Places Of The Heart: Tanglin roots help creative agency founder grow and branch out

Who: Serial entrepreneur Bernard Oh, 59, is the founder and chief executive of amc asia!, an award-winning regional creative experience lab with offices in seven cities across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, and an annual turnover of more than $50 million. It designs and crafts brand journeys for its clients that pull in audiences. His work includes event marketing campaigns across China for global sports brand adidas.

Mr Oh started his company in Tudor Court in Tanglin Road in June 1995. Modelled after Tudor-styled cottages in Britain, Tudor Court – which now houses shops selling art and lifestyle goods – is a row of stately two-storey shophouses built in the 1920s.

The company is now headquartered in Jalan Klapa in the Kampong Glam precinct, and Mr Oh lives in Katong with his family.

“When I think about a place that really shaped my personal journey as an entrepreneur and the creation of my company, Tudor Court is seared into memory.

It’s this beautiful, old-school spot, originally constructed to house European expatriates when Singapore was an outpost of the British Empire.

With its white stucco walls and dark half-timbering, this row of shophouses became a hub for creatives, dreamers and visionaries.

When I founded amc asia!, I had just $3,000 to my name and a newborn in the intensive care ward of a local hospital.

Starting a company in Tudor Court, in what was then an upmarket address near the posh Orchard Road shopping belt, was more than a leap of faith. It was also driven by hope, creativity and a desperate will to succeed.

That modest 300 sq ft space on the second storey was where big dreams and bold ideas were born. There, the initial team of three motivated marketing professionals forged their first concepts, fuelled by ambition, countless cups of coffee and celebratory drinks.

On quiet nights when inspiration felt out of reach, I would wander through the Botanic Gardens, ending my stroll with the much sought-after roti john at Taman Serasi Food Garden across the road.

The dish, popular in Malaysia and Singapore, is made using sliced halves of a French loaf, fried with spicy minced mutton, onions, egg and lashings of ketchup.

For a more indulgent feast, the bustling Rasa Singapura Food Centre next door was a hawker trove of palate pleasers from Indian rojak to char kway teow – the kind of Singapore food that hits the spot.

And whenever the team needed music for events, That CD Shop at Tanglin Mall was the go-to for the perfect soundtrack.

In the relentless pursuit of creativity, stepping away from work provides fuel for the soul.

Tudor Court’s timeless charm and tranquil surroundings were not just a setting, but also a sanctuary that sparked inspiration. Even today, it is a reminder that the best breakthroughs come when I pause, breathe and just chill.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the company. Our offices will celebrate three decades with Talk 30, a cheeky play on words that captures the ethos of the company: boldness, creativity and the power of starting conversations.

From June, we are popping up in iconic locations from Singapore to Shanghai, Bangkok to Dubai.

The milestone is not just about looking back at what we have accomplished, but also about celebrating the people, places and stories at the heart of the company.

Whenever I visit Tudor Court, it feels like a touchstone of the past. Walking past it today feels like reconnecting with an old friend who knows where it all began.

It is not just where we started, but it is also a constant reminder of our roots as a company, our resilience and the boundless potential of where we can go next.”