In the face of adversity
BESIDES being one of the country’s most celebrated singers, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza has proven herself to be quite an accomplished businesswoman as well.
“I didn’t expect SimplySiti to be able to last for eight years,” she says at an event celebrating the eighth year anniversary of her cosmetic line in Kuala Lumpur.
“Usually when it comes to artistes releasing their own products, they’ll just last for one to two years. But I took it as a challenge and wanted to prove that SimplySiti can last long.”
But the 39-year-old admits she has felt like throwing in the towel along the way: “There was a time when I told my husband, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t sell products anymore. I’ll just focus on my singing.’
“Because when it comes to selling products, you have to pay serious attention to every detail of it. You have to make sure the product is good, the packaging is nice and SimplySiti has so many products including skincare, makeup and perfume that we have to maintain.”
She also cites other challenges like the time her products were stolen.
Siti says she is grateful for the support from her husband, Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, during trying times.
“I’m thankful to my husband who told me to keep at it. With the proper planning, promotion and a strong team, we were able to overcome the challenges that came our way.”
Music-wise, the songstress, who welcomed her firstborn Siti Aafiyah last March, has a new single in the works.
The Comel Pipi Merah hitmaker has recruited Hael Husaini – who won the grand prize at the Anugerah Juara Lagu, an annual song competition, for Jampi last February – to compose it.
“He gave me a song and I immediately loved it. We’re recording it in September. I hope this collaboration will become a reality.”