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02-Oct-2006

FROM FP'S DESK

Readers, we are happy to bring to your knowledge that the inclusion of the Women Achiever's page has had a very positive response. Choosing from the wide selection of women who have strived and achieved to make a name for themselves and their businesses in our country is indeed a difficult task. We have so many women achievers who are playing an imperative role in whatever field they are associated with. If we have over looked up till now certain areas and industry, please do inform us or write to the Editor Financial Post to identify the women achiever you have in mind. Let we re-emphasis here that basically a women is a achiever. The transition of a young girl to a teenager, than to a wife and finally as a mother is a process of growing and a priceless contribution to society. The savegry of the ancient Arab pagon - Gods during the pre-Islam era of burying their newly born daughters alive was a tradition and custom which was not only reprehensible, but also managed to leave behind traces of hate, aggression and a vicious mind set of the men of that era. Unfortunately, many of those vicious feelings were passed on to men through different ages in time. But we are sure that many men are ardent supporters of their wifes, sisters and daughters who have stepped out of their homes to not only supplement the family's income but to also tread into areas which previously were limited only to a man.
Today we talk to a lady who is a successful business woman along with being a wife, mother and a grand-mother. She is Neelofer Saeed the successful entrepreneur and owner of Copper Kettle Restaurants and Hobnob bakeries. She is very actively involved in the supervision and running of these outlets. She takes great pride in her work and is a believer that good and charitable deeds and work must be an integral part of people living in any society. She is actively involved like many other volunteer women workers in organizing fund-raising activities for The Citizen Foundation. An organization, which is effectively helping to alleviate poverty by making the most important sector of education and enlightenment accessible to a wide and broad range of people.
We hope that the holy month of Ramazan brings out the best qualities in all of us.…………. Love, compassion generosity and giving to the needy and deserving amongst us.

Allah Hafiz

Nilofer .............. An entrepreneur at work

 

Neelofer Saeed was exposed as a young girl to the Hospitality Catering Industry. Her late father Brig. Aslam Khan had opened the Shangrila Resort in Skardu in 1980. Thirteen years later Neelofer opened the famous Copper Kettle in Lahore, and soon after a branch was opened in Karachi. She later went on to open a chain of Hobnob Bakeries with her brother. Neelofer Saeed talks to the Financial Post.

FP: Let me start with what gave you the idea of opening a restaurant like Copper Kettle and how was it different from other eateries back in 1993.

NS: I am the mother of twin daughters and when they were growing up there was no such place where our children could "hang out" without the parents being nervous as to their whereabouts. Parents felt apprehensive about the security of their young children. By that time my brother was successfully running a restaurant by the name of Copper Kettle. That is when we thought of opening a branch in Karachi. And from that day onwards we have not looked back. The youngsters of Karachi took over and it became one of the most popular place for teenagers to get together. Parents felt safe and comfortable dropping their kids off at Copper Kettle. Over the years we realized that only catering to the younger lot, we would be unable to expand and to cater to others so we brought changes in the menu and today Copper Kettle is a family restaurant where people of all ages can be seen and we have a mixture of the old and the young.

FP: Was your family, your husband supportive of your business venture and did your family help you in setting it up? Has your family ever complained that you have neglected them?
NS: My husband is a P.I.A. pilot and the nature of his job keeps him travelling most of the time. My daughters had just finished their graduation and I had ample time on my hand. My family often visits the restaurant and my husband is my biggest critic! The routine of running the chain of Copper Kettle and many branches of Hobnob Bakery has become so much of a part and parcel of my daily schedule that I actually love and enjoy working. I am now concentrating on the Hobnob Bakeries and managing them by spending my time going to and fro between the seven different branches.

My family does not complain as I have always been there for my daughters, and now two grand children as well. For them I am always available . I do feel however that a working woman's house does get affected. I used to keep a very spotless and clean house but now that is not the case now so compromises have to be made in certain areas. However, one must be able to give priority to one's commitments.

FP: From Karachi you have expanded to Lahore. You have also branched out to the Hobnob. In such a short period, what is the secret of your business growth? Did you face problems in financing, management etc, or was it smooth sailing all the way through? How many branches of Hobnob.

NS: We did not actually face a financing problem when we opened Hobnob's first outlet in Lahore, which is known as Hobnob Café. Our initial investment in Hobnob's was not a financial burden. We opened the outlets one by one. My nephew runs the Lahore outlet and is doing a great job, it is today a famous get together place of university and college students.

We have one Hobnob in Lahore and seven branches in Karachi today. I feel since the outlets are all under the family business we have managed to maintain the standard and quality of the chain of outlets.

FP: If I were to ask you the single most important factor for your success in business?

NS: Firstly, God's blessings, good intentions and clean thinking. Competition does not and should not mean harming others in the process of furthering one's own business. It does not entail a cut-throat policy, connivance and aggression to harm others. I have helped everyone who has come to me for tips, for opening a new restaurant. I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time.

FP: Tell me what made you get involved with Citizens Foundation?

NS: I am co-chairperson of the supporters of Citizens Foundation. We help raise funds for schools which are operating all over Pakistan. The first presentation I attended of the foundation by Mr. Mushtaq Chappra who is one of the founding members I was totally amazed to see the excellent work being done by the group of dedicated persons for the awareness and setting up of schools for our street children. For children whose families cannot afford a meal twice a day leave alone schooling. I was immediately sold to the idea and would want to continue helping the Citizens Foundation in the days to come.

I have always been a believer of the fact that one must pay back to the society one lives in. We have successfully organized many fund raisings in Karachi and we have many International Chapters abroad.

FP: Coming back to the business side, with you being involved in so many activities, the systems and procedures for your business must have been developed to near perfection. Tell were you lucky in finding the right management people or did you have to train them over a period of time?

NS: Yes, I was lucky as my family already was running Shangrila Resort, and most of my workers were boys from that area. I knew their families, their homes, and they are polite and soft spoken people. We of course had to go through the process of learning through trial and error. Also, I must mention that people from this area up north are used to taking orders from women and they are clean-thinking individuals. This primarily is because in their villages the women work and the men stay at home.

FP: Copper Kettle started as a family business but I don't think the second generation of your family is involved in it. Are there any plans for franchising Copper Kettle in the future. In any case, what are the long term plans for continuity of the business?

NS: We have thought of franchising-we have had many offers over the years. At the moment we take a lot of pride in our business and enjoy creating good results. However, franchising is in the books.

The second generation like my children are not interested. A daughter is a doctor and the other one is a housewife with children. My nephew however is looking after the business in Lahore and is involved.

FP: Tell us about your future business plans. Are you planing any new food chains, or planning consolidating the growth, or further expansion of CK and Hobnob? I would like you to share your thoughts with our readers. Also any advice to young entrepreneurs about how to start a business?

NS: Karachi has room for at least another ten bakeries of Hobnob and one or two more Copper Kettle outlets. My advice to young entrepreneurs is to work hard, diligently and honestly. Sometimes extra effort and hard work is required, so do not shy away, and if one has set his or her mind to start any business-be prepared to have sleepless nights!