KUCHING: Shopping today has never been easier, with the rise of online platforms offering convenience at the click of a button.
However, for traditional businesses like songkok (traditional headgear worn by men, primarily in the Malay community) sellers, the value of a physical store remains unmatched.
One such business is Syarikat Naazimudin, a long-standing shop along India Street, owned by Nazimudin Mohd Yusop.
For over 15 years, the shop has been catering to customers seeking high-quality songkok and kopiah (a traditional head covering worn by Muslim men), especially during religious and cultural occasions.
Nazimudin, who sells songkok under the Syeikh brand, takes pride in offering products made with care and craftsmanship.
“Our songkok is produced in Penang and has always been a customer favourite,” he told Sarawak Tribune in a recent interview.
With Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaching, business has seen a gradual increase in customers as families prepare for the festive season.
“This is the time of the year when people look for new songkok or kopiah to wear for the celebrations,” he said.
Despite the increasing preference for online shopping, Nazimudin strongly believed that physical stores still hold an advantage, especially for customers who value quality and authenticity.
“When shopping online, what you see is not always what you get. The product may look good in pictures, but when it arrives, the quality might not meet expectations,” he said, while recalling his own disappointing experience of purchasing an item online.
He added that for some customers, being able to see, touch and feel the fabric and craftsmanship before making a purchase is a key reason they continue to visit his shop.
“My hope is to expand this business further and continue offering the best products to my customers.”
Apart from from songkok and kopiah, Syarikat Naazimudin also offers high-quality kurta—a loose, collarless shirt.
Meanwhile, shop manager Mohammed Asik said the brand’s variety and craftsmanship are what keep customers coming back.
“Many of our regular customers return year after year to purchase our products. Even today, we have people asking if the Syeikh brand is still available on the market.”
He said one of the keys selling points of their products is that they are handmade, with intricate designs that are first drawn before being embroidered onto the fabric.
“Our songkok comes in two main types—one made from velvet and another from ordinary songkok fabric.
“What sets them apart, besides the material, is the height of the songkok, and varies in price.”
However, Asik admitted that rising production costs have impacted their retail prices.
“We’ve had to increase our prices by about three per cent due to the higher cost of materials and production.
“This has affected customer purchases, especially when compared to online stores where prices can sometimes be cheaper.”
He observed that platforms like TikTok and Shopee are where people would normally prefer to buy items online due to the cheap prices.
“What they don’t realise is that visiting a physical store offers a much better experience.
“As a business, we continue to adapt to changes, but we also want to remind customers that quality matters. And sometimes, the best way to ensure that is by experiencing it in person,” said Asik.
