In a world that’s quickly turning digital, one Singapore brand continues to keep the beauty of paper alive. A’zone Corporation, a name familiar to generations of students, proves that tradition, quality, and love for craftsmanship can still stand strong in an era of screens and styluses.
For founder Bernie Lee, the journey has always been about more than just paper. It’s about passion, purpose, and leaving behind a meaningful legacy — one sheet at a time.
From Printing Agent to Paper Pioneer
Inside a modest industrial building in Loyang, the hum of machines fills the air. Pallets of paper freshly shipped from Austria line the factory floor, waiting to be transformed into the lecture pads and notebooks that have become staples in Singaporean classrooms for decades.
This is where A’zone’s story continues every day — a story that began more than forty years ago with a simple dream.
Bernie Lee, now 69, started his career as a printing agent before venturing into stationery manufacturing in the late 1970s. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to open Dawn-Bernie Office Supplies at the old Plaza Hotel, a time when Singapore’s business environment was flourishing.
“I was always fascinated by paper,” Lee once said. “During our youth, we were drawn to beautiful stationery from Japanese stores. I wanted to create my own.”
In 1979, he took that passion further and began producing his own line of stationery. The first success came with Besform, a brand of business forms that stood for “the best of all forms.” It was followed by a product that would define a generation — the Paperpoint lecture pad
A Brand Synonymous with School Memories
If you grew up in Singapore in the 1980s or 1990s, chances are you’ve used an A’zone lecture pad. The distinctive designs of Paperpoint, Save the Planet, and Scream City are etched in memory for many who once tore out foolscap sheets for exams or doodled on margins during long school days.
For Lee, these designs were more than products — they were reflections of the times.
In the 1990s, when youth culture was loud and expressive, Scream City captured that rebellious energy. Meanwhile, Save the Planet was a heartfelt response to the growing environmental awareness of the era.
“When kids carried these to school, they felt proud,” Lee said. “Each pad told a story of its generation.”
By 1989, the company officially became A’zone Corporation, a name chosen to represent ambition — from A to Z, the goal was to be the top.
Innovation Rooted in Consumer Insight
What sets A’zone apart isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a deep understanding of consumer needs.
When asked how his products stood out among thousands of stationery brands, Lee’s answer was simple: “Focus on the consumer.”
For businesses, that meant practical features like No Carbon Required (NCR) paper for easier documentation. For students, it meant lecture pads that flipped from the side — a design that improved usability and comfort during note-taking.
Even today, the Paperpoint and Save the Planet pads remain bestsellers, proof that thoughtful design never goes out of style.
Navigating Change in a Digital World
Still, Lee acknowledges that times have changed. With laptops, tablets, and styluses dominating classrooms and offices, paper use has declined drastically.
“It’s a sunset industry,” he admits. “People are using less paper, or none at all.”
But rather than give up, A’zone has evolved. The company now focuses on arts and crafts products, catering to parents and children who value creativity in a digital age.
Lee believes art requires something technology cannot replace — the touch of human hands. “Arts and crafts mean you use your talent, your mind, your hands,” he said. “Paper still has a role to play in that process.”
This shift inspired the creation of Monjojo, A’zone’s line of watercolor pads, sketchbooks, and drawing blocks. Launched after the pandemic, the Monjojo series reflects A’zone’s adaptability and understanding of new consumer trends
Keeping Production Local and Quality High
Despite challenges such as rising rental costs and manpower shortages, A’zone continues to manufacture about 70 percent of its products in Singapore. The remaining portion is produced in Malaysia, and Lee plans to gradually outsource more while keeping quality control firmly in hand.
“Our main market will always be Singapore,” he said. “It’s where we started, and where our story belongs.”
For Lee, expanding globally was never the goal. His focus remains on taking care of his company, his employees, and his family — values that define A’zone’s enduring legacy.
A Family Legacy That Lives On
Today, Bernie Lee’s son, Lee Jielong, stands ready to continue the family business. Like his father, he believes paper still holds a timeless value in education and creativity.
“You still have to write on paper to get the feel,” he shared. “Paper has that personal touch. Even if technology advances, learning to write and draw remains essential.”
The younger Lee’s belief echoes the same philosophy that has guided A’zone for more than four decades — that paper connects us in ways no screen can.
The Future of A’zone: A Legacy Written in Ink
Bernie Lee knows the road ahead won’t be easy. Competition is fierce, and technology moves fast. Yet he remains steadfast in his mission.
“In this business, it’s like musical chairs,” he said. “The weaker ones will lose their seat. We just hope to be the last one standing.”
For now, he continues to conceptualize and create new paper products — just as he did in the beginning.
“I’ll keep doing this,” he smiled. “Until I’m gone.”
A’zone’s story is not merely about paper. It’s about perseverance, creativity, and the belief that some legacies — like ink on a well-loved page — never fade.
