Most people say TV viewership would drop during Ramadan and this could be due to Malay/Muslim viewers going to the mosques for their terawih (prayers).

Historical data has it that we spend MORE TV TIME during fasting month. Strange? It is even more surprising that we watch more TV during Ramadan month than any other month in the year. No one can attribute the reason for it.

It could be that during Ramadan, we have less outdoor activities, so we remain indoors. It could also be that TV stations are offering more exciting programming during Ramadan period.

So my answer to all advertisers, you should advertise on TV during Ramadan because there will be unprecedented viewership during this month. You cannot lose.

Photo courtesy of LugaLuda.com

But make sure your TV ad is catchy and relevant enough for the Malay/Muslim viewers because there will also be an increase in TV ads during this month. Understandably so as many advertisers are cashing in during this festive period.

I say frequency of TV ads takes priority over its duration.

Go for short TV ads but spread it frequently over the entire primetime belt. Don’t underestimate the non-primetime hours as well – these graveyard hours are now being picked up by Malay viewers during the low daytime-activity period.

I also suspect that online activities will increase, especially lunchtime hours (or no-lunch hour). So if you are selling stuff on social media network, update your status frequently during this time.

Exciting TV programmes and less outdoor activities contribute to an increase in TV viewership during Ramadan –  good for advertisers.  But I wonder whether higher viewership leads to lower visitorship to our mosques?

Ramadan Mubarak Everyone

After brewing it for one year, we have completed the recording of this business audio starter’s kit.

Ok here’s the background: Abang Abu & myself have been compiling tips and other useful information on how you can kick-start your business in a 10 audio CD recording. In each audio CD we shared, in detail, about all the things you need to know – from starting, running to marketing a business. We also shared topics like marketing, advertising, media and most importantly, getting your customers.

I personally like CD number 10:

In CD 10, we interviewed Ustaz Syed Mustafa Alsagoff and he shared how all of us can aspire to be a great Muslim entrepreneur; how one should conduct themselves in business and ensure the business is blessed by Allah.

You can now download the MP3 format of the first audio CD recording – it’s 73 minutes long.

This first audio CD is FREE! And if you like it, you can pre-order the full 10-audio CD program from either me or Abang Abu. We will let you know the price and how you can order very very soon. Enjoy the sampling!

It seems a natural progression to go into movie-making after 10 years producing TV programmes. But I tell you, producing a movie is a different ball game.

Sure anyone who is passionate about making a movie can get into it. But what are you doing it for? Money? Message? or simply hobby? Whatever the reason, you need money and a good distribution network to get your movie noticed.

We have been studying the movie market closely and talked to few movie makers in the region. But there’s a certain kind of movie that ScreenBox would like to go for. True stories. We love to inspire viewers with real stories.

We have explored a few pitches but none comes close to what we are looking for.

Moreover, it’s key that we get our distribution network up first before taking a plunge. A bad movie can sell in a good distribution network. A good movie can get unnoticed in a weak distribution network.

So, let’s get a good story first. I am waiting, patiently, for the right one to come.

Have a great week everyone!

With 3 lively and sometimes boisterous hosts, this programme is bound to entertain any foodie or any discerning viewers! The programme is not only entertaining, but an eye- opening series as it dares to unravel the truth facts about the original food and the cloned ones!

I must say we’re having fun scouting for original and clone food… Makan Boomz! airing every Thursday, starting 17 June, 9pm on Suria.

Here’s the opening sequence:

It’s a great feeling to overcome the fear of speaking in front of a large audience.

Yes, I used to be shy and not able to impress the smallest crowd. But I learnt a simple technique to deal with my nerves and it landed me the most fun job ever!

Join Reel Friends of ScreenBox this school holiday and learn how to speak with confidence, improve your voice, elements to good presentation structure, impress your audience and many more easy-to-follow techniques!

Hope to see you! Click here for more information.

Was there for filming but during our break, I asked the owners and consultants of these restaurants how they lasted a century. These are my learning points:

1.  Family best kept secret.

No matter what you think, family trade secrets (and recipes) must be kept at all costs. Every single generation must respect that.

2. Create predictability in taste

People come just to remember how good it was when they last visited the restaurant. Some just dont want anything new. They want the same old taste. If you can keep it consistent for 100 years, you will have customers for 100 years. Don’t succumb too easily in changing the recipe to fit the changing taste of customers as you might lose focus. Instead, spend time on getting customers to acquire your recipe, your menu. Sooner or later they will be hooked.

3.  Know your customer to create generations of loyal visitors

These two restaurants seemed to know their customers well. They also know their customer’s children and their children’s children. I am not surprise they can do this as most of their workers have been there for more than 3 decades. They know. And customers knew them.

There were loyal foreigners too, who  will always make a pit stop when they are in town. These restaurant owners definitely know what they doing.

4. Don’t expand anywhere unless you can deliver that same taste

It is very difficult to maintain quality in one location. What more two or three. Stay true to your taste in one location and expand customer base from there.

Both restaurant started very small. They bought over their unit few decades after renting, and bought over the next door unit too. They expanded in the same good location

5. Same good hands doing the good job

I see lots of veteran in these establishments. They average from 30 to 40 years of working experience. Same hands, same quality.

6. Believe in your product

I have never met anyone so passionate about their product. These guys live and breathe Murtabak.

7. Believe in word-of-mouth

All of us should.

The whole time I was there, customers kept coming in. And mind you, it was a weekday. They came hungry and left these century-old restaurants feeling truly satisfied.

I do wonder how many establishments out there can last 100 years. Thank you Zam Zam & Victory for these useful takeaways.

Have a good business week.

Make it work.

I use social media a lot, but to reach to a sizable  footprint of customers, you need to mix it traditional media.

Have a good week!

Saya ni sebenarnya kalah rambut lah. Sejak umur saya 30 tahun, rambut putih saya sudah mula tumbuh. Saya tak kisah sangat pasal rambut putih ni, kerana ia betul-betul membawa rahmat…. Betul, betul. Sewaktu saya mula-mula tubuhkan perniagaan, ada sesetengah pelanggan bertanyakan berapa umur saya. Kerana mereka rasa saya masih hijau dan terlalu muda untuk menguruskan perniagaan.

Hari ini, lain halnya. Bila saya masuk bilik mesyuarat dan bertemu dengan pelanggan-pelanggan baru, semuanya tidak lagi was-was dengan pengalaman saya. Hanya kerana (you guessed it!) – rambut putih saya! Tak ke rahmat namanya tu!

Tempoh hari, ada rakan kerja saya berikan saya sebungkus inai supaya saya mewarnakan rambut saya. Emmmm bukan saya tak mahu, saya lebih suka melihat rambut putih saya ni. Tiap kali saya merenungnya, ia bagaikan mengingatkan saya supaya lebihkan kerja-kerja yang bermanfaat dan tinggalkan yang tidak berfaedah.

Cuma yang lucunya ada yang menyangka bukan-bukan…Baru tempoh hari bapa mertua saya menyampaikan pesan bahawa rakan gurunya mengatakan paras rupa saya macam ada masalah?!  Wow macam-macam sangkaan orang eh.

Hmm semua orang ada masalah. Saya tidak terkecuali. Tetapi jangan salah sangka dan jangan terlalu memandang pada keadaan seseorang itu hanya kerana paras rupa dia yang mungkin tengah stress… atau rambut dia mula putih, mungkin pada masa tu saya kelam kabut nak habiskan kerja saya jadi muka dah stress… tak ada apa yang perlu dikhuatirkan sebenarnya.

Dan saya sudah bertemu terlalu ramai orang yang menyuruh saya mewarnakan rambut saya ni. Kadang-kala saya ya kan sahaja kerana kalau nak jelaskan alasan sebenar saya menyimpan rambut putih ni, meluat pulak orang dengar ya tak?

Saya juga ada mendengar seorang kawan yang mengatakan rambut putih ni sebenarnya Mutiara Syurga… wow, boleh jadi tu kalau kita ada niat yang baik.

Jadi saya harap jika anda bertemu saya diluar, tak usahlah terperanjat dengan rambut putih saya, atau lebih baik lagi, janganlah kesian atau menyangka apa-apa eh. Saya suka rambut ni.

Amacam, ada orang lain yang suka dengan rambut putih mereka?