After spending years working as an Architectural Draftsman in an architecture firm and learning how the tender process works, Nurfitrrisari Binti Mustafa is finally ready to start her own company called Rimba Warisan Sdn Bhd.
Established in August 2017, Rimba Warisan Sdn Bhd is a 100% Bumiputera company specializing in manufacturing and supplying various types of goods for government agencies, such as furniture and corporate uniforms.
“Back in 2017, I was all set to establish the company because I had spent years learning how the tender process works from A to Z. Besides, I always envisioned myself as an entrepreneur because business is my passion,” Nurfitrrisari said.
Rimba Warisan: Securing first project
For Nurfitrrisari, the Director of Rimba Warisan, supplying products to government agencies is both a dream and a nightmare. However, her motivation and passion keep her going.
“If I recall correctly, my first government tender was supplying office furniture for the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) in 2017 – the first year I founded the company. We were just starting as a small player and didn’t have a track record of past projects to convince them to choose us, but we managed to secure the job. Our second project was with the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ). I decided to try my luck again, and surprisingly, we won a tender worth RM274,832. I still remember the exact amount,” she laughed.
Changing the game
The 37-year-old hardworking woman proves that you don’t have to play “dirty games” to get a tender. According to Nurfitrrisari, it all depends on your work integrity and how you carry yourself. Of course, networking is important but what’s more important is knowing the products that you deliver.
“I find this career very challenging. But, I enjoy working in this industry – it’s exciting and I get to push myself to the limit,” she shares.
Rimba Warisan’s story is one of organic growth and demonstrates that one can grow from strength to strength. Five years after opening, the company expanded into a much bigger team. She now employs ten tailors and ten staff to assemble furniture.
Rimba Warisan has supplied corporate uniforms and furniture for various government agencies such as the Malaysian Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Ministry of Defense (MINDEF), Klang Municipal Council, Malaysian National Drug Agency, and many more.
Hungry for more
She also has plans to start her clothing manufacturing and launch her clothing brand, FITEA. “We have all the resources. I believe it’s something that we should do from the beginning. Besides, with this new venture, it can somehow sustain and help us if COVID-19 happen again,” she clarified.
When asked about her work mantra and how she keeps up in a very fast-paced industry, Nurfitrrisari emphasized that she constantly communicates with all suppliers.
“I meet my major suppliers face to face as often as I can to exchange feedback and keep up with the work progress. This helps to create a more streamlined and effective work progress and ensures everyone is on the same page,” she shares.
Nurfitrrisari also confesses that she is involved in everything from A to Z despite being a boss. “It’s not that I don’t trust my staff, but I enjoy being hands-on with everything. I can’t work with disorganised data and information. So whenever there is any correction needed, I will do it myself.”
Grow from strength to strength
Operating a business can be challenging, especially if you’re doing it all on your own. Sometimes, you need a good team who can help share responsibilities and support you along your journey.
As the company director, she has a lot on her plate. She shares that she had faced a traumatic experience that left a big impact on her business. The experience taught her to be more selective in trusting people.
“So, it happened when I was still in the construction line. I had to juggle many projects at once. I thought maybe I should let my staff handle one of the projects. I gave him all the trust to handle the project from A to Z. Unfortunately, the work done didn’t meet the specifications and whatever he reported to me was not the same as what he delivered on the site.”
“The client kept pushing me to finish the project. I was so frustrated because I gave him all the money to handle the project, but, it turned out, he didn’t even complete it! My company had to redo all the work from scratch and we had no option but to bear the loss. We still have to bear the loss until today.”
“It’s crucial to find a team who will help, not hurt your business. If you bring on the wrong one, they can break your business and that’s the cold hard truth I learned from experience,” she ended.
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