Graphic Designer “Scared To Tell Mother-In-Law” He’s Now An Oyster Cake Hawker
Burnt out, this “Oyster Boy” quit advertising to become a hawker. His mum-in-law doesn’t know (um, until now?). “I don’t dare to tell her ’cos she’ll say: ‘What if you don’t succeed? What’s going to happen to your wife and kids?’” 8days.sg reviews his oyster cakes.
“You can say I am going through a midlife crisis,” quips Edmund Lye, 42, when 8days.sg asks the first-time hawker why he decided to start Oyster Boy, his three-month-old stall selling deep-fried oyster cake at Golden Mile Food Centre.
Edmund quit his job as a graphic designer in an SME last April after more than 15 years in the advertising industry to spend more time with his two daughters, aged four and six. Though he initially never thought of going into F&B, he decided to switch careers after working freelance for half a year. “I was tired of working in advertising. It was very stressful ’cos of the long hours and deadlines. Also, advertising trends are changing quickly. Now everything is about video production, and I’m not able to keep up with the youngsters, so I decided to start my own F&B business. It’s the next thing I’m familiar with besides design work, ’cos I cook occasionally,” says the chatty boss.
“When you have kids and a family, there are a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. My wife is still working (she does account servicing in an advertising firm), which is why I dare to take this risk. If I stay in my old job, I’d be in my comfort zone forever.”