Image plays a key role in today’s business, Sarawak entrepreneurs reminded
KUCHING: The image of entrepreneurs and that of their companies and products remain crucial as far as the changing expectations of customers are concerned.
Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has pointed this out as ‘an economy based on expectations’.
“All entrepreneurs must change in tandem with the changing times. In the old days, especially in doing business in villages, nobody talked about the image of the sellers or the packaging of their products, as long as they were satisfied with the products and services provided.
“Now it is different. The market is no longer confined to village level – it now consists of customers from the city, from Peninsular Malaysia and even those from overseas. These customers are more sophisticated (than before) and thus, have higher expectations,” he said in his opening remarks for a seminar on ‘Women Entrepreneurs Image Transformation’ at Yayasan Sarawak here yesterday.
His text of speech was read by Assistant Minister for Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais.
Adding on, Awang Tengah pointed out that in an economy based on expectations, the customers were more wellinformed in that they had been exposed to products from overseas either through their own experiences, television or the Internet.
“Today’s customers become more difficult to understand and also to please. They want quality products that can make them stand out among other people – those that give positive impact in their lives.
“In such economy, the tastes and expectations of the customers are always changing, and so are their purchase decisions.”
As such, Awang Tengah stressed that it was necessary for local entrepreneurs to change by establishing a good image of themselves and their companies.
“Apart from the physical image, there is need for entrepreneurs to acquire the knowledge that would make them well-versed about their products and also the needs of their customers, and also to give them that competitive edge.
“Image transformation is a quality that all entrepreneurs, including the women, must have in order to compete with others and not be left behind,” he said.
The objective of the one-day seminar, organised by Persatuan Usahawan Wawasan Wanita Sarawak (Saranita), was to provide women entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge to boost their self-confidence and professionalism in business.
Later, Naroden announced an allocation of RM10,000 for Saranita, which he hoped would be exceeded by that from Awang Tengah.
Saranita president Jamilah Shukri and Halal Hub Unit director Samat Junai were among those present.