Kuala lumpur: A RM120 investment in a website helped local coffee entrepreneur Mirwan Badri Ahmad Badri turn a pandemic setback into nearly RM4 million in sales within two years. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mirwan Badri, 41, said his online marketplace, Buna Market, was launched in January 2020 to harness digital technology as Malaysia imposed movement restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The cost of setting up the Buna Market website was about US$29, or roughly RM120. In January 2020, our sales were around RM3,000 to RM4,000 before rising to RM5,000 to RM6,000 in February," he explained. March 2020 saw businesses shutting down due to COVID-19, yet Buna Market's sales surged to about RM40,000 in April 2020 as consumers turned to online shopping. This remarkable growth encouraged Mirwan to collaborate with coffee-machine distributors and roasters, inviting them to sell their products through Buna Market. "Alhamdulillah, Buna Market started with just 20 SKUs (stock-keeping units), but the number of products listed on our website eventually peaked at 2,000. Within two years, our sales had almost reached RM4 million," he stated. Mirwan emphasized that building a successful business did not necessarily require substantial capital. Leveraging existing relationships was crucial to his success. "I had already known the distributors of machines, grinders, and coffee equipment since I started my business. We always maintained good relationships and built trust, which made them comfortable letting us sell their products. Some distributors even offered to place their products with us on consignment," he noted. Mirwan's journey from setback to comeback began in 2013 when he left a career in corporate banking to start his coffee business. His interest in the food industry was sparked while working at Pret A Manger in London after completing a master's degree in mechanical engineering. Despite facing potential bankruptcy twice, including a RM350,000 loss from closing an outlet in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in 2019, Mi rwan persevered with the support of family and friends. He owns Sprezzatura Sdn Bhd and Sprezzatura Coffee in Phileo Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Additionally, he runs Coffee Marketplace, focusing on trading green coffee beans, and Utan Kopi, a premium brand featuring locally grown coffee. His story is featured in Bank Simpanan Nasional's (BSN) 'Cerita Mereka, Jiwa Malaysia' campaign, celebrating Malaysia's 69th National Day. Mirwan also received RM50,000 in financing under BSN Micro-i MADANI during the pandemic, which helped him introduce new products, buy furniture, upgrade coffee machines, and strengthen working capital. BSN chief operating officer Zarir Mohd Rawi highlighted that more than 5,000 micro-entrepreneurs have benefited from BSN Micro-i MADANI this year, bringing the total number of recipients to 180,000 since the scheme's inception in 2007.