In Pursuit of Excellence
In Pursuit of Excellence
Tyres Batteries Scooters and Family
ZAID RAHAMAN
- OWNER OF SPICE ISLE RETREADERS
The Company was formed by their father in 1983 and was known as
Bobby’s Tyre’s on the Carenage. The boys recall growing up with tyres
and playing with them all day, whilst Dad commenced the growth of an
empire.
It appears that the bothers have complimentary skill sets. The younger
Salim is the Managing Director. He studied Business Management and
Marketing in the USA & was an intern with Merrill Lynch as a trainee
stockbroker. His father asked him to come back to Grenada to help
him in the business. He thought about it overnight and the next day he
said “yes” he would give him 5 years equal to the same time his Father
spent on him for his education. That was 20 years ago, now Salim with
a knowing glint in his eye confides, “My Father knew exactly what he
was doing when he invited me back to Grenada. He was much smarter
than I was”
Older brother Zaid, studied diesel and gasoline engine technology, so
his strong mechanical engineering background makes him a natural fit
for understanding his role as the Operations Manager.
Salim observes “My skills are related to sourcing and dealing with the
supply end of the business, whilst Zaid’s skills are related to customer
care and operations.
“Our personalities are suited to what we do, which makes me better
at what I do and he is better at what he does, so we both just naturally
gravitated towards the areas we were interested in.
PHOTO BY TONY MCQUILKIN
The Brothers, together with Salim’s wife, Aisha, have built a business
that includes over 10,000 sq ft of space in their headquarters at
Frequente, with additional branches at Green Bridge and Grenville.
The Brothers believe they are probably the leading importers of Tyres
in Grenada, averaging around the importation of 20-30 containers per
year, but they insist they are not too concerned about market share and
much more concerned about how well they can treat & pay their 45 staff.
“We believe its more than a job as many employees who work with us
we’ve grown up with: We know their parents their siblings their whole
family, so we treat them with respect and offer them guidance when
necessary as if they were members of our own family.
Salim illustrates his point by stating “For instance I had an employee
the other day who was acting up… so I told him to go home and come
back tomorrow with his wife. When he turned up with his wife the next
day I told him what he had to start improving on in front of her. The
guy had two young children and I did not want to fire him and then see
him put his family in trouble who rely on his wages to keep the family.
So we act differently to other companies and when we say that our
employees are like our family we mean it.
“
Salim’s skills are related to
sourcing and dealing with the
supply end of the business,
whilst Zaid’s skills are related to
customer care and operations
“
Spice Isle
Retreaders
B
rothers Salim And Zaid Rahaman run Spice Isle Retreaders …
and with a little help from their friends and extended family they
probably run the most successful Tyre shop on Grenada.
We give people the opportunity to correct their behavior and attitudes
and encourage them to take their responsibilities seriously. We try to
guide them in the right way.
Since talking to the same employee his attitude and work rate has
improved greatly and we are very happy with his recent performances
now.”
Zaid further illustrates the point by adding “Another example of how
we operate is for instance when there is a big fete or party coming up at
the weekend I will not pay them on the Friday but wait till the Monday
to pay them so that they don’t blow all their money at once. That is
something a parent might do. I would not pay them late but I will not
pay them earlier either. So if the last Friday of the month comes early
we will wait to the end of the actual month before we pay them. They
don’t like it but they appreciate it when they still have money in their
pockets”.
The level of concern the company demonstrates towards its staff
appears to work fo all involved. However as expected there always
remains challenges.
SALIM RAHAMAN
- OWNER OF SPICE ISLE RETREADERS
PHOTO BY STEVE BRETT
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www.businessgrenada.com
www.businessgrenada.com
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