Our Family, Our History, Our Story

Our founder, Bing Lee, left behind his life in China in 1939 and came to Australia looking for work. Intending only to stay a few years, Bing became stranded in the country due to the outbreak of WWII. He took on various jobs in support of his community, but remained separated from his family for a decade.

Bing’s son, Ken Lee, was born in 1932 in Yantai, Northern China. Along with his mother, Show Fen Shou, he earned a living as a child selling clothes that his mother bought and repaired. Speaking of those days in 2004, Ken Lee said, “I was battling, battling to survive…I think if you battle a life, we can make life so much richer, don't you think?"

In 1945, Show Fen Shou, Ken and his sister fled China as refugees and finally made it to Australia over three years later, in 1948. Bing Lee was reunited with his family a decade after becoming separated. Ken had been 7 when his father left for Australia, and was 17 when he saw him again.

A whole family again, Bing opened a fruit shop in the suburb of Fairfield, Western Sydney, and the family became a core part of the local community. The suburb contained a diverse mix of people, including thousands of other post-war migrants. Ken worked in his father's fruit shop and took the Anglicised name Ken under his father’s instruction.

Years later, in 1957, Bing Lee witnessed the boom in demand for televisions and whitegoods. Seeing a commercial opportunity, he sold his fruit shop and purchased a small electrical repair shop. Together with his son, Ken, the pair transformed the business into a consumer electronics retail and repair/installation business: Bing Lee Electrics. 

The business became an important centre for the community. As well as being known for high-quality and affordable products, Bing believed in making technology accessible to all -including his diverse community. Bing Lee earned a reputation for generosity by providing credit to fellow migrants who lacked financial history, a kindness that was a hallmark of the company’s earliest days and earned loyalty from multiple generations of customers.

In 1959, Ken married Yenda, also a Chinese migrant, with whom he worked closely to run the business. 

For the next thirty years, Bing and Ken grew Bing Lee Electrics into a multi-million-dollar business with franchises across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. They each became icons of their communities and cultural figures themselves across New South Wales.

They opened their second store in the nearby suburb of Cabramatta in 1963, and then another ten stores over 30 years. Ken and his wife, Yenda, slowly took over the business as Bing took a back seat and enjoyed his later years. Together, the pair also welcomed two sons of their own – Lionel and Greg.

Bing Lee died on 1 July 1987, aged 79, nearly 50 years after he arrived in Australia. He was survived by his wife, three children, several grandchildren, and 11 stores bearing his name.

The business was left in its entirety to Ken, who became Chairman of the company. Ken and Yenda grew the business into dozens of franchise stores for 20 years. 

Like his father before him, he became a valued member of his community and elevated the Lee family name in popular culture - especially through the legendary ‘I Like Bing Lee’ ads that many of us grew up with all through the 80s to early 00s. Additionally, Ken expanded the business and the reach of his family name by opening stores in Victoria and Queensland.

Ken Lee died on 21 December 2007 of cancer, aged 75 years. He was survived by Yenda, his two sons, and six grandchildren. It was the company’s 50th anniversary year.

Ken’s close friend and executive director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Robert Graham, said, “It's a huge loss because you can't replace somebody who has given so much to the community and has done so in such an amazingly pleasant and humble way."

Ken’s role was succeeded by his eldest son, Lionel, who took the role of Chief Executive. Yenda remained on as Chairwoman. Today, the two have spent nearly two decades growing Bing Lee into a 9-figure business - and bantering in radio ads, just as Bing and Ken wanted it.

Part of the business’s most ambitious new moves under Lionel’s stewardship has been opening the first Signature Appliances showroom in Willoughby, on Sydney’s lower North Shore. It’s the next step in making high-quality goods available to Australians. The showroom incorporates a state-of-the-art kitchen, function room, and large entertaining deck also plays host to trade events, demonstrations and customer dining. 

Lionel, along with his wife, Lisa, has four children - Jasmine, Jordan, Joshua and Jesse - all of whom work in the family business today.

Lionel said in an interview with The Australian in 2023, “You can be the wealthiest man in the world or the strongest man in the world, but if you've got no one to share it with, who are you doing it for?”

“You’re nothing without family.”

“Along with my son Lionel and a wonderful team of dedicated people, we continue to run Bing Lee as a family business. The principles with which we established the business all those years ago remain as important today as they did back then”

“Our people are our family. And we like to think our customers are part of the family as well.”