Originally from Kedah, Mr. Rajan Balakrishnan of Drajs Enterprises picked up the business of selling Sarawak kolo mee, after his son ate it for the first time, and could not get enough. Fun fact is that this amazing kolo mee can be found right here in Johor, where Mr. Rajan first acquired the business from a Sarawakian kolo mee hawker. From its humble beginnings, Mr. Rajan started Drajs Enterprises and now has multiple businesses and is a true success story. This is the start of that journey, all from a bowl of kolo mee!
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How did you start this business, what’s the story?
What is the biggest challenge in your business?
A. Smooth sailing, in terms of procedures due to prior knowledge of being in this industry. People are very receptive to new talents and I have loyal customers now. Winning the hearts of Sarawakians everywhere to eat their own local delicacies cooked by not even a Sarawakian, was not easy, but with the support of my family, we managed to do it.
How does your day to day job look like?
A. Constantly providing the best available kolo mee & drinks for our customers. My wife is a full-time part of this process and we have a dedicated team of employees. I myself am there all the time after a walk in the morning. We are involved in the business and keep the business hours of 7am to 6pm daily.
How can financing help you in your business?
During the early stage, how did it feel to self-finance every aspect of your business?
A. Staying thrifty and proper planning was the key to operate a business without any funding by others. Having a bit of experience and stable income let me inject money into this business. After 1 year of my wife managing by herself, I left my job to sell kolo mee full time, with a team of other front runners.
What do you see your business in 3 years time?
A. Larger customer base and probably to have some additional Sarawakian dishes to accentuate the Sarawakian feel at my Restaurant. Teaching people the trade and helping them start their own kolo mee style business. Willing to expand the business. To have joint ventures with other Sarawakian enthusiasts. Now that we are established, I am also looking into new business ventures in F&B.
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