Page 75 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES December 2019

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
opened about 30-32 stores. It is leadership strategy for
a very successful brand and can Bangladesh?
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 India where retail is very
something wholeheartedly. dynamic. Dubai is primarily
Can you please share thriving on the service industry,
therefore, their service is strong.
about the challenges you
face as the CEO ? On the other hand, Bangladesh
is primarily a manufacturing
I don't believe there is any and agricultural country. Service
person on the planet who is industry is at a very primary the local market. What
without challenges. Without it, stage right now. I am sure it will has prompted you to focus
industry that interests you. If life is depressing. Here, we deal develop just as its international on the local market?
you don't have passion for with hundreds of challenges counterparts but it will take
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
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
aesthetics. The customer into a store, you must when we came out of college, complacent. The moment you them because the owners of the invested in new facilities.We
makes their purchase ensure that the atmosphere retail was the future. So, start believing that you are the company had other priorities. I have just put a 6 floor building.
decisions depending on the is welcoming, the displayed pursuing this field has brought best, you commence your own realised that I have to take Our Chairman Syed Manzur
face value. The products are clean and the me a lot of success, it might not demise. For example, successful things slowly and revise the Elahi and Managing Director
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
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
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
impression you make. What qualities do you yourself. Some people come to failed to evolve. Conversely, of Almighty, we have seen a adamant about ensuring the
It is also continuously believe are necessary retail for temporary financial nobody knew China a few robust growth for the last six 12,000 workers in both our
evolving. A couple of to be successful in this benefits but if you want a career decades ago but they have years. factories are being looked after
decades back, people used sector? here, you have to be very managed to establish themselves properly. He makes sure that
to get acquainted with I believe some basic focused. So, if you choose a path, as the power house because they Bangladesh is set to they are fed properly and paid
brands through a visit and qualities are necessary to you have to give 110% effort to have been able to evolve emerge as the next on time. Not only the workers
media. Now social media be successful in life become successful. Like I always according to the demand. manufacturing hub for but their families are dependant
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 on us, Apex is well aware of that
become the primary for begins with choosing the wants a specific feature on a industry. Besides low-cost increase our productivity. Bangladesh will become very responsibility.
communication with How was your experience mobile phone, as a phone labour, what are the China’s labour force is much strong. Honourable Prime What is your vision as
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$
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 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 long way to
what are the aspects perceptually, it is how you 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 not the
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 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 organization
at the hands of Japanese car
our exports through the port.
appealing? buying at best possible or concept. It is a charity where competitive labour force and We have to change the system successful. So, people will come
environment. Retail is not all the proceeds go for makers. women workers. At our which promotes low Often, shipments are delayed and go, but if there is a proper
I've been in this industry for just about selling a product, humanitarian work. You should always consider productivity. As more and more by weeks due to logistical process in place, the business
quite a while now. It has it's also about selling an 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 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 250
a country. China has managed to
Over the years, I have experience, nobody's going manufacturing company, and grow accordingly. The productivity. This will have a government can solve this stores, 222 franchises and 189
worked at every stage of the to buy your product. 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 remarkable
economic powers in the world
ladder to reach here. Retail Customers will always have 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 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 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 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 do
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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