The business was founded by Rosmah in 1993 and is currently helmed by Intan. The mother-daughter duo have a unique story about their foray into the world of ceramics.
For Rosmah, it had begun when, working as a town planner, she longed for more creative pursuits. She eventually quit and signed up for a ceramic painting course.
Shortly thereafter, she successfully sold her first set of vases, which gave her confidence to start her own business. Over the decades, she has poured her heart into expanding it, finding fulfilment in designing and making vases, pots and tiles, among other products.
“I started at home and later moved part of the production to Klang. Two years later, we moved the factory to Ipoh,” the 60-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
She supplied her handicrafts to retailers, took custom orders, and started a website. Wanting to establish the business internationally, she eventually signed up for e-commerce platforms but, with too many things to juggle, never found the time to grow the company online.
That’s where Intan stepped in: the 32-year-old had returned for a holiday to Malaysia from Norway, where she had been working. Then the pandemic hit – but a silver lining emerged as she got to take a closer look at her mother’s business.
“I noticed areas that could be improved, such as our online presence and how the production process could be streamlined. So, what began as a favour for my mum became a full-time job,” Intan said.
Today, she oversees various aspects of the business from marketing to operations and accounts. “My talent is identifying trends and trying to get ahead of it. If I notice a certain (design) trend, I’ll ask my mum to have a look and come up with her own version,” she explained.
Although Rosmah has since retired, she returns to work when Intan requests for her expertise. “I have a boss now!” Rosmah quipped.
Their array of products includes tiles, tableware, fridge magnets, candle holders and other decor items. These are meticulously handcrafted using local clay at their Ipoh factory, where two out of their four staff are also second-generation employees.
Apart from taking custom orders, they supply their products to craft shops as well as museum and airport gift shops. Additionally, they have produced tiles for mosque-restoration projects in Melaka.
“These centuries-old mosques use a lot of tiles that are no longer in production,” Rosmah pointed out, referring to Masjid Kampung Kling and Masjid Kampung Hulu. “If there are pieces that are missing or cracked, they’ll bring the design for us to make.”
These days, many things keep Intan busy, which is why she appreciates the support of Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans (PPA), an NGO that helps local artisans to market their products through its website, physical stores and pop-up events.
PPA, she noted, has helped increase their distribution channels and brand’s visibility.
Going forward, one of Intan’s missions is to strengthen their e-commerce presence to fulfil her mother’s dream of establishing their brand globally.
“You know those centuries-old leather shops in Italy that keep their operations small on purpose, even though they have a strong brand? We hope to be like that.
“We are very proud that our products are made locally and that this is a family business,” Intan concluded.
Learn more about Keceramics via its website and Instagram profile. Visit their showroom here.
Keceramics
4-2-05, D’Vida,
Jalan Bazar U8/101a,
Bukit Jelutong,
40150 Shah Alam, Selangor
Business hours: Mondays-Saturdays (by appointment)
Contact: 013-225 3792 (WhatsApp only)
Read more PPA stories and get to know its artisans here.