A Passion for Fashion

Can’t get enough of Uniqlo, Topshop, Karen Millen or Miss Selfridge? Well, how about a career working with brands like these? Marina Abdul Manaf finds out how to get in on the rag trade.

Imagine sitting in the front row of a runaway during Paris Fashion Week. Or showcasing the latest street wear to an up-and-coming teenage movie star. Maybe hob-nobbing with the ‘who’s who’ of the Asian fashion scene?

With Project Runway, Paradise Kiss and Pret a Porter giving alluring depictions of life in the fashion industry, and local fashion moguls like Datuk Jimmy Choo, Dato’ Farah Khan and Zang Toi lending their names to the industry, one would think that the fashion industry represents all the glamour that life can offer.

And it does to a certain extent if you are part of a major fashion retailer like DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd, which represents well-known brands like Topman, Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Karen Millen, Pumpkin Patch, Dorothy Perkins and the latest buzz in Kuala Lumpur, Uniqlo.

Incorporated in 1966 under the name Dragon and Phoenix Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, DNP Holdings Berhad went public in August 1975 and was listed on the KLSE’s Main Board in January 1979. In November 2010, DNP Holdings Berhad was renamed to Wing Tai Malaysia Berhad (WTM).

DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary of Wing Tai Malaysia Berhad.

The company ventured into fashion retailing in 2001 with the opening of its first retail outlet. It has since expanded to 60 outlets, hosting 10 major brands from the UK, the US, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd has also boasted doubledigit annual growth since 2001 and achieved its first RM100 million in sales revenue in 2009.

The company is also the only retailer in Malaysia to be awarded the annually audited Internationally Certified On-The-Job Training Centre by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore (in 2007) based on its emphasis on continued employee training and development.

On the Fashion Fast Lane

Graduates who are keen to be part of the fashion retail industry may be surprised to find that they do not necessarily need fashion design qualifications to break into it.

“The fashion or apparel retail business is just like any other business,” says WTM Senior Human Resources Manager Cheryl Wong. “The company has all the conventional departments, like accounts, human resource, administration and training. It is only the retail operations department that may function differently from other types of businesses.”

Among others, retail operational functions at DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd include branding, sales and marketing, merchandising, visual merchandising and floor management.

Graduates who wish to join the company can either apply for specific vacancies or be recruited under the company’s Retail Operations Trainee Programme. Under the latter, fresh graduates will be prepared with the required skills and competencies that will equip them to work in and manage a DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd retail store.

Trainees are exposed to both classroom and on-the-job training in operations management, customer service, product knowledge, visual merchandising, grooming, stock management, people management and leadership skills.

“Trainees will be assessed on their strengths and competencies. From there we will determine their specialisation, either in retail operations, merchandising or total brand management,” explains Cheryl.

“Equally important is having your pulse on the latest in the fashion scene. And a keen eye for the latest styles is also an added advantage,” adds Cheryl.

Those who undergo the programme can look forward to becoming shop managers within two to three years.

Front-line staff are particularly important in this business, so retail shop managers play a key role in the organisation.

Playing Hard, Working Smart

So what makes Sunrise an employer of choice? Its awards and accolades aside, the group has a good understanding of what Gen Y employees want. “We understand the need for work-life balance and we pride ourselves on strengthening this balance,” says Chin.

The HR department and Sports Welfare Committee carry out activities throughout the year to help create this balance – from Family Day and Appreciation Night to bowling competitions, badminton matches and cinema days.

And there are also corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects like recycling campaigns and fund raising for green causes and Earth Day.

Apart from leisure pursuits, new employees can also look forward to leadership camps, teambuilding exercises, technical classes and soft skills enhancement training. “The highlight of our training programme is the Sunrise Personified Camp, the brainchild of our Executive Chairman Datuk Tong Kooi Ong,” says Chin. The two-day workshop covers areas valued in the Sunrise culture, such as being over-achievers, breaking boundaries, exceeding expectations, setting standards, constantly adding value and pursuing excellence.

Employees also have a ‘shoulder to cry on’ in the person of an in-house HR counsellor. Staff are encouraged to voice their concerns on any issue – dissatisfaction with work progress, work conflicts, frustrations at home, etc. The counsellor also serves as a mediator between staff and managers or heads of departments in work conflicts.

“If you join Sunrise, you will be joining a fun, dynamic and reputable corporation, which is also conscious of its social responsibilities,” Chin sums up.

Are you Sunrise Material?

DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd also believes in working hard and playing harder. The company conducts numerous ‘Happy Culture’ activities, including team-building sessions and dinners. As the workforce comprise of both office based and shop-based staff, these activities are important in fostering stronger working relationships and a sense of belonging.

New recruits with strong sense of community service can also participate in the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. Through the years, DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd has supported numerous causes, ranging from health supportrelated initiatives to social welfare programmes.

Among the more notable programmes and partners are the Pink Ribbon campaign by Estee Lauder, the Breast Cancer Welfare Association, Kasih Hospice and Foundation, IJN Foundation, Montfort Youth Center, Yayasan Ozanam and the Kechara Soup Kitchen programme.

DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd places a high value on talents who are trustworthy, results-oriented and willing to continuously learn and grow with the company. From organisational matters to contribution to the society, staff are expected to give their fullest commitment, adds Cheryl.

And, needless to say, their passion for fashion has to shine through.