From Business Novice To Owner Of Three Successful Muslimah Spa Branches

By Fadzlina Abu Bakar Sidek

IPOH, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- A lack of business expertise has never been a barrier for 45-year-old Harisun Kassim, who has been successfully running a spa and beauty salon for 18 years.

The owner of Humaira Muslimah Salon, Spa & Training Centre, Harisun, who hails from Alor Setar, Kedah, originally worked in the credit control department of a private company before venturing into the beauty industry.

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Surrounded by entrepreneurial friends, she was inspired to pursue her own business venture.

"Thanks to the influence of my entrepreneurial friends and various entrepreneurship courses I attended, I left my permanent job in 2006 to start my first Muslimah salon and spa," she told Bernama recently.

Now a mother of two, Harisun has expanded to three branches offering hair treatments, facials, baths, and body treatments exclusively for Muslim women. These branches are located in Jalan Labrooy, Taman Cempaka, and Taman Perpaduan.

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The spa and beauty salons offer packages ranging from RM20 to RM280, catering to various customer needs, including beauty treatments for brides-to-be.

A graduate with a diploma in financial management from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Terengganu, Harisun received initial funding of RM20,000 from Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd to open her first salon in Taman Perpaduan in 2006.

Today, Harisun employs nine people and generates a monthly profit of RM40,000 from the three salons.

"Many Muslim women prefer salons and spas that cater exclusively to women, as they feel more comfortable and can take care of their privacy during treatments," she explained.

In addition to running her business, Harisun also trains aspiring entrepreneurs in beauty therapy, offering courses in hair cutting, maternity care, make-up, and spa therapy.

"I was honoured to be appointed by the Perak Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs (MAIPk) and the Perak Entrepreneur Development Secretariat (STeP) as an instructor to train new entrepreneurs," she said.

Throughout her career, Harisun has received numerous accolades, including the Srikandi Entrepreneur Award in 2022 from the Perak state government.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, I nearly had to close my spa and beauty salons due to the extended closure and loss of income. However, Alhamdulillah, there was a silver lining. After the restrictions eased, the demand for spas and beauty salons surged, leading to a significant increase in profits.

"In shaa Allah, with continued success, I hope to expand and open additional branches in other areas around Ipoh in the future," she added.

-- BERNAMA