Open For Business

Oh Dayang handcrafts jewellery & accessories, from batik earrings to phone grips, trying to bring Malaysia’s textile art to a whole new level by making their accessories a statement piece in their customers’ daily wardrobe. Dayang Nur Syafiqah, founder of Oh Dayang, discusses the catalyst of the idea as well as how she manages the business in a two-person team with her husband.

Image Credit: Oh Dayang Website

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The presenters & producers of BFM 89.9 are coming together to highlight some of their personal favourite local companies for the "BFM Collective". Studio Three is an interior design studio focusing on a process-driven design philosophy and collaboration. Established in 2019, the studio has worked with notables names like Vivy Yusof on her LILIT and dUCk stores as well as numerous high end residences. Founder Kashfi Emir shares his entrepreneurial journey on how he started this studio and the philosophy behind it. 

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The last time Vernon was on Open For Business, it was during the peak of the first Movement Control Order in 2020. A lot has changed since then, from consumer behaviour to new retail-tech trends in the market. We revisit Innergia Labs and its business intelligence tool, Sycarda, to get some insight on what’s new, what’s outdated, and what’s next for an “endemic” Malaysian retail scene. 

Image Credit: Innergia Labs Facebook Page

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For those who have a little bit of a sweet tooth, indulging in desserts can get a little guilt-inducing thinking about the potential impact that has on our bodies as a whole (and, admittedly, our waistlines). As an alternative, how about healthier ice cream that’s not only made from locally sourced, natively grown fruits, but is also as a bonus absolutely adorably styled after the very fruit it’s made out of? Executive director of Koon Huat Agriculture Group, Koh Han Seng, discusses their 3D ice cream brand, Musang Wang, and how they turn local fruits into sweet aesthetic treats. 

Image Credit: Musang Wang Facebook Page

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MyGuru is an online education platform that aims to help students from primary school to secondary school improve their academic performance. Established in 2013, myGuru is a digital product produced by Learning Port Sdn Bhd, and CEO Datin Shairin Sharif shares how they’ve been weathering the effects of the pandemic and what they’ve learned over the years.

Image Credit: Datin Shairin Sharif Linkedin Page

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Clear plastic cling wrap might be the cheap and convenient way to keep leftovers, but it contributes to plastic pollution to the environment, especially when it is not recyclable. With this in mind, Saffron & Serai is trying to change the cling wrap game with batik beeswax wraps. Iman Preece, founder of Saffron and Serai, discusses how she used YouTube to learn the production process, her dedication to marrying sustainability & design, and her inspirations coming from a long line of entrepreneurship. 

Image Credit : http://saffronandserai.com/ Website

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As conventional agriculture becomes no longer sustainable, all eyes have turned to look for sustainable farming practices, and one of which is vertical indoor farming. Jay Desan, the co-founder of BoomGrow, discusses her aims to change the access of nutritious and sustainably produced food that we put on our plates using the latest agritech.

Image Credit: BoomGrow Instagram Page

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Batik isn’t the first thing you’d associate with words like “casual”, “contemporary” fashion, but that’s exactly what fashion designer Jeffery Goh intended to change when he first started Inisaya. Plus, by adopting the made-to-order business model, Jeffery is able to cut down on fabric wastage; turning excess materials into masks, scarves, and other complementary items. Jeffery talks about making batik fashionable for a younger crowd, challenges of navigating the Malaysian market, and long-term aspirations for Inisaya as a modern batik label.

Image Credit: https://jefferygoh.com/

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Co-founders of local shoe brand Machino, Esther and Amy Tai, discuss promoting Malaysia’s diverse culture in their branding and marketing, using batik and songket materials in their products to promote our unique heritage and culture, and how their shoes truly fit the Malaysian market.

Image Credit : Machino Facebook Page

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Yelaoshr is an education provider which provides one-to-one lessons to help students and children aged 3 to 12 who face obstacles when it comes to reading, speaking and writing in multiple languages as multilingual Malaysians. Chairman David Yap shares their struggles and successes over the years since their inception in the early 2000s. 

Image Credit : Yelaoshr Facebook Page

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