Training proves handy for cake shop owner

21 February 2012 , By The Star

Cake shop owner Fazlinawati Abdul earned less than RM1,000 a month until she took part in the East Coast Economic Regions (ECER) Empower Entrepreneurship Skill Training programme last year.

Today, the mother of two who used to sell cakes door-to-door in her village at Kampung Telemin, Padang Tengku had successfully fulfilled her dream of being a business owner.

Fazlinawati said she had improved a lot in her business skills and gained confidence after joining the programme.

“In the beginning, I went around selling my goods by visiting neighbours and friends in the village.

“But the market was limited. After attending courses under the ‘Empower programme’, I came up with more ideas and improved my sales,” she said at the official opening of her cake shop by Padang Tengku assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamed here recently.

Fazlinawati added that she was proud of becoming an entrepreneur who could be a good example for her fellow villagers.

To the mother, the event was a proud moment as she became the first ‘Empower’ participant to start her own business with funding from her efforts.

“Previously, I earned at least RM600 a month from my sales.

“Now, it has doubled. To me, the financial gains is not as important as building a wider network that opens up opportunities to earn more,” she explained.

The Empower programme was initiated by the ECER Development Council to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities while increasing participants income.

Besides baking, the other courses offered include frontline professionalism, hawker management, sewing and fashion design, cooking, make-up and bridal, mobile phone repair, computer networking and ICT-related training in tele-services.