As part of our relentless efforts to identify and share some of the meaningful stories from India and around the world, this week we invited passionate entrepreneur Faaez Mohammed for an interview with us. He is the Co-Founder and COO of The Book Cafe. Let’s read more about his inspiring journey so far and his advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with him:
Talk us through your background and your journey as an entrepreneur, please;
I did my schooling from Jodhpur and then completed my Bachelor’s in the Business Administration. I started working since long back when I was in school. My first motivation to earn something on my own came with the thought of having liberty of time and power to achieve my dreams. I used to tell people that you should never pull down your dreams rather, you should uplift your work. In my earlier times, I used to give tuitions, then did marketing and sales work; a front office manager in a heritage property, and these all collectively made me learn the basics of businesses and consumer behaviour.
In 2012, I went to Delhi for some work and visited Starbucks, and that experience changed my life. I was awed by the experience Starbucks gave me in disguise. The soothing aura and a sense of contentment served in coffee cups changed my perspective. From the starting, I was a coffee lover, but when I visited Starbucks, my mindset changed, and it questioned me, ‘how a cup of coffee can be a style statement?’
I came back and in 2014, and I was intrigued by the coffee idea, and hence, I made my first outline of a café project which I wanted to bring in my city. But life never comes so easy, it took a lot of patience and a year (approx) that I got an opportunity to fulfil my dreams, and in 2016, we started ‘The Book Café’ venture with Richa Sharma.”
Since then, it has been a great journey of learning and evolving. We started it in the year 2016, and till 2019, we became an uproar in the city. A place where people can come, read books, enjoy their favourite coffee and food, and spend quality time; a brand that is creating networks in the tier two cities.
From just a raw idea to a local brand, and then getting an IIMA program. For a person like me who was a rookie, it was a big achievement. I am very grateful that with the support of my partner, we created a productive network all over India. Now, we are trying to rewrite a new success story with the ‘Virtual Coffee Table.’ It is a platform where we are trying to bring together entrepreneurs, change-makers, influencers and mentors to share ideas and stories, execute plans and grow mutually.
The VCT will be a two-way communication platform where you will be able to build networks and connect to mentors and VCs. We came with this initiative to bridge the gap between networking and professional community-building in Tier Two and Three cities.
How is your product different from traditional products? Tell us more about your product and your startup journey this far?
I am the Co-Founder of The Book Café and it is close to my heart. The Book Café is a community that build healthy networks and happiness with a cup of coffee. It is a community-building cafe in Tier Two city with great coffee and amiable ambience where people feel free to connect and spend their time reading books and working; a place where ideas come on the table in discussions.
It is different from other networks because before The Book Cafe came on the board, no cafe in the town bought both wired and wireless networks together.
The Virtual Coffee Table was always in me, but this idea got its wings this year. My earlier learnings and innovation in the new market place framed it all together, and The Virtual Coffee table was on the board! It is a platform for entrepreneurs, influencers, founders, mentors, investors and change-makers to network and connect each other for growth and mutual benefits. It is like a round table virtual meet, bringing together the influencers and content creators to learn new business strategies, consumer demands and behaviour.”
Soon, we will be having online courses, mentorship and consulting sessions which will help people from Tier Two city to grow. This initiative might bring a revolution for upcoming Bharat in changing the economic perspective.
Please share with us some of the challenges you faced in your journey;
“Every one of us has a dream, it is just few who dares to choose the journey, and fewer are the ones who have the consistency to complete it.”
Many small things come together to shape your success. In my journey, until now, the first challenge was meeting the right people at the right time, and networking them in the way that they contribute to your idea. From the very start, I was from the science field, but my passion for business and marketing made me what I am today. Being from a different field, it was tough for me to find revenues to build my passion further. Then, I took the front seat ride and got ahead. Fortunately, I met Richa Sharma, and I started with The Book Cafe venture. I am thankful to her for being such a great friend and partner.
On a personal note, when I started with this venture, it was a great struggle for me. From managing time, budgeting the items, meeting the demands of suppliers and vendors, customer satisfaction, and many more. It was a risk, but my passion headed me frontwards.
My journey took a great jump when I was selected for CCBP program from IIMA. It was a life-changing decision. I went through a turmoil to study my business and manage it all together!
The pressure is always there when you are growing up, to cope up with the expectations and competition. We have worked like for 36 hours continuously without any rest when we were in growing stages. but in the end, it is about your hard work and dedication towards your work that can bring out the best for you and your business.”
“People admire your stardom but only a few know that it took sacrifices and persistent hard work to reach that stage.”
What is your Business Mantra: Money or Emotions?
I believe that you are lucky if you are talented and skilled, but if you are consistent with your work, it will make you successful in the long run.
My Business Mantra is CONSISTENCY towards your hard work.
I believe that the business brands are build by uniquely solving simple problems, and as an entrepreneur, if you can explain your idea or your value proposition in a simple way to a 10-year-old or a 60-year-old, you have done half of your work. Moreover, if you are consistent with that determination ahead, you can surely bring the difference.
The business runs on rotation, and people don’t get attached to the complex things. When I plan anything, I study from the consumer perspective that whether I am willing to pay the amount or not? Furthermore, if you maintain this same equilibrium for your business, you can surely understand the market place better.
Some people say that the business is not about emotion, but I have some contradictory opinions. I believe that brands are built on emotional values. If I am selling a coffee, and if there is a brand that is selling the same product with thrice the price, then the consumer will tend to go for the former. The retention of your customer is to match his or her perception every time he or she comes in contact with your product or service. If you are diligently involved in satisfying your customers’ needs with consistency, you can excel in making a great brand in the global market place.”
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
When I came back from IIMA, I was carrying a responsibility to make a change. It was my passion for the business that kept me motivated. But still, there were times, when a newbie faces an unknown fear regarding his business.
The entrepreneurial life is about taking the hassle and get motivated by it. For an entrepreneur, every minute of the day is filled with the opportunities as well as failures. For me, every day is a new challenge. If I fail, I take that setback as a stepping stone for my next venture. There has been no successful person till now, who haven’t tasted failure in his life.
As an entrepreneur, I have adapted to the fact that it is your vision and passion that drives you and setbacks and failures are the constant participants.
During Lockdown, it was a tough period for all the small and large businesses and the food sector was at major risk. But I did not let it drain my entrepreneurial mindset. I managed my stress by avoiding the gloom-ridden news, and I was updated with the new trends of the market place simultaneously.
What has worked well for you so far?
As an entrepreneur by choice, we seek for opportunities but at the same time, we have to pragmatic that what best fits for us? Despite the obstacles and setbacks, one should keep an eye on the fortuity.
I also believe that your entrepreneurial journey is not only yours. It takes your family and business partners together. I am forever thankful to my team, pals and family members who have always supported me in my dream. Their trust in my passion has always led me and worked as a constant source of motivation.
Entrepreneurship is not about grinding for one time success. You have to keep on looking for opportunities every time and giving your 100% to be your own best version.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
“If you have an idea that will make you move ahead and you will not regret that decision, you should opt for that way. Do not over-think or be unsure of the outcome.”
I have always believed in the fact that ideas and strategies go hand-in-hand, but they are incomplete without implementation. Out of a hundred keys to success, eagerness to take action will top my priority chart. No matter how big your idea is, if you do not dare to implement it, it is just a raw product with no destination.
Secondly, maintaining self- confidence and chance to take the risk in life is something I look for every day. The market place is changing every month. And because of this lockdown, the food sector has seen a downfall. But to achieve success and have a successful mindset, you need to take the risk. If you cannot move, you will never know what is there for you. And if you have confidence, you can bring anything on the tables.
Given the rapid phase at which the world is changing, what are the new strategies you would suggest to the budding entrepreneur?
By looking at the current situation, the market place is changing rapidly, and there are new trends seen periodically. As a rookie entrepreneur, one should always have a mindset of transformation. They should know the insights about both conventional business practices and lean startups. With the changing trends, lean start-ups are taking an advantageous position. They are not only making their headway strong but are also helpful in increasing the global market place. The newbie entrepreneurs must have a bigger vision towards newer trends and lean start-ups.
In the second place, they should not focus on the vanity matrix. They should have a wider mindset towards having a real business.
Post COVID-19, how food market place will change its course?
Firstly, this Pandemic is for real, and it has undoubtedly shaken off the food sector, but being an entrepreneur, I believe that despite turbulence and disruption seen in the Food and Beverage Industry, one should be optimistic for the future outcomes. One cannot sit and wait for the storm to over. One should come up with new strategies and ideas that can boost their business ahead.
Moreover, one common swing seen during this crisis is forming healthy networks virtually. So the entrepreneurs and change-makers are seeking this virtual side and are building networks to bolster their brand forwards.
Slowly and steadily, it is coming back to the normal position, but one should learn to balance between the new and old patterns.
Hoping that the coming times will give us the fortune news to share.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
