When the going gets tough...
Creative individuals go online to get life going during the prolonged pandemic period, writes Hanum Afandi
THE Covid-19 pandemic has led to a disruption in business activities and entrepreneurs are forced to adapt and innovate quickly in order to survive.
Despite the challenges, creative minds are at work, with many entrepreneurs going online to sell their products to a bigger market.
A byte of the business
Hafizah Bachik, 45, started her homebased business by supplying products to gift shops. Soon, she ventured into selling tarts in small cafes.
Whenthe pandemic hit, she went online to continue selling her tarts, using Carousell.
Cooped up at home because of the Movement Control Order (MCO), she made the best of the situation by baking and selling her tarts on the online platform.
“I wanted to push myself to make better tarts. It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for the longest time. My late mother made one of the best pineapple tarts around. I wanted to follow in her footsteps and share her creations with everyone,” she said.
She sticks to the traditional method of baking her tarts, using her hands and sourcing high-quality ingredients.
To her, trust is the foundation of any business, but establishing trust is also the toughest challenge.
“Building trust is extremely hard. Fighting for customers is like taking part in a competition. But if you keep trying and never give up, it is a magical experience,” she said.
By getting on the online platform, Hafizah managed to increase sales and earn some income.
Meanwhile, Fion Foo Feng Shen, 19, also finds the online platform useful as her objective is to help those experiencing domestic abuse during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
According to her, domestic abuse spiked during the stay-at-home period and young entrepreneurs like her should lend a hand to help.
“I was determined to start a pro-social project to help the victims,” said Foo.
She utilises craft materials from home to make key chains as well as photo-holders out of small beads.
“I maynotearn muchfromselling these items but I hope to inspire others and help the needy,” she said.
She sells customisable DIY phone holder kits and photo holders. All proceeds go to the Women’s Aid Organisation and Teach for Malaysia (TFM). So far, she has contributed RM710 to these non-governmental organisations to indirectly help those who suffered domestic abuse.
Foo, whostrongly believes in gender equality, will be pursuing electrical and electronics engineering at Imperial College London.
She hopes to inspire more women with her social enterprise work.
Platform for Alternative income
Many Malaysians have benefited from going onto online platforms in this pandemic era, advertising and selling their handmade products.
With online platforms, small-time entrepreneurs like Hafizah and Foo are inspired to expand their business further.
“Carousell is free to use and suitable for a small business like mine,” said Foo, citing safety and ease of use among its attractions.
Hafizah agrees. “During the MCO, I found that I had many more customers than before.”
Foo intends to organise morecharitable campaigns in the future similar to the one she is running now to help domestic abuse victims.
“I hope to launch moreproducts that are designed by myself and only available at my online shop,” she said.
Another home business owner, who wishes to be knownasYanice, started making and selling handmade masks, also on the online platform, during the early days of the MCO.
She has sold over 200 masks thus far. Meanwhile, Carousell Malaysia’s country head, Tang Siew Wai, said the pandemic has resulted in online platforms being more relevant than ever as people sought to make ends meet in these difficult economic times.
“We are excited and inspired by our community of users who are ever resourceful and entrepreneurial ins om anyways ,” he said.