in a world that’s moving (sometimes too fast) towards the new and shiny. That’s why conserving heritage buildings isn’t a luxury. It’s an absolute must. Beyond being landmarks, they fuel the economy, anchor tourism, and give communities a sense of pride. Melaka & George Town: Icons of the Straits Melaka and George Town stand as testaments to this. Both UNESCO-recognised heritage cities have carved out a place on the global stage - 12 years and counting. So when Orchan had the chance to work with Liu Men Hotel in Melaka, we knew we weren’t just promoting another boutique stay. We were helping amplify a story of heritage reborn. Liu Men: Where Past Meets Present Championed by Jason Pang, Liu Men sits on what used to be six shophouses along vibrant Jalan Tokong. The hotel’s design fuses colonial art deco flair with Peranakan touches, creating a space...

Crises rarely announce themselves in advance. They arrive unexpectedly, and when they do, the strength of your brand reputation is immediately tested. The pandemic offered a clear reminder of just how quickly circumstances can shift. Many organisations found themselves unprepared at every stage - from initial response through to long-term recovery. The lesson? Preparation is not optional; it’s essential. Ask yourself: Is your organisation truly ready to handle an unexpected crisis? Are your spokespeople trained to communicate with empathy and authority? Do they reflect your brand values and inspire trust when it matters most? At Orchan, we provide bespoke crisis advisory, training, and consulting for C-suite executives and crisis response teams. Our focus is to ensure your leaders and representatives are equipped to manage challenges with clarity, credibility, and confidence. Preparation today can make all the difference tomorrow. Connect with Farrell at farrell@orchan.as...