Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

Startups don’t have the luxury of time, and they sure don’t have the luxury of big budgets. You’re running lean, fighting for market share, and probably pitching to investors in the same week you’re onboarding your first customers. So why bother with PR - or even consider a PR agency for startups in Malaysia  - when every ringgit counts? Because in Malaysia’s crowded startup ecosystem, credibility isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s survival. Why PR Beats Ads (Especially for Startups) Let’s be blunt: you can buy ads. Anyone can. But attention isn’t the same as trust. A Google ad might get someone to click. A social campaign might rack up likes. But the right kind of PR gets you something money can’t buy: belief . People believe what third parties (media, thought leaders, even communities) say about you far more than what you say about yourself. And when you’re a startup - unknown, untested, and maybe a little misunderstood - credibility is the currency that opens doors. Investors, custom...

We recently came across a sharp piece from ET BrandEquity titled “Stop Trying to Be Liked: Why Great Brand Strategy Repels More Than It Attracts.” It struck a chord with us at Orchan, because we’ve seen the same truth play out across Southeast Asia: the strongest brands don’t aim to please everyone. They stand for something, and by doing so, they inevitably turn some people away. But here’s the catch; in our region’s complex cultural mix, bold branding can be both a strength and a risk. Done well, it creates loyalty and cultural relevance. Done poorly, it sparks backlash or fades into noise. (Libresse V-Kebaya Campaign) Malaysian Brands That Took a Stand Libresse’s V-Kebaya campaign (2021) used vulva-inspired kebaya designs to challenge taboos around women’s bodies. For some, it was empowering; for others, offensive. The backlash eventually saw it pulled, but it trended for weeks, boosted sales, and even won awards. It showed how boldness, rooted in local culture, can make a brand impo...

Some brands fade with time. Fanbo isn’t one of them. From Hong Kong to Indonesia to Malaysia The Fanbo story goes way back:  1903 in Hong Kong , when Hoitong Powder became a staple for upper-class Chinese women. Fast forward to 1968 , the brand took root in Indonesia, launching cult classics like the Rose 68 Pancake and Gloria 5K Parfum . The name itself? Fanbo comes from Fanbao , meaning “precious powder.” Poetic, right? Malaysia, Meet Fanbo By the time Fanbo reached Malaysia, its powders had already won fans in Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan. The compact range quickly became a go-to for young, cosmopolitan women looking for quality without the sticker shock. In Q3 2019 , Fanbo officially entered the Malaysian market - this time backed by a clear vision: empower women to bring out their natural beauty with accessible, everyday cosmetics. From make-up staples to skincare, even specialist products for pros, Fanbo has proven why it’s still one of Indonesia’s most-loved beauty br...

Every so often, a brand story comes along that captures not just attention, but imagination. For us at Orchan, one such story was that of Omorose Cosmetics . Founded in 2014 by Terry Liau , Omorose was born out of a deeply personal experience. The brand’s name - from the ancient Egyptian word for beautiful -  embodies its mission to create cruelty-free, naturally preserved cosmetics that celebrate beauty in its truest sense. But more than that, Omorose was built on inclusivity: from employing persons with disabilities, to designing make-up counters, shelves, and displays accessible to wheelchair users. Beauty, after all, should be something everyone can take part in. Omorose Hypnotic Eyes Not long after its launch, Omorose took an extraordinary leap. In 2015 and again in 2016, it became the only Malaysian brand selected to be part of the official gifting suite at the Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood. To be included alongside globally acclaimed names was no small feat, and it...