INTERNET BUSINESS A BOON FOR YOUNG MOTHERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Online business besides generating

attractive income is proving to be popular with women who do not have the time

or opportunity for conventional businesses.

In fact, among those involved are highly qualified women who choose this

line of business as it gives them more time with their young and growing

children.

A survey by Bernama found many types of businesess could be carried out via

the Internet ranging from beauty products such as contact lens and cosmetics, to

food, health products and apparels.

Many of them use blogs or social networking sites to promote and take orders

from customers.

Hadhatina Abdul Halim, 30, a housewife with an Information Technology

Diploma from Universiti Kuala Lumpur, said her gross monthly income from health

product sales via her blog could reach five figures.

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ENTREPRENEUR-MOTHER 2 KUALA LUMPUR

Hadhatina, who has two children, the elder aged 16 months and the younger

just four months, got into the business when she stumbled upon a health product

on the Internet and became a customer first before deciding to be a distributor.

As an active blogger, she found it convenient to conduct her business on the

Internet.

Hadhatina, who was originally from Perak but now resides in Shah Alam, said

her big challenge was to gain credibility as a blogger and a source of quality

health products.

Another Internet entrepreneur is Siti Aisyah Agus, 26, a housewife with a

Diploma in Management Technology (Accounting) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

who retails contact lens from South Korea.

"Online business gives me the flexibility to manage my time as a mother and

housewife and saves me the cost of operating from a shop," said Siti, who is

expecting her first child in November.

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ENTREPRENEUR-MOTHER 3 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

President of the Association of Bumiputera Women Entrepreneurs, Faridah

Jabbar sees the involvement of young mothers in online businesses as a positive

first step toward entrepreneruship.

"However the desire for business must be sincere and not for merely to

profiteer or get caught up in an Internet business fad," she said when contacted

by Bernama.

She told online business entrepreneurs to be serious and not to jeopardise

the interest of the genuine operators with poor customer service and inferior

products.

"Young women entrepreneurs should not be afraid of competition and should

be creative in ensuring the business is successful and sustainable," she said.

--BERNAMA

SNZ KHY CHW HA