The story begin in 1983 when the late Mohamed Jakel Bin Ahmad started his small retail business in Muar, Johor. The company is carrying JAKEL TRADING as a trademark to its textile business to win over customers. Started with a minimum capital investment of RM30,000, Mohamed Jakel later has expended the business to Segamat, where the empire started to break people eyes that Jakel is a dominant player in its category.
In 1992, to the additional capital investment of RM500,000, JAKEL TRADING expand its operations by venturing into semi-wholesaler as well as supplying textiles to the government agencies and private sectors. JAKEL TRADING continues to be a highly developed and respected textile company between 1992 and 1997.
However, in the end of 1997 till 1998, Malaysia has been hit by the economic downturn. At that point, it was certainly difficult for JAKEL TRADING to obtain supplies from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Thus, the stock cloth diminishing. However, the company was able to handle the crisis successfully. Datuk Hj. Faroz Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jakel, the eldest son of Mohamed Jakel who is now a Managing Director of Jakel Group of Companies, tried to get manufacturers during the crisis.
Due to lack of stocks in the market, JAKEL TRADING has taken a brave step by went directly to the manufacturers as well as importing the stocks straight from the overseas and sell it right to the wholesalers in Malaysia. In the beginning, the Korean exporters were reluctant to work with JAKEL TRADING as they are still bound to the Singapore exporters. Moreover, most of the importers could not extend their businesses as bank had dismiss their facilities. His failure at the first attempt was not an obstacle for him to keep on trying.
Seeing his determination, the manufacturers eventually agreed. Since then, the company has its own textile’s importers. Additionally, one of the finance institution, Oversea-Chinese Bank Corporation (OCBC) trusted JAKEL TRADING as this company shown their capabilities in managing the finance. OCBC did not hesitate to extend substantial among the facilities for this company to bring the products from the overseas and sell them in Malaysia.
Simultaneously, RM1.6 million was invested in the purchase of the Shaw Brothers’s Rex Cinema. The theater which is located in Segamat was used a warehouse. The risk was taken on the overwhelming responses from the customers and the courageous decision was indeed worth taken. In the late 1990s, JAKEL TRADING became the major wholesaler and distributed products directly to retailers in Malaysia.
With the goal of "One Branch, One State”, JAKEL TRADING has open 20 branches throughout Malaysia as it intends to conquer the textile industry from north to south of Malaysia. With a stunning six-storey and seven lots, Wisma Jakel that is located at Bunus Off Jalan Masjid India can accommodate a wide range of high quality fabrics. An investment of RM30 million for the opening of a branch in Kuala Lumpur was able to get JAKEL TRADING as a leading fabrics business.
The fabrics or textiles enthusiasts flocked to Wisma Jakel every weekend as it is the biggest textile gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Occasionally, customers will face difficulties to choose the fabrics due to the situations. Thus, JAKEL TRADING need to find an alternative. The company resolves this substance by opening another branch which is in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, Selangor. Located right in front of MARA University of Technology (UiTM) where they have about 52,000 local and international students and 11,000 staffs, the branch has grown into the hottest textile spot in the area.
RM50 million has been invested in the Wisma Jakel Shah Alam’s opening. It was launched by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on September 29, 2010 after five months of its opening. This 80,000 square feet branch is Largest Textile Retail Outlet in Malaysia accorded by the Malaysia Book of Records. Therefore, it is not possible for JAKEL TRADING to be known as the leader of Bumiputera textile business in Malaysia.
Due to the company’s policy which is to be close to the customers, on March 23, 2013, it open its latest branch in Johor Bahru, Johor. This is to facilitate the customers from every state to choose the best fabrics and quality to meet their needs and styles. Besides that, JAKEL TRADING plan to open another two branches in the busy town of Ampang and Bangi, Selangor with an investment of around RM30 to RM40 million each.
With over 5,000 employees nationwide, it is not a surprise that JAKEL TRADING entrusted by the National Public Corporation Berhad (PUNB) to become Mentors Prosper Bumiputera Entrepreneurs in the textile business in 2003 till present. The company is responsible to provide a training and guidance to Bumiputera entrepreneurs who are keen to get involved in this industry.
JAKEL TRADING’s achievements in its commitment to quality and compassionate customer service were verified due to several awards that the company has been received. In 2011, JAKEL TRADING was awarded The Best Textile Company of The Year by the UDC Business Award 2011 presented by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed.
In 2013, this company was awarded as Best ASEAN Textile Company 2013 by the ASEAN Retail and Franchise Federation (ARFF) at the Outstanding Business Awards 2013 presented by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry. In the same year, this company was awarded as the Excellence in Retail Management by the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) during its prestigious Global Excellence in Management Awards 2013. In addition, JAKEL TRADING is also one of the twenty recipients of HR Asia Best Companies To Work For In Asia 2013.
This company is cultivated among the Jakel’s. The company’s shareholders are Datuk Mohamed Faroz (51%), Mohamed Nizam (24%) and Mohamed Izani (24%). Through the textile business, the company’s empire extended to several businesses and now there are 26 subsidiaries operated under JAKEL TRADING. Two of them that involve in the fashion sector are Ariani Textiles and Manufacturing (M) Sdn, Bhd. which owns the Galeri Tudung & Skaf Ariani and has 20 branches across the country and Perano Sdn. Bhd which owns the Galeri Hajra Tudung & Selendang that operating with 10 branches throughout Malaysia.
To the date, JAKEL TRADING has acquired CapSquare Retail Centre and two office blocks that will be built in Kuala Lumpur from Bandar Raya Developments Bhd. (BRDB) for an estimated RM420 million.
With the slogan of “Ingat Kain, Ingat Jakel”, JAKEL TRADING offers all kinds of clothing including the traditional dress custom as well as wedding dress from 5,000 high-quality fabrics which are chiffon, satin, lace, shantung, lycra, taffeta, organza and Korean and Italian silk which are flown in from the country. There are also lace accessories, home furnishings and curtains. JAKEL TRADING always produce the best quality of latest trend that inspired from European designs
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