SUNGAI PETANI: Kedai Emas Sri Semantan (KESS) continues to strengthen its business network by opening its 18th branch in Sungai Petani, which will serve as an operational hub for the northern region.
Chairman of Emas Sri Semantan Sdn Bhd, Mohamad Hafizal Mahmood, said that the opening of a branch in Sungai Petani is part of the company's expansion plan before opening two more branches in Senawang and Pasir Gudang in the near future.
He said the company also plans to open another branch in Alor Setar to complete its operations network in Kedah.
"The opening in Sungai Petani will serve as a lodge or hub for the northern region." After this, God willing, we will open a branch in Alor Setar.
"At the same time, we will continue our target of opening 30 branches across the country before expanding the business overseas," he said at a press conference after the branch opening ceremony on Jalan Bintang Ria here yesterday.
Mohamad Hafizal said that the original target to reach 30 branches was within a few years, but the response received from customers was very encouraging, accelerating the company's growth.
He said that the response to the Sungai Petani branch also exceeded the set target, as the sales performance since the first day of operation surpassed the company's key performance indicators (KPI).
When asked about the allegation of an investment scheme at the gold shop, Mohamad Hafizal said the company does not offer a gold investment scheme but only conducts gold buying and selling transactions and provides training to customers on the proper methods of gold storage.
"We have never used the term gold investment." "Our focus is solely on buying and selling gold and educating customers so that they understand how to store gold properly," he said.
He said the company now has approximately 180,000 members nationwide who enjoy various privileges through the customer loyalty program.
He said that membership is free and each member receives 0.1 grams of gold as a registration reward, in addition to accumulating reward points that can be redeemed for vouchers or gold. He added that there will be also lucky draw prizes for new customers, which include a car, electrical goods and hampers.
Through this program, customers also earn reward points when they introduce new customers.
"The accumulated points can be redeemed for vouchers or gold for free according to the value obtained," he said.
According to Hafizal, KESS will also introduce KESS Bike to encourage young people to buy and save gold.
"Additionally, they will also expand their business overseas after successfully achieving the target of opening 30 KESS branches nationwide."
He said again, now digital gold is more popular with sales exceeding RM1 million in just a month and a half.
KESS, which started in Temerloh, Pahang with a small shop and pre-loved gold sales through word of mouth, has succeeded until now.
A study two years ago showed that the annual sales of pre-loved gold amounted to 200 kg, with the state of Kelantan being the largest contributor at 50 kg per year.
Meanwhile, Baddrol in his speech said that Kedai Emas Sri Semantan's efforts to open more branches across the country can stimulate the local economy and provide more opportunities for the community, especially the Bumiputera, to own gold assets as valuable savings.
He said that the company's development also proves that the local gold industry still has great potential to continue growing in the future.
