Starting a business as a college or university student is never easy, but many have been successful.
For Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) third-year Bachelor in International Business student Muhamad Faiq Ishammuddin, effort is key in transforming a passion into a profitable business.
Faiq started a small home bakery business that mainly sold brownies in 2015 with the help of his mother. Both of them enjoy baking.
"The business has flourished since, and demand keeps getting higher. That's when I decided to open a proper store in the university and hire UKM students as workers to help them gain extra pocket money in 2018," he said.
However, his plan to officially launch the store this year has been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Frustrated, he had to close his shop and take the business back to his home kitchen, where he took orders online and delivered them door-to-door.
"Many businesses are affected by the crisis. However, I am grateful that mine is getting better. Online and delivery services are at full force in meeting the demand for festivities, like Mother's Day, Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
"I have to limit the orders per day as I can only work with one helper for the baking. I try not to take more than I can handle to maintain the quality of the baked goods. Sometimes, I barely have time to have iftar as delivering the orders could take a lot of time," he explained.
Faiq admitted that he struggled a lot with time management as a student.
"It is not easy to study and fulfil customers' orders at the same time. I usually allocate time in the morning to focus on lectures, while I prepare orders at night.
"At the moment, online classes work in my favor. I can spend more time preparing orders since the lectures are usually short.
"As a business student myself, I encourage other people to be an entrepreneur. I like the idea of creating jobs rather than filling existing roles in the industry.
"I come from a humble background. I used my own savings to start my business. After years of hardwork and determination, I am proud of the person I've become, although there is still room for improvement."
For marketing, Faiq approached big names in the entertainment industry, namely Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and Fizo Omar, to review his brownies.
"It skyrocketed my business. I also created Instagram and Facebook ads to improve the profile visit numbers and followers to increase visibility."
The brownie business is standing strong with one full-time baker and four part-timers, a deliverer and a marketing manager, he said.
After completing a Fashion and Dressmaking course in Giatmara Kuala Lumpur, Siti Aisyah Kahar, 24, put her sewing skills to use and started a clothing business as a tailor early this year in Kampung Baru.
Siti Aisyah, who is expecting to graduate this September, said her business was doing well due to the strategic store location and orders for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri. She provides tailoring services for men and women clothings of all ages.
She said taking commissions for Hari Raya outfits during Ramadan was a challenge that tailors look forward to each year.
"Two months before Hari Raya is a crucial period for tailors to work efficiently and presevere through the pouring orders from customers. For us, it is a race against time. On the special day, Muslims, especially, seek to don their new outfits. Therefore, all orders must be completed before Hari Raya.
"For me, working during Ramadan is no different from usual. Sometimes, when I get tired in the afternoon, I will not force myself too much and take a short break before continuing," she said.
Still new into the business, Siti Aisyah received 20 orders for Hari Raya outfits this year.
Having an eye for fabric and attention to detail, she was interested in sewing since she was little, inspired by her father, who is also a tailor.
"My family is the source of encouragement who has supported me tirelessly since the beginning of my business. Both of my parents particularly gave me a lot of business-related advice since they are business owners themselves."
Siti Aisyah agreed that social media are powerful tools in marketing, especially during the MCO, where people are home-bound and couldn't visit physical stores.
"Besides, I also gain new customers through recommendations and word of mouth from my existing customers.
"I look forward to expanding my business on online platforms and becoming an established brand in the future. I hope to
help women with sewing skills, particularly those who are the sole breadwinners of the family to gain employment in the tailoring business."
