The Hive · 2016–2024
Entrepreneurship
The Hive was Malaysia’s first zero-waste store, and became Southeast Asia’s first zero-waste retail chain. The full narrative lives on the About page; this is the operating record.
01 What she built
- First zero-waste store in Malaysia · Bangsar, 2016
- Six outlets across Kuala Lumpur at peak, plus one in Singapore
- Wholesale distribution into Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer and Watsons
- 120+ zero-waste SKUs
- Partnership work with UNHCR: co-produced products
02 The award
Recipient of the UN Award 2017, one of three national recipients.
03 The lessons
In 2024 the last store closed. Claire handles the ending directly: the market turned, the model stopped clearing, and she closed it with suppliers paid and the story intact. It is the most distinctive thing on this site: a founder who will tell you what eight years of mission-driven retail actually costs, and why she would still tell you to build.
04 Podcasts
- Night Shift BFM 89.9 Link at launch
- Enterprise: “The Hive Mentality” BFM 89.9 Link at launch
Ask about the story.