Introducing Tai, Co-Founder of Pott Glasses

Tai Hau is the Co-Founder and optical stylist at Pott Glasses, a Malaysian eyewear boutique chain blending traditional glasses with the ‘mamak’ twist, with a meticulous focus on creating that veritable Asian fit.

Having graduated in civil engineering from NUS didn’t stop Tai from venturing into a whole new industry to start a business. During a backpacking trip in Europe, he noticed that a lot of professionals wear stylish glasses that bring out their own personalities. He realized there is an opportunity to bring stylish, yet affordable eyewear with that Asian fit, defined as low-bridge fit glasses, to Malaysia – the idea of Pott Glasses was born!

He established the business in 2015 together with his friend Eden Hoong, who already had 7 years of previous experience in the eyewear industry. Eden injected more ideas into the business, in particular to fine tune all the not-so-perfect things he faced in his working years. He emphasizes a lot on glasses fitting and customer service, which then become the two most important keys in the business.

Since then, Pott Glasses has grown into a leading, reputable Malaysian eyewear brand with eight outlets.

👋 ⁠How would you describe the concept of Pott Glasses in one sentence?
A stylish and personalized optical boutique blending comfort, style, and innovation.

💼 What made you start Pott Glasses in 2014?
Inspired by my backpacking trip to Europe, we wanted to bring stylish eyewear culture to Malaysia where everyone can express themselves through glasses that speak their personality.

🧐 What has been the biggest challenge since starting the company?
As a retail business, Covid was obviously a big challenge for us as we couldn’t operate our outlets as usual. We used this time to expand our online offering and introduce new features and services, including an AR-powered virtual try-on service where customers can preview how different glasses look via their web browser or phone.

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight in building Pott Glasses?
One of the biggest highlights was the launch of our Superstar Sunglasses series, based on the Y2K Trend in 2023.⁠

👓 What’s the current trend in the eyewear industry?
Today’s consumers want highly personalized and stylish glasses, so not only good-looking but also suit them well, be comfortable and functional.

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?
Spend time truly understanding your customers’ problem and solve it with passion.

🚴 What do you love doing outside of work?
I love outdoor activities and currently train for a triathlon.

🔜 What’s the next big thing your team plans to do with Pott Glasses in the coming years?
Our key focus for the coming years is growing our outlets and hopefully regional expansion.