Across the country, Indians are rewriting the narrative. No longer confined to traditional roles, they are stepping out with confidence, chasing their dreams, and making their mark, all while continuing to nurture their families and manage their homes with grace. They are showing the world their true potential, proving that dedication at home and ambition in the professional world can go hand in hand. Among the many inspiring entrepreneurs shaping different industries, today the spotlight shines on Thepa and Kaviraaj, the husband-and-wife team behind ‘Print Cheap’, a fast growing printing solutions company in Seri Kembangan that is redefining affordability, speed, and quality in the printing industry.
Their journey is not just about running a business, it is about resilience, passion, and a shared vision of building something meaningful together. From humble beginnings and challenges to breakthroughs and plans for the future, their story embodies the determination of young Malaysian Indians who are carving a place for themselves in the world of entrepreneurship.
Humble Beginnings with a Big Vision
Every successful business has its roots in a dream. For Kaviraaj, the seeds were planted during his school years. While others usually spends their holidays relaxing, he would spend his free time working part-time at printing companies in his hometown of Seri Kembangan, a hub for printing. That early exposure sparked a lifelong fascination with paper, printing processes, and the creative possibilities the industry offered.
Both of them have been involved in this field for over 10 years. Kaviraaj started out in publishing before venturing fully into the printing industry. Over time, what began as curiosity evolved into a serious passion. And when Theepa joined him on this journey, the venture began to flourish. Print Cheap, their brainchild was born out of a desire to serve individuals, SMEs, and even international clients with printing solutions that are fast, affordable and customer-focused.
Today, PrintCheap isn’t just a business. Its a partnership that balances expertise with innovation, serving thousands of customers from Malaysia to Singapore and Australia.
Inspiration Rooted in Passion and Heritage
Behind every entrepreneurial journey lies a source of inspiration. For Kaviraaj, it was an enduring fascination with printing. But for Thepa, there was also something deeper-heritage. Surprisingly, her ancestors were printers during Malaya in the early 1900s. Continuing that legacy today feels like both a blessing and responsibility.
Over the years, my wife joined me in this venture, and we were fortunate to share the same enthusiasm for the industry. Surprising part, my wife’s ancestors were printers during Malaya in early 1900. We believe it’s a blessing for us to continue it today despite more than 100years. Together, we decided to grow this passion into a full-fledged business, which has become Printcheap today. Ever since my wife stepped in, the business started to grow. She came up with some sales techniques & coach our sales consultants to be more professional & solution driven.
With Theepa actively contributing sales strategies and coaching their consultants, the business began to grow in ways neither of them had imagined. Their combined strengths, Kaviraaj’s technical expertise and Thepa’s business acumen became the foundation of PrintCheap’s success.
Standing Out in a Competitive Market
The printing industry is crowded, with countless providers offering similar services. For PrintCheap, the challenge was never about simply being another printer, it was about becoming a reliable partner to customers. Their strategy rests on two pillars: speed and customer services.
Q: In offering such a wide range of marketing materials, what strategies have helped you stand out from other printing service providers?
A: Speed is one of our biggest strengths. We take on urgent jobs and get them done quickly and efficiently, sometimes even faster than people expect. In fact, we’ve even surprised some industry players with how fast we can deliver, and at a price that still makes sense for our customers & us as a printer.
But its not just about fast delivery. PrintCheap has built its reputation on being transparent and solution-driven. They don’t just sell products, they consult, advise, and even connect clients with third-party solutions if needed. With more than 4000 customers 95% of them gained through online platforms, they rely heavily on digital communication and logistics partners like Lalamove to ensure same-day delivery.
By studying customer behaviour and consistency delivering beyond expectations, Thepa and Kaviraaj have positioned PrintCheap as a trusted name in the market.
Challenges Along the Way
No entrepreneurial journey is free of struggles, and PrintCheap has had its fair share. The printing industry is time-sensitive, and managing urgent orders without compromising quality requires exceptional discipline, skilled talent, and efficient processes.
Q: What challenges have you faced in managing and growing PrintCheap, especially in today’s competitive market?
A: One of the biggest challenges in this industry is how time-sensitive everything is. Most customers want their printing done fast. Sometimes within hours and we have to be ready to deliver without sacrificing quality. Managing skilled talent is another challenge because it takes experience to handle complex jobs under pressure. To overcome all this, we’ve invested in better processes, automation, and remote job monitoring to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently while still maintaining the quality we and our customers expect.
To tackle these challenges, they invested in automation, streamlined processes, and even remote monitoring systems. These steps not only improved efficiency but also gave them confidence to handle larger, more complex orders. The lesson here is clear: success comes not from avoiding challenges but from facing them with innovation and adaptability.
How TEKUN Nasional Helped PrintCheap Thrive
Every growing business needs support, and for PrintCheap, one of the biggest enablers was the TEKUN loan. Before securing the loan, they operated mostly as agents, outsourcing orders to third parties. With funding, they were able to take the next leap, investing in their own finishing machines, which transformed their operations.
Q: How has the TEKUN loan supported you in sustaining and expanding your printing business?
A: Tekun loan is real business life savior. We used to be printing agent whereby we take orders & outsource to third party companies or our printing partners. But, when we decided to start our print solution, Tekun has helped as stepping stone for us to be manufacturer. We didn’t buy printing machine. But we invested on finishing machines. We learned, unlearn & relearn about finishing machines. Finishing machines helps us to do post printing works like cutting, lamination, binding n so on. These machines are crucial when comes to printing. The second fund of TEKUN loan allowed us to upgrade key production equipment which enabled faster turnaround times and expanding our in house product range.
By mastering these machines and the post-printing processes that many overlook, they not only became more independent but also elevated the quality of their services.
Lessons and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
At its core, the story of PrintCheap is also a story of perseverance. The printing industry, though traditional, is constantly evolving. And during the COVID-19 lockdown, Thepa and Kaviraaj proved their adaptability by producing essential items like sanitizer labels, mask boxes, and even government aid labels-achieving 100% revenue growth compared to 2019.
The printing industry may be known as traditional business, but it is an ever evolving industry. Printing will go on until end of the world. During Covid lockdown on march 2020. Our business categorised as essential service provide. This is because, we used to print, mask boxes, sanitizer labels, gloves boxes, government’s Aids labels & many more. We used to work until 12pm at night daily. 2020 we made 100% revenue hike compared 2019.
Q: What message would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to venture into the printing or creative industry?
A: We would say, whoever has small idea venture into this field, learn the business from sales, consulting, & of course technology comes within it. Build trust with your customers, keep learning new skills and technology, and never compromise on quality. Don’t worry about starting small. Make sure to learn in depth about the process involved, products, machinery from industry experts or by any means you could. Keep learning, listen to your customers pain points, be consistent, and grow step by step. Consistency will surely set you apart.
Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: start small, learn deeply, stay consistent, and never stop listening to customers. They emphasize that building trust is more valuable than chasing quick wins. At the same time, they are preparing to launch the PrintCheap Associate Program—Malaysia’s first initiative inviting individuals to become printing partners, guided and mentored directly by Thepa and Kaviraaj.
“We would guide you from A-Z like sales, process order, technical aspects up to delivery. We would conduct workshop for this with proper guidance. This is going to be first in Malaysia & only serious individuals will be entertained. I really welcome & encourage whoever interested on this,” said Kaviraaj”
Looking Ahead: A Future of Growth and Innovation
For Thepa and Kaviraaj, this is just the beginning. Their story is proof that with passion, persistence, and the right support such as the financial assistance provided by TEKUN Nasional — dreams can indeed be turned into reality. PrintCheap continues to grow, not just as a printing business, but as a platform for innovation, mentorship, and community impact.
Their journey is one of inspiration, not only for those in the printing industry but for every aspiring entrepreneur who wonders if starting small can one day lead to something great.
All information and images has been provided by Mr.Kaviraaj and Ms. Thepa.
This is a Varnam Exclusive Feature! Any Reproduction Requires Credits To Varnam Malaysia.
This initiative is a joint collaboration between Varnam Malaysia, TEKUN Nasional and YB Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurs and Cooperatives Development.
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