Mazayen | 2014
Born with talent and individuality in her genes, Nadia Al Shamsi grew up with a passion for arts. Despite majoring in business management where she earned her bachelor degree at Sultan Qaboos University, Nadia has always been passionate about arts and design. In 2009 she decided to venture into the arts world fulltime, proving that she has the talent and a willingness to grow and learn.
Nadia started with designing accessories, then shifted to authentic jewellery following a course she completed in silversmithing. Her tender taste allowed her to discover the treasure of beauty in traditional silver jewelleries. However, she realised that this old design might not appeal to modern girls. Like any other small business, she started at home. Her first brand name followed the typical Omani style, using her own name as the company’s name: Nadia Al Shamsi Enterprise. She was encouraged to persue her dream by her family and friends, and inspired by His Majesty’s call to the public and private sector organisations to support SMEs.
Nadia has a unique taste for the beauty of Omani culture and heritage, realising that it is a rich resource that can never get drained. Her love and pride of the rich cultural heritage was the source of her inspiration, and she was slowly moving towards it. Her home- based business did not grow much though, despite being named “the best home-based business by an Omani woman”, an award that was presented to Nadia by the Al-Roya Al-Iktisadiya Newspaper. Her business did not leave home and her costumer base was limited to relatives and friends. Even the brand name, Nadia Al Shamsi Enterprises, was lost in the crowd of similar names leading her to take the extra step and contact Zubair SEC.
The team of consultants at Zubair SEC quickly saw the great potential that Nadia’s business would have if she complemented her talent and creativity with the business management skills and marketing needed to make her business a real success. The first step towards this transformation was her brand name. Zubair SEC advised Nadia that the brand name should be unique, and that this project needs a brand name that reflects the nature of the business and presents it in the most relevant way, while distinguishing it from the rest in the market. Hence, ‘Mazayen’ was created to showcase the beauty of the products and to reflect the originality and the rich heritage by which Nadia is inspired by. Her business has since leaped from strength to strength, while receiving close and ongoing support from the team at Zubair SEC. Nadia has also evolved her technical skills, and was supported by the Centre to complete a diploma course in the United Kingdom, with a focus on jewellery design. In fact, she came back with a special diploma in design with a distinctive grade.
She says: “As a result of my devotion and commitment, I earned membership in the Direct Support Programme of the Centre for 2014 and that has turned to be of great value to me and my business ever since. ‘Mazayen’ today is an independent brand that proudly and with all confidence achieves continued success. I participated in the ‘Wonders of the Orient’ exhibition in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and it was a great success. I also showcased my products at the ‘Creative Jewellery’ exhibition in London, United Kingdom, and received very positive feedback.”
Nadia today has a rapidly growing customer base, and she also runs training courses to teach others the principles of jewellery design. Nadia has passed the tough stage and is now emerging towards greater success while proudly engraving her name in the list of successful and aspiring Omani women entrepreneurs.