Obsessed with rattan furniture? Us too! We chat with Cissy of Momiji about running the business with Jasmine.
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a digital networking platform (with IRL benefits) that encourages connection, business support and community. It’s a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented folks! Looking for inspiration? Check out how Cissy and Jasmine, the owners of Momiji, get things done like a boss.
Tell us the story behind your business.
We are two boy mums who lived all around the world before bumping into each other at a local park in Singapore. Jasmine, a business humaniser who wanted to start her own business rooted in social impact, asked me over coffee if I had any ideas. That’s when I revealed I was already in talks to buy a beloved Singaporean brand, Momiji Kids.
It was founded in 2019 by fellow mum Ying who visited Cirebon, the heart of rattan craftsmanship in Indonesia. Ying saw rattan with its environmental, social and health benefits as the solution to her children growing up surrounded by disposable toys and cheap, plastic furniture. As a registered architect from Australia and a Momiji Kids customer, I was determined not to let the brand disappear. Together with Jasmine, we had a vision for exporting Momiji to the world.
What are some milestones or achievements you’re proud of?
1. With the introduction of 30 new designs in one year and a packed design pipeline until 2028, we immediately rebranded Momiji Kids as Momiji, expanding beyond kids and babies to include adults, home decor, pets and travel.
2. Winning Equal First at the Crib x Launchpad Pitch Festival 2024.
3. Exporting Momiji to the US market, which includes featuring at the prestigious Playtime New York Trade Fair in February 2025 and receiving wholesale preorders.
4. Exporting Momiji to the European market as we have been accepted for the prestigious Maison & Objet Paris Trade Show in September 2025.
Share a setback that taught you a valuable lesson about running a business.
Since setbacks are the way of life for small businesses, every day trains us to continuously problem solve and evolve the business. Even when it feels like ‘two steps forward, one step back’, we’re always taking small steps towards progress.
One particular setback which taught us a huge lesson was the supply chain – especially in the field of handcraftsmanship, every production cycle can be challenging for quality control with huge ramifications if deadlines are missed. We’ve suffered both scenarios and our solution was not to blindly trust excuses and promises, but to keep searching and diversifying our suppliers, alongside building our local team on the ground to closely monitor production.
Describe a typical day in your life and what you love most about it.
Jasmine is a superwoman who works a full-time corporate job – and regularly travels for her work – alongside juggling her children’s needs and finding time for Momiji wherever she can.
For myself, a typical day involves dropping the children off at kindergarten, clocking in 2.5 hours of work in the home office, and then picking them up at noon (the woes of half-day schooling!). That’s followed by taking them to their afternoon activities such as gym or swim class.
I have a few minutes to catch up on messages and light emails, but otherwise, I won’t get serious time to work until 8pm, after I’ve put the children to bed. I tend to work until midnight, then the cycle repeats. The good news is that I end up working in the same timezone as our US customers!
What’s your favourite book, movie, or TV show that has influenced your entrepreneurial mindset?
It’d have to be the memoir “Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard. His commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and creating products that stand the test of time resonated deeply with me. His philosophy for meaningful craftsmanship and the importance of nurturing our connection to nature is inspiring. That illustrated the life I wanted for myself, my family and my children.
I love how he stuck by his values despite the various risks he faced. It’s an important reminder to also hold steady in the long and challenging journey which lies ahead for my small business.
Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
You can always acquire skills and learnings but perspective and mindset are everything. Running a small business means fighting fires every day. Celebrate the setbacks and the disasters – as long as you’re not backed into a corner and always have a way to problem-solve, you’re progressing and improving (even though it doesn’t feel like it).
Keep networking too, especially in a global hub like Singapore. We may find that the person we need to help us unlock the next step in our business is only one or two degrees of separation away!
Top tip for maintaining a good work-life balance?
Regularly block out your calendar and force yourself to detach your mind during that time. Don’t fixate on clearing work as it’s endless – you’ll never get on top of it.
Favourite thing to do on weekends?
Switch off and have quality family time! I don’t pack the weekend full to make sure there’s idle time for everyone to vegetate throughout the day.
Tell us one fun fact about yourself that not many people know.
My favourite way to relax is to walk my dog alone, late at night, while listening to podcasts about gruesome murders. Suddenly, there’s nothing to stress about!
Get in touch with Cissy and Jasmine online.
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