Founder of Growth Tribe Solutions, Amiruddin Ahmad believes that entrepreneurs can achieve high sales volumes if they expand their marketing strategies. In an interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Amiruddin shares that entrepreneurs do not have to incur high advertising costs but as long as Low-Cost High-Impact marketing strategies are deployed, sales will, inevitably, follow.

With his software engineering background, Amiruddin Ahmad likes to experiment with new ideas and methods. He experimented with various marketing tools and strategies on his online business which he set up in 2011 while working full-time as the Head of Software Test Engineering for a Belfast-based company.

“I sold fat burner products, protein shakes and gym equipment online, and it became quite successful that the income earned from it actually surpassed my full-time job salary,” says Amiruddin.

“I worked for fifteen years in the telco industry specialising in software testing for mobile payments. My previous employers were Vodafone, Syniverse and Motorola from whom I learnt about effective marketing strategies.”

Amiruddin travelled a lot during those fifteen years, mainly for work, but after having spent half his time in airplanes, he quit his full-time job in 2015 to focus on his online business. His business continued to flourish and friends sought his advice on the secrets of running a successful online business, which prompted him to set up Growth Tribe Solutions.

“I experimented with different kinds of marketing methods on 500 SMEs, and had found that people tend to focus more on sales. They need to expand their marketing, only then sales will come. However, costs of advertising are high, so they rely solely on online marketing, like Facebook advertisements. But if Facebook or Instagram goes down – which happened recently – what are you going to do about your business?” explains the dynamic internet marketer.

“As a result, in 2018, I came up with Social Hack Marketing – a hybrid framework which guides people to design marketing strategies that combine online and offline marketing effectively. The framework uses Low-Cost High-Impact marketing, that is, low advertising costs but high, positive impact on sales.”

Among the many online methods to promote one’s business is to have a website or a blog, and the common method used nowadays is through social media. Businesses can drive sales online through social media, but Amiruddin encourages entrepreneurs to use offline marketing methods as well.

One of the offline marketing strategies that he has implemented was the “pink letter”. Businesses show their appreciation to customers by sending them a personalized ‘Thank You’ letter. This offline strategy is also unique as the letter is pink to attract the customer’s attention. The customer typically assumes that the pink letter is like a “pink slip” or a summon, but is an appreciation letter from the company instead!

“Online strategy especially technology helps us in many ways but a physical letter – which is offline – is one way that we can add a personal touch to customer service. And there are many more examples of offline marketing methods that businesses could use to further increase sales,” smiles the digital growth hacker.

To date, Amiruddin has helped more than 2,000 businesses with his Social Hack Marketing formula which saw significant improvements in their sales volumes. As usual, there are naysayers who assumed that his marketing strategies would not work.

“I would question them – you think it will fail, or because you tried and failed? A number of people were not convinced by the “pink letter” strategy, but when a few entrepreneurs tried and achieved success, the rest followed suit,” says Amiruddin.

The former software engineer derives satisfaction from seeing these marketing strategies translate effectively to sales and profits. Additionally, with his corporate experience, Amiruddin also introduces corporate culture to SMEs such as how to improve processes, implement standard operating procedures and to be solution-oriented.

Apart from coaching entrepreneurs, Amiruddin is also a speaker and author. His upcoming book, Social Hack Marketing, will be launched soon. But his dream is to be on the international stage someday to share the Social Hack Marketing framework as he believes that this tool can be used by anyone and anywhere in the world.

Having tested his formula on many entrepreneurs, what would be his advice to those who wish to hack growth in sales and marketing?

“Focus on marketing strategies first. Don’t get too hung up with the technicalities. Also, work on your customer relationship management. Nurture your existing customers, for that is how successful large companies retain their customers,” shares Amiruddin.

He adds, “And, have passion for your business.”

The post Empowerment For Success appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Rembawang Holdings Sdn Bhd’s maiden property development, Teringin, gives homebuyers an address that is not only a stone’s throw away from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, but also offers pristine natural surroundings in a peaceful neighbourhood. With multigenerational living in mind, Teringin is the ultimate residence for families of different needs and providing ample space for all residents to enjoy their daily activities.

 Teringin, the maiden development of Rembawang Holdings Sdn Bhd, will soon take shape in Taman Sri Ukay. This low-density gated and guarded development, set amidst a natural forest reserve, is built with multigenerational living in mind.

 Sprawled over 5 acres of land, Teringin comprises 24 three-storey semi-detached houses, a three-storey bungalow and a two and-a-half-storey clubhouse equipped with a dining pavilion, swimming pool, gymnasium and other facilities with tight security. It also incorporates well-planned space for the elderly and children within the house and also the surrounding compound for indoor and outdoor activities.

 The name, Teringin, is a Malay word that translates to “wanting” or “desired” in English. It resonates with the company’s goal to provide a desired home for families. Part of Teringin’s charm is that it incorporates elements of harmonious living within a community that is surrounded by lush greenery. The land area of each semi-detached house ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet with built-up areas ranging from 4,600 to 6,200 square feet.

 This one-of-a-kind development is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2021.

 The design concept offers a choice of Colonial or Peranakan theme with a modern twist. In order to add a sense of exclusivity and identity for the owners, Teringin provides 11 unique yet cohesive designs within a luxurious and tranquil setting.

 Dato’ Kamisah Johan, Founder and Group Chief Executive Chairman of Rembawang said, “We hope the Colonial theme would bring an “old luxury” feel, reminiscing the colonial times, while the idea of the Peranakan concept was inspired by my heritage.”

 Each unit will have either 5+1 or 6+1 bedrooms and will be delivered bare to enable house owners to furnish as they like. The unit will also come with a designer home elevator, rainwater harvesting system for garden use, custom selected sanitary fittings and floor tiles.

 Dato’ Kamisah stressed that the inclusion of the home elevator is to provide flexibility and convenience to serve multigenerational living needs.

 “As a reflection of the lifestyle of yesteryears, the landscape design of these houses includes a garden with local herbs such as chilli, curry leaf and lemongrass. Hence, residents can enjoy meals prepared with the freshest herbs from the land,” Dato’ Kamisah highlighted.

 The development also provides residents with a plethora of outdoor activities. Residents can indulge in the pleasure of a leisurely stroll or jog under tree-shaded tracks.

 The company’s decision to build a clubhouse is also a pleasant surprise given the limited number of units, but Dato’ Kamisah believes this is important to cater for the different generations that will reside there.

 “Providing a spacious house is not enough to enable multigeneration living. Activities, spaces and facilities are important to ensure the development offers something to everyone who live in there. Hence, we have a swimming pool and playgrounds which can keep children occupied while the adults can work out in the gymnasium or socialise with their neighbours in the clubhouse. Other facilities would include a picnic area,” Dato’ Kamisah explained.

 Teringin is an ideal choice for those seeking for an upgrade, and families who treasure multigenerational living under one roof would also benefit from Teringin’s spacious and welcoming vibe. The lure of greenery will also provide a huge draw for potential buyers.

 Cosy residential living need not be far from major commercial infrastructure as Teringin is well connected by roads and major highways such as the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) and Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH). Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) which is under construction will also provide more connectivity. Additionally, Teringin is close to various embassies, hospitals and international schools.   

 Dato’ Kamisah, through Rembawang, is committed to achieving the expectations of homebuyers and investors in creating sustainable, harmonious, safe and value-filled communities.

 Teringin will be a home desired by all and is specifically created to suit an owner’s unique lifestyle and individuality. It is also created to honour a wonderful heritage and for residents to bask in the serenity of nature in a guarded and safe neighbourhood.

The post TERINGIN – A DREAM HOME FOR ALL appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

The food and beverage industry is indeed an exciting one that beckons to many an entrepreneur who wants to be in business. But it is a highly competitive one too. Over the years, the Serai Group has successfully captured the ‘stomachs’ of its customers from all walks of life with mouth-watering delectable offerings and top-notch dining experiences. To date, it has established more than five restaurants and is highly regarded by its customers, the numbers of which are ever-growing, as their go-to food paradise. In a recent interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, the enterprising duo – the prominent individuals behind this accomplished homegrown brand, Rina Abdullah and her son-in-law, Najib Abdul Hamid, give an insight into their backgrounds, how the Serai Group started and  about future plans for the business.

Rina Abdullah had her fair share of working as a stewardess for Malaysia Airlines before she decided to focus on raising her family. With the head of the family working as a hotelier, moving from one state to another was a common affair for Rina. Some years later when her eldest daughter, Qistina Taff, was ready to step into primary school, Rina figured that it would be best to settle down. “We decided to move from Johor to Shah Alam,” she says. It was in this state capital that a refreshing and dynamic chapter of food entrepreneurship was to begin.

“We have been eating at Thai restaurants often. My daughter had often said to me, “Mama, why don’t you open a restaurant? Then, we can eat for free,” she reminisces. With the free time that she had and the opportunity to start her own restaurant knocking on the door, Rina decided to give it a shot. In 1990, Serai Thai was born. “Back then, there were not many restaurants like ours that comes with an extra-ordinary ambience. Alhamdulillah. The first restaurant was very well received by the residents in Shah Alam,” explains the soft-spoken Rina. Serai Thai has stood the test of time. After several decades, it still remains a favourite go-to dining paradise, attracting customers from all walks of life. “It is now onto the third generation with mother bringing the daughter into the business and now that daughter is bringing her daughter,” she says gleefully.

Najib Abdul Hamid came into the picture when he tied the knot with Qistina. Prior to his involvement in the family business, this gentleman has already earned his credentials in the field of gastronomy. Having graduated in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Adelaide, Australia, Najib is a chef by profession. “I lived in Australia for 11 years and I have worked in a few hotels and restaurants there.” He worked his way up to make it as the head chef. “It was not easy being an Asian leading the way in the professional kitchen. It took me a year to earn the respect from the others,” he says. His experience proved to be a valuable asset in the business expansion plans of the Serai Group.

In 2010, the decision to expand the business was made. “Instead of changing the name to some other name, we decided to maintain the name, Serai because it is a recognized Malaysian homegrown brand. We just need it to a different level,” explains Najib. The Serai Group has established five Serai outlets at major malls around Kuala Lumpur and in Selangor.

The Serai Group has also started Jibby & Co, a charming glasshouse-style restaurant strategically located just outside the Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya offering trendy food that has created such a buzz amongst food enthusiasts in Malaysia. It is the brainchild of Najib. The thought of starting a restaurant with a ‘Melbourne-New York’ feel had always been in his mind since day one. “I have always been raring to go for that kind of concept for a food place. That’s my forte as I have gained valuable experience working in fine dining restaurants and hotels in Australia,” says Najib.

However, Jibby & Co only became a reality five years after the Serai Group has been firmly rooted and taking off well. “When Serai Group has become stable, we came up with Jibby & Co. In case you’re wondering, Jibby is what they call me in Australia,” reveals Najib. Following the overwhelming response over Jibby & Co, two more ‘Jibby’ restaurants have been established – each having its very own unique twist. Jibby East provides a fusion touch while Jibby Chow has its interpretation of Chinese cuisines on the menu.

When dining at Serai, the mouth-watering steamed fish with refreshing lime sauce is a must-try. This signature dish is, in fact, made according to Rina’s recipe. The nasi kerabu, lamb shank, pavlova and Serai iced tea are wise choices too. “Over at Jibby & Co, the wide selection of pasta, as well as the Thai ribs, should not be missed. Jibby East is known for its dukkah baked eggs with turkey chorizo. At Jibby Chow, the Mongolian lamb ribs and mantou are a must,” recommends Najib.

While some may be under the impression that working with family members is not an ideal setting, this particular family has it all figured out. “We may be family but when it comes to work, we do it professionally,” says Najib. It certainly helps that each of them has their own field of expertise needed to elevate business in the F&B industry and are willing to work together on it. Rina and Najib are food connoisseurs who also play their part in the management aspect.

The attention to detail does not only apply to the delicacies they serve but also to the restaurant setting and image. Qistina works her magic in designing the interior of their restaurants, giving each outlet its exclusive identity while Atiqah, Rina’s third child, is in charge of the brand’s social media marketing, an important element to stay relevant in today’s era. It is a complete package. Rina believes that it is part of God’s plan. To be able to grow the brand with her family as part of the team that makes it possible is a big achievement to her.

It is also part of the company’s character to treat the employees, of which they have more than 400 in all, like family too. While it is tough to find loyal employees these days, Serai Thai has been blessed. The chef and employees there have been around since its early days. “I don’t know how she does it,” quips Najib adding that his mother-in-law is a superwoman.

Rina is the motherly figure in the company. “We are very open. We listen to the ideas from our employees,” she says. “Well, two heads are better than one,” Najib adds. The Sabahan also cited teamwork as the key to their success. It is the passion for food and their business that keeps them going. The positive feedback from their customers also continues to fuel their drive to achieve greater heights.

The Serai Group will be opening four more restaurants this year. Teaming up with the company Rina used to work for, the Serai Group is now Malaysia Airlines’ food and beverage partner. With the partnership, Enrich members get to earn one point for every RM1 spent at Serai Group’s restaurants.

The Group is also currently planning to set up its first restaurant in London. “We don’t just want to be a local champion. We want to establish the business in the international arena,” states Najib.

Rina certainly has got advice for the young ones who aspire to excel in this industry. “Be very patient. You should not expect money to roll in when you just get into the business. The experience and laying a strong foundation is vital.” Najib encourages those who have the ambition to be on top in this industry, to travel the world and gain as much experience as possible. He also points out that constantly ‘jumping ship’ is a big mistake. “You must work at the same place for at least two years to be able to learn something of value. Just because you are a good chef doesn’t mean you can open a restaurant. Not everyone can be a leader. You have to know everything about the business,” he adds.

The post A DYNAMIC SYNERGY – SKY’S THE LIMIT appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

More and more women are enterprising enough to start a business of their own in the business world of today. These young and bold entrepreneurs have carved a name for themselves through their unique and niche business endeavours with some of them being recognised internationally too. Here, Top 10 of Malaysia takes a look at its list of Malaysia’s top ten inspiring new generation businesswomen whose creative business ventures have taken them to great heights of success, proving that women can be just as successful as men (if not more successful) when it comes to business.

Raja Jesrina Arshad  

Raja Jesrina Arshad is the co-founder & CEO of PurelyB Sdn Bhd, one of Southeast Asia’s leading health and wellness brand and community portal that guides its customers on how to live a healthy lifestyle. PurelyB provides personalised holistic wellness products and contents guide on nutrition, fitness, mindfulness that are catered for Asian cultures and lifestyles. One of its most popular products is “Pegaga by PurelyB”. To date, PurelyB has spread its wings to 8 countries such as The United States of America, Australia and The United Kingdom and has won several awards such as ASEAN-BAC “Rising Entrepreneur of the Year” Award 2017 and Malaysia Tatler’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award 2016, Red Herring Asia Winner 100 Winner Year of 2015. Jesrina Arshad has also won the Marie Claire Top 10 Amazing Women of 2017 award.

Stephanie Ping

Stephanie Ping co-founded WORQ, a company that provides co-working spaces for individuals to achieve greater results by sharing experiences, networking and collaborating with others from various backgrounds. WORQ has many working partners such as Amazon Web Services, BFM-Edge B School, Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, Enterprise Singapore and The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd and also investors such as 500 Startups, Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, Space Matrix/Jungle Ventures and Phillip Capital Pte Ltd. It has also won awards such as the Malaysia Rice Bowl Startup Awards Best Coworking Space 2017 and Coworker Member’s Choice Awards 2018 Winner.

Yuhwen Foong  

Yuhwen Foong co-founded SushiVid, a platform for brands to connect to social media. Specialising in influencer marketing, SushiVid engages over 5,000 social media influencers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand to connect with brand owners. Thus, the brand owners would get a chance to select potential social media influencers to speak for marketing campaigns. It has various well-known clients such as Universal Music Group, Crabtree & Evelyn, Sasa.com, Uniqlo and Senheng. SushiVid has also collaborated with over 400 brands and companies such as Naga DDB Tribal, Trans Cosmos, Carat, Columbus and Axiata Group.

Evelyn Marieta  

Evelyn Marieta, a cosmetic scientist, creative enthusiast, emcee, model and entrepreneur founded Wunderbath, a renowned household brand, famous for its creative and inspiring products. Wunderbath specialises in creating handmade cosmetics such as lip balms and lip stains, and also bath products such as bath bombs, body butter and soaps in various shapes and colours that are non-toxic and chemical-free. It produces nearly 30,000 products a month to satisfy its customers’ demand. Marieta has also appeared in various magazines and worked with several popular brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Buro 24/7 Malaysia, Nespresso and TEDx           

Sasha Tan  

Sasha Tan founded Favful in 2015, a beauty-advisory-like platform for beauty products by personalised search, tutorials and tips. Favful gives knowledge to its customers and allow them to view how each cosmetic products are rated and viewed by others before purchasing. Since its launch, it has garnered around 6,000 product searches by users weekly. Tan was on the list of Forbes 30 under 30 Asia – Retail and Ecommerce. Currently, Favful has its presence in 3 countries, works with 20,000 beauty advisors, collaborates with more than 2,000 brands and covers some 40,000 products. Tan is also the founder of a dessert shop called Stoone in Singapore and former vice president of products for online grocer HappyFresh, headquarted in Jakarta.

Ai Ching Goh

Besides being the co-founder of Piktochart, Ai Ching Goh is also the co-founder of Yet Another Studio, a graphic design agency in Penang. Her company, Piktochart has attracted more than 10 million users who are satisfied with its services that enable them to tell amazing stories in various shapes and formats. Piktochart is a web application which enables users to create professional-grade infographics using themed templates. Goh is one of the members of Forbes Technology Council. A few years ago, she was a finalist for MIT Technology Review magazine’s 35 Innovators under 35 (TR35)

Shirmein Leong

Shirmein Leong is the co-founder of DeliverEat in Penang, an online food ordering and delivery company partnering with more than 1,500 restaurants such as Sushi King, Chili’s, Sakae Sushi, Morganfield’s, Nandos and even vegetarian restaurants. DeliverEat also provides a wide array of cuisines such as Chinese, Western, Fusion, Italian and Korean for their customers’ selection and also serves more than 40,000 customers per month. The company was selected as one of the top 20 finalist companies in Alliance Bank’s Biz Smart Academy Challenge in 2014.

Hooi Ling Tan

Tan Hooi Ling co-founded Grab and MyTeksi, a ride-hailing application in 2012 and it is now present in eight countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. Grab also offers other services such as GrabTaxi, GrabCar, GrabShare, JustGrab, Rent a GrabCar, GrabFood – a food delivery service serving local cuisine and GrabExpress – a delivery service for documents and parcels. Grab currently has over 110,000 drivers across Southeast Asia and renowned subsidiaries such as iKaaz Software Private Ltd, GP Network Asia Pte Ltd and GrabTaxi (Thailand) Co Ltd.

Datin Vivy Sofinas Yusof

Datin Vivy Sofinas Yusof founded Fashion Valet in 2010, an enterprise dealing with Asian brands of fashion apparel, shoes and accessories. This multi-million dollar company has now more than 400 brands from South East Asia and offices in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. It also sells fashion brands by famous designers such as Minz, Gallo by Thian, PU3 and Sereni & Shentel. The company has branches in Brunei, Australia and the United Kingdom and the dynamic entrepreneur herself has received awards such as Icon of the Year Award from Puteri Umno in 2015 and Women’s Weekly Great Women of Our Time 2015.

Jazz Tan

Social entrepreneur, Jazz Tan founded Youths Today in 2013. Youths Today is a platform to connect and access opportunities, bringing youths from all over the world the best experiences, development programmes, knowledge exchange and opportunities to work with corporate brands and SMEs by turning their ideas into successful projects. With a total number of 90,582 youth event organizers and a connection to more than 329 corporate brands, Youths Today has reached out to millions of youths all over the world through student events. It has also won awards such as Best Start Up to Silicon Valley, USA Stanford Program Achiever 2014, Most Prestigious Start Up – ASEAN Entrepreneurship Award 2014, MCMC ANT Award by Prime Minister of Malaysia 2014 and British Council and GAB Best Social Business – Entrepreneurs for Good 2013.

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The art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to obtain a more aesthetically pleasing and functional environment is more sought after now than before. In short, the services of interior designers are a must in order to manifest the beauty and character of many a built environment, be it for residential, commercial or public purposes. Here, Top 10 of Malaysia takes a look at its list of the nation’s award-winning interior design companies (in random order) that have excelled in the field of interior design. These companies are also recipients of the recent Malaysian Interior Industry Partners (MIIP) Awards.      

Syarikat Lian Ping Enterprise Sdn Bhd  

Directed by Lim Gao Leong, Syarikat Lian Ping Enterprise Sdn Bhd (established in 1961) is one of the leading interior renovator and furniture manufacturers that specialises in contracting, renovation and project management. It has successfully completed projects for companies such as Sutera Harbour Business and Resort Hotel, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur, and has also entered the overseas market such as Australia, Canada, Europe, India and South Africa. Syarikat Lian Ping won several awards such as the recent Platinum award under the Interior Fit out Works for Hospitability Category for its project, Four Seasons Place Hotel, Kuala Lumpur during the MIIP Awards Night 2018, REKA Awards 2014 for Industry Excellence Award Residential Gold and REKA Awards 2014 – Industry Excellence Award Hospitality Mention.

Can.I Interior Fit-Out Sdn Bhd

Tan Goo Can, founder of Can.I Interior Fit-Out Sdn Bhd, is an architect by training who has successfully led Can.I to accomplish interior design projects for well-known hotels and resorts, commercial buildings, corporate offices such as The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Shangri-la Hambantota Resort & Spa Sri Lanka, IPC Shopping Centre, MYDIN Mall Bukit Mertajam, MRT Bukit Bintang and MRT Pasar Seni. Can.I has also won awards at the MIIP Awards 2018 such as Gold award under Interior Fit Out Works for Hospitability Category for its project, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Gold award under Interior Fit-Out Works for Food & Beverage Outlets Category for its project, Element By Westin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and also a Gold Award under the Industry Excellence in the Interior Builders Category for its project St Regis, KL and Silver Award under the Industry Excellence in the Interior Builders Category for its project, Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka.

PLM Interiors Sdn Bhd  

Founded by Jimmy Predeep in 2007, PLM Interiors Sdn Bhd has its headquarters at Kuala Lumpur and other offices at Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Jakarta. It provides construction services for fit-out and refurbishments and even engineering service for various sectors such as offices, hospitality areas, retail and high end residential sectors. PLM provides services to its clients mainly from premium companies such as Uber, Kantar TNS, Accenture, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Eastin Hotel and The St Regis, Kuala Lumpur. Among its successful projects are Nizza Bar @ Sofitel Hotel Damansara City and Hilton Kota Kinabalu. Among the awards won by PLM was the Silver award for the Interior Fit-Out Works for Food & Beverage Outlets category for its project DC Hotel at Jalan Damanlela during the MIIP Awards 2018.

Turn Design Interior Sdn Bhd

Turn Design Interior was founded by Jeff Lee & Christopher Chan in 1998. Besides specialising in interior design and the construction industry, Turn Design also provides services such as space-planning, design, cost estimation, selection of materials, soft furnishing and interior fittings such as ceiling works, wall and floor finishing, M&E lighting and loose furniture. Turn Design has also won awards such as the Gold award under the Interior Fit-Out Works for Workplaces Category for its project YCH Group during the MIIP Awards 2018, Best Interior Design Commercial 2018 (Dotty Designer of the Year) and Reka International Design Award 2017/2018 (Shortlisted). Among its famous projects is the Sky Meridian – Sky World.

Archi-foam Sdn Bhd  

Established in 2005 by Michael Choon Teik Kok, Archi-foam Sdn Bhd specialises in the area of construction and consultancy for quantity surveying. Its company produces products such as EPS Lightweight Moulding, CPC Lightweight Panel and Japanese Concrete Wall Panel. Archi-foam won the Platinum award under the Interior Products for Wallcoverings & Floor Finishes Category for its project Tabung Haji Hotel & Convention Center during the MIIP Awards 2018.

Marble Emporium Sdn Bhd  

Founded by Sim Yen Peng, Marble Emporium Sdn Bhd has won the Emerging Eagle Golden Eagle Award 2014 and Gold award under the Interior Products for Wallcoverings & Floor Finishes Category for its project Marble Emporium Showroom during the MIIP Awards 2018. Marble Emporium has also completed projects for hotels, mosques, condominiums and private residences. It also offers exclusive stones such as marble, granite, limestone, travertine, quartzine and onyx for its interior design services for flooring, vanity tops, walls, stones with waterjet patterns, table tops, kitchen tops and even driveways.

Sunray Construction & Interior Sdn Bhd

Connie Wu established Sunray Construction & Interior Sdn Bhd in 1987 as a family-run, carpentry trade business. It provides interior fit-out, addition and alteration works services. Its clients range from hotels, restaurants, banks, offices, retail stores to museums. Among its iconic projects are the Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Other well-known projects are the South Beach Residences, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Art Science Museum at Singapore and BNP Paribus Training Camp. Sunray also won the Platinum award under the Interior Fit-Out Works for Retail Category for its project, Oxley Sales Gallery during the MIIP Awards 2018.

A Moxie Associates Sdn Bhd

A Moxie Associates Sdn Bhd, founded by CK Cheng Khoon, provides interior design, interior decoration, turn-key projects, furniture design, project management, space planning, residential design, commercial design, institutional design, corporate design and design direction services. Among its commercial projects include, Waltz Nail Salon and MY Art Studio at Mid Valley City while its corporate projects include MY Art Studio Headquarters. A Moxie also specialises in residential projects including Kiaramas Ayuria, Long Branch Residence at Kota Kemuning and Desa Green Serviced Apartment. It also won the Gold award under the Interior Fit-Out Works for Retail Category for the project Beaufix Showroom during the MIIP Awards 2018.

A & A Concept Design & Contract Sdn Bhd  

Founded by Agnes Ang in 1997, A & A Concept Design & Contract Sdn Bhd is one of the leading interior design and build companies in Kuala Lumpur specialising in interior designs and construction for corporate and commercial renovation as well as personal spaces. Successfully integrating interior design and property development, A & A has won several awards such as MFID (My Favourite Interior Design) Award of Excellence for Interior Design, Highly Commended Asia Pacific Property Awards Leisure Interior Marhaba Restaurant for Malaysia and SME 100 Gold Award Winner 2014 and Gold award under the Interior Fit-Out Works for Public Design Category for its project Alps Medical Centre and Gold award under the Interior Fit-Out Works for Residential Category for its project, Riana Dutamas Show Unit during the MIIP Awards 2018. A & A also garnered the trust and praises of many clients such as Crest Builder Holdings Bhd, Guocoland Sdn Bhd and IJM Land Bhd for its elegantly designed commercial, residential and corporate buildings such as the likes of DP Hotel, IOI Le Pavillion Show Unit and D&KGV.

Cheksern Young Builders Sdn Bhd

Founded by Tan Foh Hua in 1994, Cheksern Young Builders Sdn Bhd is an interior design company that also specialises in fabrication, construction and installation. Among its famous projects include the Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science, TGV 1 Utama Chillax, Ilprimo, 798 Bar and San Francisco Steakhouse, Conlay Club, 20^th Century Fox World Office, Resort World Genting and Eastern and Oriental Hotel. Cheksern Young also won several awards such as the Silver award under the Interior Fit-Out Works for Public Design Category for its project, MBO Cinemas, Kuantan City Mall during the MIIP Awards 2018.

The post MALAYSIA’S INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANIES – THE TOP 10 appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

As Malaysia is one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality latex, rubber gloves and other rubber-related products are supplied widely to various countries overseas. In the first half of 2018, exports of rubber products from Malaysia amounted to almost RM12 billion. In this issue, Top 10 of Malaysia takes a brief look at its list of Malaysia’s top rubber product companies some of which were also award recipients at the recent Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) Industry Awards.   

Top Glove Corporation Berhad

Founded by Tan Sri Dr. Lim Wee Chai in 1991, Top Glove Corporation Berhad is one of the world’s largest glove manufacturer owning 40 factories with 648 production lines. With a total of 195 branches all throughout Malaysia, Thailand, China, United States, and Europe, Top Glove’s name has been included in Bursa Malaysia and the mainboard of the Singapore Exchange. It has also garnered multiple awards since the past years such as The Edge Billion Ringgit Club 2018, MSWG – Asean Corporate Governance Award 2018, Asean Business Awards 2018 Winner Priority Integrated Sector (Rubber-based), Winner: Manufacturing – Chemicals & Heavy Industries and The MREPC Industry Awards 2018 for Export Excellence Award (Big Corporation Category) and Most Innovative Award.

Brightway Holdings Sdn Bhd

Established by Dr. Govindasamy Baskaran and his wife, Ramola Baskaran, Brightway Holdings Sdn Bhd has been one of the leading glove industries producing natural and synthetic latex rubber gloves in the area of medical and industrial since 1988. With a total of 7 factories and 48 production lines in Malaysia, Brightway produces millions of gloves a month. Its quality gloves are shipped worldwide and for customers who have unique hands, Brightway also provides special services for tailored gloves to cater to their needs. It was also one of the winners of the latest MREPC Industry Awards 2018, garnering the Export Excellence Award under Mid-Tier Company Category.                 

Weifong Industries Sdn Bhd  

Weifong Industries Sdn Bhd was established by Melissa Tan and its brand, GETHA specializes in manufacturing 100% natural latex products. It is well-known for producing quality beds to assist people in getting better precious sleep. With its skilled craftsmanship and innovative research and development process, the company has successfully produced comfortable beds with utmost quality for its customers. Today, Weifong has many branches worldwide in over 25 countries and has also won several awards such as the World Branding Awards Brand of the Year in a consecutive 4 years from 2016 to 2019. It has also won the Best Marketer Award during the MREPC Industry Awards 2018.

Wellcall Holdings Berhad

Established by Huang Sha and Leong Hon Chong in 1996, Wellcall Holdings Berhad is not only one of the largest industrial rubber hose manufacturers in the world, but it is also one of Malaysia’s largest manufacturer of low and medium pressure industrial rubber hose. Its products are exported to more than 70 countries all around the world. Standing tall with 3 factories in Perak, Wellcall has expanded its services in the areas such as air and water, welding and gas, oil and fuel, automobile, food, and beverages. Its products have also been accredited by companies such as SIRIM QAS International, SGS and Lembaga Getah Malaysia Rubber Board. Following its success, Wellcall has also been listed on the main board of Bursa Securities Malaysia since 2008 and also won numerous awards such as KPMG Shareholder Value Awards, Forbes Asia’s Top 200 Best under Billion Awards and Malaysia Rubber Export Promotion Council Industry Awards 2015.

Hartalega Holdings Berhad  

Founded by Kuan Kam Hon, Hartalega Holdings Berhad was established in 1981. As the company that invented the first lightweight Nitrile glove in 2005, Hartalega has now grown to be one of the largest producers of nitrile gloves in the world. With 8 manufacturing facilities, 127 lines and thousands of employees, it has won several awards such as the HR Excellence Award (2018), Malaysia’s Healthiest Employees Award – Large Organization (2018), The Edge Billion Ringgit Club Corporate Awards – Highest Return on Equity Over 3 Years (2013-2016, 2018), Most Outstanding Company Award (2018) and Export Excellence Award (Big Corporation Category) during the MREPC Industry Awards 2018.

Kossan Rubber Industries Berhad  

Established in 1979 by Tan Sri Dato’ Lim Kuang Sia, Kossan Rubber Industries Berhad has developed into a world-class gloves manufacturer and technical rubber products for the use on land, in the sea and also aerospace. It has won several awards such as the FMM Icon 2018 – Achievement of Honour, Frost & Sullivan 2017 Best Practices Award, GRC Wickham Awards 2017, Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA 2017) and Export Excellence Award (Big Corporation Category) during the MREPC Industry Awards 2018.

Goodway Integrated Industries Bhd

Founded by Tai Boon Wee in 1990, Goodway Integrated Industries Bhd has been providing products and services to more than 60 countries worldwide. Goodway develops, manufactures and markets rubber and rubber-related compounds plus also offers consultancy services in compound development, mixing and retreading. It also has manufacturing plants in East and West Malaysia, China, Australia and also distribution offices and warehousing facilities. Goodway has achieved several certificates such as ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 for Occupational Health and Safety.

Eversafe Rubber Bhd

Founded in 1967 and led by Cheah Siang Tee, Eversafe Rubber Bhd imports and distributes rubber-based products, equipment to over 28 countries throughout Asia and Europe. It has operations in various countries such as Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Singapore, Turkey, Korea, China, Indonesia, and Thailand. It also develops, manufactures and distributes tire retreading materials to tire retreaders and rubber material traders in Malaysia. It currently has 6 subsidiaries locally and internationally. The company produces masterbatches, pre-cured tread liners, camelbacks, cushion gums, rope repairs, sidewall veneers, and orbitreads.

Comfort Rubber Gloves Industries Sdn Bhd

Established in 1993 in Taiping and currently led by Lau Chee Meng, Comfort Rubber Gloves Industries Sdn Bhd is listed on the Main Board of the Malaysian Stock Exchange. It produces nitrile, latex, powdered and powdered-free examination gloves. Its gloves are exported to countries such as Northern America, Oceanic Countries, Middle East Countries, Europe, South America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. It also won the Export Excellence Award (Mid-Tier Company Category) during the MREPC Industry Awards 2018.

CE Technology Berhad

Established by Teoh Swee Sun in 2002, CE Technology Berhad produces high-quality cleanroom gloves by using innovative technologies. It also uses green and renewable energy resources to ensure its operations are environmentally friendly. CE has won numerous awards such as Golden Bull Award 2006, Enterprise 50 Award 2006, Top SME Award 2013, Excellence Leadership Award, Excellence Product Award and Export Excellence Award (SME Category) during The MREPC Industry Awards 2018.

The post MALAYSIA’S TOP 10 RUBBER PRODUCT COMPANIES appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Taking a great idea and turning it into a reality has been the hallmark of marketing success stories. A similar story is found in Siti Murni’s entrepreneurial efforts in the creation of stylish patented headgear designs that look good and comfortable. Her idea has developed into a successful venture across the nation and beyond. A more significant outcome of the entrepreneurship is Siti’s ability to build and groom women to be independent and to be able to hold their own, both financially and socially. In a conversation with Top 10 of Malaysia, Siti Murni Abdul Aziz, the founder of SITIMURNI Holdings Sdn Bhd talks about her current success, future plans and most importantly, the building of women entrepreneurs.

Hailing from Kelantan, a state known for its indomitable spirited women, Siti Murni Abdul Aziz epitomises the veritable entrepreneurial nature of Kelantanese women. Most Malaysians will recognise Siti based on her experience working as a newscaster for RTM1 for 12 years and still currently freelancing for the news channel. “I love communicating and relating with people which I am able to convey on television,” says Siti. Coming from a family of seven siblings and parents who were a government servant and businesswoman respectively, the independent streak and survival instincts came from an early age. A smart, stunning personality ensconced by a warm gracious smile, Siti has won the hearts of many Malaysians both online and offline.

The designer headgear which Siti specialises in came from a need which nurtured into an idea. “I wanted to wear the “tudung” but my skin could not handle metal brooches due to allergies,” says Siti, “Then it struck me that I could modify the “tudung” design so that a brooch was not necessary and voila, the ‘SITIMURNI’ designs came into being.” The designs have since been patented and the “tudung”, made of Italian chiffon, has become a much sought-after headgear by Malaysian and Singaporean women looking for niche patterns.

“Eight years ago, I started off with just RM1,000 as capital and before I knew it, the business had expanded. I had to employ more workers and put in extra hours. Those times were filled with hopes and excitement for me,” Siti reminisces. The business has since expanded into a showroom in Seri Kembangan and there were other Muslim headgear supporters which number some two thousand agents in Malaysia and Singapore, some of whom are earning a 5 or 6-figure monthly income. There are also product diversifications into pet projects such as a health chocolate drink called Choclove, “telekung” and basic cosmetics with future plans for wellness programmes. The main communication channel that has proven to be the most effective for Siti is social media, especially Facebook where daily ‘live’ sessions are conducted.

Besides producing great products and designs for the business, Siti believes in improving the lives of women through the building up of women entrepreneurs. By providing avenues for women in leadership and entrepreneurial training, she takes pride that women are realising their true potential not only in their businesses but in all other aspects of their lives. “The most significant reward I have received from my business is the ability to improve someone else’s life. In this case, it is the women whom I am able to provide the correct guidance and support,” smiles Siti. This includes providing an inspiring office environment where the management style of teamwork, support and cooperation is encouraged among them.

Siti’s work-life balance revolves around balancing her business life and weekends with a seven-year-old son who goes to a nearby international school. “His school session finishes around 3pm in the afternoon and I plan my schedule accordingly,” says Siti. Her husband works with Radio Televisyen Malaysia and supports her in her business when time permits.

Siti has the vision to further expand the current segment of headgear wear and diversify the business into related products such as drinks suitable for women, basic cosmetics and wellness programmes such as spas. However, Siti’s greatest desire is to improve the lot of women and to build more women entrepreneurs. “I am proud of my achievements in improving women’s lives and being able to shape them into independent entrepreneurs. From meek and timid women, they have grown into capable women who are able to compete in any new venture,” says Siti, showing an unmistakable sense of pride.

Siti’s advice for those having good business ideas and wanting to become entrepreneurs is to be resilient, patient and prudent in handling cash as the business world is indeed tough and it takes time for one to see the fruit of one’s labours.

Quotes:-

1. “I am proud of my achievements in improving women’s lives and being able to shape them into independent entrepreneurs.”
2. “The most significant reward I have received from my business is the ability to improve someone else’s life.”

The post WALKING TALL, EMPOWERING LIVES appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

The Malaysian fashion industry has been expanding and improving for a number of years now with the rise of talented local designers. Apart from clothing, more and more designers have involved themselves in the art of footwear. Here, Top 10 of Malaysia shares its list of the nation’s top ten talented shoe designers who have a name for themselves, locally or internationally.

Datuk Jimmy Choo

One of the most renowned shoe designers from Malaysia, Datuk Jimmy Choo established his luxury icon brand, Jimmy Choo in 1996. The brand exudes confidence and glamour. Talented in the art of celebrity dressing, Choo handcrafts shoes with a sexy cut and fashionable design. Besides, Choo also produces handbags, small leather goods, scarves, men shoes, sunglasses and eyewear. Being one of the pioneers to introduce handbags and shoe styles to celebrities who walk on the red carpet in Hollywood, Jimmy Choo has now become the ideal runway brand. 

Dato Lewré Lew Fong Voon

Award-winning royal couturier, Dato Lewré Lew Fong Voon founded Lewré Bespoke in 1997. Well known for his excellently designed shoes, the brand has participated in global trade fairs and also the London fashion week. Lewré Bespoke has also won awards such as SME brand of the year by Putra Brand in 2011 and was also named Brand of the year 2016 – Fashion Shoes category by the world branding forum. Lew has also personally designed footwear for Kate Middleton, Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza and also other members of the Malaysian royal family.

Christy Ng

Christy Ng founded Christy Ng Shoes which is a shoe design company specialising in evening shoes, wedding shoes and custom leather footwear. The specialty of Christy Ng Shoes is that it provides customers an opportunity to design their dream footwear by selecting the heel height, materials, fabrics and styles on the 3D shoe design platform on their website. Shoes such as comfortable mules for daily wear and delicate heels which are perfect selections for gala dinners and wedding occasions are found in all stores.

Mohd Faizol aka Zul Mohd

Mohd Faizol, most commonly known as Zul Mohd is the founder of EMMETT, a custom fashion shoe label. Established in 2010, EMMETT has shoes for VIPs and royalties around the world such as Queen Elizabeth II and Kate Middleton. Its stunningly designed shoes with the likes of flats, heels, gladiator sandals and ankle boots have been worn by Hollywood and Malaysian celebrities such as Kristyn Burtt, Kimora Lee Simmons, Lauren Mayhew, Datuk Sheila Majid and Ana Raffali. EMMETT shoes are suitably worn for prestigious events such as red carpet events, fashion show, music videos and stage performances.

Xavier Mah and Alfred Hor

Xavier Mah and Alfred Hor founded XALF in 2012 as they have an intense passion in a cosmopolitan fashion whereby classic looks are recreated with a modern touch. They have won several awards such as EY Entrepreneur of The Year Award 2017 in Emerging Category, Grandeur International Business Awards 2017/2018 and emerged as a finalist at the Ten Outstanding Young Malaysian Awards 2017. Their shoes have been favoured and worn by famous celebrities such as Charmaine Sheh, Ai Tominaga, Irene Ang, Sharon Au, Liv Lo and Datuk Yasmin Yusoff in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Zaid Arif

Established in 2015, Zeve Shoes is the brainchild of shoe enthusiast, Zaid Arif who has a deep interest in Italian shoe designs. His designs consist of fine leather dress shoes for men such as colourful and trendy loafers, tasselled, slippers, penny loafers, fringed loafers, Belgian loafers with tassel, Belgian loafers with ribbon, Oxfords and Chelsea boots with similar quality and designed as renowned Italian brands but at affordable prices. To date, his creations have been featured in various media channels such as Maskulin, Glam Lelaki, Astro, TV3, and GQ International Menswear Magazine (The United Kingdom). He also has customers worldwide from over 40 countries.             

Hidayah Hassan  

Hidayah Hassan established Cipela in 2011. She specializes in handcrafted footwear which includes designs for occasions such as every day wear, work, evening and bridal wear with unique textiles, distinctive textures and patterns made from classic materials and thus creating an effortlessly luxurious and stylish look. Cipela shoes come in different types, which are the Everyday Cipela which are leather pumps and court shoes, Cipela Evening which are traditional and contemporary style shoes and Cipela Bridal which are shoes made from lace and satin silk. She has also won the Broadband Empowered Entrepreneur Award 2014.

Nelissa Hilman 

Founded by Nelissa Hilman in 2011, the brand Nelissa Hilman is well known for its muted flats and mid heels in Italian leather. Its Resort 2018 collection features metallic and velvet heels in several colour assortments and shapes. Nelissa’s designs have been worn by models during local fashion weeks. She collaborated with Paris-based Malaysian fashion designer, Jonathan Liang and made runway pieces of shoes for his fashion line during the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2013 and 2014.

Yoke Sin Theam and Yokie Yoke Git Theam

Yoke Sin Theam and Yokie Yoke Git Theam are sisters who founded the Malaysian footwear label Yoke & Theam, famous for its sought-after designs of durable rubber sandals, mules and heels. The famous sandals designed by them are the Zeus Sandals with mesh design, Ace Sandal, Mae Sandal, Picabo Leather, Zinnia Sandals, Serena Sandals and Ivy Sandals. Its sporty footwear balances feminine and masculine qualities. Yoke & Theam footwear has also been worn by fashion model, winner of the second season of Asia’s Next Top Model and embroidery artist, Sheena Liam.

Ung Yiu Lin

Ung Yiu Lin established ShoesShoesShoes in 2006 and it has now been one of the leading footwear brands in Malaysia that also include clothing and accessories. Her shoes are worn by various local socialites and celebrities. Other than being a shoe designer, this multi-talented lady also started KLutched, a label dedicated to bags which gained popularity outside of Malaysia, the Bambini collection, which consists of clothes for toddlers and matching shoe designs for mother and child, and also Idylinn, a limited line of high end resort wear. Besides, she is also a fashion influencer and is one of the most admired fashionable personalities in Kuala Lumpur.

The post MALAYSIA’S TOP 10 TALENTED SHOE DESIGNERS appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

The determination to move forward towards bigger ventures within the financial field epitomizes the career path of Terry Yee. As the CEO of Capspring Temasik Financial Group, a BNM-approved financial advisory firm within Malaysia, Yee has come a long way starting from an auditing apprenticeship and later chief financial officer to a multi-million sales force. The shift from the world of numbers towards interacting with people has resulted in a satisfying lifelong career in financial advisory services. In a recent interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Yee talks about his entrepreneurial journey in setting up Capspring Temasik Financial Group, the financial advisory services industry and the future prospects of the company.

The intrepid dynamics of the financial industry has shaped Terry Yee’s career path from working in corporations towards setting up his own entrepreneurship, Capspring Temasik Financial Group. An Ipoh boy, Yee’s background consisting of a tight-knit family of parents and four siblings was a typical middle-class life. “We are a close family and constantly do things together,” comments Yee. “My father is an accountant and it looks like figures run in the family as both my brother and I are in the same field.”  An affable personality, Yee interjects humor into the conversation every now and then.

“I did the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) based on the false presumption it would be easy but it turned out to be otherwise,” Yee smiles as he talks about his educational credentials.

With an ACCA in hand, working in international and local corporations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) and SAAG provided the required financial industry knowledge and experience. Yee left the corporate world in 2004 and joined the insurance domain as a life insurance agent.

“I felt life could be more interesting interacting with people rather than figures,” recollects Yee. “And it has turned out to be the best decision I have made in terms of a lifelong career.” Working in various sectors and levels of the industry and achieving results as a premier wealth planner was a personal satisfaction by itself. The industry awards received, including the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), illustrates Yee’s success story within the insurance field.

Having achieved recognition within the insurance field, the vision to provide a greater range of services for customers saw the formation of the Capspring Temasik Financial Group in 2012 with a few close friends. “As a newcomer, penetrating the commercial sector was challenging during the early days,” says Yee. “But we persisted and now we have a wide range of established clients extending from government-linked companies (GLCs) and public listed companies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”

“Our initial goal was limited to a moderate range of services but since then we have expanded based on the good industry potentials,” remarks Yee. “We have identified our main target markets encompassing both conventional and takaful solutions.”

The company, supported by 20 financial advisors, has expanded into the East Coast with a branch in Kota Bharu. It also has a full range of international and local fund houses as associated partners. “As for milestones, we have consistently achieved above 30% sales growth annually since we started,” reveals Yee. His management style is modern and progressive, leaning towards a consultative approach.

The challenges the company faces include time, technology and public perception. “The industry is highly dynamic with a myriad of opportunities that require time for the realization of revenue,” explains Yee. “The advent of digital technologies and changing the public perception of financial advisers are other challenges we have to overcome.”

The inspiration for taking the company further is to build an established reputation for good advisory services and simultaneously as a caring employer.  “My vision is for Capspring Temasik to be a household name and the industry leader in our field,” says Yee.

As for work-life balance, Yee explains, “I try my best to balance my work and personal life especially with my two children, a 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. This normally happens at dinner times, weekends and holidays.”

Yee’s advice for the younger people is to work hard, have faith in yourself and embrace filial piety.

The post SOARING HIGH WITH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Having been promoted to the top life insurance agency level as Group Sales Manager and subsequently qualified as an Associate Member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance in 1989, Alfred Sek knew then that better prospects were in financial planning. In an interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Sek talks about the company he founded, the intricacies of the financial planning business and his hopes for the future.

Inspired by the way America changed the life insurance industry in which agencies prioritised financial planning over selling insurance products, Alfred Sek, the Managing Director of Excellentte Consultancy Sdn Bhd, forged ahead of his peers in the 1990s, to obtain a professional certification and qualification in Chartered Financial Consultant course with the American College of Financial Services.

“After I completed my Chartered Financial Consultant certification in 1996 and Shariah-registered financial planner certification with the Malaysian Financial Planning Council thereafter, I set up Excellentte Consultancy in 1997. I wanted to do financial planning consultancy but I was way ahead of time as Malaysians didn’t know much about financial planning then,” reveals Sek.

“The reason why I set up Excellentte Consultancy was to train people on financial planning, how to become financial planners and to change the way we approach clients. The traditional approach is to create fear or to push insurance products to the client. But financial planners walk through the financial planning process with the client, understanding their goals, lifestyle, investment needs and risk appetite.”

Sek adds, “If you just sell an insurance policy, the client becomes a policyholder. However, if you sell advise on the financial planning needs of the client, you help him to achieve his dreams.”

As per Section 139 of the Financial Services Act (FSA), a financial adviser company has to be approved by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in order to run a financial advisory business. The financial adviser representative has to possess minimum professional qualifications specified by BNM to ensure that they have the appropriate level of competency required to provide advice to consumers.

“There’s still a lot for us to do to increase public awareness and education about the role of financial advisers and the need for financial planning. Many people assume that financial planners are insurance agents. As financial planners, we provide independent advice to clients based on their financial and investment needs. We develop a strategy, and advise suitable financial products to optimize the clients’ insurance coverage and investment portfolio,” explains the Managing Director.

Excellentte Consultancy is one of the oldest financial planning companies in Malaysia. Among the significant milestones for Sek was forming the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) in Malaysia which is endorsed by BNM and Securities Commission (SC). By having the AFA, framework, guidelines and policies were established to regulate the financial planning industry which helped to improve understanding and communication among AFA members and the financial regulators, and most importantly, to grow and evolve the financial planning industry.

“In order to provide independent financial advice, we needed to have access to all the products from insurance, takaful and investment companies. , we’re not able to implement the financial plan for clients. We represent the clients’ interests and aim to provide them with the most suitable financial solutions,” says Sek.

As a one-stop financial solution provider and part of the planning exercise, Excellentte Consultancy advisers review and analyse the client’s existing financial situation, investment and insurance portfolio, and current lifestyle. From the analysis, they are able to identify gaps in the client’s financial matters. For example, the client could have overlaps in insurance coverage, under-insured, over-insured or even wrongly insured. Post-evaluation, it develops and present financial planning recommendations to the client.

“To achieve financial freedom, we must have a plan. Financial freedom cannot be achieved overnight but it won’t happen without a plan,” Sek emphasizes.

“My aim is to drive Excellentte Consultancy to be the most professional, productive, and sustainable financial advisory consultancy in Malaysia. As part of succession planning, my sons have also joined me in the business to serve the new generation. Therefore we’re here for the long haul to help our clients achieve their goals…to achieve financial freedom,” says Sek with smile.

The post GARNERING SUCCESS THROUGH EMPOWERMENT appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Leveraging on his experiences in food technology and pharmaceutical sales, dynamic entrepreneur Wallace Teoh went on to establish his own health supplement brand based on olive extracts. In a recent interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, the founder of Nutriva International Sdn Bhd talks about the reasons for the success of his olive supplements enterprise and the brand values that he had created.

 “I wanted to create a brand that will make people think about my company immediately. When people think of olive extracts or olive supplements, they would think of my company,” says Wallace Teoh, the founder of Nutriva International Sdn Bhd.

Based on his past experience in food technology and pharmaceutical sales for many years, Teoh believes that, in addition, to developing product quality and assurance, creating value for the brand is essential in building a successful business.

Nutriva International Sdn Bhd produces health beverages and superfoods, Nutriva, and olive extracts supplements, Oliferin. Since olive extracts are known worldwide to have health benefits and olive trees cannot be grown in Malaysia’s tropical weather, Teoh seized the opportunity to create a demand and value for olive-extracts supplements in the country. His company imports olive extracts from Spain and produces and distributes Oliferin supplements in Malaysia.

As soon as Teoh had graduated from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) with a food technology degree, he secured a research and development job in Unilever. During his two-year career in Unilever, Teoh learned a lot about consumer products, from R&D formulations, factory production processes to quality assurance, control and branding.

“But I soon realised that a working career at Unilever was not what I wanted. I had always wanted to run my own business. I knew that sales were very important in business, but I had very little sales experience as I was mainly at the back-end doing research in the company. So, I left my job at Unilever and moved on to a sales job of selling credit cards,” says Teoh with a smile.

After three months of selling credit cards, Teoh landed a job with Pfizer Malaysia Sdn Bhd. During his six years there, he gained sales knowledge and experience in pharmaceutical products, scientific studies, clinical results, health regulatory standards, and most importantly, built trust and rapport with pharmacies and doctors. “As expected, I lost sight of my original ambitions to set up my own business,” laments Teoh. “However, I met an ex-colleague of mine who spurred me to have a go at entrepreneurship. He had a similar goal and regretted for not pursuing it when he was younger.”

Teoh then quit his job at Pfizer and realised that health supplements were high in demand among consumers. “Rather than starting my business in supplements right away, I worked for a supplements company. There, I studied the intricacies of running such a business, including the effective way to sell supplement products to major pharmacies and payment terms and conditions,” says Teoh.

“I left the company after some nine months there to set up my own company specialising in olive extracts supplements. Within three months of my first engagement with a company based in Spain, I started production. My company chalked up some RM800,000 in sales six months after our first production,” reveals Teoh.

“We also entered into exclusive partnerships with our European contacts where our company would need to meet their orders. With that, we produced a wide range of olive extracts-based products for different health categories from prevention of cardiovascular diseases, relief of joint and muscular pain to children’s health and immunity, skincare and skin whitening.”

As consumers continue to value the benefits of olive extracts, Teoh is working towards exporting his supplements across Asia and expanding his product offerings in different health categories. With the expansion, the company is planning to increase its production capacity and to eventually manage their entire production and quality in Kuala Lumpur.

“We want our products to be effective and beneficial to consumers, potentially to be at par with those of drug companies. We aim for our products to be used as treatments rather than just as health supplements only,” says Teoh.

The post PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING THE BEST appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Buying a property is an important decision for most Malaysians notably for first-time home buyers and the complexity of choices coupled with the legal aspects, make it a stressful decision-making experience. Gary Chua, an ex-banker with vast experience and knowledge in property development has embarked on the mission of educating potential home-buyers on the do’s and don’ts of purchasing a home through his start-up company, Smart Financing. In a conversation with Top 10 of Malaysia, Chua , the CEO of Smart Financing, talks about his goals of educating the Malaysian public on property ownership, the provision of one-stop property services and future expansion plans within the property, education and F&B industries.

Seeking opportunities and providing answers describes the lifetime passion of Gary Chua, a Kuala Lumpur boy. “My family consisting of my parents and four siblings were middle-class people and hard work was second nature to us. I helped my mother grow and sell vegetables at the day market, vegetables that we had grown ourselves on a piece of empty land next to our house,” reminisces Chua as he talks about his childhood.

“The experiences instilled in me the values of hard work, honesty and integrity, principles I have held and continue to hold in high regard during my tertiary education in finance and later working for local and international banks,” continues Chua. Although a subdued personality, Chua’s inner will to surmount challenges and to help others succeed is apparent.

With the 12 years of experience gained from working in the banking industry and being involved in property investment, Chua ventured out on his own in 2015 with the setting up of Smart Financing. “The intention was to educate potential property owners as there is an obvious gap within the industry. Most people lack the required knowledge when purchasing properties,” says Chua.

The educational consultation services consisting of courses and coaching have become a successful enterprise with people from all walks of life ranging from professionals to businessmen attending Smart Financing programmes. “Providing services which have literally changed people’s lives with regard to property ownership is one of my greatest personal achievements,” says Chua.

“Every time we see a gap in the industry, we have resolved it the Smart Financing way,” says Chua, “Our expansion in providing a greater range of services in property management and renovation solutions enables us to control the overall quality of our services.”

The success of these programmes has been evidenced by garnering industry awards such as the SME Award for 2018 and the recent 5^th Worldwide Excellence Award. Another milestone is the relocation of the office from the suburbs to the commercial heart of Kuala Lumpur. “Having a view of the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur from my office window undoubtedly reminds me of the heights that I have scaled,” beams Chua.

“I have a staff force of 15 whom I have trained and provide career growth plans. Staffs are continuously sent for courses and are given greater responsibilities within the new areas of property management,” reveals Chua.

Work commitments are high as daily schedules stretch from morning to late night. “We work on the weekends as most clients are free then. Property exhibitions are held on the weekends and our educational programmes are also held on the weekends to suit clients,” explains Chua. He has plans to expand into other educational areas and the F&B industry as well.

A firm believer in charity works, Chua lights up when explaining the initiatives undertaken to help charity homes. “We visit charity homes regularly, especially children’s homes such as Rumah Hope, and we contribute in kind and our time,” says Chua.

Chua strongly believes that newcomers to the industry need to embrace hard work, self-learning and acceptance of continuous change. “One must be prepared to work harder than anyone else in the company, have a penchant for continuous learning in order to have valuable personal growth and to be able to adapt to the ever-changing business environment,” he advises.

The post DRIVING SUCCESS ALL ROUND   appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

The world of interior design encompassing creative concepts and building customer-happy solutions is a highly challenging but personally rewarding field. In a conversation with Top10 of Malaysia, Zessie Li, an established local interior designer and owner of Yuan Design, tells about her journey since 1994 within the local interior industry, her source of inspiration and her plansfor the future.

The interior design industry has become popular in recent years with the yearnings for sophisticated and elegant lifestyles. Commercial and residential owners have come to rely on the expertise of interior designers in fulfilling their dream home designs be it modern, traditional, English or an eclectic mixture.

Being creative and making rooms look pretty and comfortable based on a minimalist ultra modern style is the forte of Zessie Li, the founder and owner of Yuan Design. “I have always had a passion for rearranging furniture and decorating rooms. Maybe my penchant for details and ensuring everything is perfect comes from my lecturer father,” laughs Li.

Coming from Singapore, the rest of the family consists of a mother and siblings involved in the fashion industry. “As for the name, ‘Yuan’, it symbolises the synergy between my Chinese name, Hui Yuan, and the resiliency of the yuan currency,” explains Li on the origins of her signature brand name. The Yuan brand that resonates creativity complemented by pragmatism was visibly prominent in the persona of its owner, the vicinity of the office surroundings and amongst employees. Subsequent to gaining hands on experience in renovation works involving laminated flooring and certification in interior design, Li entered the Malaysian interior design industry in 1998 based on the recommendations of customers. “On establishing ourselves within the local housing market, we gained the confidence to open an office in 2004,” adds Li.

The growth of Yuan Design can be traced to the expansion of its offices originating from the rented premises of a shop lot to a bigger sized bungalow. “We further expanded in 2016 with the purchase and remodelling of two bungalows strategically located within an upcoming commercial area of Petaling Jaya. Additionally, our factory in Sungai Buloh provides bespoke solutions enabling us to meet customers’ niche requirements be it materials or design,” elaborates Li.

“I do feel a sense of accomplishment on my achievements,” says Li, “I owe it to the support given by my customers who have become friends and are a source of recommendations.” There is a high focus on meeting customer expectations. “I want my customers to be eager to go back home to a comforting and relaxing atmosphere,” says Li. From a singular renovation service that has grown into an established interior design one stop house providing the whole gamut of design and build services showcases the potentials of successful entrepreneurships such as Yuan Design. “My passion for design and the work involved is my main source of inspiration that drives me towards success. The attention to detail in space planning, design concepts, material selection, costing and ensuring perfection in project management are my trademarks,” says Li with a determined smile. “My main hobby consists of exercise and yoga as I need good health and a clear mind to be able to service my customers,” says Li, “I work out six days a week combined with yoga.” Working hours extend from eight in the morning to late at night or even overnight.

The design and factory teams consist of 15 and 80 staff respectively. “Work is allocated based on talent capabilities and feedback,” says Li on her management style. With an estimated 30 projects on hand, Li emphasized the need for teamwork and a conducive environment for the generation of ideas and solutions. “We want to continue to keep up with the modern trends and provide our customers with the latest materials and best customer service,” says Li. Li’s advice for new entrants into the industry is patience, building trust and commitment to delivery schedules. “Resolve all problems and do not run away from it,” she says.

The post A PASSION AND A LOFTY AMBITION appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

As the sole lady entrepreneur within the highly competitive industry of steel purlin manufacturing and distribution, Rowena Heng, the director of Juta Steel has found it an exciting journey from the early days of learning the industry ropes to maturing into an established industry player. In a recent interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, the enterprising ‘indomitable’ Heng provides an insight into her background and her managing of Juta Steel Sdn Bhd, and the challenges faced.

The most overpowering influence that has shaped the personal and professional life of Rowena Heng, is her father. Born and raised in Petaling Jaya, Heng comes from a middle-class family of parents and two younger brothers. “My dad, Alex Heng, started off small in the trading line before expanding his business,” explains Heng. “It is his influence and mentorship that gave me the confidence to helm the company when he passed away in 2008.”

The determination to carry on her father’s legacy is the main factor for Heng to continue the success of the company. The path from a management trainee towards helming a company that adds value to the steel industry has enabled Heng to possess an in-depth understanding of the industry in relation to the Malaysian economy. Although the industry is not noted for women leaders, gender issue has been another challenge to be overcome.

On returning from Australia as a newly accountant graduate in 2000, Heng joined the family business as a management trainee. “I have worked in almost all the departments and have an in-depth knowledge of the industry,” says Heng. Currently, as the director, she plays a leadership role in determining the direction of the company. The family business is also assisted by her brother.

“There are not many women running a steel industry business as it is a male dominated industry. However, despite being one of the few, I’m inspired to do my best for my career in this line of work,” says Heng with a grin, exuding a petite, charming presence.

The SME steel purlin manufacturing industry is a highly competitive industry comprising of a few players competing amongst themselves and the big players. The advent of globalization has opened the sphere of competition with the entry of a large number of players. Juta Steel has witnessed its share of up and downs while expanding from a trading shop to the factory in Kota Damansara.

“Industry competition is a major concern,” acknowledges Heng, “for which we are taking cost rationalisation and quality improvement measures including automation.” The long term vision is to expand and diversify the current JSC and JSZ purlin brand into a roofing manufacturing and trading centre.

“Networking with industry stakeholders and the government facilitates in planning for the strategic direction of the steel industry,” reveals Heng. “As the Assistant Secretary General of the Malaysian Steel and Metal Distributors’ Association, I have been able to contribute towards the improvement of Juta Steel in terms of product knowledge and building industry relationships.”

“Juta Steel has always been associated with quality and we want to continue to build our brand reputation,” says Heng. “Plus, I believe that association brings about a good form of networking and learning opportunities,” she adds.

Heng’s leadership style is based on trust and accountability. “I entrust my staff to handle their responsibilities, most of whom have been with me for more than 10 years. My success is based primarily on the support I receive from my team and it is also a source of empowerment to them,” says Heng as she gives the reason for her success.

A mother of two girls aged 12 and 9, Heng admits she faces the challenges of a work-life balance. “We do spend time together daily in the morning and night, and weekends are family times. Both girls are into modeling and it improves their confidence in being able to meet and interact with outsiders,” says Heng as she proudly shows photographs of their modelling endeavours.

Heng believes that a newcomer to the business world should constantly learn new things and to persevere while adapting to the realities of the business world.

The post ON TOP OF IT ALL appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

The e-commerce domain has brought about manifold opportunities within the business field. Mohamad Rafi Abdullah Sani, the director of DMR Marketing Academy and co-founder of beauty cosmetics JeRa Beauty, represents the new community of entrepreneurs who have successfully entered the online market and are currently on the next wave of market and brand establishment. In a conversation with Top 10 of Malaysia, Rafi spoke at length on his involvement within the various segments of the e-commerce ecosystem, successes to date and future plans.

Digital technology is here to stay and have become the foundation of new business models for young and aspiring risk takers. The huge potentials existing within the two-decades-old domain continues to attract the younger demographics in applications and exponential growth potentials sans the excess baggage of brick-and-mortar setups. Those possessing the vision and perseverance in capitalising on digital technologies have catapulted towards high exponential wealth stakes. The Malaysian business scene has been equally involved with the emergence of digital businesses supported by internet savvy demographics.

Grasping an idea and making it a success reflects the innovative personality of Mohmad Rafi Abdullah Sani, who has always been interested in the many opportunities existing within the business and marketing field. “I come from a family of nine siblings, my father is a volunteer worker and mother a housewife. Life has been challenging but we have survived,” reminisces Rafi who moved to Kuala Lumpur on completion of his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia in 2011. An apparent unassuming personality balanced by an inner drive for hard work and a talent for seeking opportunities has worked out favourably for Rafi, a Terengganu-born native.

Having gained the required online and offline experience and knowledge while working in sales, Rafi decided to take the independent route by starting his own business. The first online venture was in the drop shipping of health products. “It was my first venture to test the online market and I was surprised by the success we achieved,” laughs Rafi, “We sold out and it dawned on me the potentials of online marketing.”

The revenue gained from the venture provided the confidence to enter the e- commerce field. “I was ready to take on bigger higher risk projects,” says Rafi. “Undoubtedly there are challenges in capital acquisition and sustaining marketing initiatives which I have overcome with persistence.”

A joint venture in 2015 in the production of cosmetics products and the establishment of a one-stop training academy with the sole purpose of educating potential online marketers are key business initiatives. Both initiatives have been strategically positioned to tap into the burgeoning online local cosmetics market supported by in-house-trained online marketing agents.

“The manufacturing and online distribution of halal herbal-based cosmetics, under the brand name of JeRa Beauty is doing well, evident from our million-dollar sales achievement this year,” says Rafi, “Similarly, the DMR Marketing Academy in Kota Damansara that complements the business side by training our 200-odd agents and outsiders has been equally promising.”

“I feel satisfied as my vision is to improve lives which I am doing through my training programmes,” says Rafi on the success of his e-commerce entrepreneurship and management of the training academy.

“The training I provide equips potential marketers with the requisite e-commerce knowledge for trading,” says Rafi. “This is a highly valuable asset as the retail trend of the future is projected to be based on the e-commerce platform.”

The future plans of the company include regional expansion to Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore complemented by further development of the training academy. “These are established consumer markets requiring strategic product quality and pricing plans based on local demand,” explains Rafi.

“I currently have a sales team of ten employees with plans for further expansion to 30. My management style is relationship-oriented as I value my employees’ contribution and respect them as employees,” says Rafi. Work-life balance is practically non-existent as Rafi admits, “I work overnight on weekdays and whole weekends at the office.”

The advice for potential e-commerce marketers is to be persistent and to continuously learn.

The post ON A ROLL IN E-COMMERCE appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Nothing is more engaging and inspiring than listening to a success story especially one that is inspiring and life-changing. Razikin Md Ardani of Cinta Dua Sdn Bhd has this exact story to share with Top 10 of Malaysia. Razikin aims for the gold and not even once has he let his past disappointment bring him down.

Digital technology is here to stay and have become the foundation of new business models for young and aspiring risk takers. The huge potentials existing within the two-decades-old domain continues to attract the younger demographics in applications and exponential growth potentials sans the excess baggage of brick-and-mortar setups. Those possessing the vision and perseverance in capitalising on digital technologies have catapulted towards high exponential wealth stakes. The Malaysian business scene has been equally involved with the emergence of digital businesses supported by internet savvy demographics.

“I was a good student in school but I didn’t get to further my studies due to financial constraints. One of my teachers cried when she found out about this. It made me sad too but I don’t want to look back or have any regrets. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for tough circumstances,” explains Razikin Md Ardani when asked about his education background.

Razikin went to Sekolah Vokasional Klang and studied engineering but ended up working in the field of food technology for an international fast food chain factory. He spent years there and was really good at his job that when his business took off, it was hard for his employer to let him go.

“I got married at a young age and began to feel the pressure to provide for my family. I ventured into business to solve my financial problem. It wasn’t really passion-driven per se but I had to decide and learn along the way,” says Razikin.

When he first started the business with his wife, Zakiah Bahri, Cinta Dua only offered wedding planner services. The jobs kept coming but it was tough working on tight deadlines, especially when there were only two of them doing everything. On top of the obvious manpower issue, Razikin kept running into problems in sourcing for decor materials.

“In finding solutions to our problems, Cinta Dua expands into decor supply business that it is today. I seek help from well-known business mentor Dr Azizan Osman to properly manage and market the business as both my wife and I have almost zero knowledge in how to run a company.”

From selling wedding decor items online, Cinta Dua now has its own one-stop centre called Cinta Dua Mall in Klang. Currently servicing clients from Singapore, Brunei and even Indonesia, Razikin is busier than ever managing his time between the business and his family of four children.

“It is not as intense as it was back then when I got as little as two hours of sleep at night because I had to finish last minute wedding set ups and arranging for shipping of items. Currently, I have 10 staff working in the company so I have more time for my family. I trained them myself. I found it hard to trust other people in the beginning because I was so used to doing everything on my own but I have learned to slowly let go and focus more on branding and marketing instead,” says the Klang-born entrepreneur.

Within the next 10 years, Razikin hopes to achieve the company’s RM50 million sales target. It is not entirely impossible considering Cinta Dua’s reputation over the years as one of Malaysia’s most preferred wedding and decor suppliers. Cinta Dua always caters to

its customer’s demands even under the most extreme time constraints, which Razikin believes to be the core strength of his company.

Now in his forties, Razikin has come a long way. He is thankful for the experience and everything that he has learned over the years. “When I was working at the factory, I earned just about enough for my wife and children. I always wished I could spare some cash for my parents but I’m happy now that they are still around to share my success. A lot has changed these past three years and I’m very thankful for that.”

As for aspiring entrepreneurs out there, Razikin only have one piece of advice to share – never lose focus. He believes that everybody has to start somewhere but it is important to stick to their expertise and focus only on one thing. “Never ever give up. There might be a time when we feel down and disappointed, but problems are inevitable. Don’t let it get you down and dwell on it for too long. Find a solution and if nothing works, move on to the next best thing.”

The post SOARING TO GREATER HEIGHTS appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Quality postpartum care is vital for every mother who has given birth to ensure that they can have good health. Founded by Amy Chen and her husband, Esther Postpartum Care is also known as Dun Nan True Love Group and is one of the most successful postpartum care services in Taiwan. It also has close to 10 years of experience in serving over 10,000 families. In this interview, Amy Chen and Katrina Loh shares with Top 10 of Malaysia the importance of postpartum care, the kind of services and care they provide for mothers.

Katrina Loh had a well-established sales job when the idea of setting up a postpartum service company came to her. “As I am extremely close to my parents and relatives, I understand the needs of a working mother especially after she gives birth to a newborn child. Therefore, I decided to collaborate with Amy Chen,” says Loh.

The Taiwan-born Amy Chen has an impressive career, owning 10 kindergarten centers. “As I worked at a kindergarten, I gained lots of experience in caring for children and also learned to give them the attention they needed. It was then that I noticed there was a lack of postpartum care centers in the country,” shares Chen.

Esther Postpartum is a rebranding of an established brand, and the name was given to suit the Malaysian culture. “The name, ‘Esther’ was taken after a queen as we wanted the company to deliver services that befits royalty. The arrival of a new family member can be an exhilarating and also an overwhelming experience for both the parents. That is why we want it to be a memorable and happy experience for new mothers and also their husbands,” stresses Chen. “A new mother might feel as if the entire experience after delivery is daunting and we can make the postpartum process much easier and comfortable,” Loh adds.

Esther Postpartum provides comprehensive postpartum care services based on traditional Taiwanese ingredients and equipment with the latest medical research. It offers a full range of products and services which includes comfortable, luxurious accommodation with a home-stay feel, baby care, professional health assessment, wound recovery observation and other kinds of related treatments. “A mother who has recently given birth would require specific nutrients and herbs. At Esther Pospartum, we ensure that the mothers indulge in the correct type and amount of food as a nursing mother would need nutrition for herself and her child. Besides, reading the body language or communication patterns of a newborn baby can also be confusing for a first-time mother. In order to help mothers in that area, we also offer advice and counseling conducted by our highly trained personnel on how to care for a newborn child. Besides caring for a mother’s physical state, we also care for their mental state. Therefore, we also provide postpartum psychology assessment,” shares Chen.

Chen and Loh understand the feelings and needs of women, mothers and newborn babies. In addition to that, they also understand the role a father plays in a family. Besides having a deep understanding on the cultural diversity in Malaysia, the ladies also pay good attention to the culture of the Chinese community with their different dialect groups and traditions in order to gain the trust of clients who come to Esther Postpartum for a comfortable postpartum care experience.

“We plan to expand our business to Penang, Johor Bahru and Melaka and would also like to offer our postpartum services to mothers of Malay and Indian ethnicity,” says Chen. “We are currently doing a lot of research on the different needs and traditions of our Malay and Indian sisters. We hope to be a beacon of comfort to mothers across the board,” Loh adds.

Chen and Loh are dedicated to their jobs and spend a lot of time on their business as they love their profession. The advice they would give to young people who are starting out in a business would be, “Hard work with a willingness to learn is extremely important in order to succeed.”

The post UNIQUE QUALITY SERVICES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Armed with a university degree in Information Systems Engineering and fifteen years of experience in FinTech, dynamic entrepreneur Jeff Chew has successfully delivered mobile and internet banking initiatives for one of the largest banking groups in Malaysia. In a recent interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Chew talks about his company, Altecflex Sdn Bhd, a provider of digital services and solutions and his vision for the digital technology growth in the country.

During Jeff Chew’s three-year tenure as a Project Manager for a digital banking project, Chew and his project team members used to discuss at lengths about digitalization in the future and its impact on the financial industry.

It was during these discussions that Chew felt that, as a FinTech specialist, he could not continuously work on the latest technology for digitalization projects as there were limited opportunities within the organisation.

“I believed that digitalization is not limited to the banking industry only, but across many industries as well. As a result, I had decided then to set up my own digital solutions company,” says Chew.

“My company is Altecflex Sdn Bhd and we call ourselves, ATF – Aspire Technology Frontier. We provide a wide range of digital services and solutions to help organisations achieve and optimize their digital capability and productivity.”

Chew continues, “We are a software house specialising in FinTech, providing end-to-end digital development and delivery. Our team members comprise full-stack developers for front-end and back-end development and solution architects with the focus on improving UI/UX experience. Our strength lies in having tech developers who are specialised in React framework and latest technology.”

“”React framework is a specialised skillset, but it’s difficult to find talent with such skillsets in the market. So, we hire young people especially fresh graduates – we train and develop them early for this skill. We also hire young talents who already have experience in end-to-end development. Hiring and training young talents is part of our company’s culture – that’s what makes us different from other software houses,” says the Founder of Altecflex.

ATF was established in late 2018, and within a short period of time, Chew and his team have been actively involved in a number of digital transformation projects for banks and insurance companies. The first few months were tough for Chew and his partner, who basically started the company from scratch with no track record or any project in hand.

“We quit our respective jobs and started ATF with nothing. But eventually we secured clients and projects purely based on our past work experience, reputation and network. We are currently recognized by our clients for being technically good and for delivering projects on time. From there, we gradually received more referrals and secured bigger projects,” says Chew.

Although ATF mostly work on digitalization projects for the financial industry, it is also exploring similar initiatives for the government sector, supply chain and logistics, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“We don’t limit ourselves to the financial industry because the technology used is the same except that it is applied in different sectors or industries for different objectives. For example, FinTech is about leveraging on digital technology to earn revenues whereas digital technology in the government sector (govtech) is about facilitating the city or the state to move towards a modern city. Govtech is also about how digital technology can reduce government administrative-related work,” explains Chew.

When ATF first began, there were only two persons in the team – Chew and his co-founder. Since then, the company has grown rapidly to a staff-strength of eleven people. The team is anticipated to further increase to more than twenty people within a couple of months on the back of more projects in the pipeline.

“Our vision is to strengthen digital technology growth in Malaysia, and to do that, we aim to source the right talent with the right skillset. We train and develop talents while providing them room to grow and to explore the limitless opportunities in digital technology.”

The post A SHINING STAR IN FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Motivated by the belief that every woman deserves to be beautiful, Queenie Kwok, CEO of 3Q Quinn Sdn Bhd (more popularly known as ‘3Q Queen’) decided to venture into business and establish her own company that sells health products in order to enable women to stay healthy and possess a stunning appearance. In an interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, Kwok speaks about the company that she had established, the challenges in the business and the hopes that she harbours.

Queenie Kwok, CEO of 3Q Quinn Sdn Bhd, leads a team of 2,500 at just 25 years of age. “I used to work as a telemarketer and later I took up a full time job in an advertising company. After an unfortunate incident of falling prey to a scheme, I suffered some financial losses. The devastating incident made me lose confidence for a while. After some time, I wanted to prove to myself and my family that I could succeed in life and earn back the money that I lost due to the scheme,” shares Kwok. “I started working hard and finally set up 3Q Queen. I also managed to establish a name for my company in the marketing of health and beauty products through online retailing.”

When Kwok started out, there were not many online retail companies selling health and beauty related products. She seized this golden opportunity to be outstanding in this industry and her business started to flourish. “The motto of 3Q Queen emphasises on 3 important qualities of the products. The first is quality as we want our products to be of good quality, the second is quantity and the third is qualification, which shows how our products are qualified to be in the market,” Kwok says with a sense of pride. “Our products are of high standard and for our associates who manage to achieve their sales targets, our company would reward them favourably.”

3Q Queen also collaborates with qualified professionals in order to deliver the best to its customers, as they are consumers of the products. Kwok’s favourite quote is “One may not be born a princess but definitely could possess a heart to be a queen.”

The latest product of 3Q Queen is the Susenji Gold, a body massage gel that has many health benefits. “The product has multiple functions such as skin firming, edema elimination, skin whitening and brightening and also acupoint stimulation.” Another well-known product by 3Q Queen is the Susenji’s Orange Mofa with its sourish-sweetish taste which has solicited many compliments from customers. Susenji’s Orange Mofa removes toxins from our body, cleanses the colon and even balances the PH level of the body, hence optimizing one’s overall health. “The drink could even prevent cancer cells from growing and helps burn excess fat from our body,” says the radiant and beautiful Kwok.

When asked about her personal and professional life, Kwok claims that as she truly loves her work, most of her time is spent focusing on her career. She is also truly grateful as her online business has achieved tremendous success within the period of 5 years. “My plan is to expand my business further in the area of fashion, and also the food and beverage industry.”

Kwok is a visionary leader who believes that a good leader should practice what he or she preaches and also set a good example to inspire his or her team. “I always tell myself to be an example of what I would want my team members to be.” Besides giving pep talks, Kwok says that a positive attitude at work is as infectious as a smile and it can bring tremendous results. “The greatest challenge I face is currently linked to human resource management. I believe that a willingness to listen to the problems of my employees and partners is a key to success.”

Kwok also believe that young people who are starting out in this industry should persevere, work hard, have a thirst for knowledge and learn as much as possible.

The post THE ‘QUEEN’ OF BEAUTY AND HEALTH appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.

Having delivered more than 1,000 interior design projects across Malaysia for residences, office and retail spaces, and schools, Skyler Chong, founder of One Space Sdn Bhd shares with Top 10 of Malaysia on how he and his team aim to provide a one-stop interior design and build service, guiding clients to realise their concepts and offering customized solutions to fit.

Skyler Chong established One Space in 2009 as a sole proprietorship business, specialising in comprehensive interior detailing, space planning, project management and contracting. The company later became a private limited company in 2012.

Upon graduating with a diploma in Interior Design from the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA), Chong secured an interior design position at one of the most successful local interior designer firms in Malaysia, which afforded him the learning experience in designing projects, from preparing proposals to scheduling and coordinating various project phases.

After working for four years, Chong set up One Space with the vision of designing and building a living concept which he calls it the “one-space philosophy”.

“One-space philosophy is a design philosophy that inter-connects various zones such as kitchen, bathroom and living room, in a home to support interaction and communication among family members,” says Chong as he starts explaining what it is all about. “For example, homemakers would be cooking in the kitchen but they need to monitor their children as well. The one-space design philosophy is used by not having a brick wall separating the kitchen from other areas in the house. Perhaps this might not be practical for a terraced or semi-detached home but feasible for an apartment. We can have the dry kitchen inter-connected with the living room that supports interaction among family members.”

The one-space design philosophy can also be applied to office space where there are no office cubicles but an open-plan concept to support communication and group discussions among employees. Similarly, One Space has used this design philosophy for restaurants where diners are able to see the kitchen space and interact with chefs.
“I was inspired by this one-space design philosophy when I was living in Hong Kong. I understood the concept of compact living and how to optimize limited space – the apartment that I stayed in was 400sq feet in size,” smiles the creative entrepreneur.

“Furniture suppliers and contractors call themselves interior designers as well but more often than not for they sub-contract the interior design services to freelancers. Clients also claim that they can do interior designing with the help of Pinterest, and as such, they are not willing to hire and pay for a proper interior designer,” says Chong.

“But to know interior design, you need to know about construction, materials, furniture, colours and paint. We, on the other hand, know all of that, and we also supply the products from furniture and curtains to kitchen and wallpaper,” he elaborates.

“We are able to supply all those products directly because we are dealers for various home products and accessories. For instance, we are one of the dealers for Signature Kitchen, and because we are dealers for many brands, we are able to provide from A to Z under one brand at attractive prices,” explains Chong.

Despite the competitive challenges in the interior design marketplace, One Space has garnered ten years of accumulated expertise coupled with an expansive portfolio. The company increased from a staff strength of ten to thirty employees, and its revenues grew from a single million digit to double-digit millions. One Space has also ventured into custom-made woodworking product as well, and has become one of the dealers for Baagus, a brand recognised for curtains, blinds and wallpaper. Additionally, it is expanding its number of outlets to Penang and Sanctuary Mall in Kota Kemuning.

“Within the next five years, we hope to become Malaysia’s first and leading E-Space Living provider. Clients will be able to submit their interior design and build plans online based on their styles, designs and budget – it could be standard or luxury range. We will then mix and match for them based on their submissions. Clients can also buy products from our website, from cabinets and appliance to upholstery and paint colours,” says the visionary Chong.

The post CREATING NEW FRONTIERS IN INTERIOR DESIGNING appeared first on Top 10 of Malaysia.