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 honoring the participating SMEs who pushed boundaries and embarked on inspiring transformational journeys.
This ambitious 12-week programme, which began in April 2024, saw 12 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, and gold stores, 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 CEO 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 behavior and retail management to preserve business agility as we move into an era of convergence between traditional and online shopping.”
Chew commended the participants, saying, “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 mark the conclusion of the programme, an award ceremony was held where the 12 retailers shared their transformative experiences and the impact of MR Academy’s training on their business growth.
Riven Hau, owner of How Ban Hong Enterprise, one of the 12 companies, was able to grow her loyal customer pool by 40% by improving 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 shared 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.