BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  Machino: From RM100K & Family Ties to Budding 8-Figure Biz

Machino: From RM100K & Family Ties to Budding 8-Figure Biz

Esther Tai, Co-founder, Machino | Amy Tai, Co-founder, Machino

25-Aug-25 10:00

Machino: From RM100K & Family Ties to Budding 8-Figure Biz

Launched in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, Malaysian footwear brand Machino is on a mission to prove you don't have to sacrifice comfort for style. Now a seven-figure business with ambitions to hit eight figures this year, what's the story behind these two sisters and their shoe brand?

Co-founders Esther and Amy Tai join us to share their journey of building a D2C brand from scratch. They discuss their "comfort-first" R&D process, their modern omnichannel strategy powered by TikTok Shop, and how their signature "Hana flower" design has become a valuable piece of intellectual property.

We discuss:

  • The journey of building a 7-figure D2C footwear brand.

  • Their "comfort-first" R&D process using unique foam insoles.

  • How they leverage their "Hana flower" IP for branding and major collaborations.

  • Their omnichannel strategy, including the surprising power of TikTok Shop.

  • Their plans for new product categories and international expansion.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan, Carol Wong

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  Women in BusinessCorporatesmanagingfashionentrepreneurs

Tags:  D2CDirect-to-Consumerfashione commercebrand buildingtiktok shop





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer, Jevons Global tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Sim Moh Siong, Commodity Strategist, OCBC Bank gives us an outlook on oil prices.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

John Zogby, Founder of Zogby Strategies,discusses the rising tensions between the US, Denmark, and Greenland over the island’s strategic role in the Arctic.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank Berhad, talks about what makes the digital bank stands out among its peers.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Goh Cia Yee, Criminal Lawyer, weighs in on whether Deferred Prosecution Agreements are a step forward or a loophole for major corruption cases.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer, Jevons Global tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Sean Tan, CEO & Co-Founder and Jesmine Tan, COO & Co-Founder, Applecrumby. Two years ago, Applecrumby was navigating its transition from a long bootstrapped journey into its next growth phase. Today, the company is expanding beyond baby care into kids skincare, scaling its retail presence, and rethinking what sustainable growth looks like for a consumer brand built on trust. Co-founders Sean Tan and Jesmine Tan join us to break down what has changed since our last conversation in 2024, how their revenue mix and operations have evolved, the commercial logic behind their move into kids skincare, the economics of selling across online and physical retail, and how they are balancing scale with profitability as they plan for 2026 and beyond.

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank Berhad, talks about what makes the digital bank stands out among its peers.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Front Row

Encounter: Anime 2.0 brings iconic anime music to life with a full symphony orchestra. Producer Alvin Ong and conductor Justin Lai tell us what audiences can expect.

3:25 PM

Front Row

God’s Waiting Room is a tender look at ageing and connection. Writer-director Joe Hasham and actor Faridah Merican discuss storytelling, partnership, and creativity later in life.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

We’ve been fighting an uphill battle against super gonorrhoea, a drug-resistant infection, but we finally have new antibiotics that could work against this infection. Tune in to find out why this matters.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

We review Train Dreams and The Voice of Hind Rajab.

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector