For businessman Shahrulnizam Samawi, 34, his journey in business began in 2015 on a small scale. He started by becoming a dropship agent for a local brand beauty product company, and after seeing an opportunity for success, he became determined to seriously pursue a career in business and launched his own clothing brand, BartekByDCM, which is the only company that manufactures boxers and shorts with a batik concept in Sarawak.
Preserving batik through menswear
Born in Serian, Shahrulnizam Samawi, 34, has been dabbling in business since 2015, albeit on a small scale. He started his journey by becoming a dropship agent for a local beauty product company.After getting a very encouraging response and seeing that the business could be his main source of income, he became determined to seriously pursue a career in business.
“Starting from there, I saved whatever profit I had from the sales to be used as capital to open my own business,” he explained to the New Sarawak Tribune.
Shahrulnizam, the founder of the batik-motif clothing label DCM Boutique, does not see the growth of other online boutiques as an obstacle for him to become a successful entrepreneur. “Honestly, the online platform is a good start for anyone who wants to venture into business because it does not require large capital.
“The important thing is, when business has started and you begin to make a profit, save some to expand your business.”However, there is no guarantee that the online business will be successful. It will take some time as it is not easy to create something that the customer will trust, plus there will be a lot of competitors,” he said.
According to Shahrulnizam, he chooses to use social media in addition to using the services of influencers to promote his products and services so that he will be better known and people out there will see more of his products.
“The first business that I invested in seriously was the opening of a special boutique to sell traditional beauty products that were produced by my own company. From then on, I became a full-time businessman, and I now have my own clothing brand, BartekByDCM, which is the only company that manufactures boxers and shorts with a batik concept in Sarawak.
“Besides that, I also have a management company, Shaz DCM Management, which aims to help small entrepreneurs in Sarawak,” he said.
Making strides by selling his own inspired batik shirts, Shahrulnizam can now be proud as his label BartekByDCM begins to gain attention.
“I am a big fan of batik, and I see myself as a person who emphasises skill. So, I have an interest in exploring the field of fashion further,” he said. According to Shahrulnizam, customers can not only ask any type of question regarding his products but can also share ideas and opinions to improve them.
When asked about the challenges he faced in business, he said that in the beginning, he had to be wary of dumping specific products on the market and figuring out how to compete with other labels.
He also had to do a lot of research in order to remain relevant in the market.”It is not an easy task, but all of that was the main challenge that every business will face because, in the existing market, there will be products and services that are almost the same, but each of these products and services has its own advantages and privileges, which we as traders have to think about.
“As a result, this type of challenge will drive businesses to become more creative and innovative so that their products and services will be sought after,” he explained.According to Shahrulnizam, COVID-19 has not affected his sales too much because he has prepared contingency plans to deal with it. As a businessman and entrepreneur, he had at least two or three plans and strategies in place should a crisis affect his company.
At the moment, Shahrulnizam runs his business full-time, but whenever he is not too busy, he will spend his time trying to help other entrepreneurs by providing business coaching services to them, especially to those who are new.
“My dream is to see more young people getting involved in the business world; in addition to honouring our heritage and culture in each of the businesses because culture and heritage are extremely valuable. It is up to us to preserve them so that the future generation will not forget our roots, and also to highlight our unique culture to the eyes of the world.
“My advice is, never be afraid to try and never be afraid of failure. Maybe today we can only see the opening of a small business. But with determination, hard work, and a never-give-up attitude, maybe tomorrow we can build an empire. Rise to the occasion and keep moving forward because, no matter how small our step is, it is still a step that will lead to the door of success,” he said.
Shahrulnizam also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to his family and friends, who gave him a lot of encouragement and support in business, and always lend a helping hand to him since the beginning. He also added that his enthusiasm for business has always remained the same, as his inspiration comes from his customers, who never cease to support him. He admitted that it is impossible for him to continue without the support of his loyal customers who choose his products and services.
For those who are interested in Shahrulnizam’s batik-themed products, they can contact him via calls or WhatsApp at 019-8350645. You can also visit Shahriz DCM & BartekbyDCM on Facebook, or BartekbyDCM on Instagram.
At the moment, Shahrulnizam’s management company is located at MJC Batu Kawa, while DCM Boutique and Academy is located at Lee Ling Heights, Jalan Kuching-Serian, and their exclusive boutique is located at Stutong Community Market. They business operates seven days a week from 8 am to 5 pm.
