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For Ideoli co-founders George and Chris, traveling the world is an important component of their jobs. It’s how they nurture relationships with partners and clients and stay connected, all while overseeing production runs and client installations. An added bonus: Experiencing different cultures never fails to get them inspired and invigorated by the places they visit and the people they meet. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is one of those places that have had a significant cultural impact on George and Chris.Centrally located in the Peninsular Malaysia, the city was founded in 1857 by 87 Chinese tin miners and became the state capital in 1880. Due to its rapid growth in industry and population, today, the city is a thriving metropolis. It is a melting pot of cultures and traditions; a perfect blend of old and new. Malays, Chinese and Indians are the three dominant ethnicities that make up the majority of the city’s population. Kuala Lumpur is a mix of modern and traditional architecture, including glass-and-concrete skyscrapers, ancient mosques, Chinese shop-houses (business on the ground floor; family’s living space above), huts and Malay stilt ‘kampungs’ or villages. The city’s commercial hub is known as the Golden Triangle and boasts two of the world’s tallest buildings: Petronas Twin Towers, designed by Argentine-American architect Cesar Pelli and Kuala Lumpur Tower, a broadcasting and telecommunications site. Kuala Lumpur is the center of the peninsula’s transportation system, with major roads, rail lines and international airport. To help offset the city’s problem with traffic congestion, a public transit system was developed in 1996. Popular tourist attractions include the National Art Gallery, the National Library of Malaysia, the National Theatre, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the more contemporary National Mosque and the old Sultan’s Mosque. National parks, a zoo and an aquarium, as well as a number of sports arenas, are all found in this flourishing city. Co-founders George and Chris were also happy to discover that finding delicious, ethnic food and drink in Kuala Lumpur is not very difficult. In fact, street food can be found on nearly every corner of the city. Here is their list of the top five things to eat and drink in Kuala Lumpur: 1. Nasi Lemak  Considered the national dish of Malaysia, this fragrant rice dish is also a favorite for breakfast. Its translation is ‘fatty rice.’ The rice is steamed and cooked in coconut milk and served with fried anchovies, sambal (spicy sauce), slices of cucumber, boiled egg and fried ground nuts. The whole thing is then wrapped in a banana leaf, which makes it perfect for an on-the-go meal. 2. Roti Canai Another breakfast favorite, this flatbread is twirled and then grilled. It’s usually served with curry and dhal for dipping; but this dish has many variations, including roti telur, which has an egg inside of it and aka roti pisang, which is made with bananas. 3. Brown Sugar Appam Appam is a fermented rice batter pancake. You can have it plain with just coconut milk but why would you when you could have brown sugar appam? In this dish, coconut milk and brown sugar are mixed into the appam batter, which is then swirled in the pan as it cooks. The result is fluffy edges with sides that are brittle. The best part is the brown sugar is purposely left in chunks so a burst of sweetness melts in your mouth with every bite. 4. Rendang This dish is a favorite of Malaysians and people around the world; it was voted by readers of CNN International as the number-one dish in World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods. The most popular version of this spicy, slow-cooked dish has beef as its main ingredient although chicken and mutton are also popular. Often served during religious festivals. 5. Teh Tarik Made of black tea, sugar and condensed milk, Malaysia’s national drink is a favorite during breakfast and supper, but people will drink it at any time during the day. Created by Indian Muslim immigrants, Teh Tarik means ‘pulled tea,’ which refers to the process of pouring the mixture back and forth between two pitchers. This produces a thick, rich, foamy drink. The iced version is known as ‘teh ais,’ which simply means iced tea. As they continue to visit cities and countries such as Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, George and Chris are continually inspired and invigorated by the people they meet and the unique cuisines and cultures they get to discover. Connecting with Ideoli’s partners and clients offers them unlimited opportunities to strengthen and build relationships.

At Ideoli, we believe in the importance of going above and beyond for our clients. Company co-founders George and Chris never fail to go that extra mile when it comes to ensuring our clients have what they need – even if it means crisscrossing the world numerous times within a couple of months. Let us explain. We had just recently completed a very intense round of manufacturing for a number of high-profile clients. Since they all needed quality fixture, lighting and furnishing products before the onset of the holiday season, we were going to have to figure out how to manage multiple production runs, across multiple factories, in multiple countries. Oh, and did we mention this all had to happen at the same time? Sounds impossible—but not for Ideoli. George and Chris stepped up to the challenge of overseeing the production of these very large orders. For a period of two months, these guys took turns hopping on a plane and flying off to Asia every week. Yes, that’s correct. Every week one of them headed to Asia to work with the team at a production facility. Of course, Ideoli has a team of skilled professionals and a solid manufacturing foundation but the Ideoli co-founders wanted to personally make sure every detail was carried out, every specification was met, and every product perfectly packed for shipping to clients’ locations across the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Was it hectic? Yes. But George and Chris are the first to admit it was well worth it. Not only were they able to meet the intense deadlines of their clients and distribution partners, they got some pretty impressive air miles and quality foot massages for their efforts, too. Doing what it takes to keep clients and distribution partners satisfied and our company growing is one more way Ideoli goes above and beyond. 

This is one of our biggest (and most exciting) projects, and it’s happening in the heart of the greatest city in the world– New York. Twelve months ago, Ideoli signed on to be a part of a huge construction project in New York City: helping to create the new American Girl flagship store at 75 Rockefeller Plaza. We are beyond proud to have been an instrumental part of a project of this magnitude in the greatest city in the world, which also happens to be where Ideoli was founded.  Since 1986, the American Girl brand has been charming girls of all ages (and their moms) with its customized dolls, accessories, books, and more. Its retail stores are just as iconic, letting girls explore all the brand’s most popular items, from the historical and contemporary dolls and award-winning books to on-site restaurants and doll salons. The brand-new, state-of-the art store in New York City offers shoppers even more, including the AG Signature Studio, where girls can choose their own doll-sized and girl-sized fashions and accessories; private party rooms; a salon just for girls; a media studio and much, much more. From the very beginning, American Girl sought out the best manufacturers, designers and architects to help them make their vision a reality. Engaged by the company’s distribution partner and architect, Ideoli has been involved every step of the way, from early design conception to precise renderings and final installation of a beautiful piece that adds to the magic of the 40,000-square-foot, two-level building that boasts high ceilings and a modern, open look. Working hand in hand with designers, engineers and architects, Ideoli and its partners labored nonstop and are proud of all they have helped to accomplish. Through innovative collaboration and unparalleled teamwork, Ideoli provided the resources, strategies and skills that were needed to ensure the new building was completed in a timely manner that exceeded everyone’s expectations. Now completed, the new American Girl flagship store is a magnificent sight at 75 Rockefeller Plaza that is sure to take the breath away from all who enter it. But don’t just take our word for it. The next time you’re in New York, head over to the landmark location, look up, and prepare to be ‘wowed.’ Tell them Ideoli sent you. Making a vision a reality. It’s what Ideoli is all about!