UMAI launches largest database of restaurants that sell gift cards to help keep your favorite restaurants afloat.
As the Covid-19 pandemic progresses, governments are implementing lockdown and initiating quarantines that are
affecting local businesses – purchasing/selling of gift cards helps provide them with immediate cashflow.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: On 26
th March 2020, UMAI has launched the largest directory of Malaysian restaurants
and cafes that offer gift cards and vouchers, making it easier for diners to support their favorite restaurants by
purchasing for themselves, loved ones, or the less fortunate. Buying full or discounted value vouchers will help
restaurants with immediate cashflow, and offset lost income amidst the Malaysian Movement Restriction Order.
Restaurants are struggling to stay afloat, as they are no longer allowed to serve customers in-house, and sales are
down across the country. As F&B businesses typically operate at a 3 – 5% margin, there’s not much buffer room left
for them to weather this out, putting their teams and business at risk of closure. While gift cards provide immediate
income relief that will help these business continue running, less than 1% of Malaysian restaurants are offering this
service – UMAI is offering this software for free, during this unprecedented times.
“There are a lot of restaurants that are deciding whether they stay is business or not,” says Co-Founder, Jonas
Chelbat. “Our generosity, collectively as consumers, now literally affects the ability of your favorite restaurant to
stay open.”
“At this point, the purchasing of gift cards is the best thing any of us can do to support restaurants – and it’s win-
win. It’s like giving a restaurant or cafe a loan, and getting paid back in food, drinks and appreciation. We built this
software so that consumers can purchase this on behalf of loved ones, support the less fortunate or simply for
themselves during this difficult time,” says Co-Founder, Alexander Small. “The most important thing we can do is
bring attention to the problem, and help the community play a role in solving it.”
The site currently features 63 restaurants that sell gift cards. UMAI is aiming to help at least 200 more restaurants
make it onto the list. Visitors can:
• Search for a specific restaurant, or browse based on who has discounted gift cards – by area, cuisine type
and so forth.
• Visitors can purchase a restaurants gift card directly from the restaurant’s website, by clicking on a
restaurant.
• Any restaurant can add their gift card to the directory.
For more information, visit: https://www.umai.io/en/malaysia