BRAND LEGEND 20 YEARS

Datin Wira Moon, Co-Founder of MK Curtain


Love Is All Around

Brand Legend recipient and Co-Founder of MK Curtain Bhd shares that the secret to success is adding love to the equation of everything when dealing with the business, family, staff and suppliers.

By Yvonne Yoong


Quote: “The secret of my success is that I like my business so much.” – Datin Wira Moon, Co-Founder of MK Curtain Bhd

Behind every successful Brand Legend, is a woman Brand Legend. This is particularly true, adding on to the context that “Behind every successful man is a woman” when it concerns the dynamics of the MK Curtain Bhd Brand Legend dynamic duo in Founder & Chairman Datuk Wira Calvin Khiu and his wife Co-founder Datin Wira Moon, who has been his pillar of support since day One of the business.

“MK Curtain this year turns 19 years old,” said Datin Moon, recalling the time when they first started the business nearly two decades ago back in 2005 which was the beginning of a challenging journey working tirelessly 365 days a year for the couple.

Recalling how they had to entertain each and every customer who walked through their doors, with them both personally measuring and installing the curtains – she often worked more than 12 hours a day while at the same time, they both took turns to care for Datuk Khiu’s grandmother who was very dear to him as she looked after him since he was a baby, after she suffered a stroke.

As in life and work, they had their fair share of challenges when in 2009, due to insufficient knowledge and improper management, the business faced critical bottlenecks, almost leading to bankruptcy. Picking up the pieces by pursuing further knowledge, taking loans and putting their invested properties on mortgage, spending approximately RM1 mil to travel the world to learn was part of the price they paid to revive and escalate the business.

Looking back, their “never-give-up spirit” coupled with hard work spanning approximately five years saw them finally reaping the well-deserved fruits of their harvest. Those days, working 12 hours around the clock when other people maintain a strict eight-hour work schedule, are now a longtime memory.

Elated at receiving the inaugural Brand Legends Awards- 20 Years recognition, her success she said, stems from their joint vision of wanting MK Curtain to “lead the industry trend, (and) become the leader of curtain brands in Southeast Asia.”

More endearingly, she sums the secret of her success simply to adding the equation of love to all that she undertakes as in: her love for the business, her children as well as care for the team, customers, suppliers and society.

“The secret of my success is that I like my business so much. I started my business with my husband. When I finished my studies, my first job was selling curtains with my husband,” she shared with a smile.

Then, there’s her love for children.

“I love children so I have four children and I like my business too. When I didn’t have children, I could work hard from day to night. When we first started, the business was open on the first and second

day of Chinese New Year as our predominant target market is Malays so we opened even when it was a public holiday,” shared Datin Wira of her workaholic lifestyle back then.

Now, with her brood of children, she ensures that weekends are entirely dedicated to family time while the business is closed on public holidays. MK Curtain’s mission intrinsically lies in building a happy and harmonious lifestyle wholeheartedly while for the team, it deals with an intrapreneurship programme in “letting team members turn into partners”.

The powerful secret of the exponential growth of the business revolved around the simply but profound caring gesture of inclusivity in anting their staff to prosper by letting them own their own MK Curtain franchise. She shared that the tipping point emerged when 60 core members started a reform. Three years later, a successful turnaround occurred. The crowning glory of this achievement was in 2014 when they successfully received a Malaysian Record for becoming a leading brand in Malaysia’s curtain industry.

This Brand Legend shared how the focus during the last few years was on getting the franchise license to start promoting its franchise business with its staff. The noble intent of wanting to reward its employees turned out to be one of its best decisions ever – multiplying the business exponentially.

“Our staff has trusted us for so many years and got their achievements in life. Hence, we decided to expand our franchise business and extend the opportunity to them to trust us and take home a good income and a boss’ salary while really supporting the company. Now, all of them are like bosses running the business on their own. And every year, we take a profit sharing.”

With this move alone, she managed to multiple the business ever since she took over the business in 2012 when her husband diversified into education, growing from 20 outlets back then to a multiplication of 60 outlets nationwide with an overseas branch planted in Singapore and another one opening in Jakarta in October 2024.

Meanwhile, the aim is to provide top service and quality” for suppliers by offering support and gratitude to create a win-win situation. The viewpoint towards society is simple – “Take from society, give back to society,” she said of the company’s long-term view of success which has transformed MK Curtain from once “following the textile trends” to now being recognised as a Brand Legend in their own right. Priding themselves as hailing from humble beginnings and being self-made Brand Legends from Ground Zero, they are happy to share their success with their army of over 300 employees and growing.

Dispensing wise advice to young entrepreneurs wanting to succeed, patience she said is needed while creativity is always key. The ability to act swiftly too is crucial as reflected in the company swiftly going online to conduct its training during the pandemic.

“When COVID-19 hit, our challenge was to take care of our staff by giving them a salary despite the company not receiving income. We brainstormed on how to do business online and how to market our promotions and take TikTok videos,” she shared. Like a true Brand Legend, they pulled through the Movement Control Order (MCO) when many brands closed down.

“To be a Brand Legend, is to have a brand that people can trust. During the MCO, many brands closed down but MK can still run till what it is today because of the power of branding,” she said crediting MK Curtain pulling through the MCO by virtue of the power of branding as the brand recognition set the brand apart from non-branded curtain suppliers.

“Competition is always there but at the end of the day, it is how you brand yourself,” she summed.

@Paparazzi

The “Brand Legend Awards” pay homage to the pioneers, innovators, and pillars of our local economy. These businesses are more than just enterprises; they are institutions that have shaped industries, fostered job creation, supported local communities, and inspired generations of entrepreneurs.The theme of these awards, “Larger Than Life,” perfectly encapsulates the enduring legacy of these legendary brands. They have transcended the boundaries of mere entities, becoming institutions that have played pivotal roles in shaping our city and region.

Through their unwavering commitment to excellence, resilience in the face of challenges, and ability to adapt to ever-changing market landscapes, these businesses have cemented their place in our collective consciousness. They are the giants upon whose shoulders our local economy stands tall, and their contributions have been instrumental in weaving the vibrant tapestry of our city and region

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *