IPOH: What childhood memory always makes you smile?
For Umi Kalsom Fahim Akbar, it's Malaysians' favourite childhood snacks.
Osborne biscuits, aeroplane biscuits, 'choco bear' and iced gem biscuits - those small biscuits topped with pink, yellow, green or white hard sugar icing - will always bring her down memory lane.
Even pineapple jam biscuits with a doughnut texture and 'Biskut Kekasih Saya', which are among the favourites of those who grew up in the 70s, 80s and 90s , also bring a smile to Umi Kalsom.
She also remembers vividly about the shops in the old days that sold these biscuits and snacks in neatly arranged tin.
This was something that Umi Kalsom wanted to recreate. Now, she sells these types of biscuits in her shop and places them in this tins which are arranged on shelves.
Initially, she sold about 20 types of these 'old school' biscuits, but due to increasing demand, the shop now sells up to 70 types of biscuits.
She and her husband Aziwan Hassan, 33, began selling the biscuits at their fruit shop three years ago.
The response was very positive and the sales from the biscuits contribute to half of the couple's profits.
"Initially, we were selling fruits in this shop for almost five years but due to uncertain conditions, we began to look for new business opportunities.
"I got the idea of selling biscuits from my friend who also sells them. The difference is that my friends sells the biscuits in packets, but my biscuits are placed in tins.
"My husband and I never thought that selling these biscuits would give us good returns," she told the New Straits Times when met at her shop in Jalan Jelapang, Taman Jati here.
The plain biscuits are sold for RM16 per kg or RM2 per 100g, while the flavoured types are sold for RM22 per kg or RM2.80 per 100g.
She said most of her customers are from the northern states because her shop is near the Jelapang toll exit at the North-South Expressway.
She added that the items which are most in demand are the Osborne biscuits, button biscuits, 'lenga' bread and pineapple jam biscuits.
Asked where she received the supply, Umi Kalsom said she initially sourced them from Thailand but now, she has found suppliers in Kuala Lumpur.
"There was a lot of sweat and tears in our business at first, but praise Allah, our business venture turned out well. There have been some ups and downs but it's part and parcel of running a business.
"We also promote these biscuits on our TikTok (@kedaibuahmeruipoh11). We plan to open a separate shop that focuses on the business of canned cookies," she said adding her shop opens daily from 9.30am to 7.30pm.
