Business doesn’t always start with a big idea. Sometimes, the journey begins with perseverance, changing direction, and finding the right momentum. This perspective was brought by Imam Choirul Roziqin, CEO of TopScore, in a guest lecture session for the Integrated Business Experience (IBE) 2 course at the School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), Bandung Campus, on Wednesday (May 13).
With the theme of “Sustainable Growth and Operational Excellence,” Imam shared his experiences in building a business that continually adapts to the rapidly changing landscape of industry competition. His entrepreneurial journey began with selling power banks, which later led him to enter the footwear retail sector and establish TopScore.
The principle of “slowly but surely” remains a value he upholds in building his business. After TopScore was established as a specialty shoe and sports equipment store in 2013, the next challenge was maintaining the business’s relevance amidst ever-changing competition.
“A business can never sustain itself if it doesn’t continuously adapt,” said Imam.
This adaptation is realized through various innovations, from employee performance monitoring applications to interactive platforms that focus not only on shoe sales but also on events, games, and community activities for sports enthusiasts.
According to Imam, products and businesses will always have competitors. Therefore, the key differentiator lies in how a company executes its strategy.
“Competitors, even imitative businesses, will always exist. The difference lies in how we adapt, how we execute the business,” he explained.
The Imam also emphasized the importance of balancing a resource-based and market-based perspective in running a business. Companies need to strengthen internal aspects, such as employee competency, KPI evaluation, and operational management. However, at the same time, businesses must also be responsive to market needs and external trends.
He also highlighted the importance of operational standards and stocktaking to minimize errors and maintain business efficiency. According to him, sustainable growth is determined not only by ideas and sales, but also by discipline in managing daily operations.
During the question-and-answer session, the discussion expanded to explore the mental challenges of building a business. The Imam explained that the business process is often stressful and painful. However, it is precisely through this process that the entrepreneurial mindset is formed. Although he believes that being an entrepreneur is “not for everyone,” he still encourages students to dare to try building their own businesses.
Beyond operations, Imam also emphasized the importance of a community approach as a marketing strategy. For TopScore, sports communities are one way to build relationships with consumers through interactive events and activities.
“If you have a marketing budget, try using it for community-to-community engagement,” he said.
In this session, students not only learned about operational excellence and business strategy, but also recognized that business sustainability is significantly influenced by the ability to adapt, foster relationships, and maintain quality execution in the face of ongoing change.
