Entrepreneurship - Being an Entrepreneur

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The second hand clothing business which popularly known as ‘bundle’ is not new in Malaysia. The bundle items are mostly original with its own special quality. The imported  clothes  will be collected and packed in sacks hence it is called bundle. The bundle will then be sold to suppliers in bulk. Other than second-hand clothes, there are also new clothes with price tags still attached, an indication that the goods have not been used or old stock from the store. The bundle items such as shirts, pants, handbag, shoes etc are usually sold at inexpensive and affordable price.  Bundle clothing has its own fans and mostly by men who loved to wear designer clothes but at an affordable price.

One entrepreneur who has been successful in the bundle business is Encik Mahamad Shahbudin bin Baharum, the proud owner of ‘Annur Bundle’. A bundle shop that has been established since 2009. Currently he owns three bundle shops. The first shop is located in Jalan Dewa Sungai Petani Kedah while the other two branches are located in Jitra and Bertam respectively. All three shops sell bundle items such as shirts, pants, bags, leather products, sport shoes. All of the products are not only cater for men but also women and children. Among the brands that are available in Annur Bundle are Dr Martens, Vans, Clarks, Nike, Quicksilver, Converse, Fila, Gap, Channel and etc.

Even though the main business of all of his  shops are selling bundle items but Encik Shahbudin has diversify and add in some uniqueness in the other two of the branches by adding a small café inside each of the shops, selling western foods and chicken rice.

The operation hours of his shop is between two pm until twelve am every day.

The pictures of Annur Bundle’s shop and products can be seen in appendix A. Meanwhile in appendix B would be some of the menu available in the café.

2.0 PROFILE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR.

Encik Mahamad Shahbudin bin Baharum was born in Alor Setar Kedah in 1972 and he is now 44 years old. He is the fifth child out of seven siblings. The son to the late couple of Baharum and Siti Fatimah, started his primary schooling in Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Muda, Sungai Korok, Alor Setar Kedah and followed by secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Tunku Abdul Malik, Alor Setar Kedah. Later he pursued his studies in Politeknik Kuching, Matang Sarawak in which he did his diploma in Process (Petrochemicals) Engineering. After graduated, he started working as a technician in Sony Electronic Penang  in 1992 and later in 1997 switched job to Western Digital Penang. While he was working, he did part time study in University Technology Malaysia, Skudai Johor.

The happily married man and  a father to four children aged between 18 to 9 years old, has gained first-hand experience in business by helping friends who are involved in the business.  

As stated earlier, Encik Shahbudin has started engaging himself with the bundle business since 2009.  His interest in secondhand clothing led him to form Annur Bundle and at that time he only hired one staff to handle the shop while  he was still working fulltime in Western Digital Penang. Encik Shahbudin imported most of his products from Cambodia  because of the variety of choices available and their outstanding quality products. Yet there are some products that he has gotten from Vietnam, China and other places.  

After almost 2 years in business while working full-time, the company that he has been working with was facing some financial problems and decided to downsize the workforce by offering voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), Mr. Shahbudin took the opportunity, quit his job and devoted full time to his business. It took the business about two to three years to stabilize. Once the business is stabilizing, he began to plan to further expanding its business, therefore in 2013 a new branch was set up with a new concept, a bundle shop cum café in Jitra, Kedah. The shop is known as Annur Bundle and concept café, selling western cuisine, chicken rice and of course bundle apparels. Later in 2015 the third shop has been established in Bertam , Kepala Batas Penang with the same concept as the second shop in Jitra Kedah and this time he did collaboration with his nephew. At this time he has three employees working with him to handle all the sales of the bundle apparels while he also employed six employees to handle the cafes section, three employees at each of the branches.

Encik Mahamad Shahbudin’s picture can be seen in appendix C.

3.0 MOTIVATION TO CREATE NEW VENTURE.

Encik Shahbudin who came from a poor family, has a strong interest in secondhand clothes as it has the quality of its own, is easily available and most importantly is cheaper in price, until he has turned his interest into a more serious business.

As a Muslim, Encik Shahbudin also believes that it is his obligation to establish a business that can help people who are not so fortunate to have an alternative option to get quality items at an affordable price. He said ‘ the Prophet of Muhammad once mentioned that nine over ten of source of income is from business, so since I’m already interested in doing business so why not if I run a business that can help other people and become a reward to me in after life’.

4.0 CHALLENGES FACED BY THE ENTREPRENEUR

In the world of business, its ups and downs in the course of business are common. There is not a single entrepreneur who has never faced losses and challenges of doing business.

However it all depends on the wisdom of the entrepreneur in how to deal with all the obstacles and challenges that arise. If the correct action is taken, the business will continue to successfully cope with any difficulties and challenges that happen but if the entrepreneur wrongly interpret the situation the consequences are enormous.

According to Encik Shahbudin, among the challenges that he has to face while running  the business are in terms of finding the additional capital,competition from others who operating the same business as he is, to understand the trends and also of the depreciation of Malaysia’s currency as compared to  the currencies of other foreign countries.

First and foremost is the challenge to get the initial and later the additional capital for the business. It is not easy for a sole trader to get a loan from the bank to start the business as the bank has lack of trust in the capability of the entrepreneur to run the new business without proof of proper experience.