Is this the first company that you have started, and what drove you towards it?
Since I was kid, it was one of my habits to look at beautiful faces and watch drawing made by talented hairdresser in my village, I was looking seriously to become famous hairdresser and get over the only challenge I thought about " help the ugly women to become more beautiful" .
As soon as I finished my study in the secondary school, I started looking for help to get training and follow my hoppy.
How did you finance your start-up operations and how long did it/will it take for the company to become self-sustainable?.
My father was very supportive, he granted me money to buy the main equipments needed for start up. Day after day I had got a good reputation in the area, that why I was in need for more space in my work place. Therefore I had the facility from the Village Business Incubator to get loan from the Fund for Integrated Rural Development Of Syria "Firdos". I utilized this money to rent new place, and bought high quality cosmetics.
To be self sustainable I should repay the loan, then I should have my own workplace. I think this process will take about three years.
What are your major services and how are they unique in your business sector? What is your competition?
The ladies in my village and the surrounded area seeking my services to get haircutting, dyeing, blow-drying and styling make-up to assure a beautiful appearance in the wedding parties or another occasions. This kind of services is high demanded by the women due to the importance of the external appearance for every lady to be more self confident.
How did you first launch your services?
I started inviting my friends, relatives and neighbors to get my services for free for the first time, The well done job was the key for my reputation as a starter, day by day the ladies got more confident with my job.
How do you measure the success of the company?
The increased number of the ladies who are seeking my services is the main indicator that my business is going forward, I'm looking to enlarge my business and employ more people to help me.
What was the biggest challenge in starting an innovative business in your country and how did you overcome that?
The biggest challenge In starting my business was that the people prefer the hairdresser's services who are working in the city, because they think that the hairdresser in the village is not updated with the latest fashion trends, nonetheless, I convinced the people that I can do the best models which is modern and fashionable.
How have you benefited from business incubation?
I was actually quite lucky to come across the possibility of incubating my business at at the Village Business Incubator VBI, where I had got the managerial and technical training, then they gave me the facilitation to apply for loan from the Fund for Integrated Rural Development of Syria (FIRDOS), in addition to business plan and visibility study which compiled by the consultation department in the VBI.
More services I have got from the VBI such as the training on the items of record keeping, human resources management, and marketing. Some promotion materials for my business produced in the VBI. in addition, I receive regular visits from the Business Councilor of the VBI, during these visits she assesses my training needs and gives me managerial and financial advices as needed.
With hindsight, are there any particular lessons or messages that you wish you would have known when you started up your business, and which you would like to share with fellow entrepreneurs?
I think that one of the most important lessons to pass on is that the entrepreneur should realist the importance of the innovation in the business, to achieve that he should enhance his innovation and continuously look for new ideas.
before starting a business, you have to be conscious of the fact that you will be involved in a long process, which requires patience, dedication, organization and a real effort.
Do you feel that you had the necessary advisory and support network when you started your business?
In fact, I had more than I expected. In the beginning I expected only the technical training from the VBI, but I surprised that they will start with me from the scratch, walking hand-in-hand towards business creation and success.
What is your message to supporters (financial or otherwise) and what is your message to the users of your product?
I'm grateful to the Village Business Incubator, It is really offering opportunities for life.
Since the VBI is the only center who supports the rural women in this area, I hope the VBI will not stop deliver its services, because always there are new talents who are seeking the knowledge and support.
