By Noor Abdulaziz
KUWAIT: Kuwait is a place that unites smart, innovative people, especially when it comes to starting a business. However, with the boom in cafes, clothing stores and restaurants, one could easily assume that starting a business is a piece of cake. What people don’t pay attention to, however, is the number of individuals who help keep the machine running. Whether it’s getting a business license, finding a creative PR team to run all the socials, and constantly being ready to rebrand and reinvent, running a business takes a huge amount of effort and dedication.
Twenty-seven-year-old Meshary decided to start a business earlier this year. When asked what advice he’d give to those who are thinking of starting their own business, he said: “Starting a business is the smartest thing you can do for yourself. Investing in yourself is always a good idea. However, you’d want to make sure you’re working smart instead of working hard. For example, be extra careful who you go into business with. I’d advise keeping friends and family out of it. Instead, it should be someone with whom you share a professional relationship with.”
The second thing to look out for is contracts. “Please make sure to not sign on anything without thoroughly reading it first. Also, when going into a partnership agreement, the contract should make it clear who owns what portion of the business, and how the profits as well as losses will be split, along with each person’s assignments and duties towards the business,” Meshary said. This emphasizes the need to be particularly cautious, as it is tied to one’s livelihood. Muneera, a Kuwaiti clothing store owner, adds on her experience of being a young woman in Kuwait branching out on her own, as she decided to start a business as another source of income aside from her regular desk job.
“Starting my own business was the smartest thing I’ve done for myself. If you’re looking for a sign to start something you can call your own, now is your time. I’m not going to lie and say it’s easy,” she told Kuwait Times. “Truthfully, you’d have to be financially stable enough to do something so major, as it comes with the territory. As well as expecting a lot of sleepless nights, it consumes your entire being, mind, body and soul. But it’s your baby, so it makes it all worth it, honestly,” Muneera added. When asked how she keeps her business running, she said: “First, you need to understand your target audience, as this is a clothing store.
What values and attitudes do they share? You must understand them on a psychological level to understand what they’re looking for in terms of fashionable pieces. In the retail world, you need to learn how to serve your tribe.” Also, your brand idea needs to be clear, focused, and easy to understand, as well as super-relevant to its prospects. And since a brand is a personality, you must be consistent with the vision, or else it will die. You’re constantly researching to see what’s trendy and what’s not. So, it can be overwhelming at times for sure.” Her partner, Dalal, chimed in.
“Also, you need to constantly find ways to grab the consumer’s attention. Social media is a huge outlet for that. Whether it’s through Instagram reels, TikTok videos, or a fun and quirky logo or website design, being a business owner is so much more fun and creative nowadays. Anyone who’s hesitant about the idea — I’d say go for it, but be smart. It’s always the right time to be a young entrepreneur,” she said. This proves that the Kuwaiti youth can take on such challenge as they are passionate, goal-driven and are constantly ready for an abrupt revival, as the business industry requires one to be quick-witted to instantaneously find new facets that keep their business relevant and afloat.