Latest news with #FocusPoint
The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Store expansions set to buoy Focus Point
PETALING JAYA: Despite the ongoing challenges in retail sentiment, Focus Point Holdings Bhd remains optimistic of its prospects, supported by resilient demand for vision care services, increasing contributions from its expanding corporate client base, and aggressive store openings across the country. President and chief executive officer Datuk Liaw Choon Liang said the optical business remains to be an essential business. He noted that the group has quite an 'aggressive' store expansion plan this year, particularly for its optical segment. Liaw said the company may even surpass its previously guided target of eight to 10 new optical outlets. 'In the last five months, we have already opened about five new optical outlets. There are a few more in the pipeline this year,' Liaw told the media following the group's annual general meeting last Friday. Focus Point also aims to expand its optical retail presence in East Malaysia by opening its first Focus Point Concept Store in Bintulu and a new outlet in Miri. 'We are quite focused in East Malaysia now. We see a huge untapped market in Sarawak and Sabah,' Liaw said. The optical and food and beverage (F&B) operator opened its 200th optical store earlier this month. On the optical segment, Liaw shared that while the retail division still contributes the bulk of revenue, corporate sales have been growing steadily. The group currently serves over 700 corporate clients under its optical programme. 'In the last three years, we have seen significant growth in the optical corporate segment. We registered a very strong double-digit growth in 2024 compared with 2023. 'Currently, the optical corporate segment contributes less than 20% of our total revenue, but there is a big opportunity for further growth. 'We continue to see the number of participating companies increase every month,' he said. Under its F&B segment, Focus Point operates its homegrown premium Japanese bakery brand, Komugi. Recently, the group also introduced Happi, a new concept focusing on frozen yogurt. The first Happi outlet opened at Mid Valley Megamall in early 2024. Liaw said the group targets to open two to three stores for its F&B division this year. 'Unlike our optical business, which allows us to expand more aggressively and flexibly, F&B growth requires more careful planning,' he said. On the Happi business, Liaw said the current store has yet to meet their expectations and there is still much room for improvement, particularly in terms of concept quality and marketing efforts. 'Since we only have one store, we have not achieved the economies of scale in purchasing and procurement. We are still monitoring this business and will approach expansion cautiously,' he said. Focus Point operates two central kitchens in Kota Damansara. While the first central kitchen is fully utilised, there is still some capacity available in the second central kitchen. On this note, Liaw said the group is actively engaging in talks with new corporate clients apart from existing ones like Family Mart and Aeon Co (M) Bhd. 'We are also exploring opportunities with new operators, particularly coffee chains,' he said. Last year, the group had a capital expenditure (capex) of RM16mil to RM20mil. While Liaw did not disclose the exact capex planned for this year, he said it would be 'quite close' to last year's figures. 'Our capex is mainly used to open new outlets and refurbish existing ones,' he said. Liaw said the company will refurbish and also rebrand some of the stores every year. With rebranding, some outlets may be transformed from Focus Point stores into Optometris Anggun outlets, while others may be converted to Focus Point Signature stores. 'We found that after refurbishing or rebranding our stores, sometimes those outlets can grow by another 20% to 30%, even if they were previously very old stores,' he said. This year, Focus Point has identified six to eight outlets for refurbishment. Speaking about US tariffs, Liaw said it may play to the group's advantage, by boosting its bargaining power with suppliers from China and South Korea, who are still grappling with export restrictions. 'These manufacturers may dump their excess stock soon, allowing us to leverage our volume for better deals,' he said.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Focus Point celebrates grand opening of 200th outlet, marking a milestone ahead of 36th anniversary
Suriani (centre) with the Focus Point team and invited guests at the grand opening of Focus Point's 200th optical store. PETALING JAYA: Focus Point Holdings Bhd celebrated the grand opening of its 200th optical store, a significant milestone that reflects over three decades of continuous growth, innovation and commitment to eye health for all Malaysians. The ceremony was officiated by Focus Point Holdings Bhd chairman and Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad. The momentous milestone comes just ahead of Focus Point's 36th anniversary, underscoring the brand's enduring legacy and its forward-looking vision to transform the vision care landscape across the country. 'Reaching 200 outlets is more than a number. It's a testament to the dedication, resilience and trust that we've built with the communities we serve,' said Focus Point president and chief executive officer Datuk Liaw Choon Liang. 'This milestone reaffirms our mission to make professional eye care more accessible, more advanced and more impactful - especially as we continue to educate the public on the importance of regular eye screenings and address rising issues like myopia.' From a single store in Muar in 1989 to becoming the largest optical retail chain in Malaysia, Focus Point has grown into a trusted household name for vision care, innovation and service excellence. The expansion to 200 outlets across urban and suburban areas demonstrates the brand's commitment to nationwide eye health accessibility, job creation and support for local entrepreneurship through its franchise model. The celebration also highlighted the group's ongoing investment in vision care and eye health awareness, particularly in myopia management for children, a growing concern globally due to increasing digital device usage and lifestyle changes. 'Preventable blindness and uncorrected vision issues remain a major public health challenge,' said Suriani. 'Focus Point actively working to bridge the gap especially through outreach programmes, AI-advanced screenings and professional optometry support perfectly aligns with the ministry's goals in promoting early detection and equitable access to vision care.' In conjunction with this 200th outlet celebration, Focus Point has partnered with Great Heart Charity Association, an NGO dedicated to serving underprivileged communities. As part of the initiative, Focus Point is sponsoring 200 pairs of prescription eyewear to individuals in need, underscoring its belief that clear vision is a basic right, not a privilege. This initiative builds on the work of the Focus Point Caring Hearts Charity Foundation, which has touched thousands of lives through free screenings, community outreach events and educational campaigns across Malaysia since its establishment.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Career guidance programme for students
The higher secondary Career Guidance and Adolescent Counselling Cell will organise an orientation programme on May 13 for students who have completed Class X. The programme 'Focus Point' will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in all higher secondary schools (HSS) in the State. Students and parents can attend the programme at the nearest HSS. Students who have completed Class X have options such as 46 subject combinations across Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams in higher secondary; vocational higher secondary; technical higher secondary; diploma courses; and polytechnic courses to choose from. The subject combinations in higher secondary can take students to nearly 25,000 higher education courses. This makes it imperative for them to know and understand the subject combinations in each stream, a statement from the guidance cell said. Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty will perform the State-level inauguration of the orientation programme at Government Higher Secondary School for Girls, Cotton Hill, Vazhuthacaud, here at 9.30 a.m. on May 13.
