MR Academy, an award-winning coaching group offering diverse entrepreneur empowerment courses, has empowered 12 Malaysian retailers through a collaborative programme with Ai FM - Qi Cheng. The programme concluded successfully with an award ceremony to honour the participating small medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) that pushed boundaries and embarked on inspiring transforming journeys.

This ambitious 12 weeks programme, which began in April 2024, saw 12 different small-micro retailers undergo a comprehensive mentoring regimen focused on building tangible business operations and enhancing retail management. Participants from various retail sectors, including sports essentials, bakery, hardware, stationery, gold stores, etc., received focused guidance and hands-on business advice. The programme was designed to equip participants with survival strategies and ways to thrive in a competitive marketplace by leveraging technological innovation and strategic thinking.

Marcus Chew, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MR Academy, as well as the programme’s mentor with  expertise in retail management and digital transformation , said, “We observed that physical retail stores still play pivotal roles in the value chain, especially since some Malaysians still prefer to shop in-store. It is critical for these retailers to stay ahead of the curve by understanding consumer behaviour and retail management to preserve business agility as we move into an era of convergence between traditional and online shopping.” 

Chew commended the participants,  "I’m grateful to collaborate with Ai FM to support these 12 retailers on their business transformation journey, facilitating their growth, learning, and pursuit of excellent business performance. Their journey stands as a testament to the transformative potential of digital innovation in bringing about significant change among their business colleagues. We at MR Academy are proud of the commitment and successful outcomes demonstrated by these tenacious retailers, strengthening our position to  mentor  more business players in the future." 

To earmark the conclusion of the programme,  an award ceremony was held, The  12 retailers shared their transformative experiences and the impact of MR Academy’s training on their business growth. Among the 12 retail business participants, three winning teams and their businesses won the following awards:

Most Potential Retailer Award: How Ban Hong Enterprise

How Ban Hong Enterprise is a well-established hardware business based in Jasin, Melaka, founded in 1995. The company managed to overcome issues of overstocking, customer loyalty, and a lack of talent well-versed in the hardware industry.

Full story can be viewed here.

Most Outstanding Retailer Award: Bake Well Supplies Sdn Bhd

Established in 2002, Bake Well Supplies Sdn Bhd is a supplier based in Batu Caves, Selangor, providing a variety of baking ingredients and utensils. The company managed to solve their challenges related to expanding more physical stores and retail management.

Full story can be viewed here.

Most Popular Retailer Award: Trendy Cafe and Bakery 

Established in 2011 and located in Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Trendy Cafe and Bakery commited to bringing the best of traditional Chinese bakery and Taiwanese cake concepts. The company overcome the issue of seating arrangement and achieved to attract more customers. 

Full story can be viewed here.

The Most Potential Retailer, Riven Hau, owner of How Ban Hong Enterprise had one of the most noteworthy stories.  This 28 years old of woman entrepreneur was able to grow her loyalty customer pool to 40%, as she improved the membership strategy through the programme. "The knowledge and support obtained from MR Academy were invaluable," said Hau. "It has completely transformed the way we conduct business and enhanced our operations."

Partnering with Ai FM, Qi Cheng was able to share  a wealth of knowledge and expertise, providing participants with insights into market trends, digital transformation, and customer engagement strategies. The programme’s holistic approach ensured that retailers were well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern marketplace.

The retailers demonstrated extraordinary commitment to solving common challenges in the retail industry. Their inspirational journeys left a lasting impression and underscored the critical support needed to assist businesses in Malaysia.

Through the success of these companies, MR Academy hopes to spur growth and innovation among other businesses in Malaysia. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptation, MR Academy is dedicated to assisting a more resilient retail sector that can withstand economic fluctuations and navigate market disruptions to achieve sustainable growth.

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