MAKING WAVES
Malaysia’s trendiest blowdry bar, COCOdry, has now just turned 1 and despite the beauty service industry taking knock-out punches left and right, it has still firmly reigned supreme and that’s thanks to Kim May Chee at the helm.
Blindsided just like the rest of us, Kim recalls her first initial struggles regarding the pandemic. “With only slightly above 3 months of operation, we struggled as there was literally RM0 income coupled with high operating costs such as rental and wages.” Rising up and choosing to channel the positives instead, it allowed her and her team to elevate and grow their community on other platforms instead. “With the extra time we have from the temporary closure, our team channelled all remaining resources to improving our online presence, and focusing on maintaining relationships with our community, hoping to spread more positivity & joy! We finally joined Twitter, and launched a new community platform – Strong Like COCOnut to empower even more women out there.”
“Life may throw your rocks, but all you have got to do is build a castle with them!” she proudly expresses.
Not letting the pandemic crush the entrepreneurial fire within her, Kim still persevered and opened up a brand new salon in Penang. A family affair, her brand new Wave salon is a special partnership with her father. “With the experience that I’ve gained from COCOdry and my dad’s 30 years of experience as a renowned hair stylist, we’d decided to start Wave together. As an island girl, Wave represents home, it represents opportunities in life and we need to be prepared to catch it and ride on the waves.”
A touch of Santorini at the heart of Penang island, Kim wanted to create an ethereal escape – a much needed one amidst a lockdown. “Honestly, the decision to start Wave was bigger than myself. Even though it was a calculated risk, to say that I never second-guessed my decision would be a lie. But, I knew I had to do whatever it takes to ensure that Wave Salon is successful as my family depended on it. Also, I saw an untapped market and a great business opportunity in Penang, which is once again reinventing the salon experience and coming up with a unique point of difference. What’s better than sipping wine, getting your hair permed like natural waves at a salon right by the sea?”
One of her secrets to success—connecting with other like-minded female entrepreneurs. “I’ve met and learned from so MANY amazing female entrepreneurs who are extremely supportive and selfless in sharing their experiences – success, failures, lessons learned & being a support system for one another.”
“Also, I’m really happy to see that there are more Malaysian women pursuing their dreams because the more women succeed, an entire generation of girls will see themselves represented in positions of leadership, living their dreams and they can achieve anything they set their minds to.”