By Anna Lee

WHEN you're young, there's nothing to lose.

For 27-year-old Chng Xueru, founder of Dou Hua Zhuang, that was her mantra - even though she took a big pay cut when she quit her well-paying job as an offshore banking relationship manager to become a hawker selling bean curd.

But the gamble might have already started to pay off. In its first year, Dou Hua Zhuang produced a six-figure turnover and spawned its first franchise outlet.

Xueru believes soya bean is here to stay and Dou Hua Zhuang's best-selling item is its cold bean curd, made from freshly ground beans that you can still smell in the post- lunch rush hour. The bean curd is kept cold in a giant fridge.

Founded in February last year, Dou Hua Zhuang is located next to Xueru's parents' tzi char stall. Her family has played a very important role in her life - and seems to continue to have an influence as she ventures into business.

This is reflected in the name she chose for her stall. 'Dou Hua Zhuang' means soya bean village in Mandarin, but 'Zhuang' is also Xueru's family name.

'It was quite easy . . . maybe a five minute decision,' Xueru's older sister, Xue'e, recalls on how the name came about. Xue'e was instrumental in the development of Xueru's business.

Xueru is the youngest of three children. In her business, her mum has become her 'harshest critic', according to Xueru. Her father has the final say on whether her product can be sold.

'Starting my own business is in my DNA,' Xueru says. Besides her parents, many of her relatives are also in business.