By Umer Nangiana

 

 

Name: Ummer Vayalpeedika

Nationality: Indian

Shop location: Electronics and Watches Shop, inside street, Souq Waqif

 

What do you sell?

I have general items including perfumes, watches, garments, hand bags, and some jewellery. I also stock some seasonal items, especially for winters. These include warm clothes, jackets and socks.

 

Where do you source your goods from?

We get them from within Qatar, but they come from Dubai. Different items are made in different countries like Korea, China, India and other countries. So they land first in Dubai, from where the traders purchase them and bring them here for us. 

 

Who are your customers?

I get a lot of customers from different countries in GCC, Europe and Asia, from countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and others. However, the majority of my customers are Arabs.

Arab and European customers are really good. They do not bargain much so I also give them good price. The business is really good these days. It usually stays on the peak during winters.

 

What is your shop’s specialty? 

I think the perfumes that I have here are special. I have many international brands that I am selling here besides the Arabic perfumes. We also buy these Arabic perfumes locally. The majority of such perfumes come from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France.

 

How do you set your shop apart from others?

I think we give best price to our customers and this is why they come to us again and again. I do not make them bargain a lot and always give them a good price and sell my goods at a very affordable price. I think this is something that makes my shop special.

 

What problems do you face running this shop?

No, in Souq Waqif we do not have any problems. I do not face any problems at all. The work environment and the business here is very good. 

 

What kind of customers do you find irritating?

A shopkeeper likes all of his customers. I like them all. No customer is ever irritating. I have yet to get a customer who would irritate me. They mostly enter the shop only when they have to genuinely buy something, otherwise they would simply move on from outside.

 

What is the best thing about Souq Waqif?

I have been here for 8 years now. A lot has changed in Souq Waqif during this time. I like its new look, the design and the traditional style of its architecture. Old Souq Waqif was also good but this one is even better. I like it more when there are festivals and other such functions happening here. I get more customers then.

If it wasn’t for this job, what would you have been doing?

I love this job and the business here is really good. I have never thought about doing any other job. This is just perfect. If not in this place or business, I would be in some other place doing some other business but it has always been business.