Meshan Global | 2014
Wafa, Shatha, Ahed and Waed Al Jabri are four Omani sisters who decided to launch a business in providing exquisitely hand-crafted date-based sweets innovatively presented and celebrated with traditional flavours. So began ‘Meshan’, a smart new enterprise which is taking the art and science of making sweets to an entirely new level, using only Omani dates. In spite of their academic achievements and secure jobs at the time, the four sisters shared a burning desire to join the growing number of young Omanis who are charting their own path to success by starting and managing their own business.
As you talk to them, you quickly spot their determination and drive to challenge the impossible. The sisters desire to start their own enterprise was only the beginning. The idea existed, but only on paper, and they lacked the practical experience of how to start and manage their new business. So they started at the very beginning, with Wafaa and Shatha joining a training course in preparing sweets and chocolate. Furthering their skills at home, they increasingly started to experiment with greater volumes and different types of date-based sweets, using their own creativity to come up with new variations and flavours, giving each batch a distinctive packaging.
However, for ‘Meshan’, the challenges of running a business emerged early, including limited administrative and marketing experience, slow production abilities, as well as a lack of sufficient capital in order to be able to quickly grow their business and hire additional staff. During this time, the sisters heard about Zubair SEC and the services offered for aspiring young entrepreneurs. They knew this was just what they needed.
Commenting on their experience with Zubair SEC, Wafaa recalls, “We felt that we had reached the right place. The objectives of the Centre were clear and the team understood our needs accurately. During the following months, the Centre offered ‘Meshan’ much needed technical and advisory support and guidance, as well as the financial support that helped a lot.”
After the four sisters were selected to join Zubair SEC Direct Support Programme, they placed themselves on the path to success, equipping themselves with the skills every entrepreneur needs in order to achieve their goals and objectives. They understood better their points of strengths to capitalize on and the weaknesses they need to overcome and grow from.
However, for ‘Meshan’, the challenges of running a business emerged early, including limited administrative and marketing experience, slow production abilities, as well as a lack of sufficient capital in order to be able to quickly grow their business and hire additional staff. During this time, the sisters heard about Zubair SEC and the services offered for aspiring young entrepreneurs. They knew this was just what they needed.
Commenting on their experience with Zubair SEC, Wafaa recalls, “We felt that we had reached the right place. The objectives of the Centre were clear and the team understood our needs accurately. During the following months, the Centre offered ‘Meshan’ much needed technical and advisory support and guidance, as well as the financial support that helped a lot.”
After the four sisters were selected to join Zubair SEC Direct Support Programme, they placed themselves on the path to success, equipping themselves with the skills every entrepreneur needs in order to achieve their goals and objectives. They understood better their points of strengths to capitalize on and the weaknesses they need to overcome and grow from.