Malaysia’s home-grown retail chains have developed tremendously through the years, rigorously expanding as far and as fast as they possibly can. In this issue, Top 10 of Malaysia visits its list of the leading retail chain brands of Malaysia.
Senheng Electric
One of the country’s leading consumer electronics chain stores, Senheng Electric (KL) comprises over 100 stores spread thoughout Malaysia for the convenience of its customers. Founded in 1989 by the Lim brothers, the company had its humble beginnings as a small consumer electronics shop before quickly growing into the behemoth electronics chain store that it is today. Over the years, Senheng has amassed a multitude of accolades. Just in 2015, the company was awarded the Franchise Employer of The Year, the Putra Most Enterprising Award Brands of The Year and the Putra Brand Awards The People Choice Home Improvement 2015.
CARiNG Pharmacy
The successful home-grown chain of pharmacies is the brainchild of five pharmacists who were course mates at the School of Pharmacy in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Together they opened their first outlet in Taman Muda, Cheras in 1994, at a time when the importance of pharmacists were still underrated by patients. Nevertheless, the service of pharmacists were made available at their outlets for 12 hours daily and for 7 days a week, together with counselling service, free blood pressure checks and other health checks at a minimum fee. Thanks to this ingenious concept, Caring Pharmacy is the fastest growing locally-based pharmacy in Malaysia.
Poh Kong
A business built on passion and integrity, Poh Kong was established in 1976 by Dato’ Choon Yee Seiong at the young age of 22. When it first started, Malaysia’s largest jewellery retail chain store was only a modest jewellery store localed in the new town part of Petaling Jaya. However, the company has been listed in Bursa Malaysia since 2004 and has achieved even more success from that time on. Currently, Poh Kong has its own manufacturing facility in Shah Alam and has reached a milestone of having more than 100 stores in the country, thus earning its position as Malaysia’s largest jewellery store.
MyNews.com
Owned by parent company Bison Consolidated Berhad, myNews.com is arguably the most recognised press and convenience store brand in the country. Offering many amenities beyond just newspapers and magazines, the store is a staple in public transportation stations due to its compact size and welcoming characteristic. The first myNews.com store was opened in 1996 under a different name before being rebranded with the catchy moniker that it proudly owns until today. Among some of the achievements of the popular store include being recognised as the SME Most Promising Brand in 2011, the launch of WHSmith Malaysia in 2013 and the opening of the company’s 250th outlet in 2015.
Petsmore.com
More than just another pets-centred online website, Petsmore.com, which in Mandarin is called ‘Chong Wu Duo Duo’, is a market leader for shops of its kind and is also the biggest pet retail chain store in Malaysia that provides various conveniences, including professional advice, a wide range of pet-product choices, a variety of choices for pets and grooming services for the pets. The assortment of pets sold by the store includes dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits and also tortoises. Besides that, Petsmore.com also markets products such as pet food, equipment and utilities that all cater specially for pets and are thoroughly checked before being sold to customers.
Al-Ikhsan Sports
Al-Ikhsan Sports was established in 1993 with a single 150 sq ft store in Holiday Plaza, Johor Bahru. From sole proprietorship enterprise, the company has evolved to become a private limited company called Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd. Since its inception, the company has also expanded to 134 outlets all over peninsular Malaysia. In 2011, the company was awarded the ASEAN Business Outstanding Award for the Industry Class Sector Sports Retail by ASEAN Retail & Franchise Federation. Besides the award, Al-Ikhsan has also been ranked the 77th Largest Sporting Goods Retailer In The Galaxy by the Sporting Goods Intelligence.
KK Super Mart
KK Super Mart is the flagship business of the KK Group which owns a variety of other business under its umbrella. Established in June 2001 as a humble convenience store occupying only the ground floor of a shop-house in Kuchai Entrepreneurs’ Park, off Jalan Kuchai Lama in Kuala Lumpur, the convenience store chain was founded by Dato’ Dr KK Chai. Dato’ Chai saw the 24-hour store as a public service to the people who needed to buy groceries and other products at odd hours due to their work or other responsibilities. With this vision, by the 4th quarter of 2010, KK Super Mart had established 62 outlets in total.
Reject Shop
The Reject Shop is a home-grown Malaysian chain store within the Metrojaya group of companies which focuses on retailing global branded garments. Synonymous with the concept of selling international garments at a fraction of its original price overseas, the clothing store focuses on a wide range of garments for men, women and children. As it specialises in foreign-branded clothes aside from Metrojaya’s own merchandise, well-known brands from the USA, Europe and Australia often find their way onto the shelves of Reject Shop. Since its introduction in 1990, Reject Shop now operates a nationwide chain of stores and outlets at leading shopping locations throughout Malaysia.
Pets Wonderland
Successfully operating since 2001, Pets Wonderland has established itself as one of the largest and comprehensive pet retail outlet in the heart of Klang Valley. Strategically starting out in Mid Valley Megamall, the pets store chain quickly expanded into various locations in the Klang Valley. Throughout its 15 years in operation, it has achieved many significant milestones, including being the first pet company to be awarded the Superbrand International in 2005 and SuperBrand Malaysia’s Consumer Choice for 2006/2007. Besides its accolades, the store is also distinguished for being the first-of-its-kind to bring in a ‘mini-zoo’ concept that consists of a mixed range of local and foreign pet supplies, as well as cuddly in-house livestock in their branches.
Anakku
A name synonymous with every parent’s childcare needs, Anakku is a home-grown brand that has become a household name. One of the longest established baby-product brands in Malaysia that offers items in all categories of childcare, it has received recognition from the Malaysian Textile Manufacturer Association (MTMA) for its superb quality in textile selection, designs and craftsmanship. The Anakku story began in 1973 thanks to the Nyam family’s passion to create and facilitate expression of love to babies, when the founders started manufacturing and marketing a wide range of basic baby apparel. From the opening of its first outlet in 1997, Anakku now has more than 100 boutiques and more than 400 counters within major departmental stores.
Issue 24/2016
