Online market helps handicraft entrepreneurs sell products
THE high cost of living in Kuala Lumpur has forced single mother Shereen Khoo, 65, to work various jobs to support her family, which includes her two autistic children. That being said, not much heavy work can be done by women her age, other than selling biscuits during festivals and parttime maintenance work which earns her a little pay.
However, life for Khoo changed when she was invited to join The Tunku Azizah Handmade Market (TTAHM) under the patronage of the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
TTAHM, under the auspices of the Malaysian Creative Sewing Arts Association (PSJKM), was set up to help local handicraft entrepreneurs market their own products online.
Making use of her sewing skills, the mother of four began producing five products, namely embroidered face towels, water bottle carriers, embroidered tissue pouchs, keychains and face masks.
“I did not expect social media to be so powerful because it really helps increase my sales.
“I love sewing and I’m happy when the products I produce get encouraging response from customers, compared with selling them physically.
“I received up to 2,000 owl keychain orders within a month of joining TTAHM Online last December,” she told Bernama when met at Sewing World Gallery in Subang Jaya.
Although it can be difficult for her to understand technology, that has not deterred the Negri Sembilan native from learning to use social media to start an online business for the sake of her disabled sons, Xiang Wei, 24, and Xiang Jian, 27.
“Honestly, I am not good at doing business online and even today I am still learning.
“However, I was willing to learn when I realised that my sons also have sewing skills.
“I hope that this platform can also help them generate their own income,” she said.
Khoo is among the 100 handicraft entrepreneurs registered with TTAHM. They comprise various backgrounds, including members of the B40 group, housewives, single mothers, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and non-governmental organisations, with more than 700 products being offered.
Sharing the same view is Nur Aishah Jamaludin, 35, who hoped that TTAHM Online would be a special platform for handicraft entrepreneurs to access the market until they can eventually reach the international audience.
“There are various e-commerce platforms that are more commercial in nature, but TTAHM Online only features handmade products that are more exclusive,” said Nur Aishah, who is selling three products, namely sleeping pouches, face mask casings and tote bags, under the brand name “Athena Orange Cat”.
PSJKM chairman Fully Chye Goet Lee said TTAHM Online at www.sewingworld.com.my was introduced to help handicraft entrepreneurs who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is a path for the handicraft manufacturing industry to move forward, be competitive and have the potential to penetrate the global market.
“TTAHM Online is moving in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so that the creative sewing industry is not left behind and can compete with other industries as well as have a bigger market.”
Chye said the platform was unique as it only marketed handmade and exclusive products as well as offering training to improve the skills of handicraft entrepreneurs.
TTAHM Online was launched by Tunku Azizah on Feb 27 last year.