Cover image via SAYS
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Meet Tiffany, the founder of Moncherilive, a top TikTok Shop fashion seller in Malaysia, whose journey took three years and a RM500,000 loss before turning into a successful business
Before making her mark in online retail, Tiffany spent eight years in corporate finance and accounting, a well-remunerated field in which she guided clients through initial public offerings (IPOs).
However, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in her career. Encouraged by her cousin, who also promised financial backing, Tiffany decided to leave her stable job and venture into e-commerce.
Although Moncherilive struggled to gain traction, the experience proved invaluable, giving her hands-on exposure to livestreaming, sales forecasting, and the daily operations of running an online store.
However, after several months of running the business, the financial toll became severe. Tiffany has been candid about its initial failure, revealing that it incurred losses of between RM400,000 and RM500,000 in the first year.
Revenue barely covered operational expenses, eventually forcing her to downsize a 10-person team to just two.
Tiffany jumping into a livestream mid-interview with SAYS.
Image via SAYSDespite the setback, Tiffany was determined to rebuild.
In April 2022, a friend introduced her to TikTok Shop, which had just launched in Malaysia.
Although Bahasa Melayu was not her strongest language, Tiffany fully committed to mastering it to make her livestreams more engaging.
She also took courses in video editing and live streaming, and improved her Bahasa Melayu fluency by listening to Malay radio during her commutes.
Her perseverance paid off. Moncherilive, which specialises in modern Muslimah fashion, has since become one of the platform's top-performing brands.
The company reached RM1 million in sales in December 2023 and now proudly displays several accolades, including Top 1 Creator of the Year, Ultimate Live Ranking Challenge Winner (Q1), and Top Fashion Creator for Bazaar Ramadan Raya 2025, all awarded by TikTok Shop Malaysia.
From just two employees, Moncherilive has grown to a 15-person team, including live hosts and operational staff. The business now operates multiple live rooms, broadcasting daily from 7am to 10pm.
Tiffany showcasing her recently won awards.
Image via SAYSTiffany attributes her success to hard work and consistency
She also emphasised the importance of financial planning and having savings, recalling how her nest egg helped her survive a drastic 90% pay cut after leaving her high-paying job.
Today, Moncherilive incurs a six-figure monthly operating cost, with staff salaries forming the largest expense. Yet, Tiffany continues to invest in her employees, even sponsoring courses in colour analysis and make-up to enhance their on-screen presence.
Looking back, Tiffany said she wished she had been bolder and started her business journey earlier. However, she acknowledges that true business sense is often forged through experience.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is both grounded and honest:
"Be hardworking. Do not expect money to come easily or fall from the sky."
Watch our interview with her below:
Learn how to grow your money on SAYS!
