Bagi rakyat Malaysia, PappaRich adalah jenama yang tidak asing. Kedai makan ini terkenal dengan sajian makanan kopitiam tradisional dalam suasana yang lebih anggun dan moden.

Kebelakangan ini, PappaRich mendapat kejayaan yang lebih baik di luar negara walaupun ia sebenarnya jenama tempatan. Terdapat juga lebih banyak kopitiam moden yang telah masuki pasaran sejak ia dilancarkan tahun 2005.

Tetapi semua ini tidak menghalang Andy Lim, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Pineapple Resources Berhad, daripada membida untuk keseluruhan jenama PappaRich di Malaysia dan Kemboja pada tahun 2023.

Bercakap dengan Vulcan Post, beliau berazam untuk membangkitkan semula PappaRich pada zaman kegemilangannya.

Bagaimana? Bermula dengan rombakan penuh dalam tempoh enam bulan yang akan datang, termasuk memperkenalkan jenama baharu bernama PappaRich Lite.

Mengambil peranan yang lebih besar

“Kami mempunyai kepercayaan dan keyakinan terhadap PappaRich kerana ia adalah salah satu daripada 10 jenama F&B tempatan yang paling popular di Malaysia sebelum ini,” Andy berkata.

Walaupun kenyataannya ringkas, namun ia penuh dengan harapan yang tinggi untuk masa depan. Hasrat ini juga bukan tidak realistik, kerana Andy sebenarnya mempunyai pengalaman dalam syarikat PappaRich.

Kira-kira lapan tahun lalu, usahawan berusia 41 tahun itu bersama bapanya (dan beberapa rakan bapanya) memulakan cawangan PappaRich di NU Sentral Mall sebagai pemegang francais.

Dari situ, Andy dan bapanya mendalami pengetahuan mereka dalam industri F&B. Dan tidak lama kemudian, kemahiran yang mereka perolehi membolehkan mereka membuka restoran hot pot Thai bernama Bhai Jim Jum.

“Kami percaya bahawa dengan memberi tumpuan kepada strategi baharu kami ditambah dengan pengalaman kami menguruskan cawangan francais NU Sentral PappaRich selama hampir 10 tahun, kami berada dalam kedudukan untuk menyahut cabaran untuk menghidupkan semula dan mengembangkan jenama ini,” kongsi Andy.

Dengan itu, mereka memulakan usaha untuk memulihkan kedudukan restoran sebagai salah satu jenama F&B tempatan terkemuka di negara ini.

Daripada IT kepada F&B

Pada mulanya, Andy memulakan kerjayanya dalam industri IT dan mempunyai pengalaman selama 15 tahun dalam bidang runcit IT.

Setelah menguruskan lebih 100 kedai runcit IT, dia telah mengumpul pelbagai jenis kemahiran. Ini termasuklah kemahiran berkaitan dengan hal ehwal sumber manusia seperti skim pengambilan pekerja dan komisen.

Ditambah dengan peranan beliau dalam menguruskan Bhai Jim Jum punya lima cawangan selama setengah dekad, Andy percaya bahawa dia mempunyai kecekapan yang diperlukan untuk menghidupkan semula jenama PappaRich di Malaysia.

“Pengalaman yang saya kumpulkan selama ini telah membantu saya membentuk strategi yang lebih baik untuk mencari lokasi kedai yang berpotensi, melaksanakan kempen pemasaran yang berkesan, dan yang paling penting, menggunakan pengalaman penyumberan saya untuk mendapatkan bahan terbaik untuk restoran kami,” katanya.

Menjelaskan lagi, dia berkata bahawa mendapatkan bahan mentah adalah salah satu cabaran utama yang dihadapi dahulu di cawangan NU Sentral PappaRich sebagai pemegang francais.

Bercakap terus terang, Andy berkongsi dengan kami bahawa pada satu ketika, mereka tidak mendapat bahan masak dari dapur berpusat PappaRich. Masalah ini menyebabkan kedainya bergelut untuk mengekalkan rasa makanan yang dihidangkan dan seterusnya, menyebabkan kehilangan ramai pelanggan setia.

“Mujurlah, beberapa pemegang francais, termasuk bapa saya, bertukar idea dan berkongsi sumber untuk mengatasi krisis ini,” kongsinya.

Disebabkan kejadian ini, pasukan Andy di NU Sentral terpaksa mencari bahan sendiri. Dan dengan masa, mereka berjaya mencapai citarasa “yang paling hampir dengan versi asal” setelah beberapa percubaan.

Memperkenalkan jenama baharu di bawah kumpulan

Dengan itu, sebahagian daripada rancangan Andy untuk memberi kehidupan baharu kepada jenama itu akan menumpukan perhatian pada prinsip PappaRich, iaitu menawarkan makanan yang enak kepada pelanggan.

Andy enggan mengulas terlalu banyak mengenainya supaya tidak membongkarkan kejutan yang telah dirancangkan. Tetapi dia mengusik bahawa menu akan bertumpu kepada masakan Malaysia yang klasik dan nostalgia.

Lebih menarik lagi ialah pengenalan jenama baharu tersebut yang dipanggil PappaRich Lite kelak nanti. Jenama makanan ini adalah di bawah kumpulan PappaRich tetapi ia akan mempunyai cawangan kedai sendiri.

“Dalam usaha kami untuk menambah [kehidupan] baharu kepada jenama, kami akan ada perubahan dari segi rasa dan persembahan makanan,” kongsi Andy.

“Perubahan ini akan menjadi lebih jelas dan tonjol untuk Papparich Lite kerana kami menyasarkan pelanggan yang lebih muda, khususnya golongan muda yang bekerja dalam lingkungan umur 25 hingga 35. Kami bermatlamat untuk menjadi pilihan utama mereka untuk makanan tempatan yang selesa pada harga yang lebih berpatutan.”

Pada masa ini, konsep PappaRich Lite masih dalam peringkat percubaan dan anda boleh melanggannya di Wangsa Walk Mall. Sebuah cawangan sudah ditubuhkan di sana dengan lebih banyak lagi dalam agenda, termasuk peluang francais juga.

Optimis tentang apa yang akan datang

Walaupun teruja dengan rancangan baharu ini, Andy mengakui bahawa ia bukan satu jalan yang mudah untuk jenama ini.

Dalam kata-katanya sendiri, PappaRich telah bergelut sejak beberapa tahun lalu, namun ia agak mencabar untuk mendaptkan kembali keyakinan pelanggan.

Sebagai kedai yang berusia lebih dari 20 tahun, satu lagi halangan yang mereka jangkakan ialah mendapat penerimaan dan pengiktirafan daripada penonton yang lebih muda. Ini adalah kebimbangan yang wajar kerana terdapat banyak kafe yang tumbuh subur di seluruh negara yang menawarkan makanan tempatan yang enak.

Apatah lagi pesaing pasaran yang lebih ketara ialah Rich Kopitiam, yang dimulakan oleh pengasas PappaRich, Rich Tan.

Tetapi Pengarah Eksekutif PappaRich yang baharu tidak berundur dari tugas sukar yang menunggunya di hadapan. Matlamatnya untuk jenama ini adalah untuk mengekalkan legasinya sebagai restoran yang menawarkan hidangan Malaysia, tetapi kini dengan rasa gabungan yang dikemas kini.

“Kami percaya ruang pasaran cukup besar untuk semua orang,” kata Andy.

“Kami berharap untuk mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya 50 cawangan di seluruh Malaysia dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang. [Dan] memandangkan kami juga pemilik jenama untuk Kemboja, kami juga berharap untuk melihat 10 cawangan di rantau itu melalui francais induk yang berpotensi sebagai rakan kongsi.”

• Ketahui lebih lanjut tentang PappaRich di sini.
• Baca artikel lain yang kami tulis tentang startup Malaysia di sini.

Kredit Gambar: PappaRich

There’s a common misconception that new phone models nowadays need to have the latest technological advances. But that’s just not realistic. 

Why? Because not everyone wants them.

Think of your grandmother or less tech-savvy aunts and uncles, do you think they care much about these updates? And would they want to pay more than a few thousand ringgit for it?

Chances are they just want a good phone with good specifications that’s an upgrade from their last device. Nothing too fancy (as new tech can be confusing) or anything that will break the bank.

This is where mid-tier phones like the latest Samsung Galaxy A55 shine bright. 

Starting off with the basics

Coming at the decent price of RM1,999, the newly launched mobile phone is one of two latest additions in Samsung’s Galaxy A series. The Galaxy A55 is an improved version of its Galaxy A54 which launched last year, featuring more upgrades internally rather than externally.

On the outside, the phone sports a sleek look thanks to its aluminium metal side frames. This is a step up from its predecessor’s plastic material. The back panel is made of Gorilla Glass Victus+, so don’t worry about dropping it or getting scratches. 

The phone is rated IP67 which means the phone is durable and can last up to 30 minutes while submerged in water. But only at a depth of a metre, so you shouldn’t bring it for a swim.

The 6.6-inch FHD display wasn’t a far cry from my own daily driver which I believe is a good size, but it was a little bulky for my small hands. Typing with one hand felt more secure but gripping it for long periods wasn’t very comfortable.

Similar to the Galaxy A54, this new model is still equipped with Super AMOLED, Samsung’s Vision Booster technology, and a peak display brightness of 1,000 nits. Together, they ensure clear visibility under direct sunlight. 

But the actual highlight of the phone is…

Good photography at a decent price

If you’re looking at the hardware camera’s specifications, you’ll find no significant differences between the Galaxy A55 and the Galaxy A54.

Selfie camera	21MP, f/2.2
Wide camera	50MP, f/1.8
Ultrawide camera	12MP, f/2.2
Macro camera	5MP, f/2.4

However, you’d be sorely mistaken to think there haven’t been any improvements since the last model.

A core focus of the Galaxy A55’s camera is its better nightography with its image processing abilities. Specifically, the phone uses an AI depth map and AI ISP (image signal processing) to make photos look clearer in low-light conditions. 

Note that the keyword here is low-light and not no-light.

If you’re in a dimly lit environment, the AI features do a great job at enhancing the clarity of your photos. The images come out looking high-contrast and detailed. The latter depends highly on your ability to stay still while the camera snaps a photo.

You can see how important this is based on this image of a flower I took at night. 

I don’t have the most stable hands and sometimes struggle to take photos without something to lean on. This was one of those times and it’s very evident in the photo because the details can’t be captured. But if you put that aside, the AI features enhance it pretty well.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that the darker the environment, the worse the photos come out. So you shouldn’t expect the AI tech to be a miracle worker. My recommendation for dark rooms is to just use good old-fashioned flash.

It’s what’s on the inside that matters

Another highlight of the Galaxy A55 is the Samsung Knox Security that’s built into the phone. For the Galaxy A series, it’s currently only available in the other new addition, the Galaxy A35.

This is Samsung’s secure mobile solution that provides real-time protection for your data, such as:

• Blocking unknown apps from unauthorised access to your phone 
• Labelling unknown and unsafe phone numbers that are potentially scams or fraud phone calls 
• Providing end-to-end encryption for data storage on Samsung Cloud 

Essentially, it provides safety against hackers who will perform malicious acts. This includes gaining access to personal data like messages and documents, location tracking, extracting passwords and login credentials, and even remotely controlling your phone.

Although, this isn’t to say the other Samsung models aren’t protected from such threats. The Knox security system simply enhances this protection, since it has multiple layers of security across hardware and software.

Verdict

The Galaxy A55 uses an improved Octa-core processor that is supposed to make multi-tasking, gaming, and streaming more effortless. 

Personally, I’m not a gamer girl so I didn’t really test this out. But when it comes to multitasking and streaming videos on YouTube, it certainly lived up to these claims. Even when I streamed YouTube videos for four hours straight with my Bluetooth earphones connected, the phone didn’t heat up or hang.

Like the Galaxy A54, this new model has a 5,000 mAh battery that lasts up to 28 hours before it needs to be charged. So, you don’t have to carry around a powerbank for outings.

Sporting 5G capabilities and an internal storage of 256GB, you can choose between three colourways: Awesome Violet, Awesome IceBlue, Awesome Navy. 

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is a reliable phone with tools that are useful for daily needs. So if you’re someone who likes a good phone without too many frills, this might be a suitable choice for you.

Pros	Cons
Improved nightography abilities for better quality images in low-light conditions	Features are quite basic, might not be the best option if you’re looking for more tools to play with
Has built-in Samsung Knox Security to ensure device is safe from hackers

• Read other articles we’ve written about Samsung here.
• Learn more about Samsung Galaxy A55 here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

A career in the arts wasn’t exactly what Maggie Tan’s mum had envisioned for her. She would tell Maggie, “Art cannot feed you.”

So Maggie chose to study a business degree instead, something that’s more practical, and thought that was the end of it.

But a simple birthday gift led her back to her true passion. 

Having a knack for painting, Maggie forwent purchasing a present and used her talents instead. She got a pair of shoes in her friend’s size and decorated it with her artwork. Proud of her handicraft, she posted it on Facebook and immediately began receiving enquiries about them. 

“At that moment I realised, ‘Oh hey, so people are actually paying me to paint shoes?’” she recalled. This was back in 2010 when commissioned art wasn’t really popular in Malaysia, but she decided to give it a shot.

This marked the start of her artistic journey which paved the way to the opening of her own brick-and-mortar art studio called MTMT Studios, a creative art playground for the young and old.

Let’s backtrack for a second

If you’re a millennial or older zoomer, you probably took part in the sneaker art trend that boomed in the 2010s. Or at the very least, you’re likely aware of it. 

Artists around the globe would paint wearable artwork on sneakers to much fanfare. This could be as simple as adding more colours to make it unique, to replicating the likeness of favourite cartoon characters. 

During the middle of her career as a sneaker artist, Maggie’s more recognised works fell under the latter category. This included Spongebob Squarepants, the Simpsons family, and Rick and Morty designs. 

Initially, she painted on Malaysian school shoes like Bata. But when clients were willing to spend more, she moved on to higher-end shoes such as Vans and the trendy Nike Air Forces.

Most of her sales came from the internet where she would post on social media and Etsy, a creative entrepreneurship platform. This led her business to go international where many of her customers hailed from the US, UK, Australia, and even Bosnia. 

“It felt surreal to earn in a foreign currency back then, especially while in university because I haven’t even gotten my starting pay working full time for a company,” she recalled.

Paving a path for herself

Upon graduating, she started her career by dipping her toes in different industries. Whether that be banking, insurance, fashion, or even personal development, she persisted relentlessly to find her place in the corporate jungle.

But as time went on, she didn’t feel like she belonged in any of them. Couple that with some unpleasant experiences with corporate bullies and you can see why she wanted to leave.

“Don’t get me wrong, [the] pay was great, but my sense of purpose was empty. I had this epiphany moment thinking if I were to die then, it felt like I wasn’t even leaving any form of legacy. So why work so hard for someone’s company when they don’t even value you?” Maggie explained.

Having had enough, she decided to quit corporate life for good. Coincidentally, her mum wanted to downsize her beauty salon as well, which freed up a large space perfect for MTMT Studios. So that’s exactly what she turned it into.

It was quite a gamble as the art industry was (and still is) underappreciated in Malaysia. However, Maggie utilised the resources she could find.

This came in the form of the National Art Gallery’s Young Art Entrepreneur (YAE) programme. A four-month programme, it helps artists build their entrepreneurial skills while enhancing their creativity. 

“YAE opened doors to a lot of opportunities and I’m beyond grateful up till now that this platform allowed so much magic to happen,” Maggie stated. 

Being flexible & adapting to changes

Her original intention for MTMT Studios was to have a place to grow her shoe painting business. It was meant to be a space to work on her creations while doubling as a workshop area for people to try the crafts themselves. 

Much to her disappointment, it wasn’t well received. 

People didn’t want to wear something they painted, nor did they want to ruin their own footwear. It wasn’t practical for Maggie to supply the shoes either as that would mean stocking up on various sizes. 

So she pivoted and turned MTMT Studio into an art jam facility that hosted various art workshops. 

Amongst those were canvas painting, pottery, perfumery, candle making, and embroidery, where she’d invite artist collaborators to teach their niche. Business was booming at some point, where they’d be fully booked for days.

However, as time passed, signups began dwindling and became inconsistent. Knowing this couldn’t go on, Maggie shifted the business’s focus once again. 

Not just a studio, but a community space

MTMT now mainly offers adult painting classes and kids’ art classes. Adult classes include intuitive painting sessions, as well as textured and non-textured artworks. The starting price is RM95 and can go up to RM1,200. 

On the other hand, sessions for children include one-off lessons for painting and crafts, along with an annual arts programme. The latter divides students according to age groups: 

• 4 to 6 years old
• 7 to 12 years old
• 13 to 17 years old

Each age group has different syllabuses taught by partnering artists and explores different stages of art skills. For example, lessons for kids below the age of six revolve around sensory play, while classes for teens are meant to enhance discipline and creative expression.

The full price for this isn’t stated on the website, but there is a trial session for RM50.

Maggie assured us that all of MTMT Studios’ classes are beginner-friendly. Those with zero background in art are highly welcomed alongside more advanced students.

The business focus shift was quite recent, and the studio is still going through a transitional phase. She hopes this will improve the state of the brand’s finances and make them more stable. 

On a more personal note, her vision for MTMT Studios remains the same—to make it a communal art space where you’re not just picking up skills, but friendships too.

• Learn more about MTMT Studios here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: MTMT Studios

With a focus on employee well-being, Jaya Grocer announced yesterday (April 1) that it’s introducing earned wage access (EWA) in the company. This is done in collaboration with one of Asia’s largest EWA providers called Paywatch. 

Headquartered in Malaysia, Paywatch is a fintech startup that’s worked with major banks like Hong Leong Bank.

This collaborative project is part of Jaya Grocer’s comprehensive and technology-enabled employee wellness programme that aims to enhance financial flexibility and reduce financial stress. “We are on a transformation journey where the focus is on people,” the brand told us. 

Essentially, EWA is a financial payroll solution that offers employees real-time access to their earned wages before the regular payday. This is not to be confused with a loan or an advance on their salary. One local EWA provider we’ve featured in the past is Payd. 

The current payroll system that Jaya Grocer uses still remains as is. All Jaya Grocer team members will continue to receive their salaries on a monthly basis through its existing payroll system.    

The only difference with the implementation of EWA is that employees now have an additional avenue to access earned wages. This is usually to help them tide over short-term, unexpected expenses such as emergencies or urgent payments where deadlines cannot be stretched until usual pay days.

“This is helpful for our people as they can then avoid penalties and late fees in urgent situations by making prompt payments,” Jaya Grocer explained. 

A recent study revealed that 42% of employees in Malaysia have high levels of financial risk, and 62% of employees say their mental health impacts their work productivity. Being in a people-centric, labour-intensive industry, Jaya Grocer believes this new EWA introduction will improve welfare.

Together with its EWA system, Jaya Grocer has conducted intensive roadshows for all its outlets and distribution centres to ensure that employees understand its pros and cons. To avoid misuse, there is a minimum and maximum cap that one can withdraw in a month so that it does not affect their end-of-month take-home pay. 

Currently, this is only available to the majority of the supermarket chain’s front-liners and distribution centre team, which is around 3,100 full-timers across the country. Phase 2 of the rollout will cover the remainder of its staff members in the near future.

“The aim of this implementation is to show our people that we care for them and, importantly, as part of the attraction and retention strategy,” the brand stated.

Amidst its network expansion plans this year, Jaya Grocer expects this partnership with Paywatch to strengthen its value proposition for employees while significantly reducing employee turnover. 

Its press release shared that data from Paywatch found EWA to reduce employee turnover by up to 40% while significantly improving productivity. 

“There is a strong correlation between happy, financially secure employees and successful companies,”  said Alex Kim, co-founder and President of Paywatch. “As a holistic solution, Paywatch helps employers cultivate great workplaces and supports their efforts in alleviating money-related stress and distractions for employees so that people can thrive professionally and personally.”

This aligns with Jaya Grocer’s aim of advancing its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitment. Specifically, it supports employees to build sustainable livelihoods and improve their resilience to navigate macroeconomic challenges. 

• Learn more about Jaya Grocer here.
• Learn more about Paywatch here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Jaya Grocer

When Fazleen Nazri started going on hiking trips, she never thought of turning it into an adventure club. She was just someone who enjoyed the outdoors and frequently ventured out of her comfort zone.

The more she travelled, though, the more she saw its viability. 

It began with her friends asking to join on hiking trips, both in and out of Malaysia. Then those friends invited their other pals and relatives. Each time, she would host a bigger crowd with new faces. 

Eventually, without her realising it, the adventure club formed itself and she was at the helm of it.

What else was she to do but seize the opportunity? That’s the tale of how PajelinTrip got its rather impromptu start.

Fun fact: The name PajelinTrip was created by Fazleen’s friend because “Pajelin” sounds like Fazleen.

A safe space for ladies

Established in 2017, the adventure club is a space where women can experience the outdoors without fearing for their safety. 

Speaking candidly, Fazleen shared that she understands the issues the fairer sex faces, particularly when you’re out of the house. “Some women experience sexual harassment [and] uncomfortable flirting when outdoors or during travel activities.” 

It’s a common issue around the world and has unfortunately caused many women to forgo having such hobbies. 

This is what Fazleen is hoping to change through PajelinTrip. By providing a comfortable environment for women, her aim is to encourage girls to break the cycle and try something new.

As such, the adventure club offers a few programmes to choose from: Women Camp, Women Trip, and group hikes. 

For Women Camp, it’s an all-inclusive experience so you don’t have to bring anything but yourself and your personal belongings. There is a participation fee but the camping trip is all-inclusive where camping equipment and food will be provided. Fazleen’s team of two also furnishes the tents with air mattresses for comfort. 

The hiking trips are similar, where most aspects are covered by Fazleen and her team. All you need to do is bring along a sense of adventure.

Building a community from the ground up

On the other hand, the Women Trip is for leisure travels. The team will prepare transportation, accommodation, and a tour guide throughout the vacation. 

If you think this sounds similar to a travel agency, you wouldn’t be alone. You still have to fork out your share to join these activities. But the founder clarified that the brand sees itself as more of a community that organises events.

This is because all of the club’s activities are founded on the basis of building close relationships with each other. Before any adventures happen, the team hosts classes with participants at its studio in Kelana Jaya.

These gatherings are meant as briefings to explain the itinerary and give some background knowledge for hikes and camps. But more importantly, it’s to foster connections amongst new and existing club members. 

Essentially, the idea is to ensure that you know each other before the trip. Because let’s be real, travelling with strangers can make a trip awkward and uncomfortable.

So far this strategy seems to be working. Fazlees even shared that many of the club members have become friends outside of PajelinTrip as well. In fact, the only crew member aside from Fazleen and her co-founder (who prefers to remain anonymous) was once a client. 

A speech therapist by day, Siti Fatimah joined the adventure club back in 2020 before the pandemic happened. She wanted a medium that allowed her to be comfortable outdoors and fell in love with the community it built.

Going all in ’cause it’s now or never

Thus far, PajelinTrip has brought groups of people to visit various places such as Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, and Annapurna in Nepal last year.

Its participants come from a wide range of age groups as Fazleen doesn’t discriminate. They’ve even had a 60-year-old woman join one of their camping trips alone. Again, this is where the community comes in as moral and emotional support.

“They know that they can rely on us when they reach the campsite for safety and privacy,” Fazleen stated.

Up until the third quarter of 2023, Fazleen was running PajelinTrip as a passion project on the side. But six years into the club’s founding, she finally took a leap of faith and left her career in the accounting industry. 

“It was about time for me to try and give myself the space to pursue this as a business. I think if I don’t try it, I won’t know [if it will work out],” Fazleen confided.

Looking at how the club has grown over the years, though, there’s certainly a demand for PajelinTrip’s services. It’s possible that we’ll see more brands tailoring services for women mushrooming in the coming years (or even months), but if they’re just there to profit, they might have their work cut out for them.

As Fazleen put it, “We don’t sell the [adventure] packages, we sell the bonding experience.”

• Learn more about PajelinTrip here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: PajelinTrip

ZUS Coffee, the tech-driven Malaysian coffee chain, has taken another step towards being more inclusive by partnering with Audiolab Hearing Care Centre (Audiolab) once again.

As part of the hearing solutions provider’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Audiolab has donated two pairs of superpower hearing aids to ZUS Coffee’s baristas facing severe to profound hearing loss.

The recipients—Izzad Arif from Selayang, Selangor, and Muhammad Alif Hazman from Kota Masai, Johor—have been battling hearing impairments since birth.

The hope is that these hearing aids will further assist Izzad and Muhammad in their careers, especially during peak seasons like the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. This collaboration is part of Audiolab’s ongoing commitment to support the hearing-impaired community. 

Speaking on this latest partnership with ZUS Coffee, the Managing Director of Audiolab, Mr. Mohd Nor Che Ta said, “We are proud to collaborate with ZUS Coffee to provide life-changing hearing aids to Izzad and Alif. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss, and initiatives like this allow us to make a meaningful impact in their lives.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with ZUS Coffee, a company that shares our values of inclusivity and empowerment,” added Mr. Mohd Nor Che Ta. 

Venon Tian, Chief Operating Officer of ZUS Coffee, expressed his excitement on the partnership as well, stating that the company believes in inclusivity and accessibility for all. 

“By teaming up with Audiolab, we can ensure that our baristas with hearing impairments have the tools they need to excel in their roles and provide exceptional service to our customers,” Venon Tian shared.

With close to 28 years of experience in the field, the local healthcare brand prides itself on the ability to help Malaysians rediscover the joy of sound and reconnect them with the rest of the world. 

To achieve this, Audiolab focuses on the provision of various hearing aid products and hearing tests and services. Some examples of this include paediatric and adult hearing tests and hearing aid maintenance.

The brand also offers customers advice on the best hearing loss treatments and management on a case-by-case basis. Hearing conditions, lifestyle, and budgets are all taken into consideration during the consultation. Audiolab currently has 22 stores around the country including outlets in East Malaysia, and offers home visits upon request. 

This isn’t the first time Audiolab has partnered with ZUS Coffee. Not long ago, the hearing care centre collaborated with the coffee chain in an effort to promote both brands. By spending more than RM100 at Audiolab, its customers can redeem vouchers for a 10% discount at ZUS Coffee.

Prior to this, the coffee chain had come under scrutiny in 2022 for discrimination against the differently-abled. At the time, a recruiter from its HR department had rejected an applicant after he revealed his hearing disability. The brand issued a prompt apology and launched an investigation into the matter.

With this shared initiative, it seems that ZUS Coffee is working towards redeeming itself and becoming a more inclusive and uplifting company.

• Learn more about Audiolab Hearing Care Centre here.
• Learn more about ZUS Coffee here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Audiolab Hearing Care Centre

Have you ever walked into a store and found something you really liked, only to walk away disappointed after checking the price tag?

That’s how Umai felt a few months ago. She had just tried on a cute cat scarf before having to leave the KL luxury store with a heavy heart. Even then, though, it never left her mind, and she was quite hung up on it for several days.

Until September 7, 2023, when her husband threw her a curveball—”Why don’t you design your own cat scarf at an affordable price? What’s stopping you?” Amir Subril prompted.

That’s what triggered Umai to start The Hartan, her own scarf brand with a feline theme.

It’s quite a leap for the 29-year-old as she wasn’t keen on leaving her comfort zone. Launching a business means taking risks. And at the time, the couple had already left their corporate careers to run the family business of homestays and chalets in Bagan Datuk, Perak.

But Amir viewed it as an opportunity to try something new. “Whether you succeed or fail, at least you tried. It’s part of life’s journey,” he reminded her.

Thus, giving her the push she needed to undertake this venture with him.

A “club” for crazy cat ladies

As a self proclaimed crazy cat lady, Umai obviously has a furry companion of her own. Called Muk, the British Shorthair is one half of the inspiration behind The Hartan.

The other half is the couple’s young daughter, Natrah, who has an adorable relationship with Muk. Reflecting on this, Umai envisioned a charming fusion of Natrah wearing a scarf and black sunglasses, playing with Muk. 

Thus, birthing the concept for The Hartan.

A quick browse through The Hartan’s website and you’ll find that they’ve only launched three designs so far: The Clowder of Catso, Muk Thru The Glass, and its latest one for Raya called Kitty Di Aidilfitri.

This is an intentional move by the brand to slowly introduce its products in the saturated Muslimah hijab market. 

Sharing with us, Umai explained that they’re planning to launch a new product every month to keep the ball rolling. To date, they already have a few lined up for half of the year.

Each design takes up to five days to complete and is the work of Umai’s best friend, who she affectionately calls “a crazy cat lady” like her. As such, the couple doesn’t have to elaborate on many details for her to help bring their design visions to life.

Looking good, “feline” good

All of The Hartan’s patterns (RM89) come in various colours and two shapes to choose from, a rectangular shawl and a square scarf. The release of different sizes allows the brand to capture a larger Muslimah market.

For context, hijabis have different preferences when it comes to styling their hijabs. The traditional style uses a square scarf (also called “tudung bawal” in Malay), while the rectangular shawl looks more modern.

But The Hartan isn’t just for people wearing headscarves, it’s for anyone who loves cats. 

Non-hijabis can use the scarfs as a twilly to drape around your neck or to add some flair to your handbags. Another alternative is to wear them as makeshift tube tops, the kind you see Gen Z fashionistas do these days.

And you’d be right to think that they’re hoping to garner a loyal customer base of young adults.

However, quirkiness has no age limit. A good portion of their sales comes from women in their 40s who don’t necessarily think of themselves as cat lovers. 

As a small business, the brand focuses on producing low volumes of scarfs. This allows them to analyse and determine which designs people like without a large capital expenditure.

Having the right cat-titude

The Hartan is one of the few (if not only) hijab brands in Malaysia pioneering cat-themed scarves. This is in and of itself an achievement since they’re carving out a new niche that aligns with their own passions.

That said, you can’t be too careful as designs can be easily stolen. We’ve seen it happen quite a few times where big labels copy the works of smaller-scaled entrepreneurs. Not dropping any names, but the stories are just a Google away.

So getting intellectual property (IP) rights for The Hartan’s designs is undoubtedly in Umai and Amir’s agendas.

Should they face such an issue in the future, though, the couple are prepared to deal with it sensibly. “We would see it as a marketing opportunity for us to grow and grab as much attention as possible so that people would know [the brand],” Umai shared.

“The Hartan is not just about designs. We’re more than that. The Hartan is a journey, our journey. No matter what happens, we’ll continue to survive by doing our very best.” 

Currently, the brand’s products are only available on their website, and they have no plans of setting up a physical store yet. Instead, the focus will be on online marketing.

They’re also planning to sponsor a few local animal shelters to share their earnings with the furry friends in need. After all, The Hartan is all about cats and the couple’s hope is that stray felines will get the love and care they deserve.

• Learn more about The Hartan here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: The Hartan

American barbecue (BBQ) seems to have quite a mesmerising hold on those who come across it. Nizar, who first discovered American BBQ more than a decade ago in Dallas, Texas, happens to be one of them. 

He used to work in the airline industry as an engineer and chanced upon the local Texan BBQ culture. Describing it as a way of life, Nizar shared that every Friday was a BBQ lunch. “Within 10 miles of my office, we had eight BBQ joints so we were spoilt for choice.”

It became such a habit that every time he caught a whiff of BBQ smoke, he’d get excited and salivate, “Kind of like Pavlov’s dogs,” he joked.

Loving the taste of smoked meats, Nizar visited multiple restaurants in and out of Texas that served it. Doing this allowed him to test and figure out how the meats were smoked, which turned out to be crucial for his future venture. Even if he wasn’t aware of it at the time.

Upon returning to Malaysia three years later, he quickly realised that there weren’t many people serving American BBQ. 

So he decided to be one of the few pioneers and launched Cowboys Barbecue & Grill in 2014.

Being a pioneer

Having not much capital to work with, Nizar and his other two co-founders (who have since left to pursue other interests) opted to get a food truck. 

It was the most cost-efficient way to get the brand started and allowed them to move around. This meant they could gain market validation from different locations and gave them the opportunity to provide catering services. 

To increase their odds, the trio also participated in food events. “We were fortunate enough to be one of the early pioneers of the modern food truck in the Klang Valley, which helped us get a lot of media coverage,” Nizar shared. 

However, American BBQ was still a novelty in Malaysia then and faced several misconceptions. The most jarring one is that when someone mentions barbecue, we picture live fire grilling.

Smoked brisket and its 10-hour-long, tedious cooking process weren’t something many were familiar with. “But sharing what we do is a big part of how we connect with our customers, so I looked at this as an opportunity to educate and promote [American cuisine],” Nizar shared.

As the business grew and feedback became increasingly encouraging, he took the plunge and left the comfort of his corporate job at Malaysian Airlines (MAS). 

But then the pandemic happened and challenged the brand’s resourcefulness and adaptability.

Solidifying the business

Much to their luck, Cowboys Barbecue & Grill had some financial reserves and they were quick to change business strategies. 

Nizar could still recall how blurry the first month was with the team scrambling to move previously in-person-only operations online. 

The brand was barely breaking even for the first four months. Nizar had to dip his hands into personal finances and sell the brand’s second food truck to keep the business afloat. The brand worked with NGOs to prepare food for the B40 groups in their area to cover overheads too. 

As a business owner, though, he realised this wasn’t sustainable in the long run. 

“I knew that once the economy opened back, dining would be very different [and] I couldn’t survive operating only from a food truck,” Nizar shared. “[So] I took this time to revamp our menu with plans of opening our own BBQ place.”

Specifically, the menu changed from being food truck-based to a more family-oriented restaurant. “This really saved us. Our deliveries shot up and from worrying about how to get orders, I was now thinking of how to keep up [with orders].”

There were times when they had to run overnight shifts to match demands. It was this success that gave Nizar and his team the confidence to launch a brick-and-mortar store in Ara Damansara in 2023.

New spot, same smoke-y goodness

To align with the American BBQ culture, he decided to set it up in a warehouse-like space. It features an open concept where guests can see the smoking process and enjoy the smell of briskets being cooked.

If you’re new to Texan barbecue, Nizar recommends getting their Yellowstone Platter that serves two pax. He described it as the perfect introduction to the cuisine as you’ll get their Signature Smoked Brisket, Smoked Pulled Lamb, and a choice of three homemade sides and tortillas. 

There are also various burgers, quesadillas, and tacos filled with barbecued meat if you’re looking for lighter bites.

Most ingredients are sourced locally but the meat is imported, such as the Premium Angus from Argentina. “We use it because of its fat content and its huge size,” the ex-engineer shared. 

For the dry rub, he explained that real Texan BBQ uses just salt and pepper, and is smoked using mesquite wood. But he’s added more seasonings to concoct a more flavourful dry rub to suit Malaysian palates.

As it wouldn’t make economic sense to import American hardwood, he improvised and used fruit wood (specifically, rambutan) instead. This gives out a subtle and fragrant aroma that isn’t too overpowering. The wood burns really slowly as well which makes it perfect for barbecuing. 

Still a niche market

Currently, the brand hasn’t gotten JAKIM’s halal certification as it requires “a little bit more resources”. They’re hoping to look into it in the future once they have the means to do so. 

Nizar assured us that in the time being, all their ingredients are halal-certified and that good hygiene is maintained. 

The sole owner of the business now is focusing on growing his restaurant and catering arm. He’s also seeking a business partner to take Cowboys Barbecue & Grill to the next level. “Managing the business as a one-man show is tough,” he confided.

Looking at the landscape now, Nizar shared that there’s still much to educate the public on when it comes to American BBQ. But the scene has taken off in the last three years with more brands offering the cuisine, including SmokePapa BBQ in Penang. 

“I think COVID-19 helped in a way cause everyone was stuck at home and had lots of time on their hands. And in BBQ, having the time and patience to monitor the smoking process is key,” he explained.

That said, he believes it’s still very niche and isn’t worried about market competition. After all, how many local brands can you name that serve briskets cooked for 10 hours?

• Learn more about Cowboys Barbecue & Grill here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Cowboys Barbecue & Grill

When you get to the top floor of 163 Retail Park, Mont Kiara, you’ll find Golden Screen Cinema’s (GSC) Velvet nestled in a corner beside a skating rink. 

Launched in November last year, it’s a themed cinema that reimagines retro cinematic experiences, complete with vibrant F&B and lifestyle offerings. 

The entrance looks like any other F&B establishment, with square tables and leather-clad chairs. But venture further in and you’ll feel transported back to a 60s, swanky gentlemen’s club. 

Coming in shades of teal and tangerine, the booth and solo seats are made with velvet fabric. Rows upon rows of framed photographs featuring classic cinema icons line the walls. 

Taking centre stage is the karaoke screen that allows customers to belt their hearts out. Topping it off is a classic bar at the side that completes the retro look GSC aimed to create. 

Overall, the old Hollywood-like environment seems to be enticing us to just kick back and relax. So that’s exactly what my colleague Claudia and I did as we dined at the cinema’s in-house restaurant.

A wide selection of Western delights

Contrary to what you might think, the restaurant is actually open to everyone. So you’re welcomed to grab a bite here even if you’re not planning to catch a movie in one of its 163 seats. 

The menu is a curation of hearty Western dishes that lived up to our expectations with good portions.

Velvet served us some of its house specialties as an introduction to its kitchen, namely:

• Tea-Smoked Duck Salad (RM35)
• Ocean Trio Sharing Platter (RM79)
• Fish & Chips (RM59)
• Cajun Chicken Quesadilla (RM32)
• Lancashire Lamb Hotpot (RM39)

We kicked off the meal with its Tea-Smoked Duck Salad, which is an Asian-inspired XO-marinated salad topped with Italian dressing. This was a good start that prepared us for the fusion medley ahead.

Then we moved on to the Ocean Trio sharing platter that had battered fried calamari, and grilled Cajun prawns and sea bass fish brochettes. The perfectly cooked grilled prawns were topped with garlic sauce that reminded us of the garlic-ginger paste you’d typically pair with Hainanese chicken rice.

Velvet’s Fish & Chips uses Hoki fish (also known as Blue grenadier) from the Netherlands. It has a higher fat content compared to most other white fish, making it flavourful. 

If you’re like me and dislike strong fishy tastes then this would be a good bet because it has none of that. The same goes for the Ocean Trio as well, but I believe adding pineapple instead of leek to the fish brochettes would add a good tangy kick to the dish.

The dish was served with tartar sauce which tasted more eggy than usual and had a bit of texture. In place of mushy peas, the restaurant uses what tasted like mashed roasted Japanese peas to me. It also came with mildly sweet pearl onions that were a good palate cleanser.

The Cajun Chicken Quesadilla was what you’d expect a classic Mexican quesadilla to be—warm, cheesy, and packed with just enough flavour. 

But my favourite dish of the night had to be the Lancashire Lamb Hotpot. It’s basically a braised lamb shoulder stew cooked with thinly-sliced potatoes. The meat was tender and flavours robust, though I wished there was more broth to slurp up.

To quench our thirst, we opted for our server’s recommendations—a Galaxy Yuzu Lemonade soda (RM17) and a Black Swan mocktail (RM26). The latter is inspired by the 2010 film of the same name featuring Natalie Portman.

Both of the beverages weren’t too sweet, and they tied up our meals beautifully. Alcoholic concoctions weren’t available yet at the time of writing.

Food for the soul and the community 

Aside from those, Velvet also has other dishes like Double Wagyu Matcha Burger (RM59) and desserts such as English Trifle (RM25). Its kids menu has quite sassy dishes like “I Don’t Know” (mac and cheese), “I’m Not Hungry” (bangers and mash), and “I Don’t Care” (chicken katsu burger), phrases you might hear a sulky child mutter. 

But it seems that Velvet wants to emphasise itself as being a communal space with all three sharing platters being a restaurant signature. 

Back during its launch, GSC’s CEO, Koh Mei Lee, told Vulcan Post that the brand hopes to create an intimate social space for residents living around the neighbourhood. “My aspiration is that people from the community will come here often. It’s kind of like a cinema where everybody would know your name because you’re a regular.”

In fact, we noticed this happen during our visit when one of the diners had a personable conversation with the manager. We also found the service to be friendly and quite accommodating, so don’t be shy to voice out if you have any food allergies or preferences.

Looking at the bigger picture, it seems like opening an in-house restaurant is GSC’s way of keeping the crowd in their establishments, because people usually hang out elsewhere while waiting for their movie halls to open up. 

Converting the usually vacant corridors into a more functional space helps bring in more traffic and adds another revenue stream to the brand. 

This is an approach that GSC seems to be committing to with its latest Aurum Theatre at The Exchange TRX also sporting several restaurants for everyday diners. It helps that they’re not taking the F&B aspect lightly either as the menu doesn’t serve your conventional cinema snacks.

While the USP of Velvet Cinemas is the combined experience of a good meal and a movie in one place, we wouldn’t be opposed to the idea of GSC simply launching more standalone F&B establishments. Perhaps that’s already in the works, and they’re just doing market validation with Velvet Cinemas and Aurum Theatre.

• Learn more about GSC’s Velvet Cinemas here.
• Read other lifestyle articles we’ve written here.

There’s a common belief that turning your hobby into a business would kill it. And to some degree, that may be true.

But Ngoo Sze Jie didn’t let that stop her from establishing Fourjei, a business selling premium handcrafted leather and canvas goods, at just 24 years old.

“I thought the best time to venture into something is when I have less commitment in life. The longer I wait, the less daring I’d become,” she stated.

So when her one-year contract with the architectural firm she was at was up, she figured it was now or never.

Nine years in, and she’s never looked back since.

Taking a leap of faith

Fourjei initially began as a passion project in 2010 while Sze Jie was still an architecture student at USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia) in Penang. To wind down and earn some extra money, she would design and sew fabric bags, pouches, and accessories on semester breaks.

Needlework was a skill she picked up from her mum as a kid. It also helped that she had a passionate art teacher in primary school who encouraged her crafting interest.

Back then, she would hand-sew dresses and other clothes for her Barbie dolls. She’d even make miniature furniture to embellish her doll set.

This venture continued past her university days and became her part-time hustle while working as an assistant architect. 

Throughout her one-year tenure at TR Hamzah & Yeang, Sze Jie found herself envisioning a future of just crafting.

“By practice, the architectural work of designing and constructing a building or township is a tedious and long process. It requires passion to enjoy and fully embrace the work culture in this industry,” she shared. 

While working there, she found herself struggling to come to terms with working on screens and drawings for long hours. She instead enjoyed more hands-on work.

Hence she decided to take a leap of faith when the opportunity came.

From architecture to leather craftswoman

Upon quitting her first architectural job, she decided to take up leather crafting to upskill and widen the business’ product range.

That’s how she landed in Bangkok, Thailand, for a leather crafting course hosted by an ex-architect. 

For six days, Sze Jie and the other students learnt the step-by-step process of handcrafting leather from scratch. This included template-making, saddle stitching, and how to incorporate different metal fixtures into leather articles.

At the end of it, everyone showcased their works to the class. “I think that was the most memorable part of the course,” Sze Jie recalled. “I got to ‘fast track’ my learning by observing how different bags are made since everybody took up unique projects.”

Afterwards, she returned to Malaysia and officially launched Fourjei as her registered full-time venture.

The business began selling only canvas totes and bags together with some leather key holders. Sze Jie would frequently join pop-up events to get the word out while also getting in tune with market preferences.

Over time, Fourjei’s catalogue expanded to meet the demands of different customer segments. Most of her products are gender-neutral which helps make them more appealing to a wider audience, particularly to those shopping for others.

Her best-selling products include the sunglasses case (RM220), Anne half-moon bag (RM690), and card holders and wallets (starts from RM79). 

A worthy trade-off

All of Fourjei’s products are still made by Sze Jie herself. Occasionally the brand would hire part-timers to assist at pop-up and corporate events.

She usually makes each item in small batches to save time and be more cost efficient. A leather bag would take up to three days to make, while 20 card holders of different colours would take at least a week.

More complex bags require more time for R&D. Unconventional material combinations like fabrics and leather also need a few rounds of trial and error to get right.

“We’re a profitable business although speaking frankly, it’s not the job you would stick with if you want a lavish lifestyle,” Sze Jie confided. “But I find this trade-off worth it because I have flexibility and full control of my time and the business.”

Despite being a small business, she’s discovered three key ways to keep it sustainable:

1. Making sure she’s actually paid for her hard work
2. Being diligent with the business’s accounting and making necessary adjustments to cut costs and improve sales
3. Cutting down on material waste by turning remnants into smaller leather or canvas goods

Fourjei just turned nine years old in February so it’s safe to say that these practices work for her.

Sze Jie also credited the corporate orders she received in her first year for spurring the business’s growth.

Success is personal to everyone

That said, one key challenge the brand has been facing is the rise of vegan leather in recent years. 

It’s being marketed as a more environmentally-conscious option when they’re actually made from plastics. For context, Harpers Bazaar clarifies that most vegan leathers are made of PVC and PU, both of which are petroleum-based plastics.

In contrast, Sze Jie said that raw hides used by tanneries are often by-products from the food industry, meaning animals aren’t killed just for their skin. Genuine leather is also more durable which makes them greener.

This is something that Sze Jie hopes to bring awareness to, alongside educating people on the value of handcrafted leather goods. Particularly as there are pricing disparities compared to mass-produced labels and international fashion houses.

In the long run, though, she doesn’t really have a long-term plan for Fourjei. Her focus is to continue making products that can last a lifetime and stay relevant in the market.

“To me, success for the brand means having a level of reputation of being well-established and known for its quality products,” she stated.

“I think being a niche, handmade and homegrown brand itself is already something to be proud of.”

• Learn more about Fourjei here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Fourjei