Butterworth: Reaching a wider market was once a major hurdle for a micro, small, and medium entrepreneur (MSME) from Sungai Petani, Kedah, who began her journey as a home baker 16 years ago. Her participation in the RIUH programme over the past two years marked a turning point, as her brand, Cake Perhaps, began attracting customers from outside Kedah.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Noor Azrina Ishak, 42, said that previously, she only ran her business on a part-time basis to supplement her family's income. She had to quit her job as a bank officer to care for her elderly father and her son, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She spent her spare time making cakes and pastries on a small scale, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced many of the cafes that were her main customers to shut down, affecting her business.

With demand from her existing market shrinking, Noor Azrina decided to join the RIUH programme in Juru, Penang, in 2024 to reach a new customer base. She mentioned that initially, it felt awkward, but over time she saw the impact. Customers recognized her from the RIUH events, which helped her products break into wider markets in Penang and the northern region.

Due to rising demand, she now operates Amazing Azrina Enterprise on a full-time basis from a centralised kitchen at Senja Food Place in Sungai Petani, assisted by four staff members. Her product range has expanded beyond cakes to include steamed buns, cheese sticks, chocolate biscuits, mini tarts, and cupcakes.

On future plans, Noor Azrina intends to apply for food production technology grants from the Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA), Majlis Amanah Rakyat, and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) to upgrade her equipment and increase production capacity. She also hopes the RIUH programme will be held more regularly in the northern region, offering more local entrepreneurs the opportunity to promote their products.

Meanwhile, beauty product seller Nur Syasya Aqilah Abdullah, 18, shared that the programme offers local entrepreneurs a platform to interact directly with customers, which helps increase sales. She expressed her preference for explaining products face to face, as it allows her to better recommend suitable makeup brands for different face shapes and skin tones.

The RIUH Pi HAWANA programme, organised by MyCreative Ventures, is among the main events of HAWANA 2026. It aims to provide a promotional platform for local creative entrepreneurs while boosting the local economy.