ABU DHABI // Ten years ago, Shah Mohammed had no trade or skills, but after following in the footsteps of his father he is a master craftsman.
The cobbler from Pakistan practises his trade from a tiny repair shop in downtown Abu Dhabi that passers-by would be forgiven for not noticing.
But from this site Mr Mohammed makes a successful living, managing with the help of his brother who works alongside him to support their entire family back home.
At Abu Othman Shoe Repair Shop, on Najda Street, Mr Mohammed mends shoes, sandals and women’s purses and bags.
When his father brought him to Abu Dhabi Mr Mohammed knew nothing about the shoe repair business, but 10 years as an apprentice to his father, he gradually perfected his skills.
“Some 15 years back, my father, Raj Mohammed, opened this shop but he had responsibilities back home and handed over the business to me,” said Mr Mohammed, 33, whose wife and young children are in Pakistan.
“I was blank about this trade when I came but if you don’t have a choice you have to learn it.
“We are neither educated enough to get a good job nor have enough money to start a big business. So my family’s business was the only option to learn. I believe if you want to learn anything with keen interest nothing is impossible.”
Now that he runs the business, Mr Mohammed said the money he made was enough to support his family and allow him to travel home twice a year.
“Cobbling is the bread and butter for us and our only source of income.
“Even the education and health care of the family is financed by this business. This shop, I can say, supports the survival of my entire family.”
The only other source of income the family has is that from farming small patches of land back home, but the return does not cover their expenses.
Mr Mohammed said he sent home whatever his family needed.
“It depends on the requirements of the family and I transfer whenever they demand.
“We own this trade so we don’t need to wait for the month-end salary.
“Whatever we earn from this shop is handed over entirely to my father. Then my father gives us some money to spend.”
The shoe repair shop is kept ticking over with about 20 customers on each weekdays and up to 80 on weekends, said Mr Mohammed.
He pays Dh20,000 a year to rent the shop, a great deal more than when he started out. “I remember 10 years back I paid only Dh10,000 annually,” he said.
He appeared content with the growth in business through those years and said the number of expat residents and business activities had rapidly increased.
“This led to doubling our profit, too,” he said.
The shop operates seven days a week. Mr Mohammed opens at 8.30am and stays there until 2pm, while his brother works 2pm to midnight.
anwar@thenational.ae
