RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
PAGE 1 OF 36 TINJAUAN RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
HAVE A GOOD START
Let us start by wishing you a very happy New Year. Hopefully, 2010 will be a good year for us all. It is undeniable that 2009 was a tough one as we all had to face various challenges due to the economic downturn. Nonetheless, experts suggest that our country is recovering from it.
Therefore, in this issue’s Rencana Runcit, we present to you a few “Reasons to Celebrate”. We paired several encouraging economic indicators with findings from our retailer survey to explain why you should look forward to the new year and more importantly, the festive sales. We hope it will help you prepare for the important period and make the most profit out of it.
In line with the festive mood, we present a story on Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Berhad. Learn about its Asian Packet Drinks, in which Yeo’s holds the No 1 position in Malaysia. Also, read the double feature on MARIGOLD Evaporated Milk as well as MARIGOLD UHT Asian and Fruit Drinks. You will know why this brand is very popular with consumers, especially during the festive season. We have a special feature on noodles where we collaborated with MAMEE too. Read this interesting article to get some festive cooking ideas. In addition, we bring you closer to two very well known brands from Gentle Supreme Sdn Bhd: MI SEDAAP and DAIA.
Another interesting section to turn to is the new Harga Runcit. From this issue onwards, we will discuss various topics on pricing, an area so important, it can make or break your business! We also feature an article on H1N1, a dangerous disease that is still going on in the country. Also, check out our regular columns like Urusniaga, Wang and Kedai for some very interesting and useful tips for yourself and your business.
We hope you will enjoy reading this issue as much as we have enjoyed producing it. From all of us in RUNCIT MALAYSIA, we take this opportunity to wish “Gong Xi Fa Cai” to all our Chinese readers. May the Tiger year bring you a very successful business. For the rest of you, good luck in 2010!
William Khoo Executive Director Infovantage Sdn Bhd [email protected]
PAGE 2 OF 36 TINJAUAN RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
FORECAST FOR 2010
Chinese New Year is coming on February 14, 2010. It also marks the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. For all our Chinese readers, here is a short forecast for this coming year.
2010 is the year of the Metal Tiger. This combination signifies the energy to begin an activity and the determination to follow it through to the end. It also represents the kind of force needed to accomplish the most difficult tasks. Hence, the impossible just might be possible this year.
You may also find that things you did not manage to do before due to some problems will be done. Even if it doesn’t, you will see a significant progress in it.
This is also the time to face the most difficult issues as you have the best chances to succeed. However, if you still have difficulties, consider postponing the attempt. In the year of the Metal Tiger, those who think will prosper but those who rush into action may experience serious setbacks.
2010 could be a thrilling and rewarding year for those who thirst for adventure and can handle their emotions. On the other hand, those who seek peace and harmony may find life to be a bit more difficult this year.
ARE YOU A TIGER? You are considered one if you were born during a Year of the Tiger which are: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998.
Source: www.proastro.com
PAGE 3 OF 36 RENCANA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
REASONS TO CELEBRATE
Have we passed the worst of the economic downturn? What can be expected of the coming year? Rencana Runcit helps you understand why you should keep your heads up in the new year.
PAGE 4 OF 36 RENCANA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
WELCOME THE YEAR OF THE TIGER WITH OPTIMISM
We are closing the curtain on 2009. As most would agree, it has been a challenging year. The economic downturn in the first half of the year posed real challenges to business. However, there seems to be some positive developments as we get closer to the year of the Tiger. Read on to find out why you should welcome the new year with a positive attitude.
Global Economy is Better. The G-20 countries (G-20), whose economies comprise two thirds of the world population and 80% of world trade, spent $692 billion for fiscal stimulus (use of government spending and revenue collection to influence the economy) in 2009. By the third quarter of 2009, Gross Domestic Product, GDP (total market value of all goods and services produced over a period of time) in G-20 such as the USA, China, Japan, Canada, Australia and Indonesia have increased.
The Government is Helping. In March 2009, the government announced a RM60 billion stimulus package. The money was used to counter the effects of the global financial crisis on Malaysia: loss of jobs and the reduction in credit flow to businesses and private investments.
Our GDP Has Gone Up. The reading was -7 from January to March 2009 but rose to -4 in the following quarter. This shows that we are recovering from the economic downturn.
The BCI Has Increase. The Business Condition Index (BCI), an indication of manufacturing activities in Malaysia, increased tremendously in the second quarter and continued to increase in the third quarter of 2009.
Employment Rate is Increasing. Our employment index was very low in the last quarter of 2008 but it has been increasing since the start of 2009. Our labour market is recovering and the current and expected incomes are steady.
Consumers are Optimistic. Our Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), an indicator of consumer confidence on the state of the economy, has increased tremendously and passed its 100-point threshold in the second quarter of 2009. It remains the same till the third quarter.
PAGE 5 OF 36 RENCANA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
GEARING UP FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR
Having known the reasons to celebrate the coming of the year of the Tiger, you must now make sure that you are well prepared for the much awaited festive sales. To find out your expectations and preparations for it, Runcit Media Sdn Bhd ran a survey from October 6 till November 7, 2009 where 584 retailers from Peninsular Malaysia were involved. The following are the findings of the survey.
Sales Will Increase
• Most respondents are optimistic about the festive sales. • Side the majority because consumers no longer seem to be tightening their wallets. • Plan your promotional activities carefully to make the most out of the situation.
Cheaper, Smaller, Later
• Knowing your shoppers’ purchasing habits during the festive season will help you plan better promotional activities. • While shoppers are still spending, they are becoming more cautious and try not to overspend.
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Plan Ahead, Stock Ahead
• Most retailers start stocking a month before the festive season but this does not allow for thorough preparation. • Start stocking two months prior to the festive season. This will give you enough time to plan which products to stock on, avoid delivery problems and even get better deals from suppliers. • If you never plan to stock earlier, start now as this will help you gain more festive sales.
Help from Suppliers
• You should try to get help from suppliers as stated above as they will help drive your festive sales and manage your cash flow and space better.
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WHAT’S NEW IN THE MARKET? Chart 5 shows that while most are optimistic about the increase in sales, they are only expecting moderate increase in the popular categories. Apart from stocking up on them, these are some interesting insights into several categories to help you drive better festive sales.
Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD)
While consumers still like popular flavours like cola, orange and strawberry, many of them also opt for isotonic drinks which fall under this category. Apart from providing energy and keeping them hydrated, injection of flavours like lemon and orange also attract consumers to choose isotonic drinks. You may also consider stocking up on CSD with less or no sugar and caffeine to cater to the more health conscious shoppers.
Asian Packet Drinks (APD)
Convenience, taste familiarity and suitability with local climate are what drive this category. Manufacturers are taking a lot of initiatives to drive sales of APD especially during the festive season. For example, consumers can now enjoy soya with addition of corn, rose and cincau. Other more traditional drinks like cheng bou leong and lou han guo are also available now in this convenient format.
Biscuits
Biscuits are no longer enjoyed only during teatime or breakfast. Since they are now available in so many formats, flavours and pack sizes, consumers are opting for biscuits as festive snacks. In addition, so many health propositions are being made by biscuits manufacturers in the attempt to appeal more to the older and health conscious consumers.
Juices & Fruit Drinks
A lot of new flavours like mangosteen, soursop, ciku and mata kucing are being introduced to this category, making it more appealing to consumers during the festive season. They also come in different pack sizes and packaging to make it more convenient to be served to the guests.
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Cooking Oil
Although palm oil is still very popular with consumers, many are opting for other types of cooking oil like sunflower, corn, canola, olive and peanut oils. While some do so due to health reasons, these oils are also chosen because they are more suitable in the cooking and baking of certain festive dishes.
Mineral/Drinking Water Smaller and more convenient pack sizes have attracted consumers to this category. It is also the healthier choice of refreshment for guests.
CONCLUSION
Inspired enough to work harder this festive season? Get started with the following tips:
1. Discuss and Negotiate Contact your suppliers now and find out about their festive trade promotions. Negotiate for best prices for the festive stocks. Also, get their help on display and merchandising. They will be happy to help as this is beneficial for both parties.
2. Offer Correctly Find out the most popular SKUs for each category and stock more on them. You may also want to stock up on smaller SKUs for popular categories like cooking oil and rice for top-up trips during the festival itself.
3. Balance the Stocks Plan your order and delivery of stocks so that you will have enough throughout the period. This will also help you control your budget to maximize your profit.
4. Hype Up the Mood Have a clean and nicely decorated shop to welcome your shoppers during the festive season. Be friendly and helpful and don’t forget to talk and make suggestions to them too. The more they enjoy the experience, the more purchases and visits they will make.
Freda Abd Manan – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 9 OF 36 ISTIMEWA PERAYAAN RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
CELEBRATE WITH NOODLES
Malaysia’s Second Most Popular Staple Food
Catching up while sampling delicious foods is a must during the festive season. While most festive foods in Malaysia are made of rice, many of them are made of noodles too. Here are some popular methods used to make festive foods from this ingredient:
Fry: Blend some onions, garlic and chili, pour in some soy sauce and fry them with noodles to get a delicious mi goreng that is sure to please the guests.
Soup: Spicy or not, noodles can be added to most soups to make a simple, filling and tasty festive dish.
Deep-Fry: Yellow noodles, kuay teaw or bihun can be deep-fried to produce crunchy noodles that turn soft and yummy when mixed with hot, sizzling gravy.
Side Gravy: Just run hot water to yellow noodles or immerse bihun in it and the noodles are ready to be mixed with gravy and other ingredients for a tasty mi kari, pecal and even rojak!
TASTY, INSTANTLY
Walk into any Malaysian home and you will find a packet of instant noodles. Used to be perceived as a light meal or snack, it is now often used to produce a complete wholesome meal. And that includes festive dish too! The following are the steps to follow to cook a tasty, springy instant noodles:
Step 1: Cook instant noodles as usual in a pot. Step 2: When the noodles are cooked, through away the water. Step 3: Run iced water through hot noodles to retain its springy form. Then put noodles in a bowl. Step 4: Boil another pot of water and insert soup powder. Add in other ingredients like eggs and vegetables. Step 5: When soup is ready, pour into the bowl containing noodles.
Article in collaboration with
PAGE 10 OF 36 URUSNIAGA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
PLANNING IS IMPORTANT
Plan properly for a successful business growth
Buy another shop lot. Renovate for a new look. Increase product offerings. You may have thought of doing these to draw more business to your shop. But don’t just jump straight into it. Plan first to avoid taking the wrong steps. Here are some easy steps to follow when planning to grow your business.
1. Collect Sufficient Data Visit your competitors’ shops, talk to your shoppers and go through your weekly sales. These are some steps that can help you determine your shoppers’ needs and wants. Analyse the information you’ve gathered and revise your list of products to offer.
2. Manage Finances Expanding your business requires some investment. Regardless on which aspect you wish to expand, always ensure you have sufficient funds to maintain your plan or you may risk having to stop the execution due to a lack of funds.
3. Merchandise Correctly Give more space to popular stocks. Especially if your outlet is small, you cannot afford to stock up on everything. Always keep a look out for other opportunity areas in your shop.
4. Set Your Prices From your data collection, you should know your competitors’ prices. Use this as a guide to set prices for your products. Avoid setting them too low as you might lose profits. Set them too high and you might end up losing your shoppers.
5. Evaluate The Risks Not every idea is executable. Analyse them and weigh their pros and cons. Have back-up plans should your ideas fail. Successful planning involves both assessing risks and coming up with ways to mitigate them.
6. Be Ethical Before taking any action, ask yourself if it is ethical. It is a fair market. Do not go against the rules and regulations just so you can be ahead of your competitors.
7. Get Started Don’t spend too much time planning. Once you have set your goals and have clear ideas on how to achieve them, go on and execute your plans!
8. Measure The Results Measure the effectiveness of your plans. Ask questions like, “How much profit have I gained?”, “Does it appeal to shoppers?”, “What are the downsides?” or “How can I improve them?”. Simple but effective questions like these give you an overall look of how your plan is functioning. They will even help you plan your next course of action for more success.
Business Growth Formula
Plan + Commitment + Action = Results
Expanding your business is never an easy task. The wrong planning and execution could be damaging to your business. We hope the abovementioned tips will be of help to you. All the best and good luck!
Chow Nyuk Loong & Wong Wen Dee – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 11 OF 36 WANG RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
MANAGE YOUR CREDITORS
For smooth business at all times Regardless of the nature of a business, the owner is most likely to be indebted to one or a few parties. However, as discussed in our last issue, there are good debts (those you can pay off) and bad debts (unnecessary credit or those that you can’t settle). So how do you turn all your debts into good debts? Read on and let us tell you how.
What Principles To Follow?
These three universal principals will help you manage your creditors well:
1. Recognise Your Obligations Always be responsible to your debt commitments. Have clear written agreements for every deal. Make sure you pay your creditors according to the agreed terms, which may include interest on late payments.
2. Negotiate Where Necessary Creditors, especially suppliers, may be flexible provided you have had a good track record with them. When dealing with banks, try to negotiate for a longer repayment period for huge loans. This is better than having them claim your collateral should you fail to pay your installments.
3. Take Mitigating Measures Give your creditors, especially suppliers, a heads-up if you foresee any payment problem. Perhaps you can ask for an extension or a cancellation for your order in the affected month. As long as you keep to your word, having to do this once in a while should not be an issue.
Manage Your Books!
Failure to watch your obligations to creditors may lead to the following: • Termination of supplies or being blacklisted by suppliers. • Lacking/running out of stock, which will affect your inventory and merchandising standard. • Bad image for your business as suppliers may spread negative comments. Banks tend to go through legal means to make sure you pay your installments. • Delay or failure in payments that affect your interest. If this continues, the bank will freeze your transactions or hold your collateral. These may cause you to lose your valued assets.
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Who Are You Indebted To?
The person or organisation you are in debt to is called a creditor. For a small retail business like yours, creditors are usually the banks and suppliers. Here is how they differ from one another:
DIMENSION BANKS SUPPLIERS Type of debt Business loans Goods in advance Frequency One-off (at the start of your business) or Continuous (as long as your business a few times (for business expansion) operates) Repayment/credit Depends on loan amount and stability of Ranges from 14 to 60 days, depending on term your business products and the flexibility of each supplier Others You may need to provide them your account You may be given discounts if you keep statements regularly paying early
I Need Help!
There may come times when you have to borrow money to save your business. Before calling that loan shark, why not consider your friends and family? This may be embarrassing, as you wouldn’t want to expose your financial problems to them but they are definitely the safer choice. Just remember to pay them back as promised to avoid turning the relationship sour.
Be it a big or small business, creditors play a very important role in helping you achieve your intended results. So good luck in managing them!
Chow Nyuk Loong & Wong Wen Dee – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 13 OF 36 ADVERTORIAL RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
ENRICHING AND MAKING YOUR DISHES TASTE BETTER
The festive season is just around the corner, consumers will be busy planning to welcome guests into their homes. The best way to entertain the guests are by serving them good foods and drinks. The taste of foods and drinks will definitely be enhanced with the addition of MARIGOLD Evaporated Milk.
Three variants are available under the MARIGOLD Evaporated Milk range in 400g pack size. Get to know them better and be rest assured that these products will make a big contribution to your festive sales!
GOOD THINGS COME IN THREE
NEW! MARIGOLD Evaporated Full Cream Milk
MARIGOLD Evaporated Full Cream Milk is of premium quality with extra rich and creamy texture. It is high in Calcium and enriched with Vitamin A and D. It is often used as the main ingredient and is great for baking cakes and cookies. It can also be added to other foods and drinks to make your dishes more delicious and creamy.
MARIGOLD Evaporated Filled Milk
MARIGOLD Evaporated Filled Milk is cholesterol free and enriched with Vitamin A and D. Hence, it is the ideal choice for cooking and making the family’s favourite foods and drinks. Consumers love using it to cook chicken curry and it is a great substitute for coconut milk.
MARIGOLD Evaporated Creamer
MARIGOLD Evaporated Creamer is famous for its light and creamy taste. It is also enriched with Vitamin A and D. It is a great and healthy choice to be used in desserts especially ais kacang.
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Delicious Festive Recipe from
AYAM PEDAS LIMAU PURUT
Ingredients
1.2kg chicken, cut into 10 1 tbsp salt 8 kaffir lime leaves, sliced thinly Juice from 1 lime 1 cup MARIGOLD Evaporated Filled Milk ½ cup water
To be blended separately
20 dried chillies, soaked till soft 4 candle nuts 10 shallots 4 garlic Tumeric (thumb size) Shrimp paste (thumb size)
Method
1. Wash chicken pieces and dry them. Mix with salt and sliced kaffir lime leaves. 2. Heat 3 tbsp cooking oil and fry blended ingredients. Put in chicken pieces and fry for 3 minutes with medium heat. 3. Add MARIGOLD Evaporated Filled Milk and water. Leave to boil, then turn down heat. Leave it to cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the gravy thickens. Add salt to flavour. Add lime juice and turn off heat.
Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Serving size: 4 – 6
Please contact Cotra Enterprises Sdn Bhd at 1 800 88 5587
PAGE 15 OF 36 KEDAI RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
BOOST SALES WITH PROMOTIONS
The right promotional strategy helps you generate more sales
Haven’t seen any increase in sales these past few months? Well, with the festive season just around the corner, why not take this opportunity to get that much-awaited sales? Don’t know how? Try conducting promotions.
Why Have Promotions? Not sure how promotions can help you? Here are some reasons why you should hold them: • Excite and reward loyal shoppers. • Attract new shoppers and widen your clientele base. • Create awareness and encourage trial usage of new products. • Remain competitive with neighbouring shops.
What Promotions Can I Hold? Retailers may get creative, but generally, there are only two types of promotions:
1. Major Promotion (Sales) • Mainly used by major shopping malls and hypermarkets. • Eg: Anniversary Sales or Year-End Sales. • Requires the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism approval.
2. Ad Hoc Promotions • Held for a very short period. • Does not require ministry’s approval. • May be one of the following: o Price-off Pack – Usually organised by brand owners; items sold at discounted prices. o Twin-Pack – Two products offered at an attractive price; encourages bulk purchases. o On-Pack – A free product for a purchase of another. Cost of free products needs to be carefully calculated to ensure profit. o In-Pack – Organised by brand owners. Additional products usually included during production. o Others – Bonus packs, coupons, Buy One Get One Free, etc.
How Do I Conduct A Good Promotion? Here are 4 simple tips to a successful promotion:
1. Calculate The Cost Brand owners usually support promotion costs. Carefully work out the involvement, budget and costing with suppliers before holding a promotion. Do not over-promote at your own expense as you may end up with a loss instead of making profits.
2. Be Well Stocked Order stocks a few months in advance. This is to minimise and avoid out-of-stock situations during the promotional period.
3. Place Products Properly Products that are on sale must be given top merchandising priority. Make sure you decorate your display with Point-Of-Sale (POS) materials with clear, visible price tags.
4. Be Creative! Creativity plays an important part. Colours and music are good ways to attract shoppers. Remember to keep your promotion and messages simple so that shoppers can understand and get attracted immediately. Chow Nyuk Loong & Wong Wen Dee – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 16 OF 36 MEDIA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
DOMINATE & OWN STORE ENTRANCES AND SHELVES
It takes a huge investment of time, effort and expense to drive product success. Not surprisingly, it’s essential to stay one step ahead of the competition throughout the route to market and right into the store. Yes, this is the battleground where brands fight for space, attention and survival. A brutal arena where gaining the upper hand makes all the difference to winning and losing.
Unrivalled in its expertise in the traditional trade, Runcit Media Sdn Bhd (RMSB) can give you that special advantage. With its highly effective Indoor Media (Shelf Edge and Shelf Violator) and Outdoor Media (Horizontal Banner), you can stake your claim over the entrances and shelves of the store. It’s a simple yet highly effective way to overcome the most formidable of competitors and putting them in their place – out of the way of your success.
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For further enquiries, please contact: Ms Elenie Tan Client Service Head Runcit Media Sdn Bhd Suite 12.01, 12th Floor, Menara Merais, No 1, Jalan 19/3 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Tel: (03) 7957 1718; Website: www.runcit.com.my; Email: [email protected]
Stephen Tan & Freda Abd Manan – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 18 OF 36 ADVERTORIAL RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
BETTER BUSINESS WITH YEO’S
Benefit from Its Strong Position
With history and heritage of 110 years and having been around in Malaysia for more than 50 years, Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Berhad is one of the most successful food and beverages companies in the country. Nonetheless, the company continues to strive for greater achievements. Various initiatives are being taken, especially for its Asian packet drinks (APD) in which the company holds a very strong market position. With the coming of the year of the Tiger, Yeo’s is sure to emerge stronger than ever.
Yeo’s special Year of the Tiger carton for its APD.
SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS With Yellow Storm
The traditional trade contributes to over 50% sales of Asian packet drinks in Malaysia*. Yeo’s acknowledges the importance of this sector and to show its appreciation, the company launched the Yellow Storm campaign in 2005. It provides an avenue for Yeo’s to create better relationships with its customers and retailers. Yeo’s commenced its latest Yellow Storm campaign 2010, the ‘Mighty Tiger Operation’ that
The Yellow Storm team in action during t h e M i g h t y T i g e r Operation.
runs from December 2009 till February 2010
IT HELPED US! What some retailers think of Yellow Storm
“I’ve taken part in Yellow Storm since it started. It increased my sales up to 5 times than usual, especially during Chinese New Year. Yeo’s is not only the better brand for consumers but also is for retailers!” – Wong Yoon Pin, KH.
“Yellow Storm proves that Yeo’s is a company that cares for its customers. Every time it runs, my sales will increase till up to 10 times.” – Elaine Yeoh, Fah Lian.
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REFRESHING DRINKS Perfect For the Festive Season
Consumers appreciate convenience. This is why, APD in Tetrabrik sell more than those in can and bottle*. To drive more sales of its APD and to welcome the Year of the Tiger, Yeo’s has recently come up with new packaging for its APD in Tetrabrik. Have a look at it and find out more about Yeo’s popular APD below.
Soy Yeo’s soy milk is produced from 100% non-genetically modified organism (GMO) Canadian soy beans. This no 1 soy drink is now available with addition of Corn and Rose flavours.
Tea Tea provides relief from the tropical heat and is great to soothe the throat. Yeo’s offers 5 interesting variants under this range: Chrysanthemum, Winter Melon, Green Tea, Iced Tea Lemon and Lou Han Guo + Chrysanthemum.
Botanical Yeo’s botanical range is the best choice for Malaysia’s hot and humid climate. 4 popular variants from Yeo’s under this category are Lychee, Sugar Cane, Cincau and Cheng Bou Leong.
JUSTEA Yeo’s JUSTEA is made from the mixture of fun flavours and the goodness of green tea. White Grape, Ice Tea Lemon, Peach and Lemon are sure to be fast selling this Chinese New Year.
CERTIFIED BY RETAILERS!
Over the past few years, Yeo’s has been beating its competitors in the APD market*. Not only are the products competitively priced, they are also of the best quality and well supported by retailers. Just look at what these retailers have to say about Yeo’s APD.
“My shoppers love Yeo’s “Prices of Yeo’s APD are simply “Sales of Yeo’s APD is Chrysanthemum Tea, Soya and unbeatable. This is why my always good but it is 10 times Sugar Cane the most. I just love shoppers prefer them. I look better during Chinese New them all! I really appreciate the forward to more pricing Year! I, myself, am a big fan!” support I’ve received from Yeo’s promotions from Yeo’s.” - Madam Chook, Pasaraya so far.” - Chong Wei Xiong, Pasaraya BSL Sdn Bhd. – Jason Ng, Fook Yau Sdn Bhd. Wai Hong (PJ) Sdn Bhd.
PAGE 20 OF 36 HARGA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
SET YOUR PRICES RIGHT The correct pricing strategy will improve your business.
Pricing is very important especially in this highly competitive business environment. Adopting the correct pricing strategy will give you the opportunity to grow your revenue as you will get more business from existing shoppers and gain new ones at the same time. The following are 3 basic ways of determining retail prices:
1. Recommended Selling Price Usually featured in the official price list from brand owners to ensure price standardisation. It also reflects the cost of wholesalers and retailers. However, it has not been very successful as modern trade players continuously adopt price- discounting strategy to be more competitive.
2. Profit Margin Acquired after deducting cost from selling price. The following is how it is computed: Profit Margin = Selling Price – Cost Selling Price
3. Mark-Up The percentage added to the cost to arrive at selling price. This is how it is calculated: Mark-up = Selling Price – Cost (Mark-up x Cost) + Cost = Selling Price Cost
As retailers, you set your own profit margin and mark-up based on your pricing policy. And this may differ from one retailer to another. Hence, you may set your prices by comparing them with your competitors. Here are some important facets to consider when comparing prices: a. State – find out prices from the state that you are in and the neighbouring ones too. b. Channel – know common prices by channel to set your prices to better suit your clientele base. c. Segment – know prices by segment to help you determine which to focus on to cater to your shoppers (eg bar, liquid or powder for laundry detergent) d. Brands – compare prices of different brands under a category (popular brands may vary according to segment). e. Top 10 Stock Keeping Units (SKU) – find out prices of the top 10 SKU for each segment under a category. It will also help you merchandise them.
Realising the importance of pricing, Runcit Media Sdn Bhd is currently working on a price-tracking project. We will keep you updated on the progress!
Chow Nyuk Loong & Freda Abd Manan – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 21 OF 36 WIRA RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
THE DARING RETAILER The man who took the right risks at the right time
Name: Anuar Sadad Name out Outlet: Pasaraya Sinar Wawasan Philosophy: “Be courageous, but be prepared for the risk you want to take”
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Since young, Anuar Sadad knows what it takes to be successful. Today, when you see this young millionaire gallantly stepping out of his brand new BMW, you would have never imagined that his past was not as fortunate. Anuar wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth, nor did he have any form of tertiary education. But this determined man was not going to let factors like that stop him. He knew that in order to be on top, he had to start out at the bottom.
“I worked at my brother-in-law’s retail shop as an apprentice and it was tough,” he says. He remembers days and nights of hard labour, working on an empty stomach for minimum wage. However, Anuar goes on to say that he is glad to have gone through life the hard way as it was a learning curve that instilled the spirit of courage in him. His two years there gave him the steady foundation and confidence required to start his own retail shop.
SUPPORT FROM THE FATHER
Anuar owes much of his success to his father who always stood by him and gave him words of advice and constantly motivated him. “I’m lucky to have a father who always supported me. He’s my hero and without him, I would have been nothing,” this doting son says about his father. This built up the courage in him and he knew that in order to succeed, he had to be prepared to take risks.
“Only take risks once you have completely understood the subject matter did further research,” he says. This 33 year-old owner of Pasaraya Sinar Wawasan in Seksyen 24, Shah Alam has been a firm believer in taking the “right” risks, thus never experiencing failure in any of his business ventures. “You always have a good feeling when you are taking the right risk. You don’t look back, only forward,” he says.
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HOW TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE? Tips by Anuar Sadad
Today, Anuar owns a range of businesses carrying the ASTAF brand that consists of retail outlets, cyber café’s, furniture shops, travel agencies, restaurants and forwarding companies.
ASK YOUR SUPPLIER “Suppliers are keen to help out and provide advice but you need to have an inquisitive mind and the humility to ask them for it,” he says. They are the best people to ask about emerging trends and technologies and they have much knowledge to share. In return, Anuar always kept his word with his suppliers by being a prompt paymaster.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS He developed a system whereby consumers living within a 1km radius are able to place home delivery orders and goods are then sent directly to their doorstep. This especially comes in handy for those who are in the midst of cooking, or other activities and are unable to leave their homes.
MARKET TRENDS Anuar observes market trends regularly and knows exactly how to price the items. As a retailer, you need to be aware of how your price your items, and this particularly applies to items like milk, sugar and rice. You cannot price these items at a high price because these items are the pull-factor that attracts consumers to your store,” he says.
EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP Anuar offers his managers profit-sharing incentives so that his success can be shared. This in turn, has doubled his profit margin in his outlets. “Treating your employees well gives them a sense of loyalty which is mutually beneficial,” Anuar says.
Ashlina Rachel Davidson – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 23 OF 36 CAKAP-CAKAP RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
GRABBING OPPORTUNITIES
While business is going on as usual, you should always look out for opportunities to drive more sales and expand your business. Come up with good plans, execute them properly and you may even be able to reward yourself at the end of the day! Just look at how these retailers do it.
Share your stories with other retailers here! Call Ms Chua Soah Sen at (03) 7957 1718 or tell our friendly Field Supervisors (FS) about it.
SELL SOUVENIRS, GIFTS AND HAMPERS
Shoppers used to ask if I sell souvenirs or hampers in my shop. Realising its big potential, I decided to sell various kinds of souvenirs, gifts and hampers in my shop. Some shoppers prefer picking gifts, souvenirs and wrapping paper of their choice. However, I also pre-pack the gifts and hampers. This saves time and is of convenience to my busy shoppers. I mainly get orders from companies, organisations, and schools. My sales from these items increase during the festive season and school holidays. Shoppers also buy these items as wedding presents.
Name: Che Hashimudin Bin Ismail Name of Shop: Yang Yang Ekonomi Market Town: Kuala Krai, Kelantan FS: Mohd Rodi Mohd Nor
USE CREATIVE TAGLINE
I needed a creative and attractive tagline to capture more attention to my shop. Therefore, I came up with one that uses Kelantanese dialect, “Ado Belako” which means “We Have Everything Here”. I hang the banners all around my shop to hype up the message to my shoppers. They remember my shop because of this tagline. It also makes my shop stand out from my competitors. Household items such as hardware products, baby products, clothes, frozen goods, kitchen utensils and many more are sold in my shop.
Name: Ahmad Bin Deraman Name of Shop: Pasaraya Jelira Kok Lanas Town: Kok Lanas, Kelantan FS: Mohd Rodi Mohd Nor
GIVE FREE GIFTS
The idea to give free gifts to shoppers was developed together with my son who manages a handphone kiosk next to my shop. With every purchase of RM30 in a single receipt, my shoppers are entitled to a free gift. For the time being, we are giving out free HOTLINK starter pack. These gifts are given out based on a “while stock last” condition. Previously, we gave away free carbonated drinks as gifts. This idea was well received by my shoppers and has generated many sales since we started.
Name: Rosnani Awang Name of Shop: Keluargaku Mini Market Town: Wakaf Bharu, Kelantan FS: Mohd Rodi Mohd Nor
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OPEN A FURNITURE SHOP
My wife and I started our business as a small grocery shop. A year later, we decided to venture into another type of business. We bought a shop lot next to ours and open a furniture shop. Nowadays, my wife manages our grocery shop while I manage the furniture shop. To cater to our shoppers, we offer different varieties of furniture. It has been around for almost 5 years now. Our business has been really successful ever since. I am happy that both our businesses are well received by shoppers.
Name: Liang Swee Ching Name of Shop: 89 Mini Market Town: Alor Setar, Kedah FS: Mohd Rodi Mohd Nor
WON A FREE TRIP TO EGYPT
I recently joined a competition held by JTI International where I had to promote the company and its brands. There were three rounds to this competition. I did my best in all rounds. When I was announced as one of the winners, I was really surprised, happy and excited. I felt so blessed and lucky to have won the competition too. I had to compete with so many other outlets. My shop was one of the three shops chosen among thousands of traditional trade outlets, mini markets and hypermarkets throughout the country. The prize was an all expense paid holiday trip to Egypt for 11 days!
Name: Adnan Bin. A Rahman Shop: Minda Runcit Entreprise Town: Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu FS: Mohd Rodi Mohd Nor
Wong Wen Dee – Runcit Malaysia
PAGE 25 OF 36 ADVERTORIAL RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
HAVE A SPRITZY FESTIVE SEASON!
Surprise your shoppers this festive season with Spritzer Sparkling, a delightful and unique product from Spritzer! This wonderful carbonated mineral water can be mixed with any drinks to suit their taste buds. It is the perfect accessory to enhance other flavours as it contains no sugar, no preservatives, and no colorings! So what are you waiting for? Stock up on Spritzer Sparkling and rest assured that your shoppers will love it!
GOODNESS IN A BOTTLE
• Spritzer Sparkling is a natural mineral water that is lightly carbonated. • It contains no sugar, colourings or preservatives. • It is available in two pack sizes: 1L and 325ml.
DELICIOUS SPRITZY COCKTAILS
Share these unique recipes with your shoppers. Not only will they appreciate the input, they will definitely buy more Spritzer Sparkling too!
LEMON-EY PUNCH
Add a few slices of lemon and lime to a glass of Spritzer Sparkling. Add a few drops of honey and ice cubes and voila, you have a glass of Lemon-ey punch.
BERRY-BERRY SMOOTHIE
Blend a handful of strawberries, raspberries and ice cubes. Add the blended mixture to half a glass of Spritzer Sparkling. Enjoy your yummy smoothie!
RUMMY PINK PANTHER (Alcoholic)
Blend strawberries, ice cubes and half a cup of Spritzer Sparkling in the blender and add a dash of rum. Once it appears to have smooth- lide consistency, add your desired amount of whipped cream and blend further until smooth. Serve chilled and savour the unique taste!
Spritzer Berhad Tel: (05) 801 2663 Fax: (05) 801 2118 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.spritzer.com.my
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TIME TO GET INTO Renovating Your Shop? Consider these! ACTION Another area that you should not overlook is upgrading and modernising your outlet. For all you Gear Up for Better Business in know, the outdated look of your outlet could be one the Year of the Tiger of the reasons why shoppers are switching to your competitors’ shops! But before you make that call We have come to the last issue of to the contractors, consider the following questions. 2009. We hope all of you will be We hope they will guide you in making wiser more optimistic in the remaining decisions: months to bring in more sales and to usher in 2010, the Year of the 1) How do you measure up to your competitors? Tiger. Our many market visits 2) When was the last time your shop was given a revealed mixed feelings. Some are doing well but new look? (Do make sure you do not have any many are still complaining over the year-to-date financial constraints). shortfall that resulted from the prolonged economic 3) What is the proximity of your outlet with those downturn. in the modern trade? (Please be reminded that shoppers today tend to shy away from old and Nonetheless, what went down cannot be down rundown outlets). forever so you must be ready to capitalise on the 4) What is the household income of your clientele situation. Besides, many industry leaders have base? Is the majority of them skewed towards predicted that this will take place towards the last the middle or upper income category? quarter of the year. Change is the only thing that is constant in this world so adapt to it, and you will survive. We also encourage you to identify all your problems and look at them from a new perspective The market is getting more competitive. New to gain new ideas and insights. Speed is of the outlets are mushrooming and the price discounting essence, as 2009 is ending soon and you have to strategy by key hypermarkets is unceasing so your be fully prepared before 2010 sets in. Also, do keep task now is not only to protect and grow your sales, in mind that Chinese New Year is just around the but also to effectively combat your competitors! corner (February 14, 2010) so make sure you are all fully geared up for it. To guide you, we have Preparing for A Change provided a detailed Rencana Runcit which gives you good insights into some of the core products Creativity is key to your success and the outcome that will be in great demand during this period. All will very much depend on how you outsmart and the best and we hope all of you will be roaring into outperform your competitors. One of the most the New Year! fundamental skills of creativity is the ability to see an opportunity and seize it! Studies have shown that it costs five times more to gain new customers than to keep existing ones. For a start, we hope all of you have put your store in order, covering the following areas:
1) Knowing the needs and wants of your shoppers. 2) Carrying a good range of products and avoiding out-of-stock situations. 3) Offering competitive prices vis-à-vis your neighbourhood stores. 4) Providing the right type of shopping ambience. 5) Prioritising the following: a. Cleanliness of your shop b. Arrangements of your shelves to ease traffic flow c. Promotions to induce bulk purchases d. Your standard of display and merchandising e. Courtesy and friendliness of your staff
PAGE 27 OF 36 HALAMAN PAK RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
BANK LOANS
I always get loan offers from banks. However, because business is not so good I have no choice but to forget about it. Am I doing the right thing?
P/M Siti Badariah Hj. Zainal – Sri Lalang, Johor
You are one of the very fortunate retailers to be able to get loan offers from banks. In this difficult trading environment, many of them are considering putting a freeze on it. If this opportunity comes along, you should seriously reconsider, as it will assist you in maintaining a healthy cash flow. Plus, the money can be effectively utilised in the expansion of your business.
To the best of our knowledge, most retailers take loans with the banks. For those who fail to qualify, they have to resort to other institutions or alternatives and end up paying a much higher interest rate! You may not need the loan now but you can save it for when the need arises. The cash you have on hand will also come in handy, when you exhaust your loan.
With the loan taken, we hope you will be able to further grow your business, without having to put a financial strain on yourself. We sincerely hope you will not let this opportunity go by. All the best!
HELP FROM WHOLESALERS
How can wholesalers help us price wise, to compete with attractive prices of modern trade outlets?
Yan Soon Trading – Langkap, Perak
Many retailers have been wondering about this as they try to compete more effectively with modern trade outlets. While price does influence purchases, they are many other equally important factors. If you want to focus on price alone, chances are that modern trade players will always win. They have the flexibility to sell below your cost due to their strict trading terms imposed on brand owners.
You need to have a clear understanding of the pricing policy that exist in the market. It usually comes in two tiers: wholesalers and retailers. Wholesalers are those who buy goods in bulk, resell them to retailers and usually make around 5% margin, depending on the product category. Wholesaler may also be the appointed key distributor and long term partner, depending on the nature of the business of the respective brand owner.
With such low margin, they have very little room to play around with. Besides, hypermarkets could also be selling below their cost, when they mount an aggressive price slashing campaign! For retailers, the margin is usually higher, around 10% upwards. Again, this is usually reflective of the product category and what the industry is generally giving out.
What is important is to ensure that you buy from the right source, who are official appointed agents of the brand owners, as opposed to the fly-by-night operators, who will usually do the disappearing act. Just to give you an idea, the following are some of the trading terms of the modern trade operators which the brand owners have to comply with. If they fail to do so, their products will not be sold in the outlets.
1. A listing fee will be charged for every new SKU.
2. A weekly/monthly display fee is also chargeable for strategic display locations (gondola-end, block display, island display etc)
3. Loss leader sales are funded or fully subsidised by the brand owners.
4. Performance rebate is chargeable half-yearly or annually.
5. A fee is also chargeable if the products are featured in their weekly mailer.
Based on the above background, we suggest you try to compete by providing better personalised service and shopping environment. You may want to upgrade some of your existing facilities for this. Remember, modern trade outlets operate on a self-service concept. Therefore, as long as your shoppers are happy with your service, they will keep coming back for more. All the best to you!
PAGE 28 OF 36 HALAMAN PAK RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
SOLD ONLY IN HYPERMARKETS
Why are some products only sold in hypermarkets and not in traditional trade outlets? For example the MINI WALLS CORNETTO and AMBI PUR.
P/M Poh Huat – Taman Sejahtera, Pulau Pinang
The distribution policy of one supplier varies from another. If a particular product is not being offered to you for sale, there must be a good reason for the supplier to do so. Sometimes, it may not be due to your credit worthiness, but for other reasons, some of which can be summarised as follows: a. The new product could be on a test market basis and the initial introduction is only to be confined to the modern trade. b. The brand owner could be targeting their new product for a selective group of target audience, with a specific household income. c. The distributor assigned to do the distribution work could have missed out on your outlet which is not included in their coverage. d. There could be many other reasons why you have not been serviced. However, if you are thinking of selling ice creams, you must have an ice cream box which is usually placed by the brand owner. However, even if you have this facility, there is no guarantee that you will get to sell the whole range of products.
If you are keen to find out the real reasons why the two identified products are not offered to you, perhaps you should contact the following brand owners directly for an answer.
1) For AMBI PUR: Sara Lee Malaysia 11-10, Jaya 33 3, Jalan Semangat 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Tel: (03) 7711 2888
2) For MINI WALLS CORNETTO: Unilever (Malaysia) Holdings Sdn Bhd Level 33 – 35, Menara TM Jalan Pantai Baru 59208 Kuala Lumpur Tel: (03) 2246 2188
We wish you every success and hope that you will get a positive answer to enable you to start selling these two products.
PAGE 29 OF 36 ADVERTORIAL RUNCIT RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
FRESH NEW LOOK
Great with Consumers, Better for Retailers
Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, Malaysia’s leading dairy company has recently introduced a new brand logo along with a refreshed product packaging. The initiative marks a major milestone in the company’s history and strengthens its position as a leader in the dairy market.
Previously, Dutch Lady carried a trinity logo, with a shield, splash and globe. Wanting to keep up with the times, the company introduced three glowing pulse lines in its new logo. Radiating from a shield, the pulses communicate energy, enthusiasm and vitality that are at the heart of the brand.
According to Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad’s Marketing Manager, Sharon Tan: “We want a modern and contemporary new look. From our survey we know that consumers are ready for something big and drastic. Hence, the pulses and various new packaging designs that are differentiated according to segments.”
Although the packaging has been redesigned, Dutch Lady assures that the taste, quality and rich heritage of its specialised dairy nutrition have remained the same as consumers have always loved it. Starting with its pasteurised and UHT milk, the company is progressively incorporating the new look into its sterilised and family milk powder range too. This exercise also involves other affiliate companies under the FrieslandCampina flagship in other countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
“Consumers in general like our new logo and fresh packaging. It will be easier for retailers too as the product packs are easily visible and recognisable.” Sharon Tan, Marketing Manager, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad.
Sharon Tan with Dutch Lady’s products bearing new logo and packaging.
For orders and enquiries, please contact Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad 13, Jalan Semangat, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: (03) 7953 2630; Fax: (03) 7955 3804; Website: www.dutchlady.com.my
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SUPPORT FOR THE CHINESE NEW YEAR
When it comes to delightful and refreshing beverages, both consumers and retailers love MARIGOLD. This strong support has led MARIGOLD to become one of the most successful brands in the market, especially for its UHT Asian Drink & Fruit Drink. This Chinese New Year, MARIGOLD is giving back to its consumers and retailers through several interesting initiatives.
MARIGOLD GUESS & WIN CONTEST
Consumers will be hurrying to shops to grab MARIGOLD UHT Asian Drink and Fruit Drink to join the MARIGOLD Guess & Win Contest. The contest ends on March 15, 2009.
Contest Mechanics
To win cash prizes worth RM68,888, consumers just need to purchase any six 250ml or four 1litre packets of MARIGOLD UHT Asian Drink or Fruit Drink. Then, they need to cut out the MARIGOLD logo at the edge 48” of the pack for proof of purchase. Six logos from 250ml packets or four from 1litre packets entitle them to one contest entry.
Consumers will see a gigantic MARIGOLD UHT mock-up drink carton in the contest entry form. All they need to do is guess the number of packets in the carton and answer 2 simple questions. The form then needs to be sent to the stated address along with the proof of purchase. Yes, it is as easy as that!
RM68,888 TO BE WON!
Grand Prize x 1 RM28,888 22” 14” First Prize x 1 RM8,000 The gigantic MARIGOLD UHT mock-up drink carton. Second Prize x 2 RM3,000
Third Prize x 8 RM1,000
Special Prize x 90 RM200
Ways to cut the MARIGOLD logo for proof of purchase. Contest form that can be obtained from participating outlets.
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DRIVING YOUR FESTIVE SALES!
If there is a contest for consumers, there is display and merchandising help for retailers. The following are what MARIGOLD is supplying retailers with to help you maximise your Chinese New Year sales.
Point-of-Sale Materials for MARIGOLD Guess & Win Contest
Wobbler A-Board Poster
Shelf Talker On-pack Sticker (for 6x250ml/1x1 litre)
Ang Pow Packets & CNY 2010 Cartons
Ang Pow packets will be inserted into MARIGOLD UHT Asian Drink & Fruit Drink 250ml cartons. At the same time, MARIGOLD will also introduce CNY 2010 Cartons for its Soya Bean, Chrysanthemum Tea and Lychee drinks. It will feature a scroll that states “Gong Xi Fa Cai” on its English panels of the trays.
Please contact Cotra Enterprises Sdn Bhd at 1 800 88 5587
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INSTANT NOODLES FOR LOCAL TASTE BUDS
In 2005, Gentle Supreme Sdn Bhd launched an Indonesian brand of instant noodles in Malaysia called MI SEDAAP. Since Malaysians and Indonesians share similar tastes, MI SEDAAP quickly became popular with the locals. Nonetheless, the brand is determined to be one of the leading instant noodles brands. Hence, many efforts like trade promotions in both modern and traditional trade outlets, key accounts promotions as well as above-the-line campaigns like TV and radio commercials, interactive radio contests and sponsorships of Indonesian dramas and reality shows are being done to heighten consumers’ awareness of the brand.
The MI SEDAAP Family
There are five variants of MI SEDAAP. The first three introduced to the market are MI SEDAAP Goreng, MI SEDAAP Soto and MI SEDAAP Ayam Bawang. MI SEDAAP Goreng comes with springy noodle and crunchy fried onions that make ‘kriuk-kriuk’ sound when eaten while MI SEDAAP Soto comes with a special soup flavour that is only available in Indonesia. Then, to cater to Malaysians’ variety of taste buds, two more variants are launched: MI SEDAAP Sambal Goreng with a tasty sambal sauce and MI SEDAAP Ayam Istimewa with the real taste of chicken essence in its soup.
Tasty (Sedaap) Achievements
2007 – Brand Equity Award (Gold) with value segment of RM 201 million – RM 250 million 2008 – Brand Equity Award (Gold) with value segment of RM 251 million – RM 300 million
“Soal Rasa, Lidah Memang Tak Boleh Bohong”
Derived from consumers’ testimonials, this is the best statement to describe the tongue, as it is the organ that determines whether a food is delicious or not. It has been made MI SEDAAP’s new campaign theme. This thematic TV commercial campaign is currently running in all TV stations in both Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin.
For orders and enquiries, please call GENTLE SUPREME SDN BHD Tel: (03) 8023 1489; Fax: (03) 8023 7389
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THE REAL EXPERT FOR FABRIC & HOME CARE
Gentle Supreme Sdn Bhd has been trying to conquer the fabric and home care market with DAIA. The brand consists of high quality products from Wings Group of Indonesia, a giant fast moving consumer goods distributor in Indonesia that has been operating for more than 60 years.
Since the brand’s inception in Malaysia in the year 2000, many efforts have been put to gain more consumers’ support. Through active marketing initiatives such as free gifts, TV and radio advertisements, concert sponsorships, roadshows and contest, just to name a few, DAIA has managed to attract loyal consumers in only nine years. In addition, various attractive promotion schemes have also been developed to gain support and recognition from the traditional trade.
Not only are DAIA products well known for its high quality, the selling prices of the whole range too are reasonable compared with other brands of the same standard. This encourages trial purchases and brand adoption in the long run. Wings Group too will continue to invest in the production of more SKUs to cater to consumers’ every need and want.
From Man to Robot
Everyone knows about the DAIA man, a cheerful man with colourful hair. Recently, the brand introduced a new mascot, a robot boy with colourful hair. This approach portrays the brand’s initiative to innovate to reach a higher level of quality and modernity as well as to better suit the modern generation.
For orders and enquiries, please call GENTLE SUPREME SDN BHD Tel: (03) 8023 1489; Fax: (03) 8023 7389
PAGE 34 OF 36 ISU SEMASA RUNCIT MALAYSIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 19
H1N1 AND YOU
A disease that can affect your business and you
One day, a shopper walked into Ali’s shop, coughing and sneezing. After a while, Ali fell sick, too. He was later diagnosed with H1N1 and as a result, was confined at home, had to close his shop for weeks and suffered a big loss in sales. Ali may just be an example, but H1N1 must be taken seriously. That’s why you need to learn more about this disease to keep your business and you safe from it.
How Does It Affect Your Business?
H1N1 is especially dangerous because it spreads easily ie when an affected person coughs and sneezes. The following are some examples of how H1N1 can affect your business:
A. If a shopper who is infected by H1N1 comes to your shop: • He/she may transfer the disease to your employees, other shoppers or you. • Other shoppers who have heard about it may stop visiting your shop, even if no one was infected from the visit.
B. If your employees or you are infected by H1N1: • Your business activities will be disrupted, as there will be less people running the shop. • Your shoppers may stop coming to your shop to avoid being infected.
Stay Safe From H1N1
Here are tips that you can use, as well as share with your employees and even shoppers to help keep your business safe from H1N1.
1. Stay home and wear a mask if you are sick. Encourage your employees to do the same.
2. Wash your hands frequently and use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
4. Cover your mouth with tissue when coughing and sneezing. Throw away the used tissue in a covered rubbish bin.
5. Maintain good personal hygiene and a healthy work environment.
6. Obtain H1N1 vaccine and encourage your employees to do so.
7. If an employee falls sick during work hours, isolate him/her in a separate room or send him/her home.
8. Get updated with information on H1N1.
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What Is H1N1?
• A respiratory disease that is caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1.
• It is now considered a wholly human disease that can spread via coughing or sneezing.
• It is diagnosed using throat or nose swabs and blood tests.
• In May 2009, the first wave of H1N1 in Malaysia recorded thousands of cases and led to a total of 71 deaths (as of August 26).
• In mid November ‘09, the Health Ministry announced that it is expecting a second wave due to the rainy season. To counter this, Malaysia has acquired 400,000 H1N1 vaccines
What Are The Symptoms?
Purple or blue discolouration of the lips.
Seizures (fits). Breathlessness or chest pain.
Being less responsive than normal, drowsy or confused. Signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing and absence of urination. Severe and persistent vomiting.
We hope you will make good use of the information and tips given. Stay healthy and safe always!
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia
Freda Abd Manan & Wong Wen Dee – Runcit Malaysia
END
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