THEY say that behind every successful man is a great woman and that is especially true for Jafri Abdul Manaf. More than 11 years ago he was picking trash to make ends meet. Now, he has an established bundle clothing business, and he credits his success to his staff, his children and, most of all, his wife.
“In 2000, I got into electronic engineering at Shah Alam Polytechnic and did various jobs after that, mostly with tower installation for telcos. When I quit that job, I became a contractor for three years. I was not good at business and I lost about RM120,000. I hit rock bottom, but I kept it a secret,” said Jafri.
No one knew that every day, Jafri went out in his old Pajero, driving around, sorting out, and picking up trash like cans, boxes, and old furniture. When he found discarded electronics, he would try and repair them and sell them.
“My wife didn’t know what I did, because I didn’t want her to be sad. But, she knew I didn’t have money, and when she came home from work I was there. I did not want her to know that I picked through trash to make a living. I didn’t want to add to her worries,” said Jafri.
He found that picking through trash was easier than being a contractor, but of course, there were challenges. On some days he would find nothing; on other days people would try and cheat him over the value of the items he tried to sell.
“I understood the humiliation of being a trash picker. Even today, when I see them by the roadside, I still remember the feeling. They don’t bother anyone, people don’t even acknowledge their existence, but all they are looking for is an honest living,” said Jafri.
From there he started to sell used items online, even items that he owned. Once, he took his Pajero, filled with used items, to Felda in Raub Pahang and sold it all. There was where he realised the potential of selling used items. Where the idea of the business began.
“During the whole time, my wife kept me motivated. She never blamed me when I made mistakes in business, and she supported me when I started the business. She never gossiped to others about the hardship that we went through, and she never displayed our misfortune. On top of it all, she accepted me for who I am,” said Jafri. “She is my true strength”.
His wife, Sarizawati Sahari, works as a teacher.
Now, Jafri and his family own three shops and two warehouses selling used clothing under the name The Picker’s Bundle. The name is a reminder of what Jafri once had to do to make ends meet.
“The concept of the store is we sell items that our customers can resell. I believe that a lot of people have lost their jobs, but they cannot afford to buy bundles at wholesale, because the cost is high. So we price our items so people can buy what they can afford, or pick what they think they can resell. This enables others to try their hands at selling used items,” said Jafri.
For those who are worried about the pandemic, he says that his shops follow strict guidelines to ensure safety. On top of that, used garments are also washed. Jafri also advises his customers to wash the used items of clothing that they have purchased, as well as their hands.
When asked about his dreams, Jafri says that he wished that he could own a business that could affect others around it positively wherever it goes. One of the ways he wants to do this is to open a bundle factory.
“Right now I buy sorted bundles in bulk from the USA and Japan. The plan is to buy the ‘raw materials’ straight from these countries and have them sorted here in a bundle factory. This will translate to more job opportunities, lower costs, and hopefully more benefits to everyone around it,” said Jafri.
