Business Opportunities Weblog

November 22, 2007 by Angela Shupe | 0 Comments

The Star Online:

Mention Malaysian-made footwear and most people are likely to think of either those ubiquitous “Japanese” slippers or a glamorous pair of Jimmy Choos. The home-grown shoemaking industry, however, is much more than those two extremes. There are, in fact, more than 30 Malaysian shoe manufacturers and exporters in operation today, and some of them have a history that stretches back to pre-Merdeka days.

Lee Soo Mooi, 78, is one such shoemaker. Her passion for her life’s work is apparent in her enthusiasm for the industry. Her eyes light up and she gestures animatedly as she talks about the business of making and selling shoes. Though officially retired from running the store she founded, Paris Shoe Maker in Kuala Lumpur, Lee cannot keep away. “I like working very much! That’s why I still come in to the shop and do what I can,” she says.

Her daughter Kye-Yen Yong, who is the current general manager, says Lee is constantly in and out of the store. “Till today, my mother is still very much an entrepreneur. She loves the business,” says Yong. “She doesn’t want to retire! As long as people still want to buy shoes from her, she’ll be doing it.”

Lee’s love affair with shoemaking has been a very long one – so long, in fact, that she herself has forgotten exactly when she got into the business. She just remembers that she was a very young woman when she became fascinated with a shoe store selling footwear imported from Hong Kong.

“Seeing that shop inspired me. I thought to myself, why not sell shoes that are made in Malaysia? I was sure I could make and sell shoes that were as good or even better,” says Lee. With this goal set firmly in mind, Lee had to think of finances to kick things off.

Fortunately, her kind nature resulted in an unexpected reward. A man Lee knew had a wife from Hong Kong, and Lee had been entertaining and accompanying her out. The man grew to trust Lee so much that he only allowed his wife out with her, as he was afraid she would be cheated. As luck would have it, this man happened to work at a bank, and arranged for Lee to receive an interest-free loan of RM80,000. And so she took on the first job of her life – running a small shoe-manufacturing business.

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