We all want to be rich and successful, and we all want to know how to get there. The cliched answer would be to finish your studies and then get started, but here at QIU, there are several students who have built enterprises while they complete their studies.
In the first of our Entrepreneur Extraordinaire series, e-Q spoke to Business Administration student Noor Aimi Mohd Yusoff, founder of multi-national beauty product company Sahi Elements.
We discuss her beginnings, her successful company, and how she balances her studies with her work.
e-Q: Tell us about Sahi Elements Sdn Bhd the company you founded. What is the product that your company offers, and where did the idea for the business start?
I founded Sahi Elements in 2016. We are the first company to create a beauty product featuring bird’s nest extract in tablet form. The extract helps make the users’ skin softer, smoother and healthier.
Our unique selling point is the fact that we have created the first chewable bird’s nest extract in Malaysia. It is easily consumed and we also include other healthy food components in the tablets, including raisins, olives, dates, fruits, and honey which are very good for our skin.
e-Q: Why did you choose to create bird’s nest extracts in tablet form?
Since I was young, I’ve always been interested in the health properties of bird’s nests as a beauty product. But we needed to create a unique concept to set ourselves apart in the market. We had to be creative. Compared to the traditional application method, tablets are much more easily consumed and they taste very good, so people can take them easily.
e-Q: It’s been three years since you started. Tell us about the beginnings of the company.
At first, we started out with only two people. Once we had the concept ready, we brought in experts to conduct R&D. We wanted the product to be the best. The word Sahi means health, and it had to be beneficial and effective for our customers.
We then gave it to 20 people for free. After taking the product, they saw a big difference in the quality of their face and skin. This made us were confident that the product was good.
I must also say that we have never taken any loans when we started the company. Everything was self-funded.
e-Q: Now how many employees do you manage? How many bottles does Sahi Elements sell now compared to before?
At Sahi headquarters, we have five people, but including our network of distributors, we have around 200 people. Since we started, we have sold more than 130,000 bottles of Sahi.
e-Q:Where is Sahi Elements marketed now? What are the plans for Sahi?
Our products are available throughout Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam. Singapore is actually one of our biggest markets. We are planning to expand to Indonesia, and introduce two new products.
e-Q: Why did you select business and to be specific entrepreneurship? Why not a doctor, pharmacist, accountant, etc?
Aimi: Real-world challenges fascinate me. It is so dynamic and one can’t foresee what’s going to happen next hence I chose business. Secondly, I want to improve my thinking process. I want to be able to see issues and challenges from all perspectives and learn how to manage a team of people.
e-Q: How did your studies help you in your business?
Aimi: I have learnt to think out of the box, which is so crucial for any business to succeed. Businesses need to be innovative and creative in order to compete and remain competitive in the ever-changing business environment. QIU has put me on the right to be a successful entrepreneur. The small class size provides the platform to have a discussion with lecturers and fellow mates. It is through these discussions that I’m able to challenge myself to think differently. I’m sure I’m on the right track to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
e-Q: What would be your advice to students who are currently in their SPM, foundation and even your peers?
Aimi: My advice is to love what you do. Before entering a university, choose a course that interests you. Make sure you check details about the university before you apply. Do not follow your friends because, at the end of the day, it is your own life, not your friends‘. Be confident in what you are choosing and think who you want to be.
