They Built a Global Luxury Brand - But Say 90% Of Success Is Survival

CNBC International
CNBC InternationalMay 1, 2026

Why It Matters

The story shows that luxury brands’ survival depends on disciplined cost‑cutting and employee commitment, providing a roadmap for resilience that any business can emulate during crises.

Key Takeaways

  • Survival, not growth, drives 90% of luxury brand success.
  • COVID forced employees to take unpaid leave and cut utilities.
  • Founder emphasizes gratitude toward associates who sacrificed wages.
  • Cost‑cutting measures included turning off lights, water, and salaries.
  • Empathy expressed for peers whose businesses couldn’t survive pandemic.

Summary

The video features the founder of a global luxury brand who frames the pandemic as a crucible of survival, insisting that roughly ninety percent of any company’s success hinges on simply staying afloat. He recounts the emotional toll of COVID‑19, describing the moment his children saw him cry, and underscores that the brand’s continuity depended on relentless cost‑saving measures.

Key actions included employees taking unpaid leave, shutting off lights and water to curb energy costs, and the leadership forgoing salaries entirely. The founder repeatedly thanks the associates whose sacrifices kept operations running, highlighting a culture of shared hardship and collective responsibility.

Memorable quotes such as “90% of success is survival” and the admission of personal vulnerability illustrate the depth of the crisis. He also extends empathy toward fellow entrepreneurs whose businesses failed to survive, acknowledging the broader fragility of the sector.

The narrative signals that even high‑end luxury firms must prioritize resilience, lean operations, and employee loyalty during downturns. It offers a cautionary blueprint for executives: survival tactics, not just brand prestige, are essential for long‑term viability.

Original Description

“90% of success is survival.”
When the pandemic hit, Banyan Group’s founders say there was a moment they thought the business wouldn’t survive.
Ho Kwon Ping and Claire Chiang had weathered setbacks before. But this, they say, was different.
For the first time, Ho Kwon Ping’s children saw him cry.
“I felt so ashamed,” he told CNBC’s Christine Tan.
In the latest episode of “Managing Asia,” the couple reflects on the fear, uncertainty and sacrifices behind Banyan’s survival.
Visit the link below to watch the full interview.
#CNBC #ManagingAsia #BanyanGroup
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