From helping her sister in selling chocolate drinks to owning the “Menoess” business. Diyana Abdul Hakim talks about her entrepreneurial journey and, on a side note, leaves you with a chocolatey taste in your mouth.
A chocolate journey to entrepreneurship
Lately, we often hear people complaining about the rising cost of living. It certainly affects all parties, especially small business owners.
For some people, having a small business as a side job can give an additional source of income. On the other hand, there are those who began their small business from the ground up and now manage it full-time.
Such is the case with Diyana Abdul Hakim, 29, who founded “Menoess”, a premium street drink brand in Kuching.
Diyana started her business in 2013, as an agent for Sahajidah Hai O Marketing Sdn Bhd while attending Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alam Polytechnic. She start her family during the final semester of her diploma programme in 2015, and she now has two children.
“I graduated from Poli Shah Alam in 2015 with a Diploma in Civil Engineering and pursued my Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology & Sociology at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) from 2015 to 2019,” she said.
While studying at UNIMAS, she started a side business selling Nutella cheese pies, brownie pies, and other treats under the brand Stardustbrownilicious. Every Saturday and Sunday, she opened a booth at Sarawak Plaza and sells various types of ready-to-eat foods.
“I was pregnant with my first child during my first year at UNIMAS, and with my second child during my final year. Despite my pregnancy, I took customer orders. I also took advantage of the opportunity to make reservations at UNIMAS, where I’ll be prepared to bring two or three pies to the class as soon as the class is through,” she said.
Diyana pursued her passion for business till she founded “Menoess” in 2019.
“I began dabbling in the world of drinks when my sister asked for my assistance in making chocolate beverages to sell in Taman Sukma. After three days of selling the chocolate drinks and earning RM20 or RM30 per day, I thought about naming the beverage ‘Menoess’ after the Sarawakian word for smudge.
“Each cup of drink will be drizzled with our homemade chocolate syrup without charge. In response to market demand, I now offer ‘matcha’, ‘Teh C Peng Special’, and ‘medess coffee’ in addition to the chocolate flavour — dubbed ‘chocolate peng Menoess’.
“All of these flavours are named using Sarawakian terms to represent our language. To clarify, the three flavours mentioned above are not made all at once but are offered in phases throughout the year based on market demand. This is now my full-time job, and I am focusing on my drinks and just placing orders for my Nutella cheese pies in my spare time,” she said.
Diyana established an agent system in order for the agents to purchase the “Menoess” essence and sell the drinks. She started with a small tent in Taman Sukma and has now expanded to a food trailer.
“I have a production and marketing crew on hand to look after the stall. My stall at Taman Sukma is open from 10.30am to 6pm,” she said.
One of the challenges she faces in her business is the rising cost of raw materials.
“In May of last year, I also had to slightly raise the price of my drinks: small cup (from RM2 to RM3), medium cup (from RM3 to RM4), and large cup (from RM4 to RM5).
“Alhamdulillah, most of my customers are understanding and supportive of the situation, while there are a few who are not. But I’m grateful that, despite the difficult circumstances, ‘Menoess’ still has fans,” she said, adding that she offers a range of toppings for RM1 per type.
Diyana said that her husband, children, family members, and “Menoess” agents are always encouraging and supportive of her.
“My dream is to open a kiosk or a café and take “Menoess” across Malaysia and into the international market. It is not wrong to wish because every word is a prayer accompanied by effort.
“To all small business owners out there, be patient and don’t give up easily because doing business is a process. It helps you become mentally stronger as you meet and interact with individuals from all walks of life,” she said.
Anyone interested can contact Diyana at 014-6907145, go to Menoess Official on Facebook, abdullakimdiyana on Instagram, diyanaabdullakim7 on TikTok, or Menoess Taman Sukma on Grabfood.
