Senheng App glows up with unlimited S-Coin redemption, to launch affiliate programme in 2025
Senheng may be a name that flies under the radar when it comes to notable Malaysian super apps, but its Senheng App is surprisingly robust.
And with a recent glow-up, we’d say it’s become even more appealing for Senheng customers to adopt.
Prior to this, the Senheng App already facilitated the earning and redemption of S-Coins, which are reward points earned by playing S-Games (addictive and engaging mini games, my colleague tells me), among other things. These reward points could be redeemed for discounts on a wide range of products and services.
But yesterday, the consumer electronics brand soft-launched several new benefits that members of their loyalty programme, PlusOne Membership, can enjoy.
Making the most of your rewards
Senheng revealed at their event that one of their 700,000+ members has a jaw-dropping fortune of 5.7 million S-Coin waiting in their account, equivalent to RM57,000 of rewards.
Couldn’t be me, because each time I have the minimum amount of loyalty points to redeem something, I go for it.
If the only thing holding you back from spending your mountain of points is the limit Senheng previously placed on redemptions, good news:
There’s a new unlimited redemption feature which allows you to spend your S-Coin however you want, anytime you want.
Plus, your S-Coin now gives you access to over 2,000 products, services, and exclusive perks.
Sharing is caring (and earning)
Come the first quarter of 2025, Senheng will also be launching an affiliate programme to help you to turn your recommendations into cash.
Share those products and deals you can’t stop yapping about with your loved ones, and if they actually purchase them, you’ll earn real money.
As for what’s driving these upgrades, KH Lim, Chairman of Senheng, said, “Our members have always been at the heart of everything we do, and while they’ve already enjoyed the benefits of previously limited S-Coin redemption, we’re excited to give them even more.”
He added, “In light of the economic challenges many Malaysians face, we will soon introduce the Affiliate Program to provide our customers with an opportunity to earn by recommending Senheng to their friends and family. We hope this initiative not only eases some financial burdens but also brings added value and earning opportunities to our loyal members.”
The enhanced loyalty programme is already live on the Senheng App, asnd with the affiliate programme launching soon, it seems like a good time to join as a PlusOne member.
Also Read: Mega sales are coming up in M’sia, here’s how to ensure that your parcels don’t go missing
Featured Image Credit: Senheng
How this S’porean duo grew their bakery from beyond the home kitchen to 3 outlets & a cafe
I’ll be honest—I don’t have a big sweet tooth.
When it comes to sweet treats, I prefer cream and custard puffs, fruit tarts, and cakes. But even desserts like lemon meringue tarts leave me craving the extra zesty lemon taste.
That is, until my younger sister got me to try an array of fruit tarts from Wunderfolks that satisfied my cravings and piqued my curiosity about the brand.
After some digging, it turns out Wunderfolks is a home-based bakery that has grown to open physical shops islandwide. But with some businesses unable to scale beyond the home kitchen, how did they do it?
The founders first met at the Singapore Navy
The first ingredient, it seems, is having a partner who complements your skillset. Before launching Wunderfolks, Vincent Tay pursued a Diploma in Pastry and Bakery from At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy in Singapore.
While he eventually became a financial advisor, he kept his interest in baking alive by selling sweet treats to family and friends on the side.
When he needed a designer for branding and photography for his home-based bakery, his friends from the Singapore Navy connected him with Dale Thia, who had a background in design and advertising.
Together, they launched Wunderfolks in 2020 and quickly gained popularity online. According to Dale, they only invested S$360 to cover basic ingredients and packaging, and the rest of the funds had been self-generated through the company’s operations.
“Our guiding principle is to only spend the money we have on hand, an approach that has served us well so far without needing any outside investors,” he added.
Growing the business
For Wunderfolks, a unique recipe is the second and undeniably most crucial ingredient. In addition to putting their spin on classics, they meticulously test and refine new flavours before they hit the shelves.
Vincent shared that new flavours often arise from suggestions made by friends and customers, and when a flavour doesn’t cut it, the idea goes back to the drawing board for further improvement.
Considering that French pastries often come with higher price tags, Dale and Vincent also chose to sell their tarts at more “affordable” prices to make them more accessible to the mass market.
But wouldn’t it hurt the business in the long run? Vincent explained that balancing cost and selling price is essential, and product costs should always be monitored to prevent unnecessary price increases.
With the business gaining more traction, the number of orders eventually grew beyond the capacity of their home kitchen. That’s when they decided to take a leap of faith and opened their first physical shop at an HDB at Sterling Road in 2021.
Dale shared that they had a “very reasonable” landlady who provided a rental rate, making it easier to start. They were simultaneously looking for a workspace to fulfil a potential order that, if confirmed, could have covered about six months’ rent.
Even if the order fell through (which it unfortunately did), the founders decided to secure the unit after carefully calculating their finances and projecting the potential sales they could generate. “The numbers looked promising,” they recalled.
Dale also pointed out that Wunderfolks’ low startup cost allowed them to break even as they pivoted from a home-based business to a brick-and-mortar business, and the set-up cost was fully funded by the profit earned as a home-based business.
As they slowly found their groove, with the help of their peers who had started F&B businesses during the same period, Dale and Vincent saw an opportunity to expand their reach as operations scaled up.
This led them to close their first shop six months after opening and shift to a bigger kitchen at Joo Chiat. However, due to inadequate space and electrical supply as they grew, they relocated twice before establishing their central kitchen, office and cafe at Kaki Bukit this year.
Diversifying their revenue streams
Wunderfolks’ third and final ingredient for business longevity is diversifying revenue streams. Currently, Wunderfolks has three physical outlets, including a cafe: Cafe Barco.
Opening a cafe has always been on Dale and Vincent’s minds, but they did not focus on it until they came across their current unit. Dale explained that Nasty Cookie previously occupied the space, which was bigger than expected.
Cafe Barco was opened to become the “go-to spot” for office workers in the area during the weekdays and a weekend destination for families. In addition to its dessert offerings, the cafe offers a series of Japanese-fusion dishes and pastries from Flourcrafts Bakery.
“Rather than a straightforward dessert cafe, we wanted to push our team to grow beyond their comfort zone. We chose a Japanese-fusion cuisine, as it is a style that appeals to Singaporeans of all ages—one that we personally enjoy as well,” Dale added.
Wunderfolks also leverages corporate clients, partnerships, and supplies to other cafes and third-party retail platforms, while its online and retail sales remain its primary sources of revenue.
Aside from managing their different revenue streams, the business is learning to grapple with hiring challenges. Dale acknowledged that staffing has long been a significant obstacle in the industry due to the limited talent pool.
He added that the company used to hire only experienced staff, which proved insufficient to maintain a consistent workforce during the peak seasons. They have since pivoted to training interested candidates in-house, including those without experience in F&B, an effort which has shown positive results so far.
Looking forward, Dale and Vincent aim to cement Wunderfolks as a trusted household brand in Singapore that produces quality treats at price points that cater to their customers.
Rather than relying on going viral or hype, we aim to build a loyal community that sees Wunderfolks as a beloved homegrown pastry brand.
Dale Thia, co-founder of Wunderfolks
Also Read: 34 years, 6 brands, 98 outlets: Swee Heng Bakery’s second gen leader on growing the F&B biz
Featured Image Credit: Wunderfolks
This biz was created to revamp M’sian playgrounds, now its clients include Legoland & Gamuda
Playgrounds. They’re everywhere around us, ingrained into our childhood memories, existing as a centrepiece for many parks and recreational spaces.
But have you ever thought about who’s actually designing and manufacturing these equipment?
One Malaysian company that has been doing so for three decades is Park Games Equipment.
They (see)-saw an opportunity
Park Games Equipment was founded back in 1995 by Veronica and Roger.
Veronica came from a finance background, while Roger brought with him an expertise in construction.
The idea for the business emerged during one of Veronica’s trips to Europe. She noticed the beautiful, innovative playgrounds there and realised the stark contrast with the outdated, often unsafe playgrounds Malaysia had at the time.
“Determined to make a difference, she started Park Games to create safe, engaging play spaces that would enrich communities and inspire creativity in children,” the team shared with Vulcan Post.
To do so, quality is key. Over the past three decades, this commitment to quality is something that runs through every level of the company, from management to the welders on the production floor.
This dedication, the team believes, has naturally attracted clients who value the same, helping Park Games Equipment build a strong reputation in the industry.
Climbing the ladder
Sharing the above story is Eugene Tan, who is currently at the helm of Park Games Equipment as the CEO.
Born and raised in Petaling Jaya, Eugene’s bachelor’s degree is in Chemical Engineering, obtained from Monash University in Clayton, Australia.
He’s actually the son of Veronica, the founder.
“While it’s not entirely a family business, it has always felt personal to me because I’ve been surrounded by it since its early days,” he explained to Vulcan Post.
“Joining Park Games felt like a natural step after seeing the impact the company was making in creating safe, engaging spaces for children. What’s kept me here is the unique combination of challenge and reward—every project we complete brings communities together, and knowing that we’re building something meaningful is deeply fulfilling.”
He started out as a product engineer at Park Games, before eventually growing into the role of General Manager. In 2019, he became the CEO.
As his roles changed over the years, Eugene has certainly experienced a myriad of challenges and learning curves.
“As an engineer, you become adept at managing systems and processes, but as a leader, you shift to managing people,” he said.
“I’ve learnt that it’s important to seek external sources of knowledge,” the CEO added. “Books are a great start, but mentorship and peer-to-peer learning, like through Vistage, have been invaluable to me. My advice? Never stop learning, build relationships, and stay adaptable. It’s about growing alongside your role.”
Through his journey, Eugene has now adopted a goal-oriented—he focuses on setting clear objectives, providing guidance, and then empowering his team to take ownership of their work.
He believes that this approach has created a culture of trust and accountability within the company, where people feel valued and motivated to excel.
Strong building blocks
Given their mission, it’s no surprise that Park Games Equipment takes R&D very seriously. Their process combines market research, safety compliance, and hands-on experience.
“International trade fairs are a great source of inspiration, but I also make it a point to visit playgrounds whenever I travel—whether I’m alone or with family,” Eugene added. “Playgrounds are an experiential product, and firsthand observations often lead to the best ideas.”
But don’t mistake the company as one that just builds your average neighbourhood playground—though that part of the job is important, too.
Their clients actually range from top property developers and landscape architects to international schools. Some notable projects include Legoland Malaysia, Gamuda Cove & Gardens Central Parks, and Tropicana Aman Central Park.
Most of the equipment they supply is manufactured in-house. The team prioritises sourcing materials locally whenever possible.
But beyond that, the homegrown company also represent international brands like Proludic from France.
They’ve also gotten into the export industry, boasting a strong presence in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and more recently, Australia.
Swinging into the future
Over the years, Eugene has noticed that playgrounds have evolved from standard, cookie-cutter designs to highly customised spaces.
Parents now expect safety, inclusivity, and unique experiences. At the same time, urbanisation has demanded more creative use of smaller spaces.
“We’ve adapted by enhancing our design capabilities, streamlining our manufacturing processes, and staying true to our core value of uncompromising quality,” Eugene said.
While the industry may sound niche, it’s also rather competitive. The CEO pointed out that globally, there’s a divide between high-quality, expensive European brands and lower-cost, lower-quality manufacturers from China.
However, Park Games Equipment has struck a niche balance by offering European-quality products at a reasonable price. Eugene believes this makes them the go-to choice for those seeking value without compromise.
To stay relevant and sustainable going forward, the CEO envisions the company expanding into complementary areas like outdoor fitness equipment, park furniture, and shade structures to create holistic community spaces.
The company also has “exciting developments” in the pipeline that Eugene plans reveal soon. “But let’s just say we aim to redefine how people experience recreational spaces.”
Because at the end of the day, Park Games Equipment isn’t just a business that designs and builds entertaining spaces for kids.
As Eugene says. “Playgrounds are more than just spaces for children—they’re gathering points for entire communities. Parks often reflect the spirit of a neighbourhood.”
More than building playgrounds, the company is building grounds for community to thrive.
- Learn more about Park Games Equipment here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: Mega sales are coming up in M’sia, here’s how to ensure that your parcels don’t go missing
Featured Image Credit: Park Games Equipment
These M’sians quit their jobs to grow their 3-in-1 dish soap brand that’s now in major stores
If you’re someone who regularly does the dishes, you’ll notice that it can be quite rough on your skin.
While many of us choose to just put up with it or wear gloves for protection, that problem is something Riinse’s co-founder Phoebe decided to solve back in 2021.
“My mum often voiced frustration about the dish soaps available in the market—some were effective but overly expensive, while others were affordable but harsh on the skin,” Phoebe shared.
Driven by the need to create a solution for her mum, she signed up for a formulation course to gain technical understanding. From there, Phoebe actually ended up creating a makeshift product at home to address her mum’s pain points.
Together with her co-founder Sharmaine, she was able to scale that solution and bring it to other households.
Meet the duo
Sharmaine and Phoebe make up the dream duo behind Riinse. Sharmaine oversees sales and marketing, while Phoebe leads product development.
“We’ve been close friends since our university days and share a unique connection as both of us are ex-consultants turned entrepreneurs,” they said.
But Riinse isn’t either of the women’s first brush with entrepreneurship.
“After my time in consulting, I joined my family’s agriculture business and also managed a distribution and trading company with my sister, supplying FMCG products to supermarkets,” Sharmaine shared.
Meanwhile, Phoebe had been running an ecommerce beauty brand while working as a management consultant, an experience that deepened her understanding of product formulation while honing her passion for creating consumer-focused products.
“After transitioning out of consulting, I joined a Malaysian coffee chain, where I gained valuable hands-on experience in scaling operations and navigating the fast-paced startup environment,” Phoebe added.
Beyond complementary skillsets, Sharmaine and Phoebe share a passion for creating practical, well-designed cleaning products that make everyday life a little better.
With that shared ambition, they launched Riinse at the end of 2023. At first, both of them were juggling two jobs. In August this year, though, they decided to go all-in.
For Sharmaine, taking that leap of faith was essential. “Born into a business family, I was taught that in order to succeed, you have to take risks. It’s definitely scary, and doubts will always linger, but my motto has always been: Never try, never know.”
As for Phoebe, entrepreneurship had always been a part of her lifeblood. In fact, she ran her own fashion jewellery brand on Blogspot.com at age 12.
“When you are given a vision, you are also granted the strength and faith to take that first step toward making it a reality,” she said.
More Riinse for less rinsing
Not your typical household cleaning brand, Riinse offers plant-based, well-designed cleaning products. Ironically, Riinse wants users to do less rinsing.
“Life is hard enough, make cleaning simple,” is the brand’s motto.
Their first—and currently only—product is the SuperRiinse, a three-in-one dishwashing liquid. It comes in two scents: Orange Kick & Grapefruit Splash.
Aside from dishes, the liquid is good for washing fruits and vegetables, as well as baby bottles and toys.
“It’s because we specially formulated this product using natural ingredients like coconut oil, organic salt, and aloe vera,” the co-founders proudly shared. “There are no harsh chemicals, meaning it’s free from SLS, SLES, colourants, dyes, parabens, and phthalates.”
They know what you’re thinking. It’s natural, so it probably doesn’t clean as well.
But that would be wrong, the duo said. “SuperRiinse is actually super. With 5X concentration, its strong cleaning power kills 99.9% of bacteria, germs, and fungus. We even tried it after a heavy Mala noodle night. Trust us, it cleans.”
We’ve been using it in the Vulcan Post office for a while now, and I must say, both scents are incredible. The soap is rather liquid and runny, but sudsy and effective. It does feel very comfortable on the skin too.
Priced at RM19 for a bundle of two 600ml bottles, I’d say that the prices are rather reasonable.
While the first version of Riinse was created by Phoebe using soap-making ingredients, the team eventually partnered with scientists, chemists, and R&D teams whose in-depth industry expertise helped them refine the formulation.
The products are proudly made in Malaysia—something the co-founders aimed for. “It was important for us to keep the product local to support the community around us.”
Riinse products are now manufactured in a Halal-certified facility that adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and ISO 9001 standards.
Getting onto the shelves
Riinse’s business approach has been somewhat unorthodox. Rather than start with an online presence, the team chose to enter retail stores right from launch.
“In the first six months of our journey, we’ve seen organic growth in supermarkets and grocers, so most of our sales currently come from these physical touchpoints,” they said. “However, we’re now equally focused on building a strong online presence.”
The startup is present in notable stores such as Ken’s Grocer, MeMiZoooZooo, Qra, and more.
And starting December 1, the business’ products are also available in all Jaya Grocer outlets nationwide.
As a new brand, it’s impressive that they were they able to get their products on the shelves of these stores.
“While managing a distribution and trading company with my sister, I was lucky to have gained valuable experiences in pitching products to buyers,” Sharmaine explained.
“Though I’m still new to this, my humble advice to other entrepreneurs is simple: don’t be discouraged by the first ‘no’,” she advised. “The process can be slow, but with consistency and patience, the doors will open.”
Driven by the future
It’s been over a year since the brand’s inception, but Riinse currently only has one product, SuperRiinse.
“But here’s a little secret—our second product is already in R&D,” they told Vulcan Post.
Don’t expect just dishwashing liquid or typical household cleaning products from the brand, though. Rather, Riinse aims to release well-designed solutions that elevate everyday cleaning.
To do that, they want to build a brand culture that resonates. That desire is reflected by their first activation event earlier this month.
“The push to build a community comes from a genuine desire to connect with people, spark conversations, and create a sense of belonging around something as simple yet universal as dishwashing,” they said.
But having a vision is one thing. Executing it is something else entirely. As full-time entrepreneurs, Sharmaine and Phoebe have to balance looking at the big picture while focusing on the daily operations—something that requires drive and discipline.
“There are everyday challenges in building a brand, but honestly the biggest challenge we’ve faced is waking up every day and keeping the same drive to chase our goals,” the duo admitted.
“It’s easy to get lost in the hustle, but we always remind each other why we started Riinse in the first place—to create something meaningful.”
Also Read: Mega sales are coming up in M’sia, here’s how to ensure that your parcels don’t go missing
Featured Image Credit: Riinse
