SEPANG, Oct 11 — Equipment assistance provided through the Selangor Blueprint programme is helping small traders reduce operating costs, save time and create opportunities to expand their businesses.
For yong tau foo vendor, Khaizatun Khazreen Kamaruddin, 34, the display chiller, freezer and three burner stove she received enables her to store frozen food supplies for up to five days, eliminating the need to go out and purchase stock daily.
She added that the aid not only streamlines her business operations but also helps lower the travel costs associated with sourcing supplies.
Previously, limited storage space forced her to frequently travel to Nilai, Negeri Sembilan and Salak for supplies due to the scarcity of local suppliers in her business area.
"I can store five days worth of stock in there, which saves me time. I no longer have to go out and buy supplies every day," she told Media Selangor.
Khaizatun said the new equipment allows her to showcase a wider variety of food options to customers while easing the financial burden of purchasing business equipment herself.
Ice cream and beverage vendor Roslinda Zamri, 40, hopes that the ice cream machine and tea counter provided to her, valued at nearly RM10,000, will boost sales and open up opportunities to accept more orders.
Roslinda, who has been in business for nearly two years, said the equipment allows her to begin offering services at various events, including large gatherings.
"With this assistance, it helps to boost sales to some extent," she said, while encouraging other small traders to seize the opportunity provided by the state government.
Meanwhile, convenience store owner Adi Akmal Md Anour, 43, plans to expand his document printing service after receiving a laptop and a printer from the state, adding that the equipment can be utilised for promotional purposes to attract more customers.
“This programme offers small business owners the opportunity to grow their businesses and improve their standard of living, especially considering the high cost of purchasing such equipment independently.”
In total, 32 entrepreneurs in Sepang received equipment assistance worth between RM200,000 and RM300,000 during the aid handover ceremony on Friday, of which 19 recipients were under the Selangor Blueprint and 13 were under the Selangor Indian Entrepreneur Equipment Assistance Programme (i-SEED).
