Zubair SEC member launches business overcoming COVID-19 obstacle
Diversification is considered as an effective tool in expanding business. To counter the COVID-19 impact and ensure their survival, many small businesses in Oman proactively took steps to protect their businesses. Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) member Abdullah Mohammed Saud al Dughaishi, founder, Gourmet Taste Sweets LLC, a member of Zubair SEC, who is among the winners of the centre’s Direct Support Programme for 2018, diversified his revenue stream.
During COVID-19 when his main business – Gourmet Popcorn - was partly affected, and he decided to pursue his passion for ‘landscaping’ and diversified into the landscape business.
Dughaishi explains, “When I started facing the effects of COVID-19, I decided to diversify my source of income. After intense research, I opted to do business related to landscaping which included designing landscapes, laying gardens, called ‘The View – Decorations’. My new business received a good response, and I was able to obtain eleven contracts during the pandemic.”
While the Oman economy has started to open up, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have a great impact on the SME community. Cases like Dughaishi indicate that SMEs are being resilient in the face of the adversity.
Stressing that diversification is not just about survival, Dughaishi says, “I feel it is about proactive growth strategy. Launching new products and type of business can gain you entry to an attractive new industry full of new customers and high sales potential, and sustainable. I am experiencing that right now.”
Adel Hubeishi, senior advisor, Zubair SEC, says, “Diversification is usually necessary for survival and growth. We appreciate the efforts of Dughaishi to adapt to a business model and find an innovative way to increase income and diversifying into a new market.
“The pandemic has seen many SMEs introduce new products or services to their existing offerings. Either way, COVID-19 has been a harsh wake-up call for many small business owners and has forced them to think on their feet, and become more innovative quickly. Dughaishi has been among those who have found success in the venture.”
Thanking Zubair SEC, Dughaishi says, “The centre has been supporting me since I started my business five years and especially after winning the direct support programme. They have rendered support in terms of improving my production line, access to market, figuring out marketing strategy as to how to develop my product to get better market penetration and helping me secure deals with distributors.”