KUCHING: What began as a hobby turned into a full-fledged business venture for Siti Zahrah Zamshary, 33, the founder of Bring Me the Dessert and her friend, Fatin Amirah Abdul Rahman, 31, founder of Fa’vlova.
Located in Bandar Baru Samariang, strategically next to a coffee shope and along a popular route to the beach, it is a thriving dessert pop-up booth that is quickly gaining popularity among sweet-toothed locals.
Before she was whipping up trays of tiramisu and puddings, Siti Zahrah was running an online business service and later, a printing and design service.
But it was her love for tiramisu that eventually sparked her entrepreneurial journey in the realm of desserts.
“I started baking tiramisu for fun. Then one of my friends encouraged me to sell it,”
“That was when I began supplying to event vendors before I thought, why not try selling it myself?” she said.
From accepting online orders, she took the leap to open a pop-up dessert booth, collaborating with a friend who sells pavlovas.
Together, they’ve created a booth that stands out not just for its array of desserts, but also its concept.
Unlike typical dessert stalls, Bring Me the Dessert offers a wide range of treats.
From tiramisu, cheesekut, and puddings to non-dessert items such as wontons and readymade meals.
One unique aspect of the booth is its vendor slot system.
Siti Zahrah opens her booth to other small businesses and homebakers, giving them a chance to introduce their products to new customers.
However, she maintains high standards.
“I prioritise taste, clean packaging, and attractive presentation. All vendors must send testers first before we approve,” said Siti.
The booth opens at 2:00 pm, and is usually fully stocked by 3:00 pm. By 11:00 pm, most items are sold out.
Despite the success, running an outdoor booth hasn’t been without challenges.
“Business has its ups and downs. You must be mentally prepared. There’s always the risk of unpredictable weather and unsold vendor stock,”
“It’s not easy,” she added.
As a newcomer to the food and beverages (F&B) scene, she had to learn everything from scratch.
From recipes sourced through YouTube and TikTok to navigating the ups and downs of running a business.
Yet, the response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive and the response was beyond anything she expected.
“On our first day, we hadn’t even finished setting up and people were already queuing,” she said.
Regular customers have since become a norm, with some urging her to keep the booth open permanently.
Looking ahead, Siti Zahrah dreams of bringing Bring Me the Dessert beyond what it is right now.
With dreams of one day touring outside of Kuching and other districts to expand her brand, Siti Zahrah remains grounded in her mission.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is nothing short of heartfelt and inspiring.
“Don’t stop dreaming. Don’t be afraid to invest in your business, especially when it comes to branding and customer experience,”
“Treat your customers well because they’re your strongest supporters and your top priority,” said Siti.
To her, she is blessed to have the support of family, friends, and loyal customers who keep her going.
