Al-Ikhsan Sports has grown from a single 150sqft store in Johor back in 1993, to almost 130 stores across the country today. The homegrown sports retailer, which is known for its competitive prices and wide range for its multi-branded products, is now steering aggressively to become one of the largest sports retailers in Southeast Asia. We speak to company CEO Vach Pillutla about their growth, and the best business lessons the retailer has adopted from the world of sport.

Al-Ikhsan Sports has grown from a single 150sqft store in Johor back in 1993, to almost 130 stores across the country today. The homegrown sports retailer, which is known for its competitive prices and wide range for its multi-branded products, is now steering aggressively to become one of the largest sports retailers in Southeast Asia. We speak to company CEO Vach Pillutla about their growth, and the best business lessons the retailer has adopted from the world of sport.

The flagship entrepreneurship show on BFM, featuring personal business stories from early stage start-ups, all the way to billionaire octogenarians in Malaysia and abroad. Notable guests include Martin Cooper (father of the mobile phone), Julian Assange (founder of WikiLeaks), Ralph Henry Baer (father of video games), Tony Buzan (Mindmap Guru), Isaac Tigrett (Hard Rock Cafe founder), Robert Kiyosaki (Financial Guru), Nick Vujicic (motivational speaker) and more. Tap into this valuable resource of shared experiences for the SME industry, which also touches on news, issues and trends affecting the business community and beyond.

Open For Business

Discover fresh concepts, tackle obstacles, and unleash growth - Open For Business is the dynamic show where BFM engages with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry trailblazers, igniting inspiration, sparking success, and exploring new business models.

Al-Ikhsan: Shifting the Goalpost

Debbie Soh started her career as a home tutor before pivoting to an online model during the pandemic. By leveraging free, short-form math content on social media, she built a massive organic funnel that has propelled her bootstrapped company, Debbie Soh Education, into the seven-figure revenue range. Today, she’s expanding her revenue streams into e-commerce, publishing, and branded content.



Debbie joins us to talk about the unfiltered reality of scaling an education business. We discuss the profit margins of digital tuition, the challenge of building a team that can keep up with a founder-led brand, and the hidden burnout that comes with trying to balance purpose with profitability.

Debbie Soh started her career as a home tutor before pivoting to an online model during the pandemic. By leveraging free, short-form math content on social media, she built a massive organic funnel that has propelled her bootstrapped company, Debbie Soh Education, into the seven-figure revenue range. Today, she’s expanding her revenue streams into e-commerce, publishing, and branded content.Debbie joins us to talk about the unfiltered reality of scaling an education business. We discuss the profit margins of digital tuition, the challenge of building a team that can keep up with a founder-led brand, and the hidden burnout that comes with trying to balance purpose with profitability.

How a TikTok Math Tutor Built a Seven Figure Business

Adrian Goh has been in the pet care game since 2004, eventually launching Wet Nose in 2011 to create a completely bootstrapped, neighborhood pet hub. 



Currently generating up to RM800,000 in annual revenue, the business relies on localized word-of-mouth customer acquisition and specialized pet care knowledge to retain its client base against the heavy discounts of online competitors.



Adrian joins us to discuss the financial realities of running a service-based retail shop. We explore the unit economics of pet grooming versus product sales, the occupational hazards and liability of handling aggressive pets, and the strategic pivot toward opening a daycare facility to stabilize post-pandemic cash flow.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

Adrian Goh has been in the pet care game since 2004, eventually launching Wet Nose in 2011 to create a completely bootstrapped, neighborhood pet hub.&nbsp;Currently generating up to RM800,000 in annual revenue, the business relies on localized word-of-mouth customer acquisition and specialized pet care knowledge to retain its client base against the heavy discounts of online competitors.Adrian joins us to discuss the financial realities of running a service-based retail shop. We explore the unit economics of pet grooming versus product sales, the occupational hazards and liability of handling aggressive pets, and the strategic pivot toward opening a daycare facility to stabilize post-pandemic cash flow.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Why Good Pet Groomers Are Harder to Find Than Customers

Virunthu at KL Town is currently recognised as Malaysia’s largest Indian food court, operating a vibrant, community-driven dining ecosystem. The platform was created to solve the high barrier to entry for small F&B entrepreneurs by removing the burden of standalone restaurant costs. Hosting over 17 diverse local and international food vendors under one roof, Virunthu combines authentic dining with live entertainment and cultural experiences.



The business generates revenue through a mix of fixed stall rentals, revenue-sharing agreements, and in-house beverage sales, recently scaling into the mid-to-high six-figure revenue range.



Founder Gopal Rajandren joins us to discuss the financial mechanics of running a multi-vendor hospitality hub. We also explore the unit economics of revenue-sharing versus fixed rental, the operational challenge of maintaining strict quality control across 17 independent chefs, and the strategy to scale this cultural dining destination into a nationwide brand.

Virunthu at KL Town is currently recognised as Malaysia’s largest Indian food court, operating a vibrant, community-driven dining ecosystem. The platform was created to solve the high barrier to entry for small F&amp;B entrepreneurs by removing the burden of standalone restaurant costs. Hosting over 17 diverse local and international food vendors under one roof, Virunthu combines authentic dining with live entertainment and cultural experiences.The business generates revenue through a mix of fixed stall rentals, revenue-sharing agreements, and in-house beverage sales, recently scaling into the mid-to-high six-figure revenue range.Founder Gopal Rajandren joins us to discuss the financial mechanics of running a multi-vendor hospitality hub. We also explore the unit economics of revenue-sharing versus fixed rental, the operational challenge of maintaining strict quality control across 17 independent chefs, and the strategy to scale this cultural dining destination into a nationwide brand.

Al-Ikhsan: Shifting the Goalpost

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