Tn Haji Ali Hassan Mohd Hassan is the owner and founder of A-Ikhsan Sports – Malaysia’s number 1 homegrown sports store. Al-Ikhsan Sports is also an authorised retailer for international sports brands like Adidas, Puma, Nike, and Asics, to name a few.
His success started with only small capital by selling sports equipment on a small scale to his friends and lecturers at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor. He also worked part-time as a pizza delivery rider when he was a student to pay his university fees.
Tn Haji Ali graduated Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and was offered to continue studying abroad. But, he turned down the offer. After graduation, he started his business in a 100+ sqft kiosk inside Holiday Plaza, Johor Bahru selling sports equipment together with his wife Puan Marina Abu Bakar.
At that time, he only had RM50 to start his business. Tn Haji Ali who’s youngest in the family said his family was never into business before. “I have to work harder. Whenever I got the goods today, I’ll make sure to sell them as soon as possible.”
He worked hard and saved up as much as he could. During that time, banks were not keen to loan him money. Later in 1994, he noticed the growing trends in his business and also the sports retail industry. He kept growing his business and was blessed when Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) bought his company’s shares for RM68.6 million in 2016. His revenue reached RM330 million.
Throughout the years, Al-Ikhsan Sports had bagged a few notable awards and achievements such as ASEAN Business Outstanding Award in 2011. The sports store is also an authorised retailer for international sports brands like Adidas, Puma, Nike, Asics and more. They are also an exclusive licensee for Umbro, an exclusive retail partner for Liverpool Football Club’s official merchandise. Besides, The Sports Good Intelligence Report ranked Al-Ikhsan Sports as the 63rd largest Sporting Goods Retailer in the world.
Ekuinas who owns 35% of the company plans to get the company to IPO in 2023. Today, Tn Haji Ali owns over 130 Al-Ikhsan Sports stores in Malaysia. The number one sports retailer in Malaysia aims to be the biggest in Southeast Asia. They are actively working with major brands to bring exclusive products into the country and region. Al-Ikhsan also consistently participates in local and international sports events.
Tn Haji Ali succeed in transforming the business from a sole proprietorship enterprise to a Sendirian Berhad (PLC) with tremendous growth. He keeps on highlighting his the main purpose behind his business is to keep Malaysian fit & active by making sports affordable for all.
Recently, Liverpool Football Club (LFC) renewed their partnership with Al-Ikhsan Sports for the second term. They are in the middle of a discussion to extend the partnership to the opening of the first standalone LFC flagship store in Malaysia soon.
Tn Haji Ali had experienced tough times before. Al-Ikhsan Sports store in Rawang was robbed in November 2012. Previously, Al-Ikhsan Sports in Ampang, Gombak, Sungai Buloh, Wangsa Maju and Rawang branches were robbed too. Based on CCTV footage, police suspected the robbery was committed by the same group and ruled out the possibility the matter was an act of sabotage or committed by ‘insiders’.
The founder of Al-Ikhsan Sports said his success and blessings came from the following: constant prayers and solat, do good, be good, love our parents, donate to charity and pay zakat and lastly always be patient.
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