SIK: Seven years ago, Khuzaimah Shaari@Nasir was just an agent selling gravestones, but now she is the proud owner of her own business, thanks to the training and guidance provided by the Sik Digital Economy Centre (PEDi) here.
Khuzaimah, 40, from Kampung Tanjung Belit near here, said at first she and her husband, Mohd Shauki Ahmad Sanusi, 40, had zero knowledge on how gravestones were made.
However, Khuzaimah said she and her husband decided to use the Internet facilities available at the PEDi to learn more about the process of making gravestones.
According to her, the PEDi had greatly helped her improve her business skills, especially in the area of marketing.
"I will participate in any workshop or entrepreneurship course organised by the PEDi to expand my knowledge, particularly in marketing and the use of social media such as Facebook and Tiktok for advertising purposes.
"We are now able to earn a five-figure monthly income, which is a significant change from when we first started our gravestone-making business. Apart from Kedah, we also install and supply grave markers to nearly every state in the peninsula,” she told Bernama here recently.
According to Khuzaimah, gravestones made of river stones, concrete stones, terrazzo and granite were among the most frequently ordered by customers.
Another entrepreneur, Siti Najwa Ahmad, 42, from Kampung Charuk Padang near here, said she learned about cashless payment systems that had made it easier for her customers through a programme organised by the PEDi.
"I run a business selling flower bouquets and gifts and offer various payment options to customers...now, in addition to cash and online payment, customers can also pay using QR codes.
"Before this, I had always wondered how to create a QR code, but when the PEDi organised a programme with a banking institution, I was able to learn it,” said Siti Najwa, who is now able to increase her income as a result of PEDi’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Kedah Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) director Mazlan Othman said entrepreneurs were always encouraged to visit any of the 77 PEDi in the state, which offered various training courses that would help their businesses.
He said that the courses, which included marketing, advertising, and online business, would be taught by people with experience in those areas.
"We teach them everything they need to know about online business, from how to introduce and sell their products to packaging and advertising...we also help them make videos of their products.
"Every PEDi has entrepreneur icons who have been guided and assisted to achieve success. Also, there are at least two success stories in every PEDi that can be shared, particularly in terms of how they managed to increase sales,” he said.
Mazlan also said that the MCMC planned to add four more PEDi in the state to ensure that more people could benefit from the programmes organised by the centre.
Established under the supervision of the MCMC, all PEDis are equipped with Internet access and also provide guidance and training to help local entrepreneurs use digital platforms in their respective business operations. - Bernama
