Page 74 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES December 2019

Footwear Industry

up the business for them. For
two years, I worked very closely Did you have to make any
with Salman (Khan) and we changes in your
leadership strategy for
Stepping a very successful brand and can Bangladesh?
opened about 30-32 stores. It is
be more successful if done
Yes! a lot actually (laugh). I
properly. Just like I said, you
have previously worked in
can't have a half-pie, to be
places like the Middle East and
successful you have to do
Ahead something wholeheartedly. India where retail is very
dynamic. Dubai is primarily
thriving on the service industry,
Can you please share
therefore, their service is strong.
about the challenges you
On the other hand, Bangladesh
face as the CEO ?
I don't believe there is any is primarily a manufacturing
and agricultural country. Service
person on the planet who is industry is at a very primary the local market. What
Rajan Pillai industry that interests you. If without challenges. Without it, stage right now. I am sure it will has prompted you to focus
develop just as its international
life is depressing. Here, we deal
CEO, Apex Footwear Limited you don't have passion for with hundreds of challenges counterparts but it will take on the local market?
something, most likely you will every hour. Retail is a sector some time. When I joined here in Our local business is very
fail to make any impression which is continually evolving Bangladesh, I had numerous strong, and it will keep
In a conversation extremely dependant on the When a consumer walks there. Consequently, for example, and there is no room to get ideas but could not implement expanding, that's why we have
invested in new facilities.We
with Asif Tarafdar, aesthetics. The customer into a store, you must when we came out of college, complacent. The moment you them because the owners of the have just put a 6 floor buildi
the CEO of Apex makes their purchase ensure that the atmosphere retail was the future. So, start believing that you are the company had other priorities. I Our Chairman Syed Manzur
best, you commence your own
pursuing this field has brought
Footwear Limited, decisions depending on the is welcoming, the displayed me a lot of success, it might not demise. For example, successful realised that I have to take Elahi and Managing Director
things slowly and revise the
products are clean and the
face value. The
Rajan Pillai phenomenon is analogous staff are accommodating of be the same for someone else. European brands like JCPenney basics. Our first Programme was Syed Nasim Manzur are very
explicates on the to the film industry where a customers every inquiry. Therefore, success depends on and Marks & Spencer are at the “Back to Basics”. So, I started focused on their goals in
importance of lot depends on the the goal you have set for edge of extinction because they with the basics and by the grace Bangladesh. My chairman is
adamant about ensuring the
innovation in impression you make. What qualities do you yourself. Some people come to failed to evolve. Conversely, of Almighty, we have seen a 12,000 workers in both our
business, the It is also continuously believe are necessary retail for temporary financial nobody knew China a few robust growth for the last six factories are being looked aft
to be successful in this
benefits but if you want a career
years.
decades ago but they have
importance of a evolving. A couple of sector? here, you have to be very managed to establish themselves properly. He makes sure that
decades back, people used
strong female to get acquainted with focused. So, if you choose a path, as the power house because they Bangladesh is set to they are fed properly and paid
workforce and brands through a visit and I believe some basic you have to give 110% effort to have been able to evolve emerge as the next on time. Not only the workers
qualities are necessary to
what it takes to media. Now social media be successful in life become successful. Like I always according to the demand. manufacturing hub for but their families are dependa
on us, Apex is well aware of t
excel in the retail and word of mouth have irrespective of the sector. It say, there is no short-cut in life! For example, if a consumer the global footwear responsibility.
industry. become the primary for begins with choosing the How was your experience wants a specific feature on a industry. Besides low-cost increase our productivity. Bangladesh will become very
labour, what are the
mobile phone, as a phone
strong. Honourable Prime
communication with
China’s labour force is much
consumers, nothing stays of working for Being company, you will not be able to aspects of the industry we more productive and capable of Minister has set a target of 5$ What is your vision a
hidden from the eyes of the Human? survive without providing that should focus, to ensure delivering output a times billion export but I believe it CEO of Apex Footwear?
consumers. I worked with being human for feature. One of the reasons robust growth? higher ultimately compensating will surpass that. We haven't even started yet!
From your experience, So, when I look at retail More female two years. I started the brand in companies like GM and Ford Bangladesh’s economy is for the higher wages. Therefore, There are some hurdles that are (laugh). There is a
what are the aspects perceptually, it is how you workers India. Initially, Salman Khan had have been bankrupt because they sprinting. The primary reason we (Bangladesh) are lacking in required to be passed before go, as I stated, it is n
thought themselves as the best,
that,logistics is one of them. It
of the retail industry ensure that the customers a brand name called “Being behind the keen interest from productivity but the workers people rather the process that
that you find are given the comfort of contribute higher Human”, it did not have a story until they suffered heavy defeat investors is the availability of are not to be blamed for that. takes a lot of time to process will make the organiza
at the hands of Japanese car
our exports through the port.
appealing? buying at best possible productivity of a or concept. It is a charity where competitive labour force and We have to change the system successful. So, people will co
environment. Retail is not country. China all the proceeds go for makers. women workers. At our which promotes low Often, shipments are delayed and go, but if there is a pr
I've been in this industry for just about selling a product, has managed to humanitarian work. You should always consider productivity. As more and more by weeks due to logistical process in place, the busi
quite a while now. It has it's also about selling an retain as one of Concurrently, we were yourself a student which will factories, almost 70% of workers foreign companies come to complications, but clients are will continue to grow
are female. More female workers
been almost 25 years after experience. Therefore, if approached by an Indian help you to grow. You have to set Bangladesh, they are bringing going to penalise us successfully.
starting as a salesman. you're not able to sell an the strongest diversified textile and apparel your sights for the next stage contribute higher productivity of new techniques to increase nonetheless. I really hope the We currently have about 25
a country. China has managed to
Over the years, I have experience, nobody's going economic powers manufacturing company, and grow accordingly. The productivity. This will have a government can solve this stores, 222 franchises and
worked at every stage of the to buy your product. in the world Mandhana Industries who moment you begin to think that retain as one of the strongest positive effect on the overall issue. distributors. It is a remarkab
economic powers in the world
ladder to reach here. Retail Customers will always have because of the offered to avail the license to you are at the top,it's easy to productivity of Bangladesh, achievement which has been
is a uniquely dynamic alternative choices, you availability of a produce apparel for the brand. fall. So, I always tell my team because of the availability of a concurrently it will become Apex Footwear has now made possible by the hard work
large female workforce.
industry. It might not be have to differentiate large female Being purely an operations guy, I that we are at the bottom of the more competitive. I am decided to invest Tk100 done by our chairman. With his
apparent to many, but the yourself by providing workforce. was part of the team and we set pyramid and there is a lot to be Secondly, besides ensuring confident that in the next five crore more for building a vision, I am sure we will
competitive labour, we can
sector is very glamorous, unique retail experience. achieved. years, footwear industry of new factory to carter to much better in future.
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