What does it take for a local business to earn global recognition? For us at mc.2, it began with a question about the homes around us: How can we create a zip blind that is truly meant for Singapore?
Our founder, Wilson Chew, started mc.2 in 2004 as a small electronics retailer at Funan Centre. For around 13 years, we sold electronic products and accessories. Then competition from larger brands and the growth of ecommerce changed the market. We had to ask ourselves where we could make a more meaningful difference.
Finding a problem worth solving
Land is scarce in Singapore. Many of us live in high rise homes, where a balcony can be a valuable part of everyday living. Yet heat, monsoon rain and persistent humidity often leave that space underused.
We saw an opportunity to help homeowners enjoy their balconies more often. That meant thinking beyond whether a blind could simply roll up and down. It had to work for local weather, suit the way Singapore balconies are built and look good in a space homeowners see every day.
The shift from selling electronics to developing window solutions was a substantial change for a small business. We invested in local research, manufacturing and installation capabilities, then kept learning from what homeowners needed. Progress came through years of work and a willingness to change course when the market demanded it.
From ALTEX SecureZIP to MAGNAZip+
ALTEX SecureZIP was an early milestone: an outdoor zip blind system researched and manufactured locally for Singapore homes. It established a foundation for our own product development, supported by our manufacturing and installation teams.
Our commitment to improving did not stop there. As we gained experience with Singapore balconies and listened to homeowners, we continued developing our approach through MAGNAZip. We paid particular attention to a concern that becomes obvious on wide, visible balcony blinds: the appearance of creases in the fabric.
MAGNAZip+ is the latest result of that work. Its patent pending magnetic anti crease technology is designed to reduce visible creases and help the fabric appear more even. Backed by an eight year warranty, the system was engineered for tropical conditions and the needs of Singapore’s high rise homes.
From ALTEX SecureZIP to MAGNAZip and now MAGNAZip+, the names have changed, but the guiding question has remained: What would make this better for the people who use it here?
Letting homeowners experience the difference
Developing a product was only part of the answer. Homeowners also needed a way to see and feel their options before making a decision. In 2018, we opened a 4,200 square foot smart blinds and curtains fashion gallery in Ubi, giving visitors a chance to experience the solutions in person.
When the pandemic disrupted retail, we adapted again with ecommerce and virtual consultations. The way we met homeowners changed, but our focus on understanding their needs continued.
A local idea recognised globally
In 2026, mc.2 announced its acquisition by Hunter Douglas, a global leader in window coverings with operations in more than 100 countries. For a company that began in a small Funan retail unit, joining a longstanding strategic partner on the global stage was a defining moment.
MAGNAZip+ is an important part of our innovation story. But the acquisition reflects the wider business we built: consumer led product development, proprietary research and development, and service that extends from consultation and manufacturing to installation. It is recognition of a model shaped by real needs in Singapore, with relevance beyond our shores.
With Hunter Douglas’s global expertise behind us, we have an opportunity to keep raising the standard of window furnishings in Singapore while continuing the work that brought us here.
What our journey means for Singapore SMEs
Small businesses do not need to start with a global idea. They can start by noticing a problem that the people around them face every day.
For us, it was the underused balcony in a high rise home. We had to leave a familiar retail business, invest in a different capability, learn from homeowners and keep improving. Our knowledge of local living conditions became one of our greatest strengths.
To other Singapore SMEs, our story offers a simple reminder: being small does not limit the value of your ideas. Listen closely, solve a real problem and be willing to reinvent your business as you learn. A solution built for a local need can eventually matter far beyond Singapore.
Our journey began with electronics at Funan. It continues today with MAGNAZip+ and a renewed commitment to make Singapore homes more comfortable, one balcony at a time.
