Biladi Mart Wholesale Supermarket | 2016
Nasir Said Al Hajri is from the Wilayat of Bidiyah in North A›Sharqiyah Governorate. He is a partner in the business “Modern Nature World” which specializes in the sale of nuts, coffee beans, sweets and spices. He saw the Direct Support Programme as a golden opportunity to develop his business which is considered a small-sized enterprise. Therefore, he registered for membership at Zubair SEC. Al Hajri is an avid follower of the Centre’s news and updates and he is very impressed by its efforts in encouraging small enterprises to grow and develop.
Commenting on the association with the Centre, Nasir notes: “Zubair SEC is one of the most popular bodies that ambitious small enterprises head to. The Centre works in a very unique way to make small businesses stable and strong, while providing them with the foundations and pillars for sustainability and growth. The Zubair SEC team works alongside the small business owner through every phase of growth and provides expert consultancy and mentorship to members to help manage and market the business in the best way possible. In addition, each year, the Centre chooses a group of ten members who are keen to develop their business, and who have demonstrated their professionalism and commitment; chosen members become accepted into the Zubair SEC’s flagship Direct Support Programme.”
In 2015, Zubair SEC announced a seat in the Direct Support Programme to be adopted by a leading company in the Sultanate. This is in line with The Zubair Corporation’s strategy towards enhancing the role of large corporates in collaboration with small enterprises to develop their mutual business hand in hand. The first initiative was adopted by Oasis Logistics which is specialized in the wholesale arena.
This announcement was the biggest encouragement for Nasir Al Hajri to join Zubair SEC. He did not wait long because he knows the value of time and how important it is to take advantage of the opportunity given specifically to small enterprises; therefore, he applied for membership at Zubair SEC in 2015. Nasir had worked in trading for several years, and although experienced, he knew he needed expert guidance and advice as much as he needs financial support in order to grow his business. His determination and will to succeed impressed the supervisors of the Direct Support Programme and after careful evaluation, they worked to partner Nasir with “Oasis Logistics”. This was the starting point for “Biladi Mart” business in Wilayat Bidiyah, which was launched in 18 July 2016 under the auspices of Hani Muhammad Al Zubair, Director, The Zubair Corporation & Chairman, Zubair Automotive Group.
With the opening of the new business, Nasir Al Hajri’s dream came true. He says, “As soon as it was announced that our enterprise was accepted into the Direct Support Programme, and to partner with “Oasis Logistics”, the Zubair SEC team started working on preparing the supermarket’s design, identity, brand, business plan, all the logistics related to its financial and commercial management affairs, and daily operations management in cooperation with Oasis Logistics. It was a great opportunity for Modern Nature World Company to manage the first “Biladi Mart” supermarket in cooperation with Zubair SEC and Oasis Logistics”.
“We really benefitted from the financial assistance to help fund the setup, in addition to other assistance received from Oasis Logistics, who were helpful in the preparation and fit- out of the new supermarket. More importantly, and apart from the financial support, we received expert consultancy and mentorship from Zubair SEC and Oasis Logistics, including technical, marketing, and logistical support before, during, and after the opening. That support is still provided today by the advisors and staff at Zubair SEC”, Nasir added.
Nasir notes that the business is constantly adding to the range of products on sale and is attracting new customers every day. However, as with any new enterprise, there are challenges and obstacles on the path to success. Nasir commends the efforts of Zubair SEC for providing complete support for entrepreneurs and small enterprises, which he relates to as a great experience.
He notes that Zubair SEC is a model other leading companies should look to when supporting the rapidly growing SME sector and helping to grow the national economy in Oman. Commenting on his experience, Nasir notes, “Zubair SEC has directly contributed to the growth of entrepreneurship in Oman, helping to establish and grow small businesses that create new job opportunities. The Centre is the door to the world of business, because through it, entrepreneurs can achieve their goals supported by expert consultancy, guidance, training and financial support, which makes them capable and ready to face any challenge. Oasis Logistics is also a great example for partnership and cooperation between leading enterprises and start-ups. We thank them all and really appreciate their efforts.”