Walk into one of our shops and — before you say a word — someone will ask, properly, what you actually need.
Tell them your budget is tight, and they'll think with you about the best option, not push you toward the most expensive one.
Buy a washing machine, come back ten years later, and someone will still recognise you.
That feeling started in Kota Tinggi, in 1980.
A boy who lost his father, and learned to fix things.
In 1963, Henry (陈瑞发) was ten years old. His father passed away, leaving his mother to raise six children alone.
At sixteen, he left school and started learning to repair electronics. In that era, a radio or a television was the most important thing in many homes. He learned seriously — because it was the only way to change his family’s situation.
In 1980, at thirty years old, he opened a small shop on Jalan Jaafar, Kota Tinggi. The signboard read: Syarikat Tan Radio & TV.
“From a young age I knew money is hard-earned. Every customer who walks in is handing me their hard-earned money. I cannot let them buy the wrong thing.”
That sentence became the DNA of 陈电器.
Theresa How.
The other half of the story.
In this story, there is one person we cannot leave out. Her name was Theresa How. Henry’s wife. The other half of the soul of this small shop.
She grew up in a Catholic family. She laughed easily — not the kind of smile you give customers, but the kind that meant she was genuinely glad to see you.
She remembered every customer. What they bought last time. How many children they had. Whether the air-conditioner that was a little noisy ever got sorted out.
It didn’t matter if you were Chinese, Malay, or Indian. Whether you were dressed sharp or in your work clothes. Whether you came to buy a full set or just to ask a question.
In her eyes, anyone who walked in was family.
She and Henry opened the shop together every morning, and closed it together every night. Three sons and a daughter grew up inside that shop. They thought it was just an ordinary childhood.
They didn’t know they were learning the most important thing of all — how to treat people.
Twenty years doesn’t pass all at once.
It passes one morning at a time. Open the door. Close the door. Every customer who walks in. Every appliance carried out. The months when cash is tight. The months when you don’t know if next month’s stock will arrive.
But the people of Kota Tinggi got to know 陈电器 — generation after generation.
Parents came for their first television. Years later they brought the kids in for an air-conditioner. The kids got married, came back for appliances for their new home. The grandchildren were born — back again, this time for a fan.
For thirty years, some families only ever went to one appliance shop.
Not advertising. Word of mouth. Trust. That feeling, the moment you walked in, that someone was paying real attention.
2013 — Theresa How passed away.
She didn’t see the twelve branches that came later. She didn’t see the wholesale division open. She didn’t see Tanradio go online.
But she saw something more important.
Her children chose to stay.
Philip, Andrew, Matthew. Three brothers, living and working in different cities — Kuala Lumpur, Singapore. Each with his own career.
Their mother fell ill. They came back.
No one called them home. They came because she was here.
In the time they spent by her side, they saw something again with fresh eyes — this shop, this family, was something of value. Not just commercial value. Something worth carrying forward.
“We didn’t decide to take over the business. We came back because of love. And then we realised — this is where we should be.”
2020 — Beyond Kota Tinggi.
It wasn’t easy. Kota Tinggi was the root. Every street knew you. Every neighbour knew who you were.
But the brothers thought about one thing: this way of treating customers — built over forty years — should it really only be felt by the people of Kota Tinggi?
There are so many families across Johor. People renovating new homes. People buying their first air-conditioner. Children picking out a reliable washing machine for their parents.
They deserve to know Tanradio too.
One branch at a time. Johor Jaya. Skudai. Seri Alam. Batu Pahat. Kluang. Mersing. Desaru. And next — Muar.
Then beyond storefronts: a wholesale division for the trade, and an online shop on Shopee for customers who buy from their phones. The standard travels with us.
From a small town, to all of Johor — and beyond the storefront.
From 1980 to today
1980
The First Shop
Henry Tan (陈瑞发) opens Syarikat Tan Radio & TV on Jalan Jaafar, Kota Tinggi. He is 30 years old.
1980—2000
Twenty Years of Word-of-Mouth
Parents come for their first TV. Years later they bring their children. No advertising — just trust, built one customer at a time.
2000
Second Generation Joins
The shop is renamed Tanradio.com. The next chapter begins — but the standard set by Theresa How stays the same.
2013
Coming Home
Theresa How passes away. Philip, Andrew and Matthew — the three brothers — come back. Not because they were called. Because she was here.
2020
Beyond Kota Tinggi
Tanradio steps out of Kota Tinggi for the first time. One branch at a time — Johor Jaya, Skudai, Seri Alam, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Mersing, Desaru, and soon Muar.
Today
12 Branches · 150+ People
Retail, wholesale and online (Shopee). Over 50 brands carried. One of Johor's leading home appliance retailers — and the standard set on day one, unchanged.
1980
The First Shop
Henry Tan (陈瑞发) opens Syarikat Tan Radio & TV on Jalan Jaafar, Kota Tinggi. He is 30 years old.
1980—2000
Twenty Years of Word-of-Mouth
Parents come for their first TV. Years later they bring their children. No advertising — just trust, built one customer at a time.
2000
Second Generation Joins
The shop is renamed Tanradio.com. The next chapter begins — but the standard set by Theresa How stays the same.
2013
Coming Home
Theresa How passes away. Philip, Andrew and Matthew — the three brothers — come back. Not because they were called. Because she was here.
2020
Beyond Kota Tinggi
Tanradio steps out of Kota Tinggi for the first time. One branch at a time — Johor Jaya, Skudai, Seri Alam, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Mersing, Desaru, and soon Muar.
Today
12 Branches · 150+ People
Retail, wholesale and online (Shopee). Over 50 brands carried. One of Johor's leading home appliance retailers — and the standard set on day one, unchanged.
45 years. 12 branches. 150+ people.
Retail, wholesale, and online — over 50 brandscarried. One of Johor’s leading home appliance retailers.
But ask Philip, Andrew or Matthew what matters most about Tanradio today, and they won’t mention revenue or branch count.
They’ll say this:
45
Years
Serving Johor families since 1980.
12
Branches
From Kota Tinggi to across Johor — Muar coming next.
150+
Team Members
Carrying the standard set on day one.
50+
Brands Carried
Across retail, wholesale and online channels.
“Every customer who walks out of our store should feel they were genuinely cared for.”
Dedicated to Theresa How
our spiritual anchor, then and always.
Tanradio.com · 陈电器 · Since 1980 · Johor, Malaysia