Open Culture Vivy Sofinas

     Open culture was one of the important traits that an entrepreneur. Nowadays, most of the consumer want something that is creative especially the youngster. According to CIAC (2011), an entrepreneur should always get to know what is happening in the surrounding and ensure that they are in the right path going through the era and also spread the knowledge freely. An open culture entrepreneur should collaboration and share the information with others without restricted by rules and regulation. Moreover, usually an entrepreneur who were exposed to the culture evolution can create something great and acceptable by most of the people. Nowadays, most of the entrepreneurs are open culture.

     Vivy Sofinas Yusof is one excellent example of an entrepreneur who starts her business since she was young. Vivy Sofinas Yusof was studied law at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom (UK) when she was 25 years old. She was keen in to see the development of fashion in UK and does not want to be left behind. Thus, she always keep her appearance feminine and applies fashionable attires. Besides, the UK residents are appreciative about the local designer’s works. Thus, establishing an online shopping process is also not a novelty in that country at that time. Most of people in UK would like to shopping through online compare with Malaysian.

Vivy Sofinas

     Upon her graduation, she came back Malaysia and she helped her father in the business of real estate. Even though she could not find a real satisfaction as she has a deep interest in fashion. She yearned to shopping through online as she had been busy each day with tasks in the office and caused her do not have time to shopping. Inspire by the open culture of UK, she always aware that the development of information technologies is rapidly increasing. She decided launched an online shopping center named FashionValet.net in 2009 after obtaining the views and agreement from his father. She establishes FashionValet.net (FV) which is the hub of local fashion designs. She started this business with her partners who is the founder and is also her colleagues in UK, Fadzarudin Maher and Asma 'Nasaruddin.

Vivy Sofinas promoting Fashion Valet

     When first business she has established, she moved along in a team to find local fashion designers. For the first month, they were able to collect a total of 15 local designers but they do not have office to operate yet. However, she still have to be selective in choosing a design that will marketed in Fashion Valet. She used to choose the designs that are relevant to wear, simple and not outrageous. With open culture, she want to introduce local designers of FV to the world and want to open the eyes of Malaysian consumers to appreciate the local design. The local design results in FV has penetrated Brunei, Singapore, UK, Germany, Indonesia and Bangladesh besides Malaysia currently. Nowadays, Fashion Valet that started by Vivy, Fadzarudin and friend Asma Nasarudin, three person only obtain more than 30 employees and ready stocks are more than 300 brands from across Southeast Asia.

     Vivy Sofinas Yusof  shown that the importance of open culture for an entrepreneur. It can create a successful and  inspiring story. This can be a lesson for youngster who is keen in doing online business in the future.