MALAYSIA RETAILER I VOL 10 NO 2 I US PIZZA

KANDUNGAN BAHAN INI MENCERMINKAN PENDAPAT PENGARANGNYA SECARA EKSKLUSIF DAN TERTAKLUK KEPADA TANGGUNGJAWABNYA SENDIRI. SURUHANJAYA EROPAH TIDAK BERTANGGUNGJAWAB UNTUK SEBARANG KEMUNGKINAN PENGGUNAAN MAKLUMAT YANG TERKANDUNG DI SINI.

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PRESIDENT

Sharan Jethanand Valiram

VALIRAM HOLDINGS SDN BHD

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Shirley Tay Bee Koo

SUNRIDER INTERNATIONAL (M) SDN BHD

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Ken Phua Cheng Chuen BENTLEY MUSIC SDN BHD

VICE PRESIDENTS

Dato’ Vincent Choo Kok Leong

URBAN IDEA SDN BHD

Valerie Choo Yoke Shiem SIMPLY AWESOME SDN BHD

Michael Liew Fong Tzer

MARRYBROWN SDN BHD

Dato’ Winnie Lim Yoke Chin

SOLUTION RISK CONSULTANTS SDN BHD

SECRETARY GENERAL

Jit Singh A/L Santok Singh IRONHORSE ASIA SDN BHD

DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL

Dr. Afendi Dahlan

DR GROUP HOLDINGS SDN BHD

TREASURER GENERAL

Alex Chong Weng Wah MBA CREW SDN BHD

DEPUTY TREASURER GENERAL

Aiveen Wong Choy Ching

CHIN SWEE FOOD SDN BHD

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Lee Ben Keong

METRO EYEWEAR HOLDINGS SDN BHD

Liang Foo Kuan

BIG ONION FOOD CATERER SDN BHD

Lim Ben Jie

TUNE GROUP SDN BHD

Jordan Ng Kim Leong

BANNERKING SDN BHD

Seak Thean Pow

BAGUS CURTAIN SDN BHD

Christine Tan Gaik Lin CT F&B HOLDINGS SDN BHD

Wesley Tan Seah Ging

AQINA TRADING SDN BHD

Brian Tham Jee Ping

WATATIME (M) SDN BHD

Datuk Henry Yip Choong Hung

SMITH SUCCESS SDN BHD

Dato’ Liew Bin

BRILLIANT MERCHANDISING SDN BHD

Terry Tay Eng Yeou

GOLDENHOME INTERIOR SDN BHD

Dato’ Alex Wong Che Sing

HAP SENG STAR SDN BHD

MRCA Corporate Patrons

TRUSTEES OF MRCA FOUNDATION

Dato’ Tay Sim Kim Foundation Founder Chairman

Datuk Lee Hwa Cheng Foundation Chairman 2020-2022

Dato’ Eddie Choon Trustee

Datuk Albert Chiang Trustee

Datuk Seri Nelson Kwok T. T., JP Trustee

Dato’ Liaw Choon Liang, JP Trustee

Datuk Seri Garry Chua Trustee

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Leong Hoy Kum GROUP MD, MAH SING GROUP BHD

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Barry Goh Ming Choon CHAIRMAN, MCT BHD

Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai CHAIRMAN, TOP GLOVE CORPORATION BHD

Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, SUNSURIA BHD

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Tang Yeam Soon GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE STORE CORPORATION BHD

Dato’ Dr. Jennifer Low, JP GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, QUILL GROUP OF COMPANIES

LEGAL ADVISORS

Dato’ Dr Manjit Singh MANJIT SINGH SACHDEV, MOHAMMAD RADZI & PARTNERS

Datuk Ringo Low RINGO LOW & ASSOCIATES

HONORARY AUDITORS

Dato’ Sri Raymond Liew Lee Leong MCMILLAN WOODS

Datin Yap Shin Siang YYC GST CONSULTANTS SDN BHD

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All articles featured in Malaysia Retailer magazine represent the personal views of contributors and are not necessarily those of MRCA & Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd. All writers automatically agree to indemnify MRCA and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd against any loss, costs, expenses (including legal fees), damages and liabilities that might arise from their own incapacity, negligence, breach of contract or other civil misdeeds. We reserve the right to edit all articles. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2022 by MRCA and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. MRCA and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography, illustration and other editorial materials.

Jeremy Hiew, Director of

MOG Eyewear

Mah Sing Applauds

President’sMessage

Dear Members,

2022 is coming to an end, and thus far, we have seen encouraging progress in business across the country. As businesses fully resume operations and as restrictions are relaxed, we can truly see a brighter future in the months ahead. According to Retail Group Malaysia (RGM), Malaysian retail sales increased 62.5% in the second quarter of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021, reaching a new record level. RGM is revising up its Malaysia retail industry growth forecast for the full year 2022 to 31.7% from a previous estimate of 13.1%, taking into consideration the rm recovery of the industry since the beginning of this year. This spells good news for our businesses, so let’s ride the wave of growth and harness the opportunities that are before us.

borders. The networking and business collaboration opportunities o ered by MIRF are limitless and I do hope Malaysian entrepreneurs have used the golden opportunities presented at MIRF to drive business growth.

President 2022-2024 Malaysia Retail Chain Association

As usual, MRCA has always risen above and beyond the challenges and delivered exciting activities and events for our members and business community over the last few months. I am proud to highlight the success of MIRF in July this year. More than 400 booths and kiosks were featured at the event, including more than 200 renowned brands. We had the opportunity to welcome exhibitors from South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Japan, Cyprus and the Philippines, among others. I would like to thank the organising Chairman, Ms. Christine Tan and the committee members for making this MIRF 2022 a resounding success. A big Thank You to all our sponsors and MATRADE who supported us wholeheartedly.

MIRF, themed “REBOOT: Retail & Franchise”, has proven to be an excellent platform to fuel the growth of the franchise business in Malaysia and to encourage entrepreneurs to expand their businesses across

Speaking about going beyond borders, MRCA organised a trade mission to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The 5-day event was an eye-opener for our delegates who had the opportunity to participate in the “Forum on Business Opportunities and Intellectual Property Protection in Cambodia under Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Framework” organised by the Asia Cambodia Law Group, Association of Guang Dong China Commercial Representative in Cambodia and Royal Embassy of Cambodia to Malaysia. The trade mission also featured a mini-exhibition themed “Creating Business Opportunity Between Malaysia and Cambodia”. In addition to that, a Merdeka celebration networking cocktail was held, o ering MRCA members the opportunity to network with Malaysians living in Cambodia to build business relationships in Cambodia. It was truly a very meaningful experience. Thanks to our Organising Chairman Dato’ Vincent Choo.

I am pleased to share that MRCA has inked an agreement with the Indonesian Shopping Centre Retailers and Tenants Association (HIPPINDO) to establish the ASEAN Retail & Trade Union (ARTU). We will continue to reach out to retail associations in Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam to increase regional participation for greater impact. Our appreciation to Mr Ken Phua and Dato’ Vincent Choo for driving the formation of ARTU.

MRCA had an excellent CEO Get Together in Maxis –for this I would like to thank Mr Lim Ben Jie for chairing this event. Our appreciation to Maxis for hosting us –thank you for your precious hospitality. Our gratitude to the MRCA Secretariat for organising all the great activities and events we have had thus far.

Read about MRCA’s various activities in this publication, and if you have missed them, we are sorry to have missed you, but we have more events in the pipeline. Take the opportunity to experience growth and gain insights and thrive from our activities.

Wishing all our members success in the months ahead and I hope to meet all of you at our upcoming events.

Sharan Valiram

“Together We Thrive”

IT’S PIZZA WITH PIZZAZZ AT US PIZZA

Expect some head-turning variations on the menu in US Pizza. To name some, the Musang King Pizza, Indomie Pizza and the hugely successful Salted Egg Pizza. As bizarre as these sound, they have actually contributed to the success of the brand. Jeremy Hiew, Director of My US Pizza Sdn Bhd, shares with RACHAEL PHILIP his pizza sauce, I mean strategy.

Jeremy Hiew, owner of fast-growing US Pizza outlets in Malaysia, has fond memories of patronising the US Pizza outlet as a child back in his hometown in Greenlane, Penang. A lover of pizzas, he particularly enjoyed the garlic twist from the restaurant.

The brand, which opened in 1997 in Penang saw its business go up and down over the years. In its hey days, in 2005, it even opened an outlet in Singapore.

Years later when he heard of the retirement of Donald Duncan, the American founder of the company, who was keen to sell the business and hoping to nd passionate investor to carry on his devotion in pizza and in the business. Jeremy, then an investment banker with zero experience in the F&B industry, sprung to action and secured ownership of the business in 2015.

Today the brand has 90 outlets in the country, a phenomenal growth considering that it only started expanding in 2019 – when

Covid hit – when they opened their rst outlet outside Penang, also their sixth outlet nationwide.

From the 90 outlets, 55 are corporate-owned while the remainder are franchisers. The company will open the doors of its rst overseas outlet, in Jakarta, in October 2022.

“We actually started out slow, not doing any business expansion in our rst years. Then in 2019 we had great plans for expansion but the pandemic happened. We decided to forge through anyway and even hit a record of opening 40 outlets in one year,” says Jeremy.

“It was crucial that we stayed focused, persistent and committed, despite the pandemic and its limiting restrictions. I remember walking door-to-door to give out flyers and delivering the orders myself. It was a tough time but de nitely a remarkable experience.”

Despite the long and painful pandemic days, Jeremy said he found pockets of hopeful prospects. For instance, he took advantage of

the lacklustre property market when rentals began to dip. This, in fact, is one of the main reasons for the company’s rapid growth.

US Pizza hopes to have a total of 100 outlets by end 2022. This will put the brand in the third place a er pizza franchisers Domino Pizza and Pizza Hut in terms of outlets.

Currently they see a split of 50-50 between their dine-in and take-away customers. They plan to increase the dining-in slice by increasing their product o erings to include burgers and chicken wings for a more wholesome customer experience.

THE SECRET SAUCE

On the secret to their rapid growth and success, Jeremy would be the rst to acknowledge that he doesn’t think of himself as very successful. Or even that he knows everything.

“In the early days, there was a lack of direction but it was all a learning process. We also have to come to a realisation that we are currently living in the era of

knowledge-sharing. While selfreliance is great – it shows that we are strong and capable – but sharing and exchanging information, knowledge and experiences can help us grow faster and greater.”

Besides forging ahead with its growth plans, being prudent with costs played a crucial role in the last three years, says Jeremy.

“Because of the pandemic, we also had the opportunity to travel and to nd good locations with good rentals during the months when restrictions were heavy. We managed to get 30-40% discounts on rentals and we secured these for two years. Even for renovations, contractors were willing to lower their margins in order to secure jobs.

“We were also able to put our menus online, then we pushed hard to drive tra c into our website. We have around six sta focused on all our social media platforms. Especially priceless are customers

“Our customers are drawn to our unconventional pizzas. They come in to try them, take pictures and upload them on social media. In this way, we enhance customer experience for them.”

– Jeremy Hiew, Director of My US Pizza Sdn Bhd

who complain about our products. These are valuable because they care for our products and have taken the time to make the complaint.

“So all-in-all our business didn’t take much of a hit in the last three years.”

GETTING CREATIVE

Jeremy and his team, mostly from the accounting and nance industries, have come to embrace creativity and innovation, at once dispelling the notion that bankers, being analytical and critical, are usually serious and boring.

“We love being creative and integrating local flavours into our pizzas every now and then. The positive feedback drives us to continue promoting our local flavours.”

“It’s a gimmick and a crowd puller. Our customers are drawn to our unconventional pizzas, taking our Cheese Boat pizza as an example, its richness in high quality cheese could create foot-long cheese pull e ect, which is an eye-catching and fun experience. They come in to try, have fun, take pictures and upload them on social media. In this way, we enhance customer

experience for them.” End 2021, the company engaged Chef Wan as their brand ambassador. The celebrity chef released two new pizza varieties, namely Wan-derful Prawn Pizza and Spicy Vietnamese Chicken

Pizza, both inspirations from the famed chef’s favourite recipes. He is slated to release another two soon.

To pizza purists who roll their eyes at this, Jeremy points out that the brand sells American pizzas which are infused with local taste. He is convinced that this business strategy has helped US Pizza stand out among its competitors.

NUMBER GAME

Another secret to their success could be Jeremy’s skills as an entrepreneur. Jeremy attests that he has a good sense of money management. He is a goal- and value-driven person when it comes to managing nances.

“Numbers can tell all kinds of stories, from business margins to managing costs well. I love visualising ideas and sharing them with the team. This helps them plan and organise tasks, make work processes easy and improve results.”

Besides the soon-to-open outlet in Jakarta, US Pizza aims to expand to countries such as Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

“We also want to increase our equity by becoming a public-listed company. That’s a very big goal for me and my team, and we are very committed to achieving this.”

US Pizza also wants to be the rst pizza chain serving plant-based pizzas. This is to cater to vegans and those who want to live a healthier lifestyle.

Jeremy is also the owner and cofounder of the following F&B brands – Marshall’s Co, Jeremy’s Chicks, Ric’s Burger, US Bakes, Main Hati Co ee and Saigon Bowl.

KEEP CALM

Jeremy says that over the years, he has learned that being unemotional when dealing with employees and colleagues, and being uncompromising when it comes to ful lling business goals are important for an entrepreneur.

“Being a result-oriented person, I never fail to reveal and express my displeasure and opinions when my team falls short of my standards. Being rational helps me to keep my composure. I also do self-reflection on every decision I make too. This actually plays an important role in growing the business.

“Likewise, I encourage the team to be open, creative and bold. This has paid o for us.”

MIRF 2022 – Rebooting Retail & Franchise

Organised by MRCA since 1992, MIRF made a grand comeback a er the pandemic, creating waves in the franchise industry and presenting an exceptional array of franchise opportunities, comprising both local and international brands.

MIRF hit the Malaysian franchise scene with a grand entrance from 14 to 16 July 2022 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Occupying Halls 3 to 5, the event which is the largest Malaysian franchise exhibition welcomed both local and international businesses from across 15 countries. Themed “REBOOT: Retail and Franchise”, the exhibition featured over 400 booths and kiosks including more than 200 renowned and upcoming brands. Exhibitors hailed from South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Japan, Cyprus and the Philippines, among others.

The prestigious exhibition drew thousands of visitors interested in

franchising opportunities. As the government consistently promotes and supports franchise businesses, this event serves as an excellent springboard to market franchise businesses across Asia. Malaysia has more than 500 franchise brands in the country of which 70% are local brands spanning various sectors such as food and beverage, retailing, education, as well as beauty and health, among others.

Focusing on building the franchise market in Malaysia, the government has laid ambitious targets for the franchise industry to contribute 9.4% to the country’s gross domestic product by 2022, as well as making Malaysia a franchise hub in ASEAN. With MIRF drawing

both local and regional franchise players to the forefront, the event has proven to be a growth platform for retail and franchise businesses to expand in terms of revenue, as well as to reshape and recultivate new business models. Additionally, the event was an inspiring avenue to deliver innovation strategies to counter the impact of the pandemic on the economy and society.

In the opening speech of Tan Sri Noh bin Haji Omar, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative (MEDAC), which was read by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP) Deputy Secretary General (Entrepreneurship Development), Datuk Zamri Salleh, it was noted that

the optimism is driven by Malaysia’s sustained recovery in the retail industry since the end of last year, with a good growth rate of 18.3% in retail sales for the rst quarter of 2022.

According to the Malaysian Retail Industry Report, retail sales is projected to grow 25.7% in the second quarter, on the back of 5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth recorded in the rst quarter of 2022.

Tan Sri Noh’s speech read, “I am aware that MIRF saw transactions worth more than RM80 million and attracted over 15,000 visitors during the previous (fourth) edition held in 2019, prior to the pandemic. I believe we will be able to increase the revenue gure to more than RM90 million this year, while bene tting even more visitors this year.”

He added that Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP), via its agency Pernas, is targeting to create 18,000 new jobs in the franchise industry

by 2025, as part of its strong commitment towards developing more entrepreneurs, especially in the franchise arena.

MRCA president Sharan Valiram said the association is committed to making Malaysia a springboard for retailers and franchise businesses to grow, where brands, organisations and industry practitioners gather in one place to network and transact businesses in real-time.

“There are positive indications that the nal sales gure this year would reach RM13 billion, judging from the inherent strength of this industry despite the pandemic. Once again, the statistics have proven the vital contribution the retail industry brings to the Malaysian economy. It is one of three top contributors to the national GDP,” he shared.

In expressing her thoughts about the event and crediting the industry’s historic milestone in emerging from the pandemic, MIRF organising chairperson, Christine Tan said, “We trust that MIRF is more than capable

to create and facilitate business opportunities not only for the retail sector but also provide a platform where the business community congregate for serious and vast opportunities.”

The event has enjoyed consistent support from its valued sponsors namely Maxis, Fusionex and RHB Banking Group. This year, MIRF proudly welcomes new sponsors onboard namely PERNAS as Gold Sponsor, Pudu Robotics and Z City as Silver Sponsor, as well as Shopline and Time.com as Bronze Sponsors. MIRF is also supported by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).

Malaysia Retail Industry Report (September 2022)

PREAMBLE

Members of Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) and Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) were interviewed on their retail sales performances for the second quarter as well as the rest of 2022.

This is the 25th anniversary of Malaysia Retail Industry Report. The rst report was published in 1998 during the Asian nancial and economic crisis.

LATEST RETAIL PERFORMANCE

For the second quarter of 2022, Malaysia retail industry recorded an all-time high growth rate of 62.5% in retail sales, as compared to the same period in 2021 (Table 1).

This latest quarterly result was far beyond the market expectation. In June 2022, Members of MRA and MRCA estimated an average growth rate of 25.7% for second quartern of 2022.

This very promising result was attributed to 3 main factors-Hari Raya festival, relaxation of COVID 19 SOPs as well as the forced closures of many retail shops in May and June last year.

Hari Raya Aidl tri was celebrated nationwide on May 3 and 4. This period had accelerated the pace of recovery of Malaysia retail industry.

Shopping centres and main commercial centres throughout Malaysia started to attract large

shopping crowd 3 weeks before Hari Raya. The peak was one week before Hari Raya. Shopping tra c in major shopping malls stayed at high level even 2 weeks a er the holidays.

There were two long weekends’ holidays during the month of May. During Hari Raya Aidl tri, Labour Day and Vesak Day, Malaysians were able to celebrate fully a er 2 years of lockdowns. Retail sales during this period were very encouraging.

During these festivals, major

TABLE 1: YEAR ON YEAR PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN RETAIL SALES (WEIGHTED), 2021/22

Compiled by Retail Group Malaysia

TABLE 2: COMPARISON OF RETAIL SALES WITH OTHER ECONOMIC INDICATORS, 2022

a growth of 8.9% (Table 2, at constant prices), as compared to 62.5% for retail sales (at current prices).

The services and manufacturing sectors continued to drive the economic growth of the country. During the second quarter, the services sector expanded by 12.0% and the manufacturing sector grew by 9.2%.

tourist towns and attractions in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Pahang were lled with domestic tourists. The re-opening of international borders from 1 April had brought cheer to retail businesses that had been dependent on foreign tourists. Border towns located in Perlis, Kelantan and Johor witnessed more foreign visitors entering Malaysia.

The relaxations of many COVID 19 SOPs from 1 April 2022 encouraged more Malaysians to return to their usual shopping behaviour and patterns.

A new set of SOPs on retail shops was introduced by the Malaysian government on 1 April 2022. There was no more restriction of operation hours of retail shops. Full capacity allowed for events and activities involved large groups. Unboosted Sinovac recipients and senior citizens were allowed to enter shopping centres as well as dine in eateries.

From 1 May 2022, another set of COVID-19 SOP relaxations were implemented. MySejahtera checkin was no longer required. Entry into retail premises was allowed regardless of vaccination status except those with ‘High Risk’ status or under Home Surveillance Order (HSO). Physical distancing within

retail premises was no longer required.

The high growth rate during the second quarter was also li ed by the low base from the partial lockdown in May 2021 as well as the full lockdown in June last year.

MCO 3.0 had been re-imposed from 3 May 2021 and ended on 31 May 2021. During this period, majority of retailers su ered from poor sales when Malaysian shoppers avoided enclosed places.

Started from 1 June 2021, Phase 1 of Full Movement Control Order (FMCO) ran for a period of 2 weeks. During this time, non-essential retailers had been ordered to shut down.

Malaysians nationwide were asked to stay at home. National Recovery Plan (NRP) in 4 phases was implemented from 15 June 2021. Similar to FMCO, non-essential retailers remained close and Malaysian consumers were asked to remain at home.

For the rst 6 months of this year, Malaysia retail industry expanded by 39.2%, as compared to the same period a year ago.

COMPARISON OF RETAIL SALES WITH OTHER ECONOMIC INDICATORS

For the second quarter of 2022, Malaysia national economy recorded

The average inflation rate during the second quarter of 2022 rose by 2.8%. Once again, this quarterly increase surpassed the average inflation rate in Malaysia for the last 10 years.

The highest increase was Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 5.1%. All subgroups in this category recorded increases during the quarter. This category also registered the highest increase since January 2018. The second highest increase was Transport at 4.1%. This was followed closely by Restaurants & Hotels at 4.0%.

Private consumption expanded by 18.3% during the second quarter of 2022. It was driven by higher spending on goods and services, including restaurants, hotels, recreational services and home furnishings.

During the second 3-month period, the Consumer Sentiment Index (by MIER) dipped to 86.0 points. It dropped below the 100-point threshold level of optimism again. Higher cost of living and weak employment prospect were the main concerns.

Unemployment rate during the second quarter of 2022 slowed down to 3.9% with improved labour market condition.

RETAIL SUB-SECTORS’ SALES COMPARISON

For the rst time since covid-19 pandemic, all retail sub-sectors achieved positive growth rates during the second quarter of 2022.

Negara/ Department of Statistics/ MIER/ Retail

TABLE 3: YEAR ON YEAR PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN RETAIL SALES BY RETAIL SUB-SECTOR, 2021/22

Retail Sub-Sector

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr

Department store cum supermarket 18.3 59.7 Department store 39.1 111.3 Supermarket and hypermarket -7.6 7.3 Mini-market, convenience store & cooperative 7.6 16.7 Fashion and fashion accessories 52.1 152.8 Children and baby products* 2.5 65.0

Pharmacy** 15.5 31.5

Personal care** 5.6 79.8

Furniture & furnishing, home improvement as well as electrical & electronics 4.7 81.9 Other specialty retail stores -3.9 91.2

Notes:

children and baby products include apparel, accessories, equipment, school uniform and toys **- pharmacy and personal care stores were grouped under one category in Year 2020

Source: MRA/ MRCA/ Retail Group Malaysia

These latest quarterly results far exceeded market expectation.

The retail sales of Department Store cum Supermarket subsector surged by 59.7% during the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period a year ago.

Similarly, retail business of Department Store sub-sector leaped by 111.3% during second 3-month period of this year.

The Hari Raya festival supported the sales of the Supermarket and Hypermarket sub-sector during the second quarter of 2022. Its business grew by 7.3% as compared to the same period a year ago.

The Mini-Market, Convenience Store & Cooperative enjoyed double-digit growth rate of 16.7% in retail sales during the second quarter of this year.

During the second quarter of 2022, the Fashion and Fashion Accessories sub-sector managed to turn around with an extraordinary growth rate of 152.8%. A year ago, its business su ered severely from partial and full lockdowns.

The Children and Baby Products sub-sector recorded a big jump in retail business with 65% growth in retail sale during the second 3 months of this year.

During the second quarter of this year, Pharmacy sub-sector reported an encouraging growth rate of 31.5%, as compared to the same period a year ago.

At the same time, the Personal Care sub-sector advanced with a growth rate of 79.8% during the second 3-month period of this year. The Furniture & Furnishing, Home Improvement as well as Electrical & Electronics sub-sector reported a robust growth rate of 81.9% during the second quarter of 2022.

The Other Specialty Stores sub-sector (including photo shop, sporting goods’ store, store retailing musical instrument, optical store, store selling health equipment, arts & cra s store as well as direct selling rm) enjoyed a large gain in sales with 91.2% growth rate during the second quarter of 2022.

NEXT 3 MONTHS’ FORECAST

Members of the two retailers’ associations are highly con dent of their retail prospect for the next 3 months. They project an average growth rate of 61.7% in retail sales during the third quarter of 2022 (Table 4).

The department store cum supermarket operators are expecting their sales to rise further with a growth rate of 98.9% for the third quarter of this year.

A er two impressive consecutive growths, the department store operators are expecting their businesses to expand at a slow pace. Estimated growth rate of this subsector is 8.4% for the third 3-month period of this year.

The supermarket and hypermarket operators are expecting their businesses to normalise further in the next 3 months. They expect their businesses to slow down with a -2.6% growth rate for the third quarter of 2022.

In contrast, operators of mini-

market, convenience store and cooperative are foreseeing their growth momentum to maintain.

For the third 3-month period of this year, their businesses will expand by 17.4%.

Retailers in the fashion and fashion accessories sector expect their businesses to enjoy another round of robust growth at 165.1% during the third quarter of 2022. This is the most optimistic growth projection among the retail subsectors.

Retailers selling children and baby products are anticipating their businesses to accelerate further with a growth rate of 132.8% during the third 3 months of this year.

Pharmacy operators are also hopeful of their retail sales during the third quarter of this year with a growth rate of 24.2%.

Retailers in the personal care sub-sector are expecting their businesses to swell by 102.2% during the third quarter of 2022.

Operators of furniture &

furnishing, home improvement as well as electrical & electronics are upbeat of their businesses in the next 3 months. They project their businesses to expand by 129.5%.

Retailers in other specialty stores sub-sector (including photo shop, sporting goods’ store, store retailing musical instrument, optical store, store selling health equipment, arts & cra s store as well as direct selling rm) are equally hopeful for this period. They expect their businesses to rise by 53.7% during the next 3-month period.

THE REST OF YEAR 2022

In June this year, Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) estimated 13.1% annual growth rate in retail sales for 2022. However, this projection has been revised upwards taking into consideration of the rm recovery of the Malaysia retail industry since beginning of this year.

RGM revises Malaysia retail industry growth rate for 2022 from 13.1% to 31.7% (Table 5). Malaysia

retail industry has stepped o from the covid-19 wave.

Based on the latest economic developments and Malaysian spending behaviour observed by Retail Group Malaysia, the forecast made by members of the two retailers’ associations (at 61.7%) is considered overly optimistic.

Retail Group Malaysia has revised the third quarter estimate upwards from 3.4% (estimated in June 2022) to 50.0% (as compared to 61.7% estimated by retailers). This higher-than-expected growth rate is due to large contractions during the third quarters of 2020 (-9.7%) and 2021 (-27.8%).

Conversely, the fourth quarter estimate has been revised downwards from 3.6% (estimated in June 2022) to 1.0%. This lower revision is based on the high base a year ago as well as the current challenges of Malaysia retail industry.

Although at a slower rate in recent weeks, prices of retail

RETAIL

FORECAST

JULY-SEPT

5: MALAYSIA RETAIL INDUSTRY QUARTERLY GROWTH RATE,

goods continue to rise. Prices of many foods and consumer goods increased by double-digit within short period of time since beginning of this year. The purchasing power of majority of Malaysian consumers have been a ected.

For many retail outlets, the lack of sta has a ected their sales and operation hours. Shortage of sta applies to both Malaysians and foreign workers. Shortage of sta includes the entire retail supply chain. Started from 1 May 2022, the minimum wage increased from RM1,200 to RM1,500 across the country for companies that employ ve or more sta . This has increased the cost of operation for not just retailers, but also all the operators involved in the entire retail supply chain. Prices of consumer goods have increased due to this hike. Prices of consumer goods have increased in stores located throughout the country, including small towns and rural areas.

The never-ending RussiaUkraine war has disrupted global supply chain. This cause higher energy prices as well as shortage of raw materials and industrial parts not just in Malaysia but around the world. While some retail outlets in Malaysia are facing shortages of merchandises to sell, many have to deal with higher costs of retail goods. Higher costs of goods have led to higher retail prices. Since the re-opening of international border on 1 April 2022, Malaysia had attracted more than 2 million foreign visitors as at June 2022. The latest target by Ministry of Tourism,

Footnote:

Arts & Culture is to achieve 4.5 million foreign tourist arrival by end of this year. However, this is still way below the foreign tourist arrival in 2019 at 26.1 million.

FOOD & BEVERAGE SECTOR Hari Raya festival contributed to higher sales for F&B outlets in all parts of the country. Family and social gatherings during this period boosted dine-in sales for cafes and restaurants.

Night entertainment outlets had been allowed to re-open from 15 May a er more than 2 years of closures.

Higher food prices and higher minimum wage had led to increased operation costs for F&B operators in Malaysia. Many F&B outlets (including hawker stalls, co ee shops, cafes, restaurants and national chain outlets) located throughout the country had raised their retail prices.

Food & Beverage Outlets (Cafe and Restaurant) recorded

anupbeat growth rate of 36.3% during the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same quarter a year ago (Table 6).

Similarly, the sales of Food & Beverage Outlets (Take-Away, Kiosk and Stall) climbed by 35.5% during the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period one year ago.

F&B operators are still struggling with higher raw material costs and depleting pro t margin during the third quarter of 2022.

At the same time, many F&B outlets are facing shortage of kitchen sta and servers. Cafe and restaurant operators are foreseeing their businesses to expand further for the third 3 months of this year. They expect their food businesses to grow by 42.6% as compared to the same period last year.

In addition, food and beverage kiosk and stall operators are anticipating their businesses to grow by 24.6% during the third quarter of 2022.

TABLE 6: MALAYSIA FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY QUARTERLY GROWTH RATE, 2022

Growth Rate (%)

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr (e) Cafe and restaurant 21.1 36.3 42.6 Take-away, kiosk and stall 5.6 35.5 24.6

Notes:

- Cafe and restaurant include fast food restaurant, cafe, co ee cafe, bakery cafe, restaurant, full-service restaurant and caterer.

-Take-away, kiosk and stall include food outlet caters for takeaway only, bakery without seating, kiosk and food stall. (e)- estimate

Source: MRA/ MRCA/ Retail Group Malaysia

• This report is provided as a service to members of MRA, MRCA and the retail industry. It provides industry data that give retailers better analytical tools for running their retail businesses.

• This report is not allowed to be reproduced or duplicated, in whole or part, for any person or organisation without written permission from Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association or Retail Group Malaysia.

• Retail Group Malaysia is an independent retail research rm in Malaysia. The comments, opinions and views expressed in this report are of writer’s own, and they are not necessary the comments, opinions and views of MRA, MRCA and their members.

• For more information, please write to tanhaihsin@yahoo.com.

Level Up with Fusionex’s AI-powered Virtual Engagement Platform

Fusionex Virtual Engagement Platform provides a gateway for businesses to connect with other businesses, not just within the country but all over the world. The platform proved to be highly successful in converting B2B business opportunities into actual business deals.

So how does it work? The platform captures engagement across a larger, more connected audience through business matching, live streaming and marketplace activities. It also facilitates traditional in-person events. All this translates to better opportunities with greater entry into new markets.

The platform is also better able to support and boost engagement between exhibitors and attendees worldwide. Its virtual booths o er greater opportunities to boost brand awareness and generate leads through product showcases, video conferencing, downloadable content, speaking sessions and more. These are e ective ways to improve sales and solidify business certainty.

Being an all-in-one digital event and exhibition platform, it simpli es the process of scheduling business matching events and live pitching sessions anywhere across the world, thus promoting new ventures and partnerships globally.

The platform was designed to not only facilitate the exchange of business ideas and insights but allow companies and customers to explore business opportunities across the region. The platform provides an interconnected cross-

border channel for its community to engage and transact.

Meanwhile, its AI-powered analytics capabilities allow exhibitors to grow their businesses by providing them with meaningful data-driven insights to overcome business and operational roadblocks and ine ciencies.

SUCCESS STORY

In 2020, the Fusionex Virtual Engagement Platform delivered great results for MATRADE, the external trade platform arm of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia. It empowered local companies to expand their businesses to international markets.

The restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw MATRADE facing the challenge of hosting its annual trade fair. As such, they turned to Fusionex for a solution and together came up with the idea to launch a fully digital exhibition.

The entire ecosystem of Fusionex’s platform was tailor-made to cater to the needs of exhibitors, buyers, visitors and business leaders, while providing a seamless and conducive experience for everyone to connect and derive value.

The virtual platform also provided a host of interactive and engaging tools for MATRADE, allowing users to overcome geographical barriers and exhibitors, especially, to clinch potential partnerships, generate sales leads and create business connections.

FAR-REACHING GOALS

Two years on and the Fusionex platform no longer plays a supporting role but now powers MATRADE’s entire trade fair platform – e ectively pivoting the physical exhibition into a global-scale digital event.

The new and improved robust platform with its comprehensive host of trade engagement features and tools also prioritizes user experience, thus ensuring that attendees can easily navigate the virtual fair.

Visitors can register by simply logging in and setting their own agenda, deciding their own individual experience via the platform’s Digital Directory and Calendar features, which contains exhibitors booths, showcases and o erings, scheduled events and itineraries. This allows visitors to plan and maximize how they spend their time at the virtual event.

Host your exhibitions or fairs as an entirely virtual or hybrid event— one that amazes and captivates your audience, or come on board and be part of the MATRADE Digital Trade ecosystem.

For inquiries, kindly contact info@ fusionexgroup.com.

KIAN – The Trusted Total Solutions Provider

A trusted global market leader to fulfil all your furniture design needs.

KIAN, the global market leader in the furniture industry, with decades long experience is one of the trusted brands in Malaysia providing customers from various market segments with only the best designs and services. As businesses in the 21st century rapidly evolve, KIAN understands the need to keep up with evolving trends and concepts.

Having invested years into understanding the needs of its customers, KIAN is a reliable solutions provider that can offer suitable solutions to its customers. As one of the trusted brands, both locally and internationally, KIAN has expanded its selection to cater to a variety of customers and market segments ensuring clients only get the best designs and services while also contributing to the preservation of the planet and community. From its local manufacturing facilities in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, KIAN serves a local and global clientele. KIAN also draws from its resources from global factories in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, all of which contribute to the production of a wide range of products with different manufacturing capabilities. KIAN’s showrooms in Selangor, Penang and Johor have been set up to provide easy accessibility and to cater to its clients needs.

With its versatile Food & Beverage (F&B) furniture range, KIAN is able to cater to a multitude of dining environments, with each piece of furniture available in different finishing and materials so customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the ideal look for their space.

The latest KIAN workspace solutions can also assist in creating unique Activity-based Workspaces that will provide a fresh, new experience to keep clients’ business at the forefront, comprising:

• Different spaces for various tasks

• Choose when and how you work

• Hot desks

• Collaborative spaces

• Conference rooms

• Private booths

• Outdoor terraces

With KIAN’s brand promise of “Better Design, Better Value and Better World”, KIAN delivers only the best designs and services with sustainable features to preserve nature and the community. From sourcing to manufacturing to delivery and installation, KIAN does it all for clients so that they can enjoy total peace of mind.

The Swimming Club @ KL Journal Hotel, Malaysia

Actiu by KIAN

Better Design, Better Value, Better World

www.kian.com

Fly chair design by Enrique Martí Restart by Flo @ Selangor, Malaysia.

MOG Eyewear Introduces 6-in-1 Vision Experience

In an e ort to raise awareness on eye-care and to encourage Malaysians from all walks of life to prioritise eye health, MOG rolled out a holistic eye-care programme.

One of Malaysia’s leading and most-trusted eyecare group, MOG Eyewear by Metro Optical Group (MOG), has announced the launch of its 6-in1 Vision Experience – an innovative step-by-step solution that o ers cutting-edge eye care technology and personalised consumer consultation journey.

True to their commitment to help the world see better, MOG is constantly innovating and pursuing world-class methods to deliver exceptional eye care services and products. Dato’ Frankie Ng, Chairman and Founder of MOG Eyewear explained that the launch of MOG’s 6-in-1 Vision Experience is to educate Malaysians on the importance of eye health. He added that this solution is supported by the most optimum vision care tools and technology to deliver the best- t vision solution to the community.

“Most of the time, consumers neglected the need to check-in on their eye health annually to update their visual needs with changing demand and eye care requirement, resulting in prevention being too late for any probable health symptoms,” Dato’ Frankie observed.

The Group has demonstrated its commitment to raising awareness on eye health, by being the rst to deliver a more professional, customised and in-depth service and consultation to the community.

“Today, we are immensely thrilled to introduce the industry- rst robust yet comprehensive 6-in-1 Vision Experience that will certainly bene t Malaysians’ eye and vision health

in the long run,” beamed Dato’ Frankie.

The 6-in-1 Vision experience promises a one-stop suite o ering Personalised Consultation, Eye-Health Assessment, Precise Vision Correction, Personalised Lens Prescription, Digitalised Eyewear Fitting and Extended Care Protection.

MOG also pledges its support to communities, especially those in the underprivileged segment, to prioritise their eye health. The Group launched CSR campaigns for children from B40 families to bene t from the 6-in-1 Vision Experience programme, which entails supporting numerous national schools in the coming months. The Group is also currently in the midst of talks with the government to deliver eye-care to the needy.

Dato‘ Frankie expresses that the Group is ful lling its duty to the community by providing children with access to basic eye and vision health with the right eyewear, which will signi cantly help them in their education and development.

“We are proud to utilise our expertise to provide the best services and consultation that will be bene cial to the community, and we stand by the three pillars of prevention, protection and enhancement to ensure your vision needs are ful lled and optimised,” he added.

To commemorate the launch of the 6-in-1 Vision Experience, MOG held a 10-days roadshow at its flagship outlet, MOG Boutique at Pavilion Bukit Jalil in August 2022.

Curating A Unique Mall Experience in Beautiful Pearl of The Orient

Not too big. Not too small. A boutique mall with a collection of wellcurated brands and specialty stores – that’s what Gurney Walk is all about. This sea-fronting address sits prominently along the bustling Gurney Drive and right next to the ve-star, Ascott Gurney Hotel & Residences, Penang.

The cosy mall o ers retail opportunities that spread across 3 floors with a gross area of 100,000 sq . Each floor is designated to a speci c tenant mix, ensuring a holistic experience that is in line with its tagline as the go-to-place to MEET, PLAY and PAMPER in Penang.

From artisanal cafes such as Yin’s Sourdough, Fourspoons Homemade Ice-creams, and CUEVA Tapas Bar to international and established F&B brands such as Mr Kanso Canned Food Bar, The Co ee Bean & Tea Leaf and more, the ground floor is where you ‘MEET’ to catch-up, hang-out or just linger the day away. The alfresco areas overlooking the promenade makes Gurney Walk a lovely place to sip your favourite co ee and enjoy the breeze.

The 2nd and 3rd floors are where visitors ‘PLAY’ and ‘PAMPER’, o ering a tenant mix with focus on wellness and beauty such as spa, tness studio, tness medical centre, hair and nail art salons, optical centre and more.

Positioned di erently from major shopping malls, events and activities that take place at Gurney Walk focuses more on the arts and cra s such as old bank notes exhibition, traditional costume display, vintage

collectibles, etc, which o er visitors a distinct community driven experience.

DISCOVER OPPORTUNITIES IN A CHARMING DESTINATION

CNN Travel named Penang as one of the 22 Best Travel Destinations in 2022. Beyond international travellers, Penang is also a favourite weekend destination for local visitors from all over Malaysia. The state also has an ever-expanding MM2H community (Malaysia My 2nd Home) which centres a lot around the Gurney Drive strip all the way up to the Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah areas.

That is exactly why Gurney Walk’s well-de ned tenant mix was carefully curated to serve the core catchments in the area. Its

opportune location along Gurney Drive attracts daily footfall from surrounding prime residential neighbourhoods, working crowds from fully occupied o ce towers all around, as well as holiday and business travellers from the hotel right next door.

Opened in March 2022, the mall is continuously expanding its o erings with limited retail lots still available for rent. Sizes range from 400 to 1,300 sq , making it a strategic starting point for new businesses or those looking to grow their reach in Penang. The mall is also very into #supportinglokal with attractive rental packages available for small and local businesses.

Keen to explore opportunities with Gurney Walk? Contact 018382 1818 or email to enquiry@ gurneywalk.com today.

Niro Granite’s Latest Product And Slip-Stop O erings Make Debut

Niro Ceramic Group, one of Malaysia’s leading tile manufacturers, is proud to feature its wider range of tiles under the Niro Granite brand. The Group introduced its new range of tiles at a launch ceremony held at Niro Ceramic Group’s head o ce in Shah Alam, Selangor. More than 200 guests attended the launch and had the opportunity to view Niro’s range of attractive contemporary tiles.

Themed “Central Park: Biophilic Urbanity”, the 2-day event was featured award-winning interior designers as guest speakers namely (IDr.) Lai Siew Hong and (IDr.) Wong Pei San. The speakers shared their nature-inspired insights and works, while guests had the opportunity to experience the new range of tiles at the experiential zone. The guests were able to test Niro’s breakthrough Slip-Stop technology and view the full range of tiles under this series.

“The launch of the new tiles is testament to Niro Granite’s dedication to produce a wide array of innovative flooring solutions to the industry,” said Ian Kok, Managing Director of Niro Ceramic Group.

He added that the Group is grateful for the extensive support

of interview designed, architects, property developers, suppliers, and partners, which is a driving force for the Group for future innovation.

Niro’s exclusive new range of tiles comprises Tangle Stone, Legnix, Bergamo and I’Pietra. Tangle Stone is inspired by the texture and grains of sandstone, which can be used for both indoors and outdoors. Legnix o ers timeless elegance with rustic brown shades as well as brous and chained veins of elm wood, delivering a connection and intimacy

with nature. Meanwhile, Bergama bears the distinctive characteristics of Ceppo di Gre, the Balkan stone renowned for its agglomerated appearance with ochre- and blackcoloured ovules against a beige backdrop, coupled with Slip-Stop surface. I’Pietra, on the other hand, features digital printing technology at its best with distinctive patterns and colours of natural stone.

Customers can visit any of Niro’s 41 Creative Lab outlets nationwide to explore its wide variety of tiles.

Mah Sing Applauds The Timeliness of TheGovernment’s Keluarga Home Ownership Initiative (i- MILIKI )

As one of the participants in the “Karnival Jom Beli Rumah” Programme, which was held in Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in July 2022 Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) applauds the timely announcement of the Government’s Keluarga Home Ownership Initiative (i-MILIKI).

Through the newly announced initiative, rst-time homebuyers will bene t from a stamp duty exemption on the instrument of transfer and loan agreement. 100% exemption will be entitled for properties priced at RM500,000 and below, while properties priced over RM500,000 to RM1 million will entitle a 50% exemption. This exemption will apply for sales and purchase agreements completed from 1 June to 31 December 2023.

Mah Sing recently launched H.O.M.E sales campaign which complements well with the i-MILIKI initiative, sharing the same goal with the government to make home ownership journey easier for homebuyers, particularly rst-time home buyers.

Mah Sing’s H.O.M.E campaign, is well-designed to address speci c home buyer pain points such as saving for a down payment, unsure whether they are quali ed for a loan, and struggling to make monthly housing payments. The campaign that runs from 1 July until 30 September 2022 provides homebuyers with no down payment, no stamp duty, easier loan approval, and lower monthly payments.

During the launch event of

the Home Ownership Programme (HOPE) and “Karnival Jom Beli Rumah”, the Malaysia Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob paid a visit to Mah Sing’s booth, which featured Mah Sing’s four a ordable developments at prime locations namely M Vertica, M Luna, M Astra and RSKU Sendayu.

Mah Sing’s Founder and Group Managing Director, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Leong Hoy Kum said, “The Group is con dent that the M Series is the right product to meet current market demand, based on the positive take-up rates of Mah Sing’s a ordable M Series residential developments. Mah Sing believes that the stamp duty exemption on the instrument of transfer and loan agreement provided by i-MILIKI will

encourage more home buyers to purchase their rst home.”

“For many Malaysians, owning a home is an ultimate aspiration. Unfortunately, due to nancial constraints and the rising cost of living, obtaining appropriate nancing has been a major hurdle for rst-time as well as young homebuyers, which has been heightened especially during the current challenging period following the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the government taking the important steps in steering the direction, we believe that all industry players and stakeholders will work together to ensure that the incentives will ultimately bene t the home buyers and propel the Malaysia property market,” Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Leong adds.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (middle) together with Mah Sing’s Group Chief Executive O cer, Datuk Ho Hon Sang (le ) and Mah Sing’s Chief Executive O cer of Property Subsidiaries, Yeoh Chee Beng (right) at Mah Sing’s booth at the launch event of the Home Ownership Programme (HOPE) and Karnival Jom Beli Rumah.

MR D.I.Y, MR DOLLAR And MR TOY Storm The Market with 1,000 Stores Nationwide

With more consumer resorting to D-I-Y options, a homegrown Malaysian Group is riding this wave to deliver unparalleled experiences and products to consumers.

MR D.I.Y Group, Malaysia’s largest home improvement retailer and the owner of MR DOLLAR as well as MR TOY stores, hit a major milestone having opened 1,000 stores nationwide. In a grand celebration of this milestone, the retailer is o ering customers from all walks of life great deals on its wide range of products. With a tagline “Always Low Prices”, MR D.I.Y. continues to draw consumers to its three brands.

Group Head of Marketing, Alex Goh said, “This is a red-letter day for MR D.I.Y. and one that we are immensely proud of. We opened our rst store in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in 2005, and we never imagined then that we would one day be present in 1,000 locations nationwide, delivering on our promise of “Always Low Prices” and with a breadth of brands – MR D.I.Y., MR DOLLAR and MR TOY.”

He added that this milestone would not have been achieved without the dedication of the Group’s 13,000 employees across the country, the strong relationships with its business partners, and the loyal support of Malaysians.

“We owe our success to all of you,” proclaims Alex.

The Group, with its prominent yellow corporate colour, started out in the Malaysian market 17 years ago with the opening of a traditional hardware store. First located in Kuala Lumpur’s renowned shopping district, the Group grew

steadily over the years. Committed to delivering value and quality, the Group o ers discerning shoppers not only the best D-I-Y options but also a remarkably wide array of products.

Today, MR D.I.Y. boasts more than 18,000 products in all its stores as well as its online e-commerce platform. In addressing market needs and delivering value-add to consumers, MR D.I.Y. expanded its stable of brands to include MR DOLLAR and MR TOY.

Sharing about the company’s future plans, Alex said, “We don’t plan to rest on our laurels. To us, this milestone is an inspiration to keep growing and to keep innovating. We will continue to serve our customers’ needs by bringing them relevant and useful products at great value, in innovative store formats, in convenient locations.”

He continued, “We are also committed to keeping things interesting by introducing interesting experiences, as well as exciting promotions and partnerships; and, we will reach out to more Malaysians, staying on track with

our plans to open 180 more stores in 2022.”

Over the last 17 years, the Group has been immensely busy building a strong track record and foundation which include being inducted into the FTSE4Good Index; achieving recognition as Malaysia’s Brand of the Year for four consecutive years; winning the Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award for the Home Improvement Retail/ Company of the Year Award 2020 & 2021; as well as bagging the Deloitte Malaysia Best Managed Companies Awards 2021 and Putra Brand Awards – Gold Award 2021 in Retail Category.

Celebrating this milestone with its customers, the Group o ered attractive discounts of up to 40% across more than 60 product lines at MR D.I.Y. stores. The Group also gave out fantastic deals on F&B goods and toys at MR DOLLAR and MR TOY stores from 1 to 31 August 2022.

In doing its part in keeping Malaysians safe, MR D.I.Y. is o ering medical face masks at just RM8 for a box of 50 masks in conjunction with its 1,000 Stores Celebration, available at MR D.I.Y., MR DOLLAR, and MR TOY stores across Malaysia.

Alex Goh, Group Head of Marketing.

Rede ning Wellness

Wellness is de ned by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal. The World Health Organisation, meanwhile, has a more comprehensive description of wellness. It says, wellness is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or in rmity.

This wholesome take on health is what obstetrician and gynaecologist Datuk Dr Colin Lee wants to o er in his extensive twophase project called the KL Wellness City. A rare breed of entrepreneur who straddles both the medical line and property development, Datuk Colin is also passionate about alternative medicine and is keen to promote medical tourism, a growing sector in the country.

He says that while the main goal of healthcare travellers is to seek medical treatment, they also have other desires such as shopping and exploring the country.

As such the KL Wellness City is an ecosystem where healthcare and wellness meet. Upon completion of both phases by mid-2025, the City will boast an International Tertiary Hospital with medical specialist suites, innovation laboratories, clinical R&D facilities and healthcare company o ce towers, as well as a retirement resort, healthcare mall, wellness-centric serviced apartments, tness-based central park and more.

Phase 1, consisting of the 12-storey hospital and the Nobel Healthcare Park, both to be connected via linked bridges, will be completed by end-2024 with a launch date slated for 2Q 2025 as the hospital secures its MoH compliance approvals and licences.

The International Tertiary Hospital will hold 624 beds, which is scalable to 1,000-bed capacity. Datuk Colin’s plans for the hospital will see it emerge as the most well-equipped and modern hospital in the region with a comprehensive catalogue of healthcare.

It will have Centres of Excellence across areas such as cardiology, spine health, neuro health, sports medicine, cosmetic surgery and fertility.

Additionally, it is also designed to be conducive for healthcare professionals as they pursue their work in research studies. With R&D laboratories and facilities for clinical studies across a variety of elds, it will see frontier technologies, enhanced by information technology and data analytics.

The Nobel Healthcare Park, meanwhile, is rede ning how healthcare is operated, maintained and administered. It consists of four suites, namely the Medical Suites, the Wellness Suites, the Business Suites and the Retail Suites.

The Medical Suites is a purposefully-built complex built in compliance with the Ministry of Health’s requirements. It features

natural open-air li lobbies, air-conditioned corridors and landscaped break-out areas at the roo op.

The Wellness Suites are furnished living areas for the owner’s own occupancy, stepdown care, healthcare traveller accommodation or even short-term stay. The Business Suites feature interior spaces that are carefully planned to reflect functionality and versatility. Meanwhile, an 11-metrehigh Sky Lounge and a chill-andrelax zone at level 12 at North and East Wing of The Nobel Healthcare Park are conveniently connected via the Sky Link. This deck with the dimension of half a football eld is perfect for unwinding, relaxing or simply soaking in the views of the skyline.

Finally, the Retail Suites is designed to cater to a high number of daily visitors comprising doctors and clinic workers, o ce workers from Business Suites, the Wellness Suites occupants as well as the many thousands of people visiting The Nobel Healthcare Park for wellness consultancy or treatment.

It will feature artisan F&B outlets, convenience stores, childcare and educational services, florists, o ce supplies, tour agencies, souvenir stores and many more.

Shop Green with Shopee Echoes Strong Commitment Towards Sustainability

With the growing demand for sustainable goods, Shopee takes the lead in driving eco-friendly e-Commerce.

As consumers become more aware of sustainability e orts and embark on environmental-friendly shopping, the demand for sustainable household goods have increased. Recognising this growing trend, Shopee is increasingly highlighting more local and sustainable sellers across its platform. O ering consumers the best value for eco-friendly products to meet the growing demand for such items, Shopee has identi ed data trends that indicate users searching for products such as solar lights, solar panels, and inverter air conditioners. Shopee says that keyword searches for these products have recorded an increase of 14% between 1 January to 25 July 2022 compared to the six months prior.

To cater to this growing demand for sustainable products, Shopee has introduced Shop Green with Shopee, whereby users can reach out to more eco-friendly sellers, learn more about sustainable living and habits, and inspire others to take action in preserving the environment.

In fact, in the rst six months of 2022, Shopee witnessed an increase in demand for biodegradable items such as reusable bags and biodegradable plates as well as personal hygiene items such as natural deodorant, shampoos, and body soaps, compared to the second half of 2021.

According to Shopee, this poses new business opportunities for the online e-commerce giant and its sellers, especially in the wellness, cosmetics, and personal care industries. With Shop Green in place, Shopee is able to empower its sellers o ering eco-friendly products to achieve greater visibility and brand awareness.

Huiyan Pan, Head of Brand Marketing at Shopee Malaysia, said, “Living sustainably means making greener choices today that will positively impact the environment tomorrow. While we see consistent and healthy demand for eco-friendly products in Malaysia, we will continue to work closely with sellers to o er users more a ordable and responsible products.”

“Shop Green with Shopee is one way we are connecting users to sellers who have clearly stated their commitment towards environmental sustainability, identi ed as recycled or reusable materials, and are made locally in the spirit of minimizing carbon footprints,” she added.

To-date, Shopee has achieved good momentum in its sustainability e orts with its broad array of local eco-friendly sellers and their products spanning cosmetics, grooming, beauty, fashion and household, among others. Notable brands on Shopee’s platform include HYGR, The Hive, Minus Zero Waste, PYNGzerowaste, and Green Eco Paradise, among others.

According to Ivor Lim Xian Z and Chew Hoi Meng, Founders of HYGR and sellers on Shopee, “With all the toxic chemicals found in products, the importance of eco-friendly products has never been more crucial. We hope more Malaysians will spread awareness and educate one another on sustainable living. With Shopee as one of our partners, we can expand our customer base and encourage the community to go green.”

As Shopee pursues e orts in expanding its sustainable products, the company pledges to continue to support eco-friendly sellers and their innovations that allow users to reduce environmental impact. At the same time, Shopee hopes to connect users with more brand choices that are on a mission to achieve positive social impact as well as driving sustainable e orts.