MELAKA: The foldable children''s mattress that won the GiatMara design competition in 2020 has now become the main source of income for sewing entrep r e n e u r Nureisah Ahmad (pic). She said the victory was a turning point that inspired her to expand the product into a larger-scale business. The mother of two boys, aged seven and 13, shared that winning the competition five years ago earned her a RM2O,OOO grant in the form of an embroidery machine, a valuable asset that helped kick-start the new venture. Reflecting on her journey, Nureisa h said it all began when her tailoring business was severely impacted by the Movement Control Order ( MCO) implemented to curb the spread of Covid-19. “I started my sewing business in 2016, mainly fulfilling bulk orders for schools and uniformed bodies. But when the MCO hit, everything came to a halt, that''s when I knew 1 had to pivot. ” After some discussions with my family, we came up with the idea of producing foldable mattresses as ready stock for babies and children up to six years old,” she said when met by Bernama at her sewing workshop in Taman Puncak Bertam. Nureisah, who runs the business with her younger sister, Nurhaliza, 28, said the foldable children''s mattress quickly gained popularity among parents due to its portability, making it easy to carry to daycare centres and nurseries. Marketed under the brand “Beekaboo”, the former GiatMara student said the three-inch-thick foldable mattress comes in various sets, such as the daycare set and the newborn set, which includes a pillow. Customers can also opt for additional features like blankets or personalised name embroidery. “The business began with custommade mattress sets in 2020, but by 2022, we shifted our focus to readystock products to meet growing demand. “One of the key features is that the mattress can be folded into a compact size, making it easy to carry, even young children can bring it to daycare on their own,” she added. What makes the product even more appealing, according to Nureisah, is that the mattresses are machine-washable and come in a variety of attractive patterns. Prices range between RM50 and RM 99, depending on size and suitability for different age groups. Nureisah said her factory is now capable of producing over 100 mattresses in four different sizes daily, with orders and sales managed entirely through e-commerce platforms. “A single mattress can be produced in just 30 to 45 minutes. There''s strong demand not only across Malaysia but also from Singapore, thanks to the high-quality materials we use, including “kekabu”(kapok fiber),” she said. Among the product''s unique selling points are fast shipping - with orders dispatched within a day - and a consistently high response rate on all online platforms. “We''ve received numerous positive testimonials. The stylish and reversible design is a major draw for customers, it''s like getting two mattresses in one,” she shared, adding that to date, around 30,000 units have been sold. To meet increasing demand, Nureisa h has expanded her workforce to 10 employees, creating job opportunities for the local community. -.