Anbumani (centre, in dark printed shirt) with Ameer Ali (on his left) and Mohan (on his right) together with some of the entrepreneurs during the Ponggal celebration at Mydin USJ.
Throughout 2023, some 333 local online Indian businesses participated in 25 bazaars held at Mydin malls around the country.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taaka Lee Sdn Bhd through related companies in digital marketing, digital production and events educated and assisted home-based entrepreneurs in online marketing.
Last year, the company collaborated with Mydin malls to enable small-scale traders to make their online businesses go physical at three bazaars – Angadi Street, Bombay Bazaar and Madras Market.
Taaka Lee was recognised by The Malaysia Book of Records for “Most Bazaars of the Year” at a Ponggal celebration at Mydin USJ.
Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said celebrating Ponggal was the mall’s way of appreciating one of the many cultures in the country.
“Ponggal is a form of thanksgiving to the environment celebrated mostly by South Indians.”
He also congratulated Taaka Lee for organising the Bombay Bazaar.
“This bazaar was among the highlight of our Deepavali celebration last year,” he said.
“It gave Indian entrepreneurs the opportunity to promote their products.
“I was impressed by their enthusiasm to promote their products and interact with customers face to face.
“At Mydin, we always give encouragement and support to entrepreneurs to promote their items,” he said.
Ameer Ali said the Bombay Bazaar managed to bring over 300 digital entrepreneurs to sell their products physically.
“Businesses these days cannot just operate within their owners’ comfort zones; entrepreneurs need the combined approach through online and physical platforms,” he said.
The Ponggal event was attended by Datuk Anbumani Balan, private secretary to Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister R. Ramanan.
Anbumani said the recognition given to Taaka Lee was an honour to small-scale entrepreneurs especially from the Indian community.
“The Malaysia Book of Records award is something to be proud of.
“Mydin has also given a lot of opportunities to Indian entrepreneurs and traders.
“There are many opportunities for the Indians offered by the government.
“We hope they will be utilised well,” he said.
Taaka Lee Studio director KD Mohan said he appreciated the collaboration with Mydin as they want Indian entrepreneurs to sell their products to buyers outside the Indian market.
“We wanted their products to reach other races too and this was possible when they did their sales through physical stalls at the bazaars.
“Among the items they sold were kurti, food and beverage, and women’s beauty products.”
An entrepreneur at the bazaar, Suvarna Panjavarnam, said she saw better sales during the bazaar compared to her online sales.
“I sell Indian home decor items. I see that having a physical stall presence is important.
“Meeting customers face to face enables us to promote the items better and have a better reach,” she added.
