Open For Business

In a crowded footwear market, how does a 62-year-old Danish brand stay relevant? For ECCO, it starts with a unique "cow-to-shoe" philosophy, owning the entire value chain from tannery to retail floor. But facing a post-pandemic market downturn and a "promo pandemic" of endless discounts, the brand is rethinking its strategy.Managing Director Benjamin Chin joins us to discuss how ECCO Malaysia & Singapore is navigating this challenging retail landscape. He explains their shift to "glocalization" (global brand, local relevance), the evolution of their brand promise beyond just "comfort," and how they are managing the complexities of an omni-channel world where the customer journey is no longer linear.We discuss:The "cow-to-shoe" business model and why owning the supply chain matters.Navigating the "promo pandemic" and the bullwhip effect of inventory."Glocalization": Adapting a Danish brand for the Malaysian market (and weather).The omni-channel reality: Why physical stores and e-commerce are no longer separate.Moving beyond "comfort" to build an emotional connection with customers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caring for ageing parents is becoming one of Asia’s fastest-growing emotional and practical challenges. Yet much of that burden remains invisible.We speak with Ivan Mun, Founder of ELLO, about how personal loss led him to build AI-powered caregiving technology designed to monitor seniors without intruding on their dignity or independence. Can artificial intelligence truly provide peace of mind at home? And in a crowded care-tech market, how does a young startup earn trust when stakes are this personal?We explore how technology may reshape the future of caregiving and what it means for families across a rapidly ageing region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hao Menghok, the CEO of OMS Energy Technologies, successfully led a management buyout to save 600 jobs and later took the company public on NASDAQ. He delves into the intricate financial structures behind the buyout and the challenges of going public, including a 40% stock drop since the IPO. Hao shares insights on investor relations, the reality of leadership without oversight, and why he believes in 'Energy Addition' as a future strategy for OS. Along the way, he offers candid advice for other founders aiming for public markets.

Fong Minhan, co-founder of Lit Books, shares his journey from journalism to running a beloved independent bookstore in Malaysia. He discusses the challenges of starting a business, including cash flow struggles that kept them 'two months away from shuttering.' Minhan reveals how they adapted during the pandemic by shifting to e-commerce and delivering books manually. He also highlights the joy of curating unexpected titles for customers and shares recommendations of impactful reads, blending both fiction and nonfiction for book lovers.

Ladore Signature wants to ride "Rent-to-Own" (RTO) furniture all the way to an ACE Market listing. But with current revenues around RM500k, is their target of hitting RM25 million by 2029 ambitious... or delusional?Business Development Director Kun Chi Jun and Strategy Officer Ray Chung join us to defend their strategy. They unpack their role as the direct-to-consumer brand of the larger group, explaining why they believe acquiring 10,000 tenants is realistic and is the magic number to fuel an IPO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrey Leskov, the Co-Founder of illumi, an AI-native whiteboard, aims to help teams turn scattered AI chats into visual workflows that build context, compound knowledge, and speed up complex work holistically. Why did the company feel this was a blind spot in the current wave of AI adoption, how did it lead them to build illumi, and what have they learned so far from helping early teams to rethink how they collaborate in an AI-driven workplace? We dive deeper into all that and more in this conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What started in 2014 as a lifestyle investment to feed his wife's love for cakes has grown into 43 outlets, with more en route. Vanilla Crepe has expanded from a single cafe to 43 outlets and over 100 distribution points, recently breaking past 8-figure annual revenues.CEO Nelson Liew joins us to share the story behind this growth. He discusses their unique mix of owned vs. franchised outlets, how they manage costs through strong supplier partnerships, and their ambitious vision to become Malaysia's largest integrated F&B platform.We discuss:The "accidental" start: from a lifestyle cafe to a scalable business.How they pivoted from retail to owning the IP and central kitchen.The strategy behind their owned-to-franchise model.Their "pandemic-proof" growth: doubling store count during the MCO.Future plans: international expansion to Indonesia and FMCG products.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cheong Jin Xi (JX), the visionary Founder and CEO of Aonic, discusses the company's evolution from a DJI distributor to a leader in Malaysian-made drones. He explains how Aonic's proprietary Mist Tec 50 drone addresses after-sales costs for farmers with affordable, repair-friendly components. JX highlights their comprehensive ecosystem of service centers, software, and financing tailored to agricultural needs. He also shares insights on expanding into robotics and the strategic benefits of being 'Made in Malaysia' for global exports.

What does it mean to modernise upon family legacy in a traditional space? For Emily Chin and Medalized, it meant moving from "big plastic trophies" to creative design and bespoke awards that aim to tell a brand's story. Now, as the "Legacy Curator" of Medalized, she's taking it one step further: experimenting with content creation.We discuss:The family legacy in the "boring" awards industry.Her journey from accounting to starting Medalized. The pivot from "big plastic trophies" to bespoke, custom designs.Her strategy for competing with low-cost manufacturing from China.The future vision: creating "meaning behind the awards" by expanding to contentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re looking at a brand that has quietly transformed kitchens across the world. Thermomix, the smart kitchen appliance by Vorwerk, has sold over 10 million units globally, and recently celebrated a major milestone with the launch of its first experiential flagship store in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.At the same time, the company unveiled its latest innovation, the Thermomix TM7, a step forward in the brand’s mission to revolutionise home cooking. Revealing more about Thermomix’s Southeast Asian expansion, its unique business model, and what innovation looks like in the modern kitchen is Christine Wong, General Manager of Vorwerk Singapore and Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.