Open For Business

When we last had Adrian Cheong on the station, his company was still called The Apothecary and not Analogue Apotik. So, why the name change? It has plenty to do with branding and expansion. We invite Adrian back to discuss his range of solid colognes, localising scents for the Malaysian market, as well as the trial-and-error process of creating new scents and fragrances from scratch.Image Credit : Analogue Apotik Faceboook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although menstrual cups have been around for decades, historically, they have been less popular compared to sanitary pads or tampons. Why is that? There are so many stigmas and taboos surrounding menstruation, including the use of menstrual cups, but two women who are on a mission to make menstrual hygiene more sustainable and accessible for everyone, are Chen Su Vien and Cheah Yivon, the co-founders of the online enterprise, the Bloody Goodshop. They join us to share more about the life-changing menstrual cups and period care products their store offers, which are both good for you, and the planet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Wedding invitations over WhatsApp are perfectly convenient, but there’s just something about the tactility of a finely printed invitation inside a carefully selected envelope. Former web developers Cliff Leong and Zee Jay decided to tap into the gap in this niche market via The Alphabet Press, a bespoke letterpress stationery company that designs and prints premium wedding invitations, business cards, corporate stationery, and notebooks with their vintage German presses. We speak to the co-founders about keeping the art of old school print alive and catering to the Malaysian market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online transactions have never been more important, especially as we move into a more contactless, wireless world in the wake of COVID-19. Joe Kamil Ahmad, CEO & founder of BetterPay, discusses how they help merchants and businesses streamline online transactions.Image Credit : Facebook / BetterPaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mazer Fintech aims to develop and implement services that bridge the gap between paying expenses and cost overhead fees. They created jomSETTLE as the first financial technology platform in Malaysia that enables the settlement of payments for the underserved payee and payment recipients that do not have credit card receiving facilities. Falco Lee, the founder of jomSETTLE, tells us all about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh Dayang handcrafts jewellery & accessories, from batik earrings to phone grips, trying to bring Malaysia’s textile art to a whole new level by making their accessories a statement piece in their customers’ daily wardrobe. Dayang Nur Syafiqah, founder of Oh Dayang, discusses the catalyst of the idea as well as how she manages the business in a two-person team with her husband.Image Credit: Oh Dayang WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The presenters & producers of BFM 89.9 are coming together to highlight some of their personal favourite local companies for the "BFM Collective". Studio Three is an interior design studio focusing on a process-driven design philosophy and collaboration. Established in 2019, the studio has worked with notables names like Vivy Yusof on her LILIT and dUCk stores as well as numerous high end residences. Founder Kashfi Emir shares his entrepreneurial journey on how he started this studio and the philosophy behind it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last time Vernon was on Open For Business, it was during the peak of the first Movement Control Order in 2020. A lot has changed since then, from consumer behaviour to new retail-tech trends in the market. We revisit Innergia Labs and its business intelligence tool, Sycarda, to get some insight on what’s new, what’s outdated, and what’s next for an “endemic” Malaysian retail scene. Image Credit: Innergia Labs Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those who have a little bit of a sweet tooth, indulging in desserts can get a little guilt-inducing thinking about the potential impact that has on our bodies as a whole (and, admittedly, our waistlines). As an alternative, how about healthier ice cream that’s not only made from locally sourced, natively grown fruits, but is also as a bonus absolutely adorably styled after the very fruit it’s made out of? Executive director of Koon Huat Agriculture Group, Koh Han Seng, discusses their 3D ice cream brand, Musang Wang, and how they turn local fruits into sweet aesthetic treats. Image Credit: Musang Wang Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MyGuru is an online education platform that aims to help students from primary school to secondary school improve their academic performance. Established in 2013, myGuru is a digital product produced by Learning Port Sdn Bhd, and CEO Datin Shairin Sharif shares how they’ve been weathering the effects of the pandemic and what they’ve learned over the years.Image Credit: Datin Shairin Sharif Linkedin PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.