DESPITE already being a successful entrepreneur, Andy Goh could not rest on his laurels.
Realising an opportunity, the savvy businessman embarked on a new venture specialising on e-commerce called Mecan Trade.
In the second and final part of the interview, Goh tells FocusM on what Mecan Trade is all about and the challenges facing e-commerce in Malaysia.
Below are excerpts of the interview with Goh:
FocusM: Despite enjoying multiple successes in business, you have now embarked on a new venture, MeCan Trade. Why venture into not only something new but totally different from your previous businesses?
Goh: Technology is not something new to my industry. Our manufacturing and restaurant operations had, from time to time, used technology to our advantage in order to optimise manpower and build business strategy.
However, across all industries, all business owners will face problems in areas such as cash flow, operations, sales, marketing, legal, production and logistics.
These are problems I have personally faced throughout my days in running Old Town White Coffee and it happens to all businesses.
However, I was fortunate as I came from both worlds; traditional and technology driven.
I can say for sure that technology can be applied to accelerate, improve and optimise solutions in one’s business, without compromising the values of the company.
Take Old Town as an example. Before technology existed, data gathering, strategies and business planning would take months or even years.
Investment risk and capital cash flow planning was crucial. Then, we had the intention to expand, which was extremely costly and risky.
We had the aspirations and ambition but gathering data can be painstaking. So, the make things easier, we used technology to find solutions to the problems. It takes only a few clicks to get certain things done.
Technology is a vital enabler for businesses to take bolder steps forward. In my view, it resembles a “business GPS navigator” that allows you to have a vision of your business and get real time feedback from your consumers.
With that, we can generate a robust and useful business strategy to follow through. That gave me the confidence to start Mecan Trade.
FocusM: Tell us about more MeCan Trade.
Goh: MeCan Trade caters to three main categories, which are sellers (manufacturer or product owner) buyers and ambassadors.
The seller’s role is pretty straight-forward. List with MeCan Trade and use the system that allows full transparency, control of your price and products, marketing tools and access to over 1,000 ambassadors to sell your products.
As for buyers, we also open up tier options for bulk buyers where we connect these buyers directly to manufacturers.
Last but not least, MeCan Trade ambassadors, who fulfill the social commerce components to achieve passive income and aspire to be an entrepreneur without worrying about capital expenses, business risk and origins of the products, as we are directly engaging with the source of the product.
My vision for MeCan Trade subscribers is simple. With shared resources, coupled with Big Data and multiple solutions, I would like the demographics that MeCan Trade is targeting to enjoy a sustainable ecosystem for all parties to benefit and grow.
FocusM: In your view, what are the strengths and weaknesses of e-commerce in Malaysia? What can MeCan Trade do to not only build on the strengths but also improve the weaknesses?
Goh: E-commerce has taken the world by storm, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a business perspective, it definitely involves competition, product quality and sustainability.
It is a big open market out there. MeCan Trade advises all our sellers to first perform business recovery, ensure enough data, tools and resources put together to start instantly, without being burdened by hefty expenses and most importantly, have a robust army of sales team to do brand outreach to consumers.
I put heavy emphasis on big data, ecosystem and sustainability because of the fluidity of the economy. This is applicable to each individual or business owner that are conscious of buying behaviour and open to the e-commerce platform.
And it is important for us to come on the same page or risk losing out big time.
Therefore I ask my sellers, wouldn’t it be nice to have some clarity on your business situation, competition and how you can tackle them?
To my ambassadors, the question is simple. Why are you only spending when you can also earn back something using MeCan Trade?
It has no risk, no capital, 100% genuine products and instant setup which is free for life.
MeCan Trade has spent many years building and perfecting this ecosystem. Hence, our tagline #everyonecantrade.
FocusM: What are the challenges you are facing so far, in terms of taking your new venture to greater heights?
Goh: Mindset! A handful of our sellers that we have approached are still into tradition retailing. I am guessing that they feel more comfortable in their own environment but MeCan Trade is here with assurance that embarking on this idea does not involve huge risks.
Besides, sellers can also retain the conventional method, without compromising the integrity of their respective business values.
MeCan Trade is a bespoke system, tailor-made with ample flexibility to achieve whatever their business needs. The seller will have full authority on their business direction, aided by our fleet business coaches and data.
FocusM: Tell us more about the #MeCanBoss Program. How would it benefit entrepreneurs in these unprecedented times?
Goh: #MeCanBoss is a two-year programme. The entire programme is valued at RM15.75 mil, spanning across the ambassadorship programme.
We designed a 24-month programme for ambassadors to begin their entrepreneurial journey with us so that they will understand thoroughly what social commerce is about; which is about building a community and be an entrepreneur with the winning capital funds.
Under the system, there will be mini challenges to aggravate entrepreneurial instincts, along with all the necessary tools for one to unleash the entrepreneur in them.
This module is risk free, zero cost, entirely entrepreneurial and provides passive income for starters.
So, if you are social media savvy and believe in e-commerce, then this is definitely for you.
FocusM: For those who wish to emulate your success story, particularly in e-commerce, what would you like to tell them?
Goh: The industry is huge yet we are all linked to one common goal, which is to achieve success.
One of the core values of MeCan Trade is the ability to unlock a collaborative economy and join forces with those with the same agenda.
MeCan Trade has a list of trusted partners that enables the company to function at full capacity, leveraging each of everyone’s strength.
There is an old saying that “United we stand, divided we fall”. Today, MeCan Trade is very much focused on offering solutions to sellers and integrate our ambassadors within the social commerce industry.
Therefore, I would see towards a more collaborative synergy to stay focused and bring Malaysia up to speed and achieve success together, rather than compete and lose focus on our core values and principles.
FocusM: Do you have any plans to step foot on any other venture after MeCan Trade?
Goh: There will never be an after for MeCan Trade. MeCan Trade’s vision is to create a sustainable ecosystem which will continue to grow and evolve with technology.
It will be another long and huge personal milestone for me to mold successors and entrepreneurs with technology to create another success story such as Old Town.
But I am also open to opportunities that have good investment potentials, preferably related to technology and the food industry, to expand knowledge and apply business formulas towards these new ventures. – Dec 6, 2020.
