Business in Gulf - January 2014 by Business In Gulf

A BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURS JAN / FEB 2014

VOLUME-8 NO.01

Business JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014 / VOL-8 NO:01

IN GULF

RiyalQatar:Riyal 30.00 - Oman:Riyal 3.00 - UAE:Dirhams 30.00 - Kuwait:KD 3 - Saudi Arabia:Riyal 30.00

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PUBLICATION

H A P P Y

D I A M O N D S

C O L L E C T I O N

Step through into new opportunities Visit Tamkeen’s new Customer Service Centre now open at Seef Mall’s West Wing. Be at the centre of opportunities to ‘Achieve your Potential’! • • • •

Information about training and career development Information on how to grow and develop your business Apply for on-going programmes Personalised services

17 383 333

17 382 716

Follow TamkeenBahrain

Working Hours:

www.tamkeen.bh

Sunday - Thursday 8 am - 4 pm

TAMKEEN’S MISSION Supporting the Spark of Ingenuity

In all advanced economies, entrepreneurship plays a key role in driving innovation and development. It is, without question, the primary catalyst which drives private sector growth and job creation; two objectives which overlap with Tamkeen’s mandate, and represent a core part of its operational philosophy and strategy.

nowing this, Tamkeen, an initiative tasked with developing Bahrain’s private sector and positioning it as the key driver of economic development, has consistently sought to strengthen the private sector by providing a suite of integrated solutions which encompass a broad range of support programs, with a special focus on engraining the entrepreneurial culture amongst the local population. Since its establishment in 2007, these programs have served in excess of 30,000 businesses representing all sectors.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Currently, Tamkeen offers over 60 support programs catering speciÀcally to businesses, which include low-cost Ànancing and business support services. Together, these programs are an effective toolkit for would-be and existing entrepreneurs in Bahrain. In fact, over 2, 00 of Tamkeen’s beneÀciaries have been start-up businesses. 2ne of the Áagship programs that Tamkeen provides to business owners in Bahrain is the Enterprise Development Support program, which encompasses several different sub-programs.

Each one of those programs enables business owners to get funding for one particular aspect of their business, where Tamkeen contributes 80% of the associated costs up to a maximum of BD15,000 for small enterprises and BD 20,000 for medium and large enterprises. These programs consists of “Istishara” that assists in the strategic planning and development by giving businesses access to a TualiÀed consultancy entity that will study the business operations and advise on how to keep the business moving forward. Along with this program,

“Techania” is also available, which allows entrepreneurs to purchase of enterpriserelated tools and equipment that can enhance the company’s operations. “Jawda” is also another Tamkeen program to assist in the design and application of world-class quality standards such as ISO Standard CertiÀcation. “Tasweeq” on the other hand is available to support the design and implementation of effective marketing and communications strategies, while “Tarweej” can enable businesses to participate in local and international events. One recent success story for Tamkeen’s enterprise support programs is Mrs. Huda Janahi, a Bahraini female entrepreneur who is the owner and manager of “Horse Pride”, a business specialising in the sale of horse riding and equestrian equipment. Through the support of Tamkeen, she expanded her business and now has operations in a number of GCC countries. In December, her business won “Most Outstanding SME Project in the Arab World” award in the 2013 Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashed Award for Young Business Leaders, in the United Arab Emirates. In addition to this, Tamkeen also supports entrepreneurs by providing them with various Ànancing solutions that matches their business needs and objectives. One of the key schemes is Tamkeen’s Finance Scheme, which was launched in 2007 to address the Ànancing problem that often hinders the growth of SME’s, being a relatively

high-risk segment, and allows them to obtain Sharia-compliant low-cost Ànance solutions through a number of leading banks in Bahrain and use the money to develop and expand their businesses. The scheme is conducted in partnership with eight banks in Bahrain which include Ithmaar Bank, Bahrain Development Bank, Bahrain Islamic Bank, BMI Bank, Al Salam Bank, Kuwait Finance House, Khaleeji Commercial Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. Through this Ànance scheme, more than BD 262 Million has been allocated across all 8 partners to serve enterprises in Bahrain, and so far, more than 7,800 enterprises have beneÀted from the scheme so far. Habib Ahmed, Managing Partner of Quality Wires, a manufacturing company specialising in turning raw materials into aluminum and steel products for industrial application, is one of many beneÀciaries who have been able to gain success through the scheme. Since getting funding from Bisb (Bahrain Islamic Bank) with support from Tamkeen, Mr. Habib managed to grow his business from a small enterprise to a medium enterprise, while also managing to increase revenue by more than 50% since the business received support. With the success of the scheme, Tamkeen plans to add another BD 100 million as additional budget for 2014 and 2015, in order to empower entrepreneurs to be able to fully realize their ideas and manifest them into business success. Alongside these programs, Tamkeen

also provides several opportunities for businesses to increase their operational efÀciency by focusing on one critical aspect that determines the success of a business, which is the development of human capital. One key support program for this aspect is the Career Progression Program, which was launched in 2007 and so far served more than 12,500 Bahraini employees. The program helps employers address performance gaps of their Bahraini employees by providing high-quality training opportunities to allow them to develop competencies related to their work. The training programs are designed based on detailed analysis conducted by a dedicated Tamkeen team in cooperation with the employers to identify performance gaps among their Bahraini employees by conducting Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and agreeing on a Personal Development Plan (PDP) for each employee. Once the training program is completed successfully, the beneÀting employee will receive a subsidised salary increment by Tamkeen. Thanks to these achievements, Tamkeen won Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders as the “Best Initiative Supporting SMEs in Arab Countries” in 2012. For more information on how you too can beneÀt from Tamkeen’s business support programs and get your business off on the right track, please contact 17-383333 or (support@tamkeen.bh), or through any one of their many social media channels at (TamkeenBahrain).

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Career Progression Programme

Guide your employees up the corporate ladder Career Progression Programme If you are looking to put your employees on a fast career path, Tamkeen has designed a Career Progression Programme to help you address skill deﬁciencies that hinder the career growth opportunities of your employees and increase their productivity. This programme will help your employees achieve higher productivity and improve their efﬁciency by identifying and addressing their work skills. On completion, employees will be entitled to receive an increment in their SIO/GOSI registered salary according to the option chosen by the employer for the development of the employee. Tamkeen will subsidise the training cost, Training Needs Analysis fees & provide salary subsidies for up to a period of 18 months for accepted employees. Details of the programme are listed in the table below:

Tamkeen CPP options

Training budget in BD

Pay increase subsidy after successful completion of training (BD) 18 Months

Track 20

800

Track 30

1,000

Track 40

1,200

Track 50

1,400

Track 60

1,600

Track 70

1,800

Track 80

2,000

Track 90

2,200

Track 100

2,400

100

Track Human Resources (HR)

2,500

–

With the Career Progression Programme, employers can: • Improve Bahraini employees’ skills • Achieve better retention rates • Increase productivity • Avail HR and training consultancy fees • Avail training courses • Avail pay increase up to 18 months With the Career Progression Programme, employees can: • Improve their skills • Receive a minimum of BD 20 according to the option chosen for the employee by the employer • Grow and improve chances to climb up the corporate ladder

Who can apply Employers can nominate their employees who meet the following criteria: • Bahraini nationality • Registered in the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO)

Where to apply For new Career Progression Programme enrolments, please contact Tamkeen Call Centre Tel: 17383333, Fax: 16030422 e-Mail: info.cpp@tamkeen.bh or visit www.tamkeen.bh For more information, contact Tamkeen on 17 383 333 17 382 716

Follow TamkeenBahrain

www.tamkeen.bh

Contents Business IN GULF

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

COVER STORY 36 A Look Back

It is a known fact that Bahrain is teeming with entrepreneurs. A lot of new business ideas, and a lot of new faces entered the scene in 2013. We take a look back at all the entrepreneurs we featured in 2013.

47 Hear Ye!

A Look Back

Keeping in mind that this is the Entrepreneurs Special edition, we spoke to a few business leaders and successful entrepreneurs to ´nd out whet their advice would be to those who are starting out in a business.

SPECIAL FEATURE 64 Business of Valentine

Valentine’s Day is a day of love and celebration. And it is also the time most retailers look forward to as they intend to boost their business. People celebrate Valentine’s Day with their beloved and spend on buying µowers, cakes, gifts and chocolates for their partners, family and sometimes even pets and business booms. Business in Gulf takes a look at how business gets affected on this commercial day of love across the world.

Bahrain’s Business Blooms Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays, which are known for the gift giving tradition. From roses, to stuffed toys, from chocolates, to candies, they are all popular gift choices across the world. Bahrain is not different. Business in Gulf spoke to a few businesses that are already preparing for the big day. 8

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Business of Valentine

A Race For Charity

Boho Bahraini Chic!

Top Private Jets

Wrapped Up

ENTREPRENEURS

EVENTS

SECTIONS

Chillazian is more than your ordinary boutique. Abeer Abdulaal, the creative entrepreneur behind it, infused a bohemian/hippie design with traditional Bahraini culture. After meeting her in this year’s Market 338, B.I.G spoke to Abeer to ´nd out more.

The Ministry of Culture organized the pop up souq, theBAB Market at the Bab Al Bahrain, in a bid to promote entrepreneurship. It gave an opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.

Effective Entrepreneurship is about divorcing oneself from the herd and setting up new ideas and business processes that reach out to the masses. Below are my top 5 ways on how to be an ef´cient and successful Entrepreneur.

BIG Autos

Maysoon Sabkar collected fancy giftwrap paper on her trips abroad and this made her a hit among friends. But once she had brought back way too much and decided to see if there was others interested in buying it from her. And just like, Wraperie was launched.

Hotel bellboys went head to head with their trolleys in a ´ercely fought race. Scores of people showed up to cheer on the bellboys who raced each other with their decorated trolleys full of luggage to the ´nish line.

Boho Bahraini Chic!

Wrapped Up

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Showcasing Talents

A Race For Charity

Effective Entrepreneurship

Top Private Jets

Hotel Outlet Guide

Your guide to the Kingdom’s hotel outlets for dining, shopping, nightlife and spa.

Offshore & Onshore Company Formation fi fififififififififififififififi fififififi fifififififififi fifififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififi fifififififififififififififififi fifififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififi fififififi

Company incorporation and management Trust Services Personal and corporate tax planning

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Succession planning Offshore banking Free Zone set up services Offshore credit cards Property holding structures Asset management Mutual fund set up and licensing Yacht registration Accounting Insurance Services

www.SovereignGroup.com Providers of Intelligent Offshore Tax Planning for 25 Years

Abu Dhabi, Bahamas, Bahrain, British Virgin Islands, China, Curaçao, Cyprus, Denmark, Dubai, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Malta, Mauritius, Portugal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom.

Trademark Registration & Franchise Services

Its the start of a new year. A time for new beginnings and a look back at the year that saw international confidence return to markets, devoured by the 2008 crash. 2013 was quite frankly the first year IN a while, where companies and businesses bounced back into the green and business owners leaned back to relax. For us at Business in Gulf (BIG), we have had an inundating year too, watching and covering the activities of numerous start-ups in the Kingdom of Bahrain. When you get busy... we get busier! Therefore for our very first issue of this year, we have decided to do a recap on the Bahraini entrepreneurs, who overcame the trials and tribulations of starting-up and launched successful business enterprises, that are storming their way to success. We also spoke to a cross section of business leaders, CEOs and successful entrepreneurs to find out their advice for those wanting to start-up their own ventures and making a name for themselves. We really want you to get cracking and make that leap which you have always been dreaming off. For our other highlight of this issue we have done a close analysis of the multibillion dollar business revolving around one single date - February 14th or more affectionately known as Valentines Day. The commercialization of love, to be exact! With ‘V’ Day just around the corner, we take a look at how much money is actually involved in the annual celebration commemorated by billions around the world. We also spoke to a few business owners in Bahrain, to get an idea about how much of an impact Valentines day has on their businesses. So without further adieu, the team at BIG would like to wish you a prosperous 2014. Moreover, we look forward to hearing what your ambitions are for the year you can reach us via our social media accounts. So get thinking , You might be part of our next new year’s round-up.

MAXMEDIA PUBLICATION

Business IN GULF

Bahrain’s premier entreprenurial lifestyle magazine PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF Sameer Uchi MANAGING PARTNER / GROUP EDITOR Mohd. A. Kayani DEPUTY EDITOR Dilraz Kunnummal REPORTER Noor Bahman SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tarek Rashdan SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Christelle Yaacoub PRODUCTION MANAGER Sachan Chandran

Dilraz Kunnummal

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Haroon Rasheed

Deputy Editor dilraz@maxmediaco.com

Contributors Kelly Armatage Director of “Kelly Armatage Inc”. Coaching Sessions, Corporate Training, Self Development Seminars, Public Speaking and Meditation Classes.T: +973 17002320 / M: +973 39931399

Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy LV D FHUWLÀHG SURIHVVLRQDO &RDFK DQG 3V\FKRPHWULVW who works with individuals and organisations to enable them to reach their potential. She is also president of Bizladies GCC. Bahrain@bizladies.org, clare@ beckett-mcinroy.com

HERE’S HOW TO GET IN TOUCH PHONE

Subscription enquires: +973 17402482 ext-143 (Mob: +973 36665633) Editorial: +973 17402482 ext-112/145 Advertising enquires: +973 17402482 ext-125 (Mob: +973 36977111)

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P.O. Box 108 Bldg. 428, Road 84, Block 407, Tashan, Shk. Salman Highway. Bahrain

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

PHOTOGRAPHER Honey Sharma DISTRIBUTION CONTROLLER Salah Abdulla Hassan

Please e-mail us any form of business, banking, financing, investments or entrepreneurial news. email us on: big@maxmediaco.com

SUBSCRIPTION Annual Subscription to BIG; Bahrain BD15 ($40.000) GCC Subscription is BD25 ($66.000) for 1 year. Foreign Subscription is BD35 ($93.000) for 1 year. BIG is published 12 times a year. 3 easy ways to subscribe e-mail: subscription@maxmediaco.com Online at www.maxmediaco.com Call +973 17402482, Fax +973 17402483

B.I.G is published monthly and is available in all Supermarkets and book stores across the GCC. If you cannot find our magazine in your area, please give us a call on Bahrain (973) 17 402-482 and we’ll tell you where you can get a copy. Remember to always ask for B.I.G. Licence no: CBIG 712 Copyright: 433\04 B.I.G Magazine all rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without our written permission. The content of this publication is the exclusive property of MAXMEDIA CO. W.L.L and must not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, MAXMEDIA CO. W.L.L and all its publications cannot accept legal responsibility for any error or omission. The magazine is printed at Awal Press Bahrain and is distributed in Bahrain by Marketing Hub (Tel: +973 17786300, Direct: +973 17787877) & Extab W.L.L (Tel: +973 17001723, Fax: +973 17001623)

Celebrate your Valentine’s moments

Sterling Silver Charms from BHD 19

DISCOVER THE NEW VALENTINE’S COLLECTION. Featuring Valentine’s Day Card dangle to celebrate special Valentine’s moments. Find the perfect gift to express your love at pandora.net BAHRAIN CITY CENTRE, Ground Floor, Tel: +973 17 405 400

{ASK BIG} QUOTED BY THE PRESS? Question by: Lisa

9< 8E 8LK?FI@KP "There's little reason for anyone to quote you on any topic if you don't have any background or prestige. Make clear what you know, how you know it, and if possible, how you are uniquely qualified to know it. Then state your opinions clearly and concisely. The shorter and more helpful your words are—and if packed with information and opinion—the more often they'll be repeated." - Colin Wright | CEO, Asymmetrical, LLC

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"The world is full of newspapers, magazines and websites that use the same boring jargon. Refuse to conform to media speak and stick to your own, refreshing tone when providing quotes. Reporters will get a kick out of your human-ness, and will know they can count on you for a breath of fresh air in their quotecollecting process." - Amanda Aitken | Founder and CEO, The Girl's Guide to Web Design

"Getting quoted by the press starts often starts with having solid relationships with writers and reporters. Solid relationships are reciprocal. The press is always looking for compelling stories so by providing good ideas they will often reciprocate the value by quoting you on topics in which you are an authority." - Ryan Stephens | Founder, Ryan Stephens Marketing

"Take the time to understand what writers are looking for, and then give them exactly what they need (not what you need). Always get back to a writer promptly, and once you are interviewed for one piece, let the writer know that you would be happy to help them again when they're writing about topics A, B, and C. The more you get to know them personally, the more likely they are to ping you again." - Alexandra Levit | President and Founder, Inspiration at Work

“Over 50,000 journalists use HARO to locate experts for on-air interviews, article quotes and more. The daily email service (three times per day) brings the media to you and it’s absolutely free. Choose your area(s) of expertise and respond to as many inquiries as you can to increase your chances of being quoted in the press.” - Benjamin Leis | Founder, Sweat EquiTees

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"When subscription sites like HARO or ProfNET send out queries, spend more time answering the question then pitching yourself as a source. If you give a journalist what they are looking for, it is evident that you are an expert. The biggest mistake people make is spending more time pitching themselves as experts then answering what the journalist is looking for—especially if they are on deadline!" - Kris Ruby | President, Ruby Media Group

“Come up with an awesome stat that reporters will remember and people will say “wow” when they hear it. With Entrustet, we calculated that three Facebook users die each minute, leading to confusion about what to do with online accounts when someone dies. We got picked up in hundreds of publications and the stat is now industry standard and attributed to us.” - Nathan Lustig | cofounder, Entrustet

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“All the PR efforts in the world won’t help if you don’t have something to offer the press. Focus on industry innovations to catch their eye. Then, choose your words carefully to accurately explain the who, what, when, where, how and especially the why. Avoid shock value and stay true to your brand at all times. The exposure will follow.” - Nick Friedman | President, College Hunks Hauling Junk

“Too much PR-speak will get you the cold shoulder from the press. Bring a fresh perspective or an interesting aspect to the story—one that makes your company or product unique—and you will have more success being quoted or securing larger press placement.” - Justin Beck | Co-Founder and CEO, PerBlue

:FEJ@;<I K?< AFLIE8C@JK “A journalist’s job is incredibly taxing. They have tight deadlines and must coordinate with multiple sources. Ask them in advance how you can prepare, then make sure you are ready. As with most any relationship, if you help a journalist do her job better, she will be more likely to advocate for you.” - Aaron Schwartz | Founder and CEO, Modify Watches

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an inviteonly organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

BREAKDOWN OF NEWS AND NUMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

300

Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MPs have approved a bill that effectively guarantees a BD300 ($792) minimum wage for Bahraini employees and pensioners in the private sector.

Al Rashid Group (ARG) celebrated 40 years of existence and its partnership with the $6 billion Dubai-based Landmark Group.

$10Bn

Apple said that its customers spent $1 billion on purchases in its applications store in December, leading to a total of $10 billion worth of apps sold in 2013.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

$354 BILLION

SNIPPETS $ 13.3 Bn BD The Middle Eastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s billionaires, with a combined net worth of $354 billion, hold a higher percentage of total wealth than in any other region in the world, according WR Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJV IURP the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2013.

Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aqeer beach project in the Ahsa Province will attract more than SR50 billion ($13.3 billion) in investments over the next 25 years on completion of the infrastructure works, said a report.

11%

The GCC healthcare industry spending is set to increase by 11.4 per cent from 2010 to 2015 propelled by demographic and macroeconomic factors in the region, said a report.

Dh1trn Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-oil foreign trade crossed the Dh1 trillion ($272.26 billion) milestone during the first nine months in 2013, Dubai Customs statistics showed.

BD 861.9MN Real estate trading volume in Bahrain reached BD861.9 million last year, a 30 per cent increase over 2012, marking the highest OHYHO HYHU UHFRUGHG LQ WKH NLQJGRP VDLG D WRS RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO

THANK YOU !!! We appreciate your support

Al Sharif

Water Purification

NAIL & BODY COUTURE

Dammam Rabwa Carton Factory

THE FIRST HEARTS REAL ESTATE CO. W.L.L !

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big thank you to all our generous supporters and participants for making the Al Ghalia Give Back Zumbathon, held on the

6th of December 2013 at Al Bander Hotel & Resort a great

SUCCESS. www.alghalia.com

NEWS

M.E sees Growth in RevPar BAHRAIN: Manama, Abu

Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat have all posted double-digit growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the year-to-date in local currency terms, new data has revealed. Dubai’s hospitality market posted the highest increase in average daily rates (ADR) in the Middle East and Africa last month, as it rose by 9.9 percent in ADR to $290.68. However, hotels in the Qatari capital of Doha saw ADR slump by 18 percent to $181.23, the region’s largest

ADR decrease. Manama (up 15.2 percent to $100.67); Dubai (up 12.7 percent to $254.18) and Abu Dhabi (up 10.4 percent to $171.70) also showed some of the best RevPAR rises during November, STR Global said. Regionally, the Middle East/Africa reported mixed performance results during November as the region posted a 1.7 percent decrease in occupancy to 64.6 percent, a 6.8 percent increase in ADR to $180.88 and a 4.9 percent increase in RevPAR to $116.78.

BAHRAIN LAUNCHES ONLINE GOVT FEEDBACK SYSTEM BAHRAIN: Bahrain has introduced a new online complaints and suggestion system, which will allow citizens and residents to share feedback on the quality of government service as well as submit complaints. Launched by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, it will also help to improve government performance and maintain transparency. A system called Tawasul, accessible through bahrain.bh, has already been introduced as a pilot project with the Health Ministry. Nine other government bodies have been linked to the system. These include the ministries of Housing, Social Development,

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs as well as the Central Informatics Organisation, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and the National Health Regulatory Authority.

VIVA launches Bahrain’s widest 4G LTE Network

BAHRAIN: VIVA Bahrain has

launched its much anticipated 4G LTE service. The company’s state-of-the-art 4G network boasts speeds of up to 100 Mbps with the widest coverage across Bahrain, offering customers an exceptional experience and enabling them to enjoy real-time video, media streaming and downloading. Announcing the launch of 4G LTE services, Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, VIVA CEO said, “The launch of 4G LTE network is one of our biggest milestone achievements, aimed at providing our customers with the best broadband experience possible, and enabling them to stay connected like never before – uploading, downloading with superfast speeds. We have

always been committed to putting our customers Àrst and hence, through targeted innovations and sustained investments, we are consolidating our lead in the broadband segment and catering to their interest with the best value-added products with unique features and beneÀts. Adding further, Mr. Wetaid said, “We were the Àrst to introduce a 42Mbps HSPA+ network making it the fastest mobile broadband for home, business and mobile users alike. We have taken our time to launch 4G LTE to ensure that the quality of our network, the offer and above all, the customer experience, exceeds the exemplary performance already offered by our 3G+ network.”

Alba On Track BAHRAIN: Aluminium

Bahrain, also known as Alba, has said it is on track to exceed the production-record of 890,000 metric tonnes set last year. The company described 2013 as “an exceptional operational performance despite tough market conditions”. Chairman Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji said in a statement: “Alba continues to push the limit on operational improvement with the launch of the Project Titan cost improvement programme. “We feel Project Titan will not only be a key differentiator but will also give the company a cutting-edge to maintain its competitive position in this industry,” he added. The owner of the world’s fourth-largest aluminium smelter said net proÀt for the three months to September 30 was BD4.9m ($13 million)

versus a net loss of BD13m a year earlier. Alba’s income was boosted by a 7 percent increase in sales to BD183.3m, with strong demand from Saudi Arabia noted, and a 4.7 percent hike in tonnes produced compared to the same months last year.

More Than

Developing SMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

+973-17 511111 www.bdb-bh.com

NEWS

Bahrain sees record new investment plans BAHRAIN: The Bahrain

International Investment Park (BIIP) approved a record number of 30 new investment projects last year, taking to 105 the number of firms now planning to establish operations at the BIIP, a top official said. Eighty per cent of the approved projects during the year are in manufacturing and the rest are in internationally traded services, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro was quoted as saying. These projects have an associated commitment to invest BD689 million ($1.8 billion) and to employ over 10,000 people at full production. As of the end of last year, 53 projects, amounting to a total investment of $694 million,

were operational, 12 totalling $345 million were under construction, eight project leases amounting to $119 million had been signed and 32 projects totalling $668 million were at pre-lease stage.

PILOT PHASE OF NEW SYSTEM IS LAUNCHED BAHRAIN: The pilot phase of

Bahrain’s Business Licensing Integrated System (BLIS) through which business registry will be handled as a one-stop service was launched by Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro. The system further simpliÀes the process of establishing a business in the kingdom, by enabling electronic application and renewal of commercial registrations and related licences, Dr Fakhro said at a Press conference. It has been designed to optimize the investment climate in Bahrain by using technology to make the country more competitive in attracting

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

foreign investment. “BLIS aims to simplify the process of business registration, streamline licensing requirements, ensure full transparency of procedures and requirements and enhance coordination between all relevant organizations,” he added. The government also intends to further streamline, simplify and increase the efÀciency of the process of obtaining commercial registration and all associated business licences. The project is a central component of the kingdom’s initiative to boost Bahrain’s competitiveness and enhance its position as a businessfriendly destination.

GREEN LIGHT FOR $52M THEME PARK IN BAHRAIN BAHRAIN: Work on a BD20

million ($52.7 million) theme park that includes Bahrain’s Àrst full-size ice arena and indoor ski slope will go ahead as planned next month, said a senior government ofÀcial. It comes after a municipal council shelved the project last week, fearing it would damage key sewage and water networks located at the site.

Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi has stated that the radical overhaul of the Muharraq Grand Garden will not damage the grid. He said an agreement has been reached with the Works Ministry to divert sewage and water pipes during construction to avoid any disruptions to the network.

Microsoft Bahrain wins top CSR award BAHRAIN: Microsoft Bahrain won the ‘Best Corporate Social

Responsibility Award’ for its Partners in Learning programme at the Meet ICT Conference and Exhibition held recently. The award recognises Microsoft’s commitment to the development and empowerment of the education sector in the kingdom, which include the long-term Partners in Learning (PiL) agreement with the Ministry of Education. Ahmed Alhammadi, director of Information Systems, Ministry of Education, said: “We applaud Microsoft’s efforts to bring technology into classrooms and empower the teachers and students ICT skills to match the 21st Century requirements.”

Major global ratings boost for Bahrain BAHRAIN: Bahrain won a major vote of conÀdence from a top ratings agency, said a report. Fitch Ratings has afÀrmed Bahrain’s long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BBB’ and local currency IDR at ‘BBB+’. The outlooks are stable, Fitch said. The issue ratings on Bahrain’s senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been afÀrmed at ‘BBB’ and ‘BBB+’, respectively. The agency has simultaneously afÀrmed

Bahrain’s Country Ceiling at ‘BBB+’ and short-term foreign currency IDR at ‘F3’. The afÀrmation and stable outlook reÁect that Bahrain’s external position is stronger than its ‘BBB’ rated peers. A current account surplus of around 10 per cent of GDP is estimated for 2013, which will be the 10th consecutive year of surplus. Bahrain’s overall net creditor position, at almost 100 per cent of GDP at end-2012, is the strongest of any similarrated sovereign, Fitch said.

NEWS

ROYAL GOLF CLUB INTRODUCES CAPTAINS The Royal Golf Club, under the management of Troon Golf has welcomed Stephen Wagstaff and Dena Wales on board as 2014 Club Captains. Bth captains made their Ă&#x20AC;rst ofĂ&#x20AC;cial tee-off at the traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;Captainsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Drive Inâ&#x20AC;? golf event. Stephen, a native of Manchester, England, Ă&#x20AC;rst started playing golf at the age of 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 15. He was a member of the former Riffa Golf Club and now of the Royal Golf Club. Dena, who is from London, England, has been in Bahrain for 20 years and is the Executive Manager of the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF). She joined the former Riffa Golf Club in 2001 and was Lady Captain of the Royal Golf Club in 2010. Dena currently plays off a handicap of 19.

CAMPING: DANGEROUS Campers have been putting their lives in danger by setting-up on Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil and gas Ă&#x20AC;eld, even using high-pressure pipelines to secure their tents, according to oil and gas producer Tatweer Petroleum. The company has warned it will take legal action against the desert campers if they are found to be acting recklessly or camping too close to potentially dangerous infrastructure. While in most countries non-workers are banned from entering oil and gas Ă&#x20AC;elds, no such barrier applies at Bahrain Field, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only such facility. Tatweer said some campers did not appreciate the risk and ignored signs warning them not to set-up in areas with high pressure pipes or where poisonous and Ă ammable hydrogen sulphide (H2S) was detected in the air.

ZAYANI COMPUTER SYSTEMS WINS HP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

BAHRAIN: Zayani Computer Systems, a leading IT solutions provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced that it has won the HP achievement award for its exceptional performance

US burger chain plans 50 Saudi outlets SAUDI ARABIA: Steak n Shake, the US burger restaurant company, has signed an exclusive deal with AB Holdings to open 50 of its restaurants in Saudi Arabia. The burger chain, which is owned by Biglari Holdings Inc, said that the deal is part of its plan to further its global expansion. Steak n Shake, which was founded in 1934, expects to open its Ă&#x20AC;rst restaurant in Riyadh during the Ă&#x20AC;rst half of 2014. Last year, Steak â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n Shake, the US burger restaurant company, announced its Ă&#x20AC;rst international development agreement in the UAE. Steak n Shake signed an exclusive area development agreement with the Saleh Bin Lahej Group to open 40 restaurants in the country.

big -tionary Describing business terminology

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

in the Ă&#x20AC;nancial year 2013. The award, received at a ceremonial event in San Francisco, was conferred in recognition of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success in providing HP storage solutions to customers in Bahrain. Upon receiving the award, Mr. Vivek Jaitpal, Chief Executive OfĂ&#x20AC;cer of Zayani Computer Systems said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are honoured to receive such a prestigious award from HP. We would like to express our gratitude to all of our customers who have worked closely with our team to successfully implement the HP Store Serv 7000, StoreOnce and SAN infrastructure HP/Brocade storage solutions. I believe this

award will be a great motivator for all of us to continue to work as a team in order to provide our clients with a wide variety of innovative servicesâ&#x20AC;?. Mr Jaitpal concluded his remarks by emphasizing that Zayani Computers will continue to offer the latest in technology solutions from renowned international companies, and that the company is keen on maintaining its excellent aftersales services. It is worth noting that the event, which was hosted jointly by HP and Brocade, also honoured 42 winning HP partners from the regions of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

SAUDI TRADERS TO BE NAMED & SHAMED SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi traders will be named and shamed if they are found ripping off consumers under tough new laws aimed at stamping out rogue operators, it was reported. Ministry of Commerce undersecretary Waleed Abu Khaled said as part of the crackdown the ministry would document consumer complaints and take action against violating traders. He said there were several clauses in the law relating to â&#x20AC;&#x153;defamation of violatorsâ&#x20AC;?, though many had not been implemented for some time, the Saudi Gazette reported. Khaled said the ministry was resorting to this measure in order to put a limit on violations rampant in the local market. Local media reported that inspection campaigns by the Ministry had found a lack of supervision and soft penalties had encouraged some traders to continue breaking the law.

MANAGER An individual who is in charge of a certain group of tasks, or a certain subset of a company. A manager often has a staff of people who report to him or her. As an example, a restaurant will often have a front-of-house manager who KHOSV WKH SDWURQV DQG VXSHUYLVHV WKH KRVWV RU D VSHFLÂżF RIÂżFH SURMHFW FDQ KDYH D PDQDJHU NQRZQ VLPSO\ DV WKH SURMHFW PDQDJHU

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NEWS

White Dubai Launched

Prayer Time Closing Laws Relaxed SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia’s morality police may relax the kingdom’s strict rules on closing shops and businesses for prayer Àve times a day, the force’s head Sheikh Abdulatif Al al-Sheikh was quoted as saying by local press. All shops in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and the world’s top oil exporter, are supposed to shut for half an hour during the daily Muslim prayers, which take place at dawn, midday, mid afternoon, sunset and evening. However, Al al-Sheikh, a moderate appointed to the post a year ago, said he did not think they needed to close for such a long period, in comments on television carried in the Englishlanguage daily Arab News.

DUBAI: Add Mind, the Lebanese management Àrm behind brands such as Iris and WHITE, has launched a new rooftop nightlife venue in Dubai. Following the recent launch of Iris Yas Island and Iris Dubai, the food and beverage Àrm launched WHITE Dubai at Meydan Grandstand rooftop in Meydan Hotel.

WHITE Dubai initially held a soft-opening run at the Murooj Rotana ballroom as WHITE ROOM, but now the dedicated venue at Meydan has opened its doors for the Àrst time, offering 360 views of the Dubai skyline. The 860 square meter space will hold over 1,000 guests and feature top international DJs which will be Áown in every weekend to perform.

Denny’s To Open 30 Outlets

UAE: Denny’s, the world’s largest full-service family dining chain, announced plans on Tuesday to open 30 new restaurants in the Middle East. The food retailer said it has signed a franchise agreement with Advance Investment, an afÀliated entity of Food Quest Restaurant Management, for the development of the new Denny’s restaurants in nine countries over the next 10 years. It said Advance Investment has the exclusive rights to open restaurants in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. The Àrst Denny’s restaurant is slated to open doors to diners in the UAE in 2015, a statement said.

ONLINE BUSINESS LICENSES FOR DUBAI ENTREPRENEUR

DUBAI: Entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in Dubai can now use the Department of Economic Development’s (DED) new e-service to get a business license online. The new facility allows users to get their licences issued even when they are outside UAE, and is meant to ease the process of starting a business in Dubai. It is in line with the Smart City initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.“Our focus is on progressively bringing all BRL [Business Registration & Licensing] services on to the e-services platform,” BRL Director at DED, Ahmad Ebrahim said. 24

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

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BOHO BAHRAINI CHIC! Chillazian’s unique clothing line

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ENTREPRENEUR

hillazian is more than your ordinary boutique. Abeer Abdulaal, the creative entrepreneur behind it, infused a bohemian/ hippie design with traditional Bahraini culture. Her line of clothes portrays an essence of being down to earth and non-materialistic. After meeting her in this year’s Market 338, B.I.G spoke to Abeer to find out more. What is Chillazian known for?

Chillazian (Chil-lay-zee-un) was created to promote a Lifestyle: to “be a giver” and to be chill and relaxed. What better way to reach to people other than fashion? Chillazian Pantaloons is what we are most known for (aka Harem Pants). Modern Hippie is how I would describe our collections of clothing, headbands, accessories, and shoes. It is known for wearing comfortable yet being trendy with buoyant patterns and colors.

Tell us about the start up Journey.

My dream was always to start up a non-profit organization and dedicate all my efforts for children in need and to end poverty. Of course this dream could not be possible without generating the funds to do so. After my holidays to the beautiful parts of the Far East, I got to experience poverty first hand. I was fascinated by their people,

their determination to make a living solely to survive. Seeing their desperation to raise enough money to live through the day; even when they had no arms, no legs, they still worked with the biggest, widest, happiest smiles I have ever seen. I had to be a part of this; I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I was making people smile, just as big as that Far Eastern smile. This is where Chillazian started to cultivate in my head; who are those people that think like me? They are “Chillazians.” What do those people want? Peace over War, Love over Hate, Smiles over Frowns… Full Stomachs over Empty Ones! My designs were inspired from my trips, I was captivated by their beauty in wearing comfortable clothing, how clothes hung loosely but delightfully over their lean bodies. Hippie yet enchanting, I was in love with their patterns, their colors, and their culture. I knew I had to bring this trend to our Arabian world where materialism is our people’s best hobby.

What sets Chillazian apart from other businesses?

I believe we are the only business that promotes Modern Hippie designs in Bahrain; our products are created to promote comfort in what you wear yet having options of wearing each piece in different ways, depending on the occasion-or mood. Our colorful pieces are made to fit all sizes, except for shoes, of course. However, the main aspect that differentiates us is that our products are dedicated to raise funds for children in need; our bright pieces are made to be affordable to most shoppers and give people a chance to buy and give back to the community.

What is your favorite piece from your collection?

Definitely the Ghitra Pantaloons (aka G Pants)! It’s a delight to create a mix of cultures in one piece of clothing, taking the peaceful times of Woodstock, Far East and Turkey and adding to it an Arabian twist by using colorful Ghitra patterns. These comfortable pants can also be worn as jumpsuits.

What are some of the challenges you face?

As a new starting up entrepreneur with a charitable cause, I was surprised by the lack of support and understanding of some people, but then I discovered that there are many others with loving hearts that would love to see this business grow.

Tell us about your team.

My husband is my team; his compassion and support to this cause has been my inspiration in believing that change is possible.

What has been the best moment so far?

There are two moments I will never forget; the time I sold my first Pantaloon, and the time I first shopped for the Children. I knew I had started to make a difference, no matter how little it was.

Have there been any events or campaigns Chillazian has participated in?

My first event was held by the Breast Cancer Society at the Capital Club. I also joined AlRiwaq’s Market338 2012 and 2013. I was also fortunate to participate with Palm Association at their charity event that was held at the Rugby Club.

Any advice for young entrepreneurs? Be who you are and do what you Love.

What plans for the future?

To own a small cozy boutique that welcomes and gathers all our supporters and chilled customers, and hopefully spread Chillazian’s lifestyle and message to the world.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

DEFINING SPACES Making It 1:1

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ENTREPRENEUR

aysam Alnasser has had the opportunity to work in big international architectural firms yet she felt unsatisfied due to the lack of direct interaction between her and the clients. She believed that it was important to build a relationship with her clients and hence she launched 1:1. We find out the story behind the name, the brand and Maysam’s passion. What made you set up 1:1? I have always been interested in the impact, spaces have on human behaviors and psychology and how to design around that aspect. Having worked in relatively big international architecture firms and on bigger projects in hospitality and commercial design, I felt I was getting away from that personal, one to one relationship with the client. I wanted to start my own design studio where I would have a personal relationship with the clients for whom I would be designing their most intimate spaces; I wanted to design it around their lives. Also, my interest in other design and art fields encouraged me to create this workshop like space where I get to experiment my concepts and ideas freely with no restrictions. It is like a lab for my own private mistakes and my questions.

What does 1:1 specialize in? 1:1 is a design studio dedicated to conceptual architecture, interior and furniture design, introducing a holistic approach that goes beyond just the architecture but also into providing a conscious mix between art, architecture and psychology.

How has the start up journey been so far? It has been good so far. I wanted my freedom to experiment when it comes to design, which I probably would not have got, if I were working in a company, and this motivated me to set up my own shop. I participated in a few exhibitions around the Kingdom, which allowed me to explore the market related to architecture and design, and I did a bit of freelance work as well. Even after I took the leap of launching 1:1, I was working only through my website and my marketing was primarily word of mouth. I had a lot of support to launch my studio at the Riyadat Mall, from the likes of Tamkeen, BDB and BBIC. Apart from the financial support, what really made a difference was the education we gained: in terms of setting up a business, and managing its day-to-day functions.

What are your main influences while you are designing a place?

Do you have any regional/local role models?

The person I am designing for, the use/ function, the context and relation to the other built form around the environment. In addition to my own concepts, elements and tools I translate all those forces into a space.

I personally love the Contemporary Japanese architecture which is very minimal in nature while maintaining the identity and celebrating spaces like the inner garden and courtyard.

What has been the most exciting moment so far? The start of each project is exciting... To feel that you’re about to merge in a new family, to understand them, to design their most intimate spaces.

What are the main challenges you face in this industry? Changing people’s perception about design is a challenge. But above all “time” is the biggest challenge we have. It is our biggest competition...!

Any advice for young entrepreneurs? Find something that you’re passionate about. Be creative. Be prepared with your business plan/ studies and research. Find the appropriate financial support through Tamkeen, BDB & BBIC. Don’t give up; as there will be so many obstacles. Work hard and drink a lot of tea!

What plans for the future? To have impact on culture through the built form.

Do you have any background experience/education in this field? I graduated with a Masters degree in Architecture from Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland in 2007. I have also worked in an architectural firm in Scotland, then at Davenport Campbell Architecture and at COWI Gulf in Bahrain.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

POSH PERFECT An Accessory For Every Woman

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ENTREPRENEUR

lianne Ghosn has always been passionate about fashion and is a self-proclaimed accessory junkie. She believes that every woman deserves to be adorned with unique, classy and chic pieces of jewellery and it is this desire, that has led her to the launch of Posh Bahrain. What inspired you to set up Posh Bahrain? I moved to Bahrain about six years ago when I got married. It was very easy for me to fall in love with Bahrain, especially the people. They are so friendly, kind hearted, generous and beautiful in every sense. I had never been to any of the Gulf countries before, but I was always taken by the beauty and glamour of the women from the GCC countries that I met in Lebanon. They are always well dressed with the latest fashions, elegant and always wore very stylish accessories. So as a fashion connoisseur myself, and a dedicated accessory fashionista, Bahrain was the perfect place for me to set up my business. It was a meeting place for all the beautiful women from the region. So I would say what inspired me the most to set up in Bahrain, is the beauty of the Bahraini woman.

What does Posh Bahrain specialize in? Posh Bahrain caters to all ages, tastes and styles. If it’s elegant, chic, stylish or unique, Posh has it. We specialize in unique fashion jewellery and accessories of all sorts. Our signature items are handmade long necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. All the pieces are gold or silver plated, and are guaranteed quality. We are the only outlet for the very well known ‘Clipsy Earring’. Each pair is unique.

How has the start up journey been so far? I would still consider Posh Bahrain at the beginning of its journey. It’s young, hip and classy. I do not have a shop yet, but this is being planned for the near future. The road so far has been bumpy but full of pleasure and success. Mainly, due to the wonderful people I meet at each and every event as well as my dedicated customer entourage that I have been able to build. I think given the status of Bahrain as the ‘Business Friendliest’ country in the region has been the main factor of my success. Bahrain should be named the friendliest in the world, thanks to its very wise and encouraging leadership.

“There is nothing more pleasurable then being able to make your dreams come true and taking control of your own life.”

Do you have any background experience/education in this field? Not really. My love for all aspects of fashion has been my main experience.

Can you tell us about the process of picking out the pieces? Each item is carefully picked from a very limited assortment especially made for Posh Bahrain. I travel to Lebanon where I meet with my designers and manufacturers to select each collection. Unlike many other fashion jewellery outlets or businesses, I order small quantities given the uniqueness of the items, most of which is handmade. I also import from dedicated suppliers in Turkey and Hong Kong.

What has been the most exciting moment so far? I would say my participation in some of the most glamorous exhibitions and fairs in Bahrain and the lovely people I have met. Definitely, the appreciation of Posh Bahrain’s products has been the most exciting outcome thus far.

What are the main challenges you face in this industry?

How has the response been so far? Very good. I couldn’t have wished for a better response to the items I sell. Posh Bahrain is going from success to success; it’s growing steadily and confidently. Just like the beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain!

Any advice for young entrepreneurs? Take the leap! Believe in yourself and your ideas. Do not ever let anyone tell you that you are not good enough for your dreams. Work hard and make calculated steps. There is nothing more pleasurable then being able to make your dreams come true and taking control of your own life.

What plans for the future? The only natural step forward would be for me to consider opening a shop or booth of my own in one of the prominent malls in Bahrain. This is being planned carefully as we speak. I have full faith and confidence in the thriving economy of Bahrain and would like to contribute. For the time being, customers can look up POSH Bahrain items on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @poshbahrain.

With perseverance and faith in your product, I think all challenges can be overcome. I consider my greatest challenge to be: maintaining a worthy product for my customers. That’s all I really care about. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

WRAPPED UP A Gift Like No Other

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ENTREPRENEUR

aysoon Sabkar collected fancy gift-wrap paper on her trips abroad and this made her a hit among friends. But once she had brought back way too much and decided to see if there was others interested in buying it from her. And just like, Wraperie was launched.

What inspired you to set up Wraperie?

I’ve been a stationery and paper fan for as long as I can remember, probably related to my interest in writing. I had been collecting gift wrap papers from my trips overseas for a few years, which I would use to wrap presents for friends. Around a year ago, when I returned from a trip and was unpacking, I realized that I had bought more than I could possibly use myself and so I decided to set up the Instagram account and see if people shared the same interest. Having a creative outlet has always been important to me, and I have a fascination with color, so this is great because it combines both.

What does Wraperie specialize in? I love gifting and hosting, and this is what my core service is based on. The main service is gift wrapping and packaging, either for individual gifts or giveaways. I also have some party supplies like games and props, for examples for bridal and baby showers.

One of the added value things I provide on the instagram account is a Gift list which is basically top picks for gift recommendations that can be found at different stores in Bahrain for special occasions - we have done this for Eid, Mother’s Day, and most recently Christmas, which we also had a section focusing on local businesses’ products to help promote them.

How has the journey been so far? It’s more of a hobby or a passion to me at this stage, and it’s been overwhelmingly positive overall; I love seeing that people actually share the interest and like the things I post.

Do you have any background experience/education in this field?

No. It’s been a hobby up to this point but I’ve been looking into wrapping courses which are offered in the UK and I hope to be able to participate in one soon.

How do you source all the raw materials required?

Most of what I buy in terms of giftwrap and packaging is sourced from the US, and I don’t stock anything in mass quantities so most items are enough for a couple of orders only. This is to maintain exclusivity and to make sure that I always have something new to offer. For large orders I source things like ribbon, gift boxes and basic working supplies locally -and I stock up on the specialized items like specific adhesives, for example, whenever I travel.

What has been the most exciting moment so far?

The highlight for me was gergaoun in Ramadhan last year - I hadn’t initially planned on doing anything special for it with the exception of one order that I had been asked to do. But then I travelled the week before Ramadhan started and while I was away I found these gorgeous straw baskets and decided to bring some back with me and offer them as gergaoun. The response was incrediblethey were sold out by the time gergaoun came and I had to turn people down who wanted to place last minute orders. I’ve already started putting together my collection for this year so that I can accommodate more orders within different price ranges.

What are the main challenges you face in this industry? Gifting is such a personal experience; it’s not about building a mass market to me, because it’s something I do in my free time, and by default that means I can only accept a certain number of orders in any given time. Because I am following my creative passion in this, I am quite set on sticking to a small niche in the context of what else is offered in the market. There are many people who have graphic design backgrounds who offer personalized packaging and supplies. I don’t compete in that segment because I don’t want to duplicate what’s available. Establishing my niche is an ongoing challenge that I’m still working on through testing people’s tastes and preferences.

I depend mainly on word of mouth and referrals. Accessibility has been a challenge, and to offset this I place the highest priority on customer service. Reliability, honesty and modesty are very important to me - it’s not something that I just pay lip service to… and I hope the fact that people come to me repeatedly means I am getting something right. The last challenge I would say is the limitations of what you can find in Bahrain in terms of raw supplies- quality, quantity and price. I can’t normally take last minute large orders, because I simply can’t find the supplies to fulfill them.

How has the response been so far? I’ve been very lucky. I’ve got over 1000 followers on Instagram over the course of a year, and I have several repeat clients, many of whom I never knew before The Wraperie. I have received incredible support and encouragement from absolutely everyone, and have discovered that many others share the same interest, which really surprised me at the beginning. I think this experience has only reinforced what we all know- that Bahrain is a small community and everyone loves helping everyone else.

What plans for the future? To let my creativity keep challenging me, and to follow it on whatever path it leads me. I’m not over-planning this for now; it’s about the enjoyment and I always want that to be the main driver.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

MORE THAN JUST HAIR Hair by Becca’s unique hair extensions

Hair by Becca is unique business set-up, started by entrepreneur Rebecca Smith, specializing in hair extensions. So what’s unique about that? Well for one, Rebecca’s products are very different from the regular clip on versions, that can be harmful to natural hair. Second, the variety, quality and color range have attracted so much attention from the local gals, that our editor simply had to meet Rebecca and find out how this entrepreneur had managed to carve a niche for herself, in such a saturated market segment. Here is what she had to say... 34

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ENTREPRENEUR Be B efore

What is Hair by Becca known for?

‘Hair By Becca’ is only part of what I’m hoping to achieve. It all started when I was able to get the rights for the whole of the Middle East, for a new type of hair extension – Effortless Hair Extensions (EHE) which has only just been launched in the UK. It’s an American concept which involves no clips, glue or tape - things which can be damaging to the hair and scalp. In the process EHE gives you an instant make-over minus the hassles of getting extensions. All going well it will become part of a number of products I plan to introduce to the market under the banner of ‘byBecca’.

Tell us about the start up journey.

I was sent a mail shot which caught my curiosity. The claims it made – I didn’t believe so I contacted the company requesting samples. I was very pleasantly surprised when the product turned out to be exactly what the mail had claimed. No gimmicks, no scams! Next, I did a bit of a road test on them for a few months and my friends and family didn’t even notice it, despite my hair instantly changing from fine, shoulder length hair to long, thick hair. I was stunned by the results. So once again - but only this time with a business idea - I went back to the manufacturer and after a lot of corresponding, I secured the rights for the product for the entire Middle East. I launched the extensions at Beauty World in Dubai in May 2013. The response was fabulous. I’m now in talks with several beauty chains with the hope that they will distribute them for me. I sell them on-line and distribute to a few salons around the region who are promoting them. Many women in Bahrain deal with me directly too and I’m very confident my product will do well. At the same time I also acknowledge that it is such a new concept, as opposed to the old traditional methods, that it will take time for people to believe in it.

How did you manage to learn more about hair extensions and the beauty industry?

I’m a closet beauty junky and if I had to go back in time, I would probably have gone straight into the beauty industry. There are so many great products and contraptions available that you’re no longer ‘stuck with’ what you were born with. I’m just surprised that so many women are not more aware of them. Also like most industries – people are reluctant to try something new and would rather stick with what’s familiar especially when it comes to cosmetics. So rather than experiment with new concepts, too many stores offer too much of the same products, making them no different from their rivals. So it’s exciting to see how EHE will do in the region. They’ve done exceptionally well in the US and have already won ‘Best Beauty Product for 2011’ by AOL and Shape magazine. A lot of that is down to a reality show where they’re regularly featured, gaining massive publicity. Last year they won Best Beauty Product 2013 – at The British Hair Show.

What sets your brand of hair extensions apart from others?

Most people are unaware that a lot of women (any age) suffer from hair problems and relay on extensions - especially in this region. But these extensions can be very expensive, and damaging to your hair, besides being time consuming to have fitted, and constantly requiring maintenance. EHE offers an instant change with minimal cost, maintenance and no damage to your own hair or scalp. The concept is so simple – a weft of hair is attached to a very fine piece of wire which you flick onto your own head as you would a hair band then brush some hair over. It’s that quick and the results are fantastic! It offers women instant thickness and length. Or you can cut them to your own length for added volume. I offer 21 different colors, 5 different styles including YAKI ethnic hair. They can be cut, washed and styled as you would your own hair. Most importantly, unlike other extensions no-one even needs to know that you’re wearing any.

What are some of the in demand hairstyles your brand of extensions provide?

EHE can be styled as you would your own hair and as long as you know how most styles can be created including pony tails etc. But what I like the most with this product is the ease and speed with which you can apply. I consider EHE to be a great time saver for anyone from a new mum to a career girl, as its great if you’re running late for an event or work. You literally just flick it on and presto you look fabulous. They’re also great for brides to be or women who have fine hair. To be honest they’re suitable for anyone providing you don’t have really short hair.

Tell us about the most exciting moment so far.

It would have to be the response I got from launching them at Beauty World in Dubai. It was a huge event and despite being in the forgotten ‘Pavilion’. I was so rushed off my feet, that it took several months to get sensation back to my toes. The other vendors kept coming up and (jokingly) complained that I was taking all their customers. Also I get a great feeling when you see how happy you’ve made somebody who is very conscious of their hair. A lot of women are suffering from hair loss and although EHE can’t disguise thinning hair on the crown of the head, it can help detract from the problem area while giving extra volume to the rest of the hair. I’ve literally had some women in tears as they thank me.

What are the challenges you face in this industry?

Because EHE is such a new concept it has been a bit of a journey to get women to ditch their ‘clip ins or glue.’ But slow and steady wins the race. Also because there are no clips – people automatically assume it will fall of the head or the wire will break. Trust me neither will happen. I think as it becomes more successful in the UK and gains more editorial space in magazines. It will really fly off the shelf. But for now – it’s

Af er Aft

certainly been an interesting journey. I’ve had top stylist from salon chains such as Sister Bliss in Dubai stunned at the quality and simplicity of the product. Things like that also me great confidence and a boost to do more.

Have there been any events or campaigns Hair by Becca participated in?

Last year as I mentioned, I participated in Beauty World, which I hope to attend again this year too. Plus there is a big wedding show in Bahrain early this year and I have a stand and will be demonstrating my products too. Then it really is about promoting and knocking on doors. My website is currently under construction and being updated and should be running by the time your readers read this. So I planned to get very active with that too. Currently I advertise in one English and one Arabic magazine which has proved very successful.

Any advice for young entrepreneurs?

Be very careful who you partner up with. It’s like a marriage – so you have to hope you find the right partner or better still do it on your own. Also don’t be embarrassed to ask for advice. There are some incredible and very successful business people out there willing to help. So take it.

What plans for the future?

I hope this year turns out to be my best year so far. Running your own business can be very stressful especially with Bahrain’s current ‘climate’. So all going well I will thrive in my day job (publisher). But be able to grow into the region with ‘byBecca’. At times it’s exciting, frustrating and very challenging but I’m just pleased I’ve been able to get the opportunity. So now the plan is to have every women out there wearing EHE. Then I’ll move onto the next phase ‘can’t live without product’. For further information log onto www. hairbybecca.com, or find us on social media including Facebook and Instagram.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

2013:

THE YEAR OF

ENTREPRENEURS $ /RRN %DFNh It is a known fact that Bahrain is teeming with entrepreneurs. A lot of new business ideas, and a lot of new faces entered the scene in 2013. We take a look back at all the entrepreneurs we featured in 2013. 36

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AZZA AL HUJAIRI

MUNTHER BUHINDI & ABDULLA ABDUL RAHIM

Brand: Day N Age What They Sell: Funky Graphic T-Shirts How They Started Out: “Launched via FB, Twitter and Instagram and then participated in exhibitions like Market 338 and Amwaj Market.”

Brand: La Boutique 92 What She Sells: Jewellery and Accessories Why She Started: “There weren’t any independent boutiques in Bahrain, like those you would find in Europe, with character, charm and an interesting selection of fascinating and unique pieces from international independent designers.”

AMINA AL ABBASI

Brand: Amina Gallery What She Sells: Paintings and other products like mobile covers, wall hangings, jewellery boxes embossed with her artwork. Highlight of 2013: “Setting up of her retail outlet at Riyadat Mall.”

REEM AL MOUSAWI, AMINA AL ATASSI & KHALED ALMOAY Y ED

Brand: The Cookie Jar What They Sell: Cookies Best Feedback They Received: “Our most creative feedback was when a dear customer sent us a video of her son saying, “Yummy yummy in my tummy!”, which slays you with cuteness and represented the innocence or joy of cookies and our business. Kids don’t lie!”

MOHAMMED JANAHI

Brand: Cakes & Bakes What He Sells: Delicious baked goodies, and the popular ‘crownies’ How He Started: “A dear friend got me a Kitchen Aid for my birthday, after I fervently asked for it. When I got home, I started baking right away.” JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

WEAM ZABAR

MOHAMMED ASADI

AMMAR AL BANNAI

Brand: $PPDUWLPH &DIp Where it is Located: Adliya Story Behind The Name: “I have been a presenter with Bahrain TV and radio, and I do a show called Ammartimes on 93.3FM. People identify me with the show and that’s why I picked that name.”

Brand: Velloci What They Sell: Graphic Tshirts Encouragement to Artists: “We understand the challenges that they may face but we motivate all young artists to give it a shot and start small and grow. We are opening our doors to young artists to display their products in Velloci, provided that it is extremely unique and of high quality and that it meets our standards. We are giving an opportunity to those who don’t have high income or enough capital to start big.”

Brand: Namaste Bahrain What It is: Centre for Yoga, Reiki and other meditative techniques Success Story: Namaste “created a culture that needed to be created. We now look at self-discovery and the journey of finding inner peace as a necessity and not a luxury, which of course it is.”

SARA SAY YAR & MARIAM FATHI

Brand: Babushka What They Sell: decorative furniture Story Behind the Name: “In the Russian language, “Babushka” is defined as ‘grandmother or old lady’. Symbolically, like grandmothers; who are considered beautiful in every way, our old furniture pieces should be perceived in the same way. We wanted to preserve such beauty and re-store it so it can stay with us forever...”

ABEER JANAHI & ALYA JANAHI

Brand: Sugar Station What They Sell: mini cakes and desserts Best Advice Received: It was “from my father, who I consider as my mentor and role model in life. His advice is that patience and differentiation in what we serve is key to the success of a business venture”. 38

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NOUF & SHOOGH AL-MALOOD

NOOR MURAD

Brand: Chop That What She Does: provides hands-on, interactive cooking classes and educates the community about food production, eating homemade and eating “clean” food Favourite Quote: “The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude”- Julia Child

Brand: Ambient Lounge ME What They Sell: Luxury Beanbag Sofas Response So Far: “Given the rise of the “lounge culture” and the natural way our beanbags lend themselves to that setting we’ve had very good response to date, from some people wishing to add just one or two of our sofas to their homes as accents to people decking out whole patios or lounge rooms with full sets to create the ultimate statement of chic and elegant comfort.”

NOOF AL SHAKER

Brand: NS by Noof What They Sell: clutches and accessories About the Collection: “The collections are a celebration of the world’s luxuries. Rich pasts and treasures, it’s like a framed moment in time. One of a kind, for the client to call truly their own. The clutches have been designed for the true luxury connoisseur. Exclusive is important, intentionally unseen, insignia sits within each piece to attract a select clientele with common passion. The passion for pureness in luxury.”

MARA MOSTAFA

Brand: Baby M What They Sell: Baby accessories and products Why She Started: “I started creating products when I had my first child and there were certain things that I needed or looked for and they weren’t available anywhere.”

NOOR SARAIFFI

Brand: Diva Salon Where it is Located: Zinj Training Mantra: “I truly believe training and education are a stepping-stone to success. Well-trained staff is key to the success of any business. It takes two to make it work and effort needs to come from both the employer and employee.”

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

NADA TAWFEEQI

BUDOOR AL ANSARI

Brand: Pretty Little Things What They Sell: Headbands and accessories Best Marketing Tool: “Word of mouth. It’s usually the fastest and the most reliable. When people like your product they will talk about it. That’s why we ensure our customers get high quality products and services at PLT to maintain a positive word-of-mouth around the region.”

Brand: Pankooshi’s What It Is: resort focused on juice fasting and detoxing Story Behind the Name: “Pankooshi was a nickname my mother used for me when I was little. It got stuck to me until I gained weight and to me it represents the healthy vital fit version of myself.”

YAZIN AL-IRHAY IM

Brand: Canvas.bh What They Do: prints mobile and Instagram pictures on a large canvas to keep as art Toughest Challenge Faced: “Figuring out the process. We deal with small images - really small images. Figuring out how to enlarge something like a tiny Instagram image into a huge print without turning it into a pixelated mess was no easy feat!”

ELHAM HUSSAIN

Brand: Elle Maison What They Sell: Fashionable Tailoring for Ladies and Traditional Clothes for Children Start Up Journey: “I started my first retail boutique in 2003 in Al Aali mall, which was mainly imported ladies wear. I started designing small collections for Ramadan and Eid and I saw that they sell very well and from there, the idea of tailoring boutique started. So in 2007, I opened the boutique in Riffa.”

KHALID MURBATI, JAMAL MURBATI AND ALI SHARIF Brand: Franky Joe’s What They Are: A Homegrown Fast food Franchise Most Exciting Moment: “Our favorite was the first dinar we ever received. I guess it was the fact that we created a product and decorated with a brand and our consumers felt that it deserved the buck.” 40

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NEZAR KADHEM, TAHANI ABBAS AND MAY YATEEM

Brand: eat. What It is: A mobile application that allows users to make restaurant reservations online Most Difficult Aspect: “To go from an idea to an actual product. We surveyed over 200 people, set up a stand at in Seef Mall, and spoke to numerous restaurant owners, just to validate our assumptions that our concept is in fact a need in Bahrain. Where we stand today comes from a turbulent journey, a journey that made the team stronger and more confident about the vision of the company.”

MUNEERA OBAIDLI

Brand: Vida What It does: Promotes Holistic Wellness and Healthy Food Habits Why They Set Up: “As I immersed myself in the health food market I realized repeatedly that many people are craving support and guidance with integrating balance and living a more healthy, vibrant and joyful life.”

MOHAMMED SHAIKHALDEEN, ZAKARIA BEN HAMOUCHE, IBRAHIM MOKDAD AND AHMED YOSRI

Brand: exa.io What It is: A cloud rendering service for animation studios, 3D artists and architects, making rendering 112.7x faster. Highlight of 2013: ” We were able to make Bahrain proud by making it to the top eight (out of 18,000!) in the Intel Global Challenge competition that took place in Silicon Valley; organized by Stanford University & University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. With such victory, Exa.io made Bahrain the first ever Arab country to make it to the Top 8 finalists. The competition included many innovative startup from different countries in the world varying from most east Japan and China till most west Chile. Prior to this Exa.io has won 1st Place in Intel® Business Challenge MENA 2013.”

FAIZA SAEED

Brand: Faiza Saeed Mosaic What It Does: Sells one of a kind mosaic pieces and teaches the art of mosaic. Favorite Piece: “Each and every piece has its own value of thought, creativity, time, and money invested into it, making each of them special in every sense of the word. However, if I’d have to choose, the pieces I’m most satisfied with are my first Blue Peacock piece, Circles of Love, and Eight Eastern Jars.”

ALANOOD AL KHALIFA

Brand: Gloss Salon Where It Is Located: Mariott Apartments, Juffair Secret of Success: “Finding the right people was a challenge in the beginning. Hiring professional and welcoming staff and creating harmony within the team is extremely important. I am really proud of the team I built and I see it as the anchor of Gloss Salon’s success.” JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ALI MOHSEN

RAWIA RASHID BUCHEERI

Brand: PaperV What It is: A story telling social network that combines photos, video & audio into a single story Exciting Moments: “Definitely the appreciation and positive feedback I am getting from the users. The most exciting part is when people tell me how PaperV makes it easier for them to share stories. Another memorable moment for us is when we received our first award as a 2nd place Winner in Innovation in Technology (Invotech) competition, organized as part of the eShabab 2013.”

AMER ZEITOUN

Brand: Maki What It Is: Japanese Restaurant Challenges of the Food Biz: “Food business seems easy and simple, yet in reality it is very complicated, sensitive and requires a lot of dedication, attention to details and personal involvement in order to achieve continuous success. One of the biggest challenges in this business is the establishment of harmony amongst all staff members (kitchen and service staff) and succeed in making all staff members work as one team. Another challenge is to maintain and elevate food quality as time progresses.”

AMAL AL MULLA

Brand: Amal Al Mulla What It Is: Ready To Wear Fashion Label Challenge: “The whole process of building up our brand has been a challenge, in a good way of course. I always say that there was nothing tougher than the start. It was always the start up plan that got us the most anxious through it all, though there will always be a few obstacles to face when dealing with certain things whether in the design process, the production process or the business process. Nevertheless, it’s never something to shy away from as we take whatever challenge comes our way as another way to push our brand forward.” 42

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Brand: Powder Closet What It Sells: Fashionable Clothes & Acessories Inspiration: “I was the kind of little girl who used to create her own fashion show in the living room, of which the highlight was heart shaped sunglasses and my mother’s heels. As I grew up, my passion for fashion grew as well. My friends and family were always pushing me to put it to good use, and I thought why not! Powder Closet is my first step to sharing my passion with the world.”

MARYAM SAMEER SHAKEEB

Brand: Sharbat.bh What They Sell: Traditional Drinks With A Modern Twist Start Up Journey: “As a young Bahraini individual, I always wanted to be independent and have a business of my own. While I was trying to finalize a business idea, I decided it would be best to keep it in the realm of something I know well: cooking. So I launched a small baking business, which also served some of these dinks. I noticed that the drinks were a great success, and so I decided to expand on that. With the support of my lovely family, friends and customers, I was successfully kick-start a unique new business.”

AMIRA HAJI

Brand: AB Communications What It Is: Corporate Event Management & Lifestyle Publicity Company Exciting Project: “The event that I organized in Spain, “Arab Cab 2011”, was a very interesting project. I think I was the youngest person there, and I was one of the very few women there as well. The delegates were atleast 20-50 years olders than I, and so, it was quite a thrill to achieve what I did.”

EBRAHIM HEJAIRI

Brand: Burger Lounge What They Sell: Gourmet Burgers Marketing Strategy: “We currently hold a strong presence on Social Media through our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts where we continuously run photo, art, and other creative competitions to keep our customers engaged with the restaurant and reward them with a different cool prize each time. We keep our menu exciting with a new burger, a salad with a twist, interesting starters for friends to share, or a decadent and rich dessert every once in a while.”

AHMED M. JAWAD & JAWAD M. JAWAD

Brand: Shakeaway What They Sell: Milkshakes Popular Drink: “The choices differ from person to person, and on the mood they are in. But at the moment, our best sellers are the red velvet shake, Dave and Sara. Dave is the Ferrero Rocher and Kinder Beuno shake with a crumbled flake on top and Sara is beautifully classic combination of rose and pistachios topped with whipped cream.”

MARYAM AHMED JANAHI Brand: MAJ What They Sell: handmade bags and clutches Inspiration: “Most of my inspiration comes from the latest trends of fashion. I try and bring my own interpretation to the latest from the fashion world. I also draw inspiration from the ancient history of Rome, such as the Trajan Decius Era and Late 50’s and 60’s movies and music and the classical paintings and drawings. I also look at the age group of the target audience, and I make sure that I produce what the customer wants with my own personal touch.”

RASHA KHUNJI

MAYSSA AL GHAWAS

Brand: Playworks What They Do: Interior Designing & Decorating Influences While Designing: “The client’s wants, needs, and personality. I try to compliment it, enhance it, and bring out the best in it.”

Brand: Blossom Events What They Do: Organize events, conferences and exhibitions Most Exciting Aspect: “Seeing my entrepreneurs become successful. There are many who have taken their baby steps with Blossom Events and now have successful businesses. At every step of the way, we are there to assist them in any way they need. We try to make them participate in more events and activities, especially if it means representing their brand abroad.” JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

MARYAM ABDUL RAHIM

WAFA OBAIDAT

Brand: Purple Swirl What They Sell: Frozen Yoghurts Challenge: “It is a competitive market. Frozen yogurt joints creeping up on every corner. Our main challenge is to maintain the higher standards in the market at a very competitive price.”

ALI AL KHALIFA

Brand: 2UJDQLFV )RRG &DIp Where It is Located: Seef Mall Exciting Aspect: “Educating people about the benefits of organic food for health and changing lives. Many people are living healthier lifestyles or have strict diets, and our store is the main place where they can find ingredients that fit within their dietary requirements.”

DR. MOHAMED AHMED JUMAN

Brand: Red Stallions Interactive What It Does: provides a one-stop online shop for gamers Inspiration: “I have a strong personal interest in new technologies, which I have often explored in different business ventures. When we explored the gaming industry, we realized it was a huge industry, and that nothing existed for the Middle-East gamers, who had to either purchase packaged products, or download in a hap hazardous manner from game providers in the US or Europe. So we started talking to gamers in the region, understanding their expectations and their requirements, explored the opportunity and evaluated a MENA-dedicated concept, which has become Red Stallion Interactive, RSI.” 44

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Brand: Obai & Hill Challenge: “For me, one of the facts that made it tougher was that I was doing it all on my own, I did not want any support from my family, and I did not want to take a loan from the bank. Slowly, one step at a time, I managed to get a few accounts and we were lucky to get rent-free space from Zaid Al Zoubi for a year. He really set the platform for me to work up my foundation and hire staff.”

NOUF & FAJER AL PACHACHI

Brand: Pachachic What They Sell: VKDEE\ KRPH DFFHVVRULHV DQG GpFRU Why They Started: “When I began to furnish my place, I couldn’t find an extensive range of shabby-chic furniture or accessories to adorn my home. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands – I explored online and during my travels and ended up with great finds at reasonable prices. I also had a few ideas of my own so found a carpenter I trusted to create unique furniture and accessories of our own; cue Pachachic.”

MAI ALMOAY ED

Brand: The Makeup Manual What She Does: Make up classes Start Up Journey: “The Make Up Manual is more about passion, than about the business aspect. I was a banker, with a makeup addiction. With the full time job, I was only able to give a little time to the classes and my blog. But I knew for sure that I had to give more time for my passion, so I quit the banking gig and here I am. So far so good. The demand keeps me going. I have had two big workshops, apart from my regular classes and the calls and enquiries are constantly pouring in.”

TARIQ & LEENA AL OLAIM Y

Brand: 3BL Associates What They Do: Bahrain’s first social impact consultancy and thinkdo-tank, which was established in 2010 to further multi-stakeholder sustainable and regenerative development in the MENA region, using a systems approach. Story Behind the Name: “‘3BL’ stands for Triple Bottom Line, which is a term coined by British academic and corporate sustainability godfather, John Elkington. Essentially, unlike the traditional ‘bottom line’, which is profit; a triple bottom line posits that you must measure and perform at the intersection of Social Equity, Environmental Sustainability, and Economic Prosperity to achieve sustainable development. It’s also commonly known as the 3 P’s: People, Planet, Profit.”

FATEMA MAJDI

Brand: Fatema Majdi Art What They Sell: art based mobile covers and accessories Inspiration While Painting: “My feeling at that very moment, I paint what I feel. Usually, I paint right before I sleep as in midnight because that is when you are most in touch with your feelings.”

HUSSAIN KADHEM & JOSEPH HENRIQUES

Brand: JC Tennis Academy What they Do: Give Tennis coaching Highs & Lows of Entrepreneurship: “I cannot really put my foot on it specifically, but first and foremost, we are on an emotional rollercoaster ride unlike anything we have ever experienced. If you do not have the right staff you flip rapidly from day-to-day, one where you are euphorically convinced you are going to own the world, to a day in which doom seems only months away.”

JUNE AL SAFFAR

Brand: Things To Do What They Sell: arts and crafts requirements and equestrian materials Influences While Setting Up: “At the time when I first set up shop, communication means were very slow and very little information was actually available. So a lot depended on word of mouth. During those days, my main influences were actually the people of Bahrain who, even back then were eager to learn new things and were great communicators!”

MANAL AL KHAN

Brand: Raindrops on Roses What They Sell: Personalized Frames With Handmade Crochet Names Influence: “The frames are customized based on my client’s fabric, name, and frame choice. I can add extra pieces of FURFKHW DSSOLTXpV WR the frames such as flowers, cars, bows, etc.”

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

MOHAMMED AL BINATEEJ

Brand: The Crystal Cabin What They Sell: collectibles, be it stamps, coins or other artifacts Most Unique Item Sold: “A very rare highly prized 1933 Bahrain King George Stamp. A true beauty in fabulous condition.”

SARA AL KHAJA

Brand: Sarollina Sweets What They Sell: customized cakes Most Exciting Moment: “Once I received an order from a woman in Saudi Arabia to make a cake for her birthday. She came all the way to Bahrain just to collect the cake. I was on top of the world, to have that kind of appreciation from outside our Kingdom.”

DEENA AL ANSARI & SOUHA SAWAN

Brand: The Mobile Spa What They Do: Bring the Spa To Your doorstep Most Exciting Moment: “Meetings people who don’t know us personally but know the business and hearing them speak about the hygiene, comfort, luxury and quality The Mobile Spa delivers. There is nothing like complements from clients.”

DR. AHMED BAHMAN

Brand: Trust Traders What They Sell: Roofing, stones and other building materials Why He Started: “20 years ago I was searching for a particular product and I could not find it in the market. I looked in every building material store and showroom but it was unavailable so I had to order it from abroad. And it was here where I decided to launch a company to provide unique products for the Bahraini public and Trust Traders was officially launched in 1994.” 46

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PAQIZA ABDUL RAHMAN

Brand: Paco Tacos What They Are: A mobile Mexican Food stall Popular Items: “That’s a difficult question but I will have to pick the Beef Tacos, Chicken Fajita wraps in Spinach Tortilla, Virgin Mojito and our extremely spicy salsa.”

HEAR YE!! ADVICE TO ENTREPRENEURS Keeping in mind that this is the Entrepreneurs Special edition, we spoke to a few business leaders and successful entrepreneurs to find out what their advice would be to those who are starting out in a business.

EDMOND MOUTRAN Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Memac Ogilvy & Mather Holding

SAMEER UCHI

CEO, Maxmedia Co. WLL

“Don’t delay do it today! Being an entrepreneur has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things in my life. If your thinking of becoming an entrepreneur than my advice to you is this; Don’t delay do it today! If you truly think you can do a better job than someone else, or have a better idea, service or product than what is currently out there, then go for it. Take that risk and make that uncomfortable leap. At the end of the day, entrepreneurs are willing to take a bigger risk than most people can, so they are able to spend the rest of their life like most people can’t. So go ahead, you have nothing to lose, only things to gain and failure is the best lesson a person can gain in his life.”

“Entrepreneurship is a spirit, an attitude. Why would anyone leave his comfort zone to start a business? One question made me do it. “If I don’t do it, I will keep on asking myself, what would have happened if I did it?” That would have been a question I couldn’t have answered. A true entrepreneur is a doer not a dreamer; he is a risk taker. The harder you work the luckier you get; it is as simple as that! You should never be afraid to innovate; only innovation will distinguish you from ordinary people. Dedication, commitment and passion would then take you from Good to Great. But if you really want to succeed, always impress people; deliver each and every time! Prohibit excuses! Still there are fundamental principles that go along with success; the Values and Morals that you sourced from your parents and community, these should dictate the Ethics on how you behave facing difficulties. Without these standards, business would lose its humane side and its purpose of impacting the lives of your community. So do something, today! Because if you don’t do it, you will keep on asking yourself, “What would have happened if I did it?”

KHALID ALI AMIN Chairman of the GCC Commercial Arbitration Center’ Vice Chairman at Tamkeen

“Dare to dream and dream big. Set yourself some goals, then research it in depth and make a plan to achieve it. Always insist on succes, don’ let a few failures daunt you. All the big guns both in the Kingdom, and across the GCC started out small and look where they are today. They wanted to do and they did acheve what they set out to. You can be in the same spot too. But be ready for challenges and setbacks and people telling you that it can’t be done. Be passionate, be as prepare as you can be and be open minded, as you will learn something new everyday. Just go ahead and take the first step, take that leap of faith.” JANUARY / FEBRU FEBRUARY RUARY 2014

NABEEL KANOO Director, Kanoo Group

ANDREW HANNA Chief Commercial Officer, Viva Bahrain

“Never give up. Keep on trying and there are always opportunities out there for you. At some point in your entrepreneurial journey, it would seem like you’ve come too far for nothing and that things are not working out, but do not give up, you might just be a few steps away from success. Hang in there and work hard and stay committed to your goals.”

MAHESH DEVJI Managing Director, Devji Aurum

“Jewellery is all about passion, the will to succeed and the patience to make something beautiful out of a lump of a metal. For the youngsters, my advice would be to develop an eye for detail and excellence; Have passion, faith for the rich tradition of exquisite Bahraini Jewelry and success will reflect in the happiness you get from every creation.”

MOHAMMED SAJID Chairman, Gold Jewellery and Pearl Committee of Bahrain

“The jewellery business is what I am familiar with and I would like to stress on the fact that it provides excellent opportunities for entrepreneurs. There is help available, if you want to set up a shop or to learn or to see how it works. You can asses it on your own before starting out. What you need to concentrate on is to build a niche market, produce a unique item, a unique collection which will set yourself apart from the rest and you will be able to find success.”

CARL GOULD Author of The 7 Stages of Small Business Success & Entrepreneurial Mentor

“The advice I would give is to make work, enjoyable and fun. Everyone likes to have fun. If you enjoy what you do and are passionate about it, it will become less strenuous and you will become more productive.” 48

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“There are certain musts that you need to focus on to be successful in the business you choose to start, operate and grow into a profitable entity. Success is a combination of hard work, dedication and the flexibility to adapt to changing environments. To start with, do what you enjoy. It’s hard work so you might as well like what you do! Believe in your business and the products or services that you offer. It’s easy to get sidetracked and not stay motivated, but if you remain committed to your business and deliver quality in everything you do, then the rest will start falling into place. Being truly focused on your customers is most critical and sometimes as you grow your business, you can be distracted by operational issues. In that case, always ask yourself, what is best for my customer and that will guide your decision. Planning and analyzing every aspect of your business is a must and a habit every entrepreneur should develop, practice and maintain. If you are not finance savvy, then make sure you engage the right people that can help you manage your business finances. Last but certainly not least, question and challenge. Always question if you can do things better or differently and never accept things on their face value. Challenge old ways of doing things. If you can change them and do them differently, then you will differentiate yourself and stand out.”

DEEMA AL HADDAD MAHMOOD AL YOUSIF Director, Al Haddad Motors / President, Entrepreneur Owner, Deemz Jewellery

“Never give up, be persistent! If plan A doesn’t work, go for plan B and be ready with a plan C & D as well. Realize that there are no shortcuts to success. Commitment and perseverance is key. Always look at the big picture, and learn from your successes and failures. Things are not always what they seem, a setback might actually turn out to be positive for you and your business. And if you are successful, don’t get complacent and get into a comfort zone. Keep working at it; there is no limit to how much you can succeed. And always insist on innovation, in the product, in the production, marketing and all other services you provide.”

Organization Bahrain

“Walt Disney said “the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing”; this is probably the most important advice there is for entrepreneurs. I firmly believe entrepreneurship is born out of a personal need to effect change, to make things better, to offer a better service, rather than it being an inherited trait or something that one is born into. So throw away those definitions that shackle you and just get going. If you fail, as you most probably will, use that mistake to learn and use its energy to grow. Get up and get onto the next project armed with your newly acquired knowledge. The next thing I would advise budding entrepreneurs to do is to get a trusted mentor. Through mentorship one could bounce the ideas off and gain from their experience and expertise. This is so important that if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would gladly give my mentor an equity stake in my budding enterprise in exchange for the knowledge I would gain. Above all, don’t lose heart. Entrepreneurship is a difficult “job” and one shouldn’t take it lightly. If one craves security, then better seek an employment opportunity; however if you think you can change the world, deal with the ups and downs of bringing that vision to life, suffer the stress and anxiety, and live a few years working very hard to build your business in order for you to enjoy many more years with the rewards, then entrepreneurship might just be for you.”

JUNE AL SAFFAR Owner, Things To Do

“The word ‘entrepreneur’ is being used constantly these days. Remember that it is the small details of your business, which will count in the long run since looking after these enables you constantly to know and monitor your business and how you can improve it. Although media exposure is important in a new business it does not supersede ‘word of mouth’ recommendations, which will ensure that your business can grow on the foundations on which it is built.”

NEIL FOGARTY Entrepreneurial Mentor & Partner, Spark Global Business

“Ready Fire Aim. Too many unsuccessful entrepreneurs spend too much time either just talking about their idea or waiting for it to be perfect before launching it – and so it NEVER happens! My advice is simple: set out to fail – fail quickly and fail fantastically because this is how you will learn; this is how you will find out what the market wants and this will help you to understand the importance of trying, perseverance and commitment to your idea. To be an entrepreneur… be brave!”

MURTAZA ABDULLA Chairman , 5 Stars Group

“I think the best thing that an entrepreneur can do is to LISTEN. Listen and learn, and develop your brand. Use all the knowledge and resources at your disposal. Be more open to the people, be it staff or vendors or clients. And always aim big. Don’t enter the market with an old idea, come up with something unique and something that works in the long term set up.” JANUARY / FEBRU FEBRUARY RUARY 2014

ABDULLA FAKHRO Director, Fakhro

Restaurant Company “There is always a lot of risk involved when you start out, but you need to take the first step. It is okay if something doesn’t go as planned or if you make a mistake. After all, experience is the best teacher. Take risks when you’re younger so that you’re more experienced with time and still have the rest of your life to make up for any money you have lost.”

AHLAM JANAHI Chairperson, Bahrain Business Women’s Society

“It is important that entrepreneurs take responsibility, and stay committed to it. Have a business plan in place and work hard towards achieving its objectives. The products or services should be of the top quality; quality should never be compromised. And building trust is very important to the success of any business. If you are just starting out, talk to experts in the field, and learn from their experiences. Try and work in the field for a while to get some practical experience. Learn the techniques of marketing, including social media and use it to the maximum. And to those who already have a business, stay committed to keeping the quality high.”

HUDA JANAHI Director, Global Cargo Services/ Owner of Horsepride & Winner of Shaikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Makhtoum Award for the Young Business Leaders

“I would advise anyone with entrepreneurial intentions to start early. Because it is a time-taking process, from the planning to getting it organized to launching it to reaping its rewards, it takes quite a bit of time. Also realize that it is like a roller-coaster ride, one day is exciting and positive, the next day, things can go completely wrong. But don’t let it get to you. Take each day as an experience and march ahead. Fight for it. Every crisis can open more doors of opportunity for you. Don’t accept excuses, even from yourself: market is collapsing or people are no buying, all of these can be sorted with the right marketing plan. And be creative about it. Your product should be unique and your marketing should be unique as well. And once you do catch the attention of your potential customers, make sure you keep them happy by providing them the best quality, both in products and after sales and customer service.” 50

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

DR. BORA AKHTAN Economist

“The way to success is not as bumpy as some might think and the failure of some should not hinder the success of others. Business is risky; however, to build a strong business and minimize risk, entrepreneurs should focus on constructing a strong launching pad with a clear plan and objectives in mind. This can only be achieved through education, awareness, training and mentoring programmes, which continue to be important to prepare them to understand and cater well for the local market and its needs. From idea to funding to launching a business, an entrepreneur needs to study the market and make a smart choice of business/ product/service, consult with experts and other entrepreneurs who preceded him/ her in the same business of choice. For sustainability, entrepreneurs once started should maintain a steady business through providing quality products/services that live up to the promise and deliver accordingly, keep a watch on competitors, development and expansion opportunities, and most important, uphold a good and professional image and reputation. The wise and visionary government has allocated hundreds of millions in funds towards supporting entrepreneurship and SMEs, which entrepreneurs can receive through official bodies such as Tamkeen, BDB and others. These millions are there to take serious, smart and creative entrepreneurs through the long but rewarding process of business start-up and the following business development stages.”

PROF. DR. EHSAN SHANA’ A FAIZA SAEED Senior HR Relationship Business Advisor Manager at Ahli United Bank & Entrepreneur

“Be a free thinker. You are an entrepreneur therefore you are not mediocre, you are not afraid to take risks therefore make mistakes and learn from them, and give yourself no boundaries. Become the master of your field by reading and researching and collecting everything you need to know, and use your strong knowledge in making fearless decisions.”

LEENA AL-OLAIMY RASHA KHUNJI Founder, 3BL Associates Entrepreneurial “It is not for the faint-hearted! You must be passionate about what you’re doing because you can only work 90+ hours a week if you absolutely LOVE what you’re doing! But to give some less generic advice, I think one of the most important things to cultivate is mindfulness. You need to be self-aware, introspective and act from your heart’s core; filter through the clutter and make strategic decisions and the choices towards your life’s purpose with as much clarity as possible. It’s very easy to fall into what is known in the social impact sphere as “mission drift”. You also need to be grounded, patient, and have the ability to deal with a substantial amount of uncertainty and ambiguity. But know that as you go through the lows, there are some very exhilarating highs!”

Mentor

“If you have a dream, don’t just dream it, go and do it. If you need help, there are many people and entities to assist you. Nowadays, there are many organizations like Tamkeen and BDB, which are willing to help you. Reach out to us and you’ll get the help you need.”

PhD Operational Research

“Visionary Entrepreneurs should take immediate interest in the current agricultural business opportunities to lay the foundation for a successful business and close the growing gap between supply and demand in the country. Those who are following the news nowadays will realize that water and food supplies are becoming a scarcity due to climate change, agricultural pests and wars! Consequently, current local evidence shows an increase of vegetable and fruit prices in the markets of Bahrain. This alarming increase serves as an eye opener for a business opportunity to those who are interested in introducing/providing successful agricultural products/services to local markets. The agricultural business should become an important and sensitive area of interest for entrepreneurs; it is a field that starts with simple agricultural projects and may lead to a huge needed food industry and is open to a large section of Bahrainis; from engineering degree holders down to high school graduates, with reasonable skills and experience in the field and of course with the wise and visionary government’s support and funding. Although Bahrain is a small island, nevertheless, it has a considerable green belt of 174 Hectars wide and 182 Hectars long that entrepreneurs can, with the current government support and funding, turn it into a great and much needed food production resource, which eventually can develop into a successful local food industry. This opportunity can help interested entrepreneurs to start a successful business, close the growing gap between supply and demand and cause a partial agricultural self-sufficiency.”

DR. CLARE BECKETT-MCINROY President, Bizladies GCC / President, Beckett McInroy Consultancy

“What makes entrepreneurs stand out from the rest? Passion, energy, drive and dedication. For me it’s also about networking authentically and reciprocating - following up on contacts, helping others connect and being myself. Entrepreneurs need to develop an incremental mindset (coined by Carol Dweck, Harvard University) where it’s all about the learning, action, reflection and actually being prepared to fail! Develop a strategic, professional sounding board with people you trust so that you can ‘sound’ ideas. Finally, speak to people who will ask you naïve questions because there is a lot of power in this approach.” JANUARY / FEBRU FEBRUARY RUARY 2014

REPRESENTING

A Chat With EO Bahrain President, Mahmood Al Yousif

ENTREPRENEURS EO Bahrain, or the Bahrain Chapter of the Entrepreneeurs Organiization ti was established in 2004 and it gives its memers a un nique opportunity to sharee their exeriences, and to learn and grrow. EO Bahrain President, Mahmood Al Yousif tells us more.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

What is EO Bahrain?

dŚĞ ŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ͛ KƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉͲďĂƐĞĚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟŽŶ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽǁ ǁŚŝůĞ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŶŇƵĞŶƟĂů ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŽĨ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ tŝƚŚ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϬ͕ϬϬϬ ŐůŽďĂů ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ϯϲ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͕ K͛Ɛ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĞƌƐ͕ ĐŽͲĨŽƵŶĚĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ͘ K ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϰ ĂŶĚ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůǇ ŚĂƐ ϯϴ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ĐŽůůĞĐƚŝǀĞůǇ ĞŵƉůŽǇ ŽǀĞƌ ϱ͕ϬϬϬ ĞŵƉůŽǇĞĞƐ ƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ h^ΨϮϬϬ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ŝŶ ĂŶŶƵĂů ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ͘ DĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ K ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ĂƌĞ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƉĂƌĞů ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŽƌŝĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ sŝĚĞŽ WƌŽĚƵĐƚŝŽŶ͘

As its president, what are your responsibilities?

DǇ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƚǇ ĂƐ Ă ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƵƌ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚŚĞǇ ƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞ ďǇ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂŶ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟŽŶ͘ / ĚŽ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ĞŶŐĂŐĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ďŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƚƌĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĨƵůĮůů ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŽůĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ƌĞŐŝŵĞƐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ďǇ K 'ůŽďĂů͘ tĞ ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚůǇ ƐĞĞŬ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ƐĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ͘ tĞ ĚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ďǇ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐ ĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŽƉĞŶ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ ƚŽ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ĨĞĞĚďĂĐŬ͘͘

What are some of the activities that EO Bahrain has done?

EO Bahrain has created a number ŽĨ ůŽĐĂů͕ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĞĮƚ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ƉƌŝŵĂƌŝůǇ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞƌ 'ůŽďĂů ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟŽŶƐ͘ K ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ŚŽůĚƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ŝŶǀŝƟŶŐ ǁŽƌůĚͲĐůĂƐƐ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ƚĂĐŬůŝŶŐ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ƚŽƉŝĐƐ͕ ĞǆƉůŽƌŝŶŐ ĞǀĞƌǇƚŚŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƚŽ ƐƉŝƌŝƚƵĂůŝƚǇ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ͛ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐĞĚ͕ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐŚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͕ ůŝǀĞ ďĞƩĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĮŶĚ ŝŶŶĞƌ ŚĂƌŵŽŶǇ͘ tĞ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƐƚŽƉ Ăƚ ůŽĐĂů ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͘ tĞ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ Ă 'ůŽďĂů >ĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŽŽŬ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϮ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ŝƌĐƵŝƚ͘ dŚĞ '> ǁĂƐ ĂƩĞŶĚĞĚ ďǇ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϯϬϬ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͘ ^ŽŵĞ ĐĂŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĂƐ ĨĂƌ ĂǁĂǇ ĂƐ :ĂƉĂŶ͕ ^ĞĂƩůĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͘ / ǁŽƵůĚ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚ ǇŽƵƌ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ƚŽ ǁĂƚĐŚ Ă ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ '> Ăƚ ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬ ĞŽďĂŚƌĂŝŶ͘ĐŽŵͬŵĞĚŝĂͬĐŚĂƉƚĞƌͲǀŝĚĞŽƐͬ ĞŽͲŐůĐͲďĂŚƌĂŝŶͬ

dŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ͕ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚŽůĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŶƵĂů ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů K DĂũůŝƐ ŝŶ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ Ϯϭ Ͳ Ϯϯ &ĞďƌƵĂƌǇ ϮϬϭϰ ĂŶĚ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϬϬ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ ĂŶĚ WĂŬŝƐƚĂŶ ƚŽ ĂƚƚĞŶĚ͘ K DĂũůŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ĨŝƌƐƚ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ŬŝŶĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ƉĂĐŬĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌĂĐƚŝĐĂů ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞƐ ƐŚĂƌĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƚŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌŝĂů ĨŝĞůĚ ƚŽ ĂƐƐŝƐƚ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ŝŶ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ǀĞŶƚƵƌĞƐ͘ &ƌŽŵ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ ƐĞůĞĐƚŝŶŐ ďŽĂƌĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͕ ĚĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚŝŶŐ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƉůĂŶƐ͕ Žƌ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƚŝŽŶ ŝŶ ďƌĂŶĚŝŶŐ͕ K DĂũůŝƐ ǁŝůů ůĞĂǀĞ ŝƚƐ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ ĂƌŵĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂĚǇ ƚŽ ƚĂĐŬůĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ Ăƚ K DĂũůŝƐ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ͕ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ǁŝůů ĚŝǀĞ ĚĞĞƉ ŝŶƚŽ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ͛Ɛ ĂŶĐŝĞŶƚ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌŝĂů ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ͕ ǁĂůŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝĐŽŶŝĐ WĞĂƌů dƌĂŝů͕ ĨĞĂƐƚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŚŽƵƐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂů ƐŝŐŶŝĨŝĐĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞǆĐŝƚŝŶŐ ŝƐůĂŶĚ ŽĨ DƵŚĂƌƌĂƋ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŝŶĂůůǇ͕ ůĞĂǀŝŶŐ ĞŶĞƌŐŝǌĞĚ͕ ĞŶŐĂŐĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ͘ K DĂũůŝƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚĞůĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ^ŚĂŝŬŚ ďƌĂŚŝŵ ŝŶ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ ůͲ<ŚĂůŝĨĂ ĞŶƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ƵůƚƵƌĞ Θ ZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ ,Ğƌ ǆĐĞůůĞŶĐǇ ^ŚĂŝŬŚĂ DĂŝ ůͲ<ŚĂůŝĨĂ͘ dŚĞ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ǁŝůů ƚĂŬĞ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ DŽŚĂŵŵĞĚ ŝŶ &ĂƌŝƐ ,ŽƵƐĞ͛Ɛ ĂƵĚŝƚŽƌŝƵŵ͕ ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ďƵ ĂďŽƵŶ ,ŽƵƐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ůĂƐƚ ďƵƚ ŶŽƚ ůĞĂƐƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůů ĚĂǇ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ^ŚĂŝŬŚ ďƌĂŚŝŵ ĞŶƚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĂƵĚŝƚŽƌŝƵŵ͘

What are the benefits that EO Bahrain members get?

dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŵĂŶǇ ďĞŶĞĨŝƚƐ ĂŶ K ŵĞŵďĞƌ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ ďǇ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƵŐƵƐƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͘ tĞ ŐĞƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽǁ͕ ĂƐ ƐƵĐŚ͖ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂŶǇ ůŽĐĂů ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůůǇ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƐĞŵŝŶĂƌƐ͕ ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƐ͕ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ĐŽŶĚĞŶƐĞĚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚǇ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ Ɛ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ͛ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƚŝŽŶ ; KͿ͕ ǇŽƵ ŐĞƚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ƚĂŝůŽƌͲŵĂĚĞ ďĞŶĞĨŝƚƐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ŐƌŽǁ ǇŽƵƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞĐŽŵĞ Ă ďĞƚƚĞƌ ůĞĂĚĞƌ͘ ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ͕ K ŽĨĨĞƌƐ ŶƵŵĞƌŽƵƐ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ĞǆĐĞů ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͕ ǇŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͕ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌǇ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǇŽƵ ǁŽƌŬ͘ zŽƵ͛ǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŝƚ ƚŚŝƐ ĨĂƌ ĂƐ Ă ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽǁŶĞƌͶ ůĞƚ K ƚĂŬĞ ǇŽƵ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ůĞǀĞů͊ Ɛ ĂŶ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ͕ ŝƚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ůŽŶĞůǇ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ͙ ďƵƚ ŝƚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ďĞ͘ Ŷ ĞůŝƚĞ͕ ŐůŽďĂů ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽǁŶĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ͛ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƚŝŽŶ ; KͿ ĞǆŝƐƚƐ ƚŽ ŐƵŝĚĞ ǇŽƵ ĂůŽŶŐ ǇŽƵƌ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌŝĂů ũŽƵƌŶĞǇ͘ ^ŽŵĞƚŝŵĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ũŽƵƌŶĞǇ ŝƐ ĚŝĨĨŝĐƵůƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂŶǇ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽǁŶĞƌ ĞĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶ ŝƐ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĨŝŶĚ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ǁŚĞƌĞ &ŽƌƵŵ ĐŽŵĞƐ ŝŶ͘ tŚĂƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ǇŽƵ ŐŝǀĞ ĨŽƌ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ďŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ĂĚǀŝƐŽƌƐ Žƌ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ůŝŬĞŵŝŶĚĞĚ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ĂŶĚ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬƐ͕ Ăůů ŽĨ ǁŚŽŵ ĐĂŶ ŽĨĨĞƌ ǇŽƵ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŝŽŶ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨŝƌƐƚͲŚĂŶĚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ͍ dŚŝƐ ŝŶǀĂůƵĂďůĞ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ŝƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ &ŽƌƵŵ͕ Ă ƵŶŝƋƵĞ͕ ŵĞŵďĞƌͲĚƌŝǀĞŶ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ďƌŝŶŐƐ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ĞŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ϭϮ ƚŽƉ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƉĞĞƌͲƚŽͲƉĞĞƌ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͕ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘ ǀĞƌǇ ŵŽŶƚŚ͕ &ŽƌƵŵ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ƚĂŬĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŝŶ ŐƌŽǁƚŚͲŽƌŝĞŶƚĞĚ ŵĞĞƚŝŶŐƐ͕ ĞŵƉůŽǇŝŶŐ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ƉƌŽƚŽĐŽůƐ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ Ă ƚƌƵƐƚŝŶŐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶ ƐĂĨĞůǇ ĞǆƉůŽƌĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌͲŽŶĞ ďĞŶĞĨŝƚ ŽĨ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ͛ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ ĨŽƌƵŵ ƉůĂǇƐ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƌŽůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ K ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘

“The most exciting part of “becoming” an entrepreneur is the sense of freedom one gets.” JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

/Ĩ ǇŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͕ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĞǆƉĂŶĚ ǇŽƵƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬƐ͕ Žƌ ĂƌĞ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŵĂůů ĂŶĚ ůĂƌŐĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽǁŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ƌĞĂĚǇ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞƐƚ ƉƌĂĐƚŝĐĞƐ͕ ůŽŽŬ ŶŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ͘ Ɛ Ă ŐůŽďĂů ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌŝĂů ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ͕ K ŽĨĨĞƌƐ ǇŽƵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚŝŽŶƐ͕ ƚŽŽůƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐŚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǆƚ ƐƚĞƉ ŝŶ ǇŽƵƌ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌŝĂů ũŽƵƌŶĞǇ͘ ǆƉůŽƌĞ ďĞůŽǁ ƚŚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ĞǆĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ďĞŶĞĨŝƚƐ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐŚŝƉ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ͗ Ì WantWant your own personal board of advisors? Welcome to our entrepreneur Forum. Ì Looking for local insights and connecƟons? zour chapter is waiƟng at one of today’s most dynamic business networks. Ì Need assistance? Tap into the experience of 25,000 peers via Member Exchange. Ì Access the world’s best health care through the ,ealthnetwork FoundaƟon. Ì Zeceive an experienced perspecƟve from a personal mentor. Ì AƩend customiǌed learning programs from the world’s top business schools. Ì Enũoy business networking opportuniƟes at EO’s popular global events. Ì Access our exclusive global community and global business network through our website. &Žƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ / ǁŽƵůĚ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ůŽŐ ŝŶƚŽ ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬĞŽŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ͘ŽƌŐ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ ŵĞŵďĞƌ ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ͘

How is the management committee selected?

dŚĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ǀŽƚĞ ŽŶ Ăůů ŬĞǇ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŶŶƵĂů 'ĞŶĞƌĂů DĞĞƟŶŐ͘ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂů ƚĞƌŵ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ǇĞĂƌ ĂƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ďŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ 'D͕ ďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚͲĞůĞĐƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ǀŽƚĞĚ ŽŶ͘ dŚĞ K ĮƐĐĂů ǇĞĂƌƐ ƌƵŶ ĨƌŽŵ :ƵůǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ :ƵŶĞ͘

How can one become a member?

dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŵĞƚ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ 54

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ƚŚĞ ŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ͛ KƌŐĂŶŝǌĂƟŽŶ͘ dŽ ƋƵĂůŝĨǇ͕ ǇŽƵ ŵƵƐƚ͗ Ì Be the founder, co-founder, owner or controlling shareholder of a company Ì ,old one of the above Ɵtles for a company that grosses more than US$1 million annually Ì For venture-backed companies to qualify for membership they must have privately raised funds of US$2M or publically raised funds of US$5M, and 10 full-Ɵme employees. Venture backed companies have three years before they must meet the standard qualiĮcaƟon of US$1M in gross annual revenue. /Ĩ ŽŶĞ ǁĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŝŶ K͛Ɛ ϮϱͲǇĞĂƌ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌŝĂů ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ͛ǀĞ ĨƵůĮůůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌǇ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ŝƐ ĂƐ ĨŽůůŽǁƐ͗ Ì ƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ZĞǀŝĞǁ͗ zŽƵ ŵƵƐƚ ĮƌƐƚ ĂƉƉůǇ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŽĐĂů ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ůŽĐĂů ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ǁŝůů ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ǇŽƵ ŵĞĞƚ ƚŚĞ K ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ĐƌŝƚĞƌŝĂ͘ Ì ŚĂƉƚĞƌ ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ͗ hƉŽŶ ƐƵďŵŝƫŶŐ ǇŽƵƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ǇŽƵƌ ůŽĐĂů ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ǁŝůů ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁ ǁŝƚŚ ǇŽƵ ƚŽ ĚĞĐŝĚĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚƵƐ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ͘ Ì K ĐĐĞƐƐ͗ /Ĩ ǇŽƵ ĂƌĞ ĂĐĐĞƉƚĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ͕ ǇŽƵ ǁŝůů ŐĂŝŶ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ &ŽƌƵŵ͕ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ 'ůŽďĂů ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĞǆĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ͘ Ì KƌŝĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ dƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ͗ tŝƚŚŝŶ ǇŽƵƌ ĮƌƐƚ ƚŚƌĞĞ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ͕ ǇŽƵ ǁŝůů ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ ĂŶ K ŽƌŝĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁŝůů ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ Ă ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ƉĂĐŬĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƚŽƌǇ ĐĂůůƐ ĨƌŽŵ 'ůŽďĂů ƐƚĂī͘ zŽƵ ǁŝůů ĂůƐŽ ŐŽ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ &ŽƌƵŵ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ďĞ ƉůĂĐĞĚ ŝŶ Ă &ŽƌƵŵ͘ Ì DĞŵďĞƌ ƵĞƐ͗ Ɛ Ă ƌĞŵŝŶĚĞƌ͕ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ƉĂǇ ďŽƚŚ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ 'ůŽďĂů ĚƵĞƐ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ĂŶŶƵĂů ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ƉĂǇŵĞŶƚ͘ 'ůŽďĂů ĚƵĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůǇ h^Ψϭ͕ϳϬϬ͕ ƉůƵƐ Ă ŽŶĞͲƚŝŵĞ h^ΨϴϬϬ ŝŶŝƚŝĂƚŝŽŶ ĨĞĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞ ƉƌŽƌĂƚĞĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŝƐĐĂů ŵŽŶƚŚ ǇŽƵ ũŽŝŶ͘ >ŽĐĂů ĚƵĞƐ ĂƌĞ ϰϱϬ ĂŶŶƵĂůůǇ ŝŶ ĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ Ă ŽŶĞͲŽĨĨ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ĨĞĞ͘

According to you, what is the most exciting part of becoming an entrepreneur?

dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞǆĐŝƚŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ͞ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ͟ ĂŶ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ ŽŶĞ ŐĞƚƐ͘ dŚŽƵŐŚ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ ǀĞƌǇ ĨĞǁ ĐŚŽŽƐĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ďƵƚ ŐĞƚ ƚŚĂƚ ďƵƌŶŝŶŐ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ Žƌ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ Ă ďĞƚƚĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞǇ ŐĞƚ ŝŶƚŽ ŝƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞǇ ƚŚŝŶŬ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶ ĚŽ ďĞƚƚĞƌ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶĞǇ͘ Ɛ ĨĂƌ ĂƐ ͞ďĞŝŶŐ͟ ĂŶ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ůĞƚ ŵĞ ĨŝƌƐƚ ĚŝƐĂďƵƐĞ ǇŽƵ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŽƚŝŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ Ăůů ĨƵŶ͕ ŐůĂŵŽƵƌ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŵĞƐ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ Ă ǀĞƌǇ ŚĂƌĚ ĞǆŝƐƚĞŶĐĞ ĨƵĞůůĞĚ ƐŝŵƉůǇ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ƐƵĐĐĞĞĚ ŝŶ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ͕ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ Žƌ ĚƌĞĂŵ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ Ă ŚĂƌĚ ƐůŽŐ ǁŚŽƐĞ ƌĞǁĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ŽĨƚĞŶ ƚŚĂŶ ŶŽƚ͕ ŝƐ ƐĂƚŝƐĨĂĐƚŝŽŶ Ăƚ ĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ͕ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ŵŽŶĞǇ͘

What, in your opinion, is the biggest challenge that an entrepreneur faces?

^ĞůůŝŶŐ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ĚƌĞĂŵƐ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƌĞĂůŝƚǇ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ĂŶ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌ ĨĂĐĞƐ͘

Is Bahrain an easy place to set up a business? Why/why not?

EŽ͘ / ĨĞĞů ƚŚĂƚ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ĐŽƵůĚ ĚĞĨŝŶŝƚĞůǇ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ŝƚƐ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐŚŝƉ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ͘ EŽƚ ŽŶůǇ ĂƌĞ ůĂǁƐ ŝŶ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŽ ĚĞƚĞƌ ƐŵĂůů ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝĨĨŝĐƵůƚǇ ŝŶ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝŶŐ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ĨŽƌ ^D Ɛ ŝƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŝŵĞƐ ŝŶƐƵƌŵŽƵŶƚĂďůĞ͘ DĂŶǇ ĚƌĞĂŵƐ ĂƌĞ ĐƌƵƐŚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ͘ ďĞƚƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐŝŶŐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞƐ ůĞƐƐ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂů ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ĂŶĚ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĞŵďƌĂĐĞƐ ĨĂŝůƵƌĞ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƉĞŶĂůŝǌĞƐ ŝƚ͘ dŽ ƐƵĐĐĞĞĚ͕ ǁĞ ŶĞĞĚ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂƌŶ ĨƌŽŵ ŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƐ͘

What will we see from EO Bahrain in 2014? dŚĞ K DĂũůŝƐ ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ĂďŽǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ŵŽĚĞƐƚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ͘

TOP 5 REASONS TO START A BUSINESS IN BAHRAIN

Why Entrepreneurs love Bahrain

In the past few years, Ba hrain has transformed itself into the ultimate haven for entrepreneurs. With several startups being launched every month, what is it that encourages entrepreneurs to start a business in Bahrain? B.I.G did some research into it, and here’s what we found.

CREATIVE BUSINESS IDEAS

There is no one as motivated and determined as our Bahraini youth. With so many creative and innovative minds, there are Bahraini businesses that are owned by individuals as young as 18! The Bahraini entrepreneurs are absolutely Àlled with unique business ideas that not only impress locals but also other gulf countries. The most remarkable fact about it is, most of these start-ups are aimed at instigating positive change in the Bahraini society rather than to generate proÀt. Because of this, Bahrain has boosted its support for entrepreneurship to embrace such ambitious and inspired entrepreneurs.

2SUPPORTIVE INITIATIVES

As mentioned, Bahrain responds very supportively towards its entrepreneurs. With initiatives like Al Riwaq’s Market 338 and the Bab Market, Bahrain has demonstrated that it truly does value businesses of artistic and cultural character. By setting up initiatives like this, young entrepreneurs are able to

present themselves and their business to the society. This is an important step for any entrepreneur as it aids them in getting their name out there.

ABUNDANT LEARNING RESOURCES

As so many of Bahrain’s entrepreneurs are young and inexperienced in running a business, numerous resources are available for them to get the chance to learn more about entrepreneurship. Workshops and conferences set up by organizations like Tamkeen, Injaz and The Bahrain’s chapter of Entrepreneur’s Organization, Bahraini entrepreneurs are able to enhance their knowledge and skills without having to spend a thing. These resources further strengthen the expertise of Bahraini led businesses and Bahrain’s entrepreneurial community.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

With the above factors, there is no doubt that Bahrain is a supportive community towards

entrepreneurship. Not only does it provide emotional support, but financial as well. Bahrainis take pride in purchasing products from local businesses and encourage other Bahrainis to purchase from them as well. During Market 338 for example, several visitors were seen walking with a number of purchased goods from the stalls! This proves that Bahrain does in fact support local entrepreneurs in every aspect.

UP 5START FUNDS

Speaking of financial support, initiatives like Tamkeen and Bahrain Development Bank provide Bahraini entrepreneurs with unique business ideas, the necessary funds to start their business. Entrepreneurs are given a specific capital with which they can rent office space, hire staff and work on their PR. This encourages more and more businesses to bloom thus making Bahrain the best

place in the gulf to start a business.

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59 55

“EFFECTIVE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP” Kelly Armatage; Coach, Speaker, Writer and Seminar Facilitator writes on how to shake up the status quo and innovate from an inspired place. Effective Entrepreneurship is about divorcing oneself from the herd and setting up new ideas and business processes that reach out to the masses. Below are my top 5 ways on how to be an efficient and successful Entrepreneur. 56

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1. Willingness For Massive Success

An Entrepreneur is someone who is willing and able to convert a new idea or invention into a successful innovation. Entrepreneurship is primarily about taking risk. It is about being willing to take an idea from A to Z and being in harmony with the possible failures en route. Many Entrepreneurs tried to put in place various ideas before they got their success. So out of Àve ideas, four failures might have happened before they got lucky. It is about the willingness to work towards the completion of their ideas, despite setbacks, crashes and long plateaus.

2. Continual Self Development

Entrepreneurs work on becoming a success, by enrolling on coaching, development and training courses regularly. They learn how to be a success, by mentoring from the best. They read the best books, they get coached via the best coaches, they enrol on the best workshops. They spend most of their time working on polishing their thinking, habits and behaviours, as they are aware that this is fundamental to being up there with the best of the best.

3. Strategic Planning

Entrepreneurs do not spend time on the small stuff. They delegate pointless and time draining tasks to others, so they are able to focus on strategy, marketing and innovation. Entrepreneurs are always looking at ways of increasing efÀciency, productivity and success. Entrepreneurs look at strategic ways to build amazing companies, products and services via their passion and emotion. An Entrepreneur will regularly tweak their strategic direction until perfection is attained.

4. Marvellous Marketing

An Entrepreneur uses information to start and run a successful business, and to get and keep its customers, employees and suppliers happy. The more marketing information they have got, the more they can provide from an innovative place. Entrepreneurs, in order to become super successful, live, eat and breathe every aspect of clever marketing.

5. Love of Uncertainty

Entrepreneurs are massive risk-takers and with the energy of risk taking comes a huge amount of uncertainty. Entrepreneurs learn to love, honour and get in harmony with uncertainty. By regularly carrying out uncomfortable and complex tasks, the Entrepreneur grows. To be a leader, to be a go-getter, to be the best at what they do; embracing fear, embracing the unknown and embracing the “un-comfort” zone is the key to their massive success.

Kelly Armatage Director of “Kelly Armatage Inc”. Coaching Sessions, Corporate Training, Self Development Seminars, Public Speaking and Meditation Classes. T: +973 17002320 / M: +973 39931399 www.kellyarmatage.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

SITUATIONALLY

AWARE = SUCCESS

,Q WRGD\uV KLLJKO\\ QQHWZRUNHG RUJDQLVDWLRQV HIIHFWLYHH UUHODWLRQQVKLSV DUH WKHH Z ZD\ IRUZDUG $ VXFFHVVIXO QHWWZRUN ERWK RQ DQG RII OLQH LV HVVHQWLDOO IIRU \\RX WWR DFKLHYH SURIHVVLRQDO DQG RUJDQLVDWLRQDO VXFFHVV 7KLV DUWLFOH KLJKOLJKWV WKH LPSSRUWDQFH RI VRFLDO FDSLWDO WR HQVXUH \RXuUH \RXU VWUDWHJLHV DUH RSHUDWLRQDOLVHG :LWK PRUH SHRSOH WKDQ HYHU ILQGLQJ MREV WKURXJK QHWZRUNLQJ IDPLO\ IULHQGV DQG VR IRUWK DV RSSRVHG WR WUDGLWLRQDO DSSOLFDWLRQ URXWHV DFURVV WKH JOREH LWuV HVVHQWLDO WR HVWDEOLVK VXFFHVVIXO QHWZRUNLQJ VNLOOV DV \RXU QHWZRUN FDQ SOD\ D NH\ UROH LQ \RXU VXFFHVV 58

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

etworking is multi-faceted and the beneÀts of investing time really do snowball as authenticity and reciprocity come into play. Networking can help you to

and systems 9 stay current during a career break and 9 obtain new business leads.

It is essential to Ànd an approach to growing a success network that is strategic to ensure it really works for you. The grid below is adapted from a widely used model for political awareness and it offers an authentic, practical approach to networking that enables professionals to be effective at networking, building networks whilst being true to their personal brand.

The Two Axes Are: n Authentic Axis: Being authentic means knowing your strengths, passions, brand, purpose and being true to yourself.

o Situationally Awareness Axis: Being situationally aware means knowing how the organisation works in terms of networking, the political norms, who is who, how things get done, and the goals, vision and values of the organisation.

The 4 quadrants are explained below…

Inexperienced, Innocent, Inept Networker: Authentic and situationally unaware, you know yourself well but don’t understand how things work in different situations or different cultures with regard to QHWZRUNLQJ <RX PD\ ¿QG \RXUVHOI acting like this when you start a new job, accept a promotion, manage a SURMHFW IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH RU ¿QG \RXUVHOI in a different location.

Unpromising, Unsuccessful, Uneasy Networker: Inauthentic and situationally unaware, \RX GRQ¶W NQRZ \RXUVHOI DQG PD\ ¿QG yourself in embarrassing situations, overlooked in a gathering and side-lined at a conference.

Inauthentic

9 achieve your career goals 9 grow your leadership capability 9 ĂĐƋƵŝƌĞ Ă ŶĞǁ ƌŽůĞ Žƌ Ă ƉƌŽŵŽƟŽŶ 9 sell ideas to others 9 create and improve products, services

false faked forged

smart shrewd sagacious

unpromising unsuccessful uneasy

inexperienced innocent inept

Authentic

Situationally Aware

Situationally Unaware

“Being smart and situationally aware enables achievement; it puts you in the right frame of mind for action. This is the most optimistic and positive result.” False, Fake, Forged Networker: Inauthentic and situationally aware, you know the organisation or system well and you know how to work it, but you are not yourself. You may be able to navigate your way through bureaucracy and politics but you may come across as insincere.

Smart, Shrewd, Sagacious Networker: Authentic and situationally aware, you have the ability to be yourself and be aware of unwritten customs or rules in different situations. You are aware of your personal values so can network in a way that works for your society, club or organisation while ensuring that things work effectively for you too! As an astute networker you care – this is the quadrant you want to be in!

Being smart and situationally aware enables achievement; it puts you in the right frame of mind for action. This is the most optimistic and positive result. Here you know the rules, customs and unwritten norms within different situations and within organisations. It’s about understanding and being able to negotiate how things work in terms of networking and Ànding your own genuine way of networking. For example, if it is a norm to get things done through developing relationships and it is not enough to purely put your head down and do a good job, it is critical to network. There still may be times when networking doesn’t come naturally, you don’t feel authentic, you’re forcing a smile or you’re insecure about how to act and react. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

If this is the case you have to work at things to make you feel good by using your own skills, strengths and talents appropriately. You value self-development and progress. You are honest and inventive. You are creative and imaginative. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll work it out!

To begin your strategic networking mission in 2014, consider the followingâ&#x20AC;Ś Coach ME f Where are you now? ... f Which quadrant do you live in? ... f Where do you want to be? ... f What will that enable? ...

BMC Coaching Model

f tĹ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÇ&#x2021; ĹľÄ&#x201A;ĹŹÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ç&#x2021;Ĺ˝Ćľ Ć&#x;Ä?ĹŹÍ?

Belief... Momentum... Celebration...

f What skills, knowledge and behaviours do you need to learn or draw upon?

THE MODEL

Try experimenting with the following BMC (Beliefâ&#x20AC;Ś Momentumâ&#x20AC;Ś Celebrationâ&#x20AC;Ś) Coaching Model, going through the cycles, returning to them when you need to, and having your goals at the heart of your networking. Consider your ideal clients and how you can target them, plan for transition with your teams and behave in ways that ensure the impact you want in any venture or situation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also important that you Believe, continue investing time and energy in networking to ensure Momentum and that you Celebrate your achievements too!

BEING AUTHENTIC AND SITUATIONALLY AWARE Being yourself is so much easier than acting. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more fun too usually because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not so much stress. When acting, people sometimes slip out of role and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just embarrassing. Now that you have looked at how to network and ways to do that authentically, you can look at your needs a little more closely to examine who you really are and where your true values lie.

SKILLS: Consider the skills you have and those you want/need to develop. What do you

need to practice and experiment with?

KNOWLEDGE: What knowledge do you hold that you can draw upon? What courses, reading, research, mentoring will help you reach your goals? BEHAVIOURS: Your behaviours can inĂ&#x;uence the way you are perceived by others. What

impact do you want?

REFLECTION: 2eĂ&#x;ecting will help you learn From your past and re design your Future. What have you

learnt From your mistakes and those oF others?

TRANSITION PLANNING: You need a strategic and operational plan to ensure you are on target.

Ă&#x2DC;nd iF your plans change, thatms Ă&#x17E;ne. $raw upon the skill oF Ă&#x;exibility and go back to the drawing board!

ACTION: &or action to be sustained it needs passion and a spark oF energy, as well as a clear vision Dr. Clare Beckett-McInroy EdD, PCC is an Organisational and Executive Coach (PCC with ICF), President of Bizladies GCC, Coach Trainer (ILM /HYHO $ZDUGV DQG &HUWLÂżFDWHV and Author of Coach Me Networking Know How soon to be publishedâ&#x20AC;Ś

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

oF the results you want. Work with the people and resources that will make this happen. RESULTS: &ocus on the outcome oF your hard work, your results, and consider how you will celebrate your achievements. 4ake the time to enJoy this stage oF the coaching model beFore moving into your next venture.

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Stand Out!

3 Ways to Differentiate Your Business by Charles Gaudet

Imagine a world where you could sell your products and services for top dollar, and have your customers be thrilled to pay whatever you’re charging. It may sound too good to be true, but it is entirely possible if you’re using the right methods – that is, competing based on every aspect of your company except for price. Business owners can actually charge significantly more than their competitors, and still have customers lining up around the block if they can employ these three important tips:

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

OFFER BETTER SERVICE

One of the best ways (if the not the very best way) to separate yourself from the competition is through absolutely outstanding customer service. This is the one aspect of a business that customers will rave about if it’s great, and never forgive if it’s terrible. Companies like Nordstrom have built legions of repeat customers through unparalleled customer service, going above and beyond for each and every customer. In one account, a Nordstrom employee noticed a customer had left behind a few bags, used the receipt to look up a phone number, and — when still unsuccessful –managed to have airport that the customer was Áying out of page her so she could be notiÀed about her purchases. Now that’s exceptional service. The Nordstrom employee (and the training staff) knew that making the extra effort for that customer would become a story to tell, an account of the greatness of the company, and solidify the relationship with the customer. There is little doubt that the customer continues to shop at Nordstrom, and tell everyone she knows about the great experience. These companies, and many like them, have made a habit (even a company policy) of making sure that every single customer receives outstanding service, and of developing lasting relationships at every turn.

STEP UP THE EXPERIENCE

The customer experience goes hand in hand with service, but can also include much, much more. From music and ambience to activities and rewards, the customer experience encompasses the entire process of doing business with your company. A memorable and exciting experience all but guarantees repeat business. Jordan’s Furniture is a New England business that has truly mastered the customer experience. Their storefronts include IMAX movie theaters, a free “Enchanted Village” attraction, laser light shows and more. They’ve Àgured out a way to make visiting a retail location exciting for people of all ages, and keep them coming back multiple times. Even for Àrst-time customers, the novelty of the experience immediately sparks interest, draws them into the store, and keeps them there.

OFFER THE BEST GUARANTEE

After you woo your prospects with an amazing experience, and forge relationships through superb customer service, you can put customers at ease with an awesome guarantee. L.L. Bean offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on every single one of their products, with an unlimited return policy. And customers are encouraged to return any item they are not completely satisÀed with, for any reason.

This kind of guarantee speaks volumes about a company, and how Àrmly they stand behind their products or services. Offering a guarantee shows customers that you are assuming the risk because their satisfaction is your primary concern.

…So Why Not Compete on Price?

All of these are good ideas, of course, but why not compete on price too? Simply put, you won’t build relationships, you won’t inspire repeat business, and you’ll position yourself as a company that’s only good for a deal…instead of a company renowned for impeccable service and an amazing experience. Brand loyalty based on price is Àckle at best. When customers are making decisions based on price alone, there’s nothing to stop them from moving right along to the next company that offers a lower price. However, when companies establish themselves with the best service, experience, or guarantee, however, price becomes a secondary consideration. Go above and beyond with each of these three factors, and your customers will be gladly pay any price for the pleasure of doing business with you.

Charles Gaudet is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council. YEC is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

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THE BUSINESS OF

VA L E N T I N E A Boom That St. Valentine Never Expected Valentine’s Day is a day of love and celebration. And it is also the time most retailers look forward to as they intend to boost their business. People celebrate Valentine’s Day with their beloved and spend on buying flowers, cakes, gifts and chocolates for their partners, family and sometimes even pets and business booms. According to research and statistics, the onus of gifting lies on the man rather than the woman; he feels more compelled to spend. The average man spends $168.74 while the average woman spends $85.76 on his/her significant other on Valentine’s Day. In 2013, Valentine’s Day spending crossed $18.6 billion in America alone, according to the National Retail Federation. Business in Gulf takes a look at how business gets affected on this commercial day of love across the world.

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COMMERCIALIZATION B In the Mid-18th century, the passing of love-notes became really popular in England. Early ones were made of lace and paper. B In 1797, The Young Man’s Valentine Writer was published. It contained rhymes and messages for the Valentine’s occasion. Postal services became more affordable and anonymous Valentine cards became possible. By the early 19th century, they became so popular that factories start to mass-produce them. B It’s 1913 and Hallmark Cards produced their first Valentine Card. By the 19th century, handwritten notes have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. B In the second half of 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts such as roses and chocolates packed in a red satin, heartshaped box. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine’s Day as an occasion for giving jewelry. B New traditions were invented at the turn of the millennium. Millions of people use, every year, digital means of creating and sending Valentine’s Day greeting messages such as e-card, love coupons or printable greeting cards.

GIFTING STATISTICS B The most popular gift for Valentine’s Day is fresh flowers; almost 40% of gift givers choose to send across a bouquet to their beloved. Every year, almost $ 1.8 Billion dollars are spent on flowers alone. B More than 36 million heart shaped candies are sold on this day, and that translates to almost $1.5 Billion dollars. B Expensive jewellery is another favorite for this season, and so it comes as no surprise that an average of $ 4.1Billion dollars are spent on jewellery during February. B And what comes as a surprise is the relatively new trend of pet gifts. Consumers were expected to spend $367 million on pet valentines in 2013. The gift options range from heart shaped “candies” to dog perfume to real mink coats. Amour de la Mer had a necklace with an “8.5-carat sapphire pendant as blue as the ocean” for only $899,000. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ACROSS THE WORLD B In Japan & Korea, retailers get more excited to celebrate the day of love as it comes twice a year. On February 14, men get to relax as women pamper them and them gifts. The tables get turned on March 14, when men must return the affection with gifts like chocolates and lingerie. It is a great marketing gimmick, keeping in mind the fact that the return chocolates cost two or three times more than it did a month prior. B Even in conservative Iran, Valentine’s Day is increasingly seen as a tolerated courting opportunity — one whose commercial side is much appreciated by Iranian retailers. Several shopkeepers in Tehran told AFP that demand for rose bouquets, sentimental cards with the English word “love”, chocolate, perfume and even teddy bears was strong, adding to a growing trend of recent years. In China, Valentine’s Day overlapped with the Spring Festival in 2013 and it was a welcome coincidence for retailers. Thanks to the festive season holidays, customers had ample time to pick out their gifts. B An industry body has valued the Valentine’s Day market in India at USD 27 million (Rs.15 billion) based on a survey involving 800 executives in major metros and 1,000 students from 150 educational institutions.

Valentine’s Day has always been popular with the urban middle class youth of India. Over the years, they have tried to woo each other with chocolates, flowers and greeting cards. Recently, there have been clashes with conservative extremists over celebrating this day, as it is deemed a western influence. However, it has not deterred those who are looking to make it special for their loved ones and retailers are grateful. Air cargo business, which is facing a slump also sees business peak during this season. Air India and Jet Airways flew tonnes of fresh flowers to Europe in the last ten-twelve days ahead of Valentine Day. B In Malaysia, Valentne’s Day celebrations are considered to be a vice and it is the government that tends to make money, through fines of up to $1000. But it did not stop florists and gift shops from raking in the money. B Valentine’s Day is a European import to Mexico, but is celebrated by many people with enthusiasm. Though February 14 is known as Día de San Valentin (Spanish for “Day of Saint Valentine”), it is at least as commonly referred to as Día del Amor y la Amistad. Florists, gift shops, cafes, hotels and restaurant gear up for the festival, and mint money. Tourism goes up for Valentine’s Day, as people from the United States and elsewhere flock to Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Mexico’s other classic romantic destinations.

FUN FACTS B Ev ery Valentine’s Day, the Italian city of Verona,

where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.

B Teachers receive the most Valentine’s cards,

followed by children, mothers, and wives. Children between the ages of 6-10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine cards a year.

B Richard Cadbury produced the first box of

chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800s.

B More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of

chocolate will be sold for Valentine’s Day.

B Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for

Valentine’s Day in the U.S.

B Approximately 110 million roses, mostly red, will be

sold and delivered within the three-day Valentine’s Day time period.

B Over 50 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are

purchased in the six days prior to the holiday, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator’s delight.

B 220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals

on Valentine’s Day each year.

B On Valentine’s Day 2010, 39,897 people in Mexico City

broke the record for the world’s largest group kiss.

B Esther Howland was the first person to create

commercial Valentines cards to sell in the United States. She first patented a lacy Valentine in 1844 and by 1860, her factory was selling thousands of Valentines, earning over $100,000.

B According to Hallmark, 141 million Valentine’s Day

cards are exchanged worldwide.

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PEP UP YOUR BUSINESS

Valentine’s Day is a boon for retailers, but you need to know how to use it for your advantage. Here are a few things you could try: B Change your logo and/or avatars: Add a cupid or a heart to your regular logo and/or avatar, and post that on your website and social media profiles. It’s a cute, inexpensive way to create goodwill and get a smile. B Have Contests: Advertise a greeting card, love song or poetry contest. Be sure to start things around mid-January, with a deadline the week before Valentine’s. Announce the winner on Valentine’s Day and provide them with a special prize, such as a gift certificate to your business and dinner for two at a local restaurant.

WHY IT WORKS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Unlike Christmas, Valentine’s Day hopes to be more about the bond between two individuals and so the gifts tend to be more intimate. The idea is that ‘it’s the thought that counts’ and retailers across the world are happy to convert that thought into something tangible. The trick is to be proactive and to have a proper plan in place. B A smaller gift shop can concentrate on selling novelty gift items, which are one of a kind. They can customize the gift and inscribe names or wordings. For a customer, this will prove beneficial, as it will cost him less than what it would at a big name brand outlet.

B Get Interactive: Have your social media community share their best and worst memories of Valentine’s Day! Host a contest for the most romantic, the most touching, the most awkward, etc., memory. Pick a winner in each category and give them a special prize. B Have a Photo Booth: Hire an inexpensive local photographer (maybe one that’s just getting starting so that you help his business and yours) to come to your place of business and offer pictures of couples for free or a very small fee. Have a fun lovey-dovey background for the pictures and make sure your photographer uses a digital camera. That way, you can email the finished product to the customers, and advertise your business (and the photographer’s) a second time.

B Local restaurants can organize special themed nights, and also organize a special choice of cuisine just for that one-week. They can infuse it with local and traditional flavors, and decorate it to be cozy and warm, thus giving customers a unique experience. B As a small business, one can even create special discount packages for their regular customers, thus ensuring their loyalty. B If the company is not on social media yet, this might be the time to start. And if you already have a Twitter and Facebook account, this is the time to get active. It is important to make sure your brand is visible to the customer and begin promoting as early as possible. Small-business owners need to be a bit more creative, such as offering content that suggests gift-giving tips for Valentine’s. B Maximize exposure by partnering with other business owners who offer complementary products or services. This can work online and offline. For example, have a tie-up with the nearest flower shop or gift shop to sell your brand of chocolates. B Keep the outlet open longer. If you are a retailer, the keep it open longer on the weekend before and if you are an eatery, then keep your doors open longer on D-Day, especially if it falls on a weekday. Guests like to relax and enjoy a night out, rather than eat in a hurry and rush out. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

How Valentine’s Day affects the Local Market ALIA FLOWERS KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚĞƐƚ ŇŽǁĞƌ ƐŚŽƉƐ

ŝŶ ƚŚĞ <ŝŶŐĚŽŵ͕ ůŝĂ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚŝƌƚǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ͘ ŶĚ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĚĂǇƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŵ͕ ƐĂǇƐ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů DĂŶĂŐĞƌ͕ sĂƌŐŚĞƐĞ DŽĚŝǇŝů͘ ͞sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĚĂǇ ŝƐ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝĞƐƚ ĚĂǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĚĂǇ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽŵĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞ ŝƐ DŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͘͟ ,Ğ ĂůƐŽ ĂĚĚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ƚƌĞŶĚƐ ŝŶ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ŚĂǀĞ ƐĞĞŶ Ă ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂďůĞ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ͘ ͞EŽǁĂĚĂǇƐ͕ ŝƚƐ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ĨŽƌ ƐǁĞĞƚŚĞĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽƵƉůĞƐ͕ ďƵƚ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŐŝŌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ŐŝǀĞ ŐŝŌƐ ƚŽ ĞĂĐŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ͕ ƐŝďůŝŶŐƐ ƚŽŽ͘͟ ŶĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ƌŽƐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐĞůů ůŝŬĞ ŚŽƚ ĐĂŬĞƐ͘ ĞƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŽŶ ǁŚŽ ŝƚ ŝƐ͕ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚǇ ŽĨ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ƐŽůĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ůŝůŝĞƐ͕ ĚĂŝƐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŽƐĞƐ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐŽůŽƌƐ͘ KƚŚĞƌ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ŐŝŌ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ůŝĂ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƚĞĚĚŝĞƐ͕ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂŶĚůĞƐ͘ ͞WĞŽƉůĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƉƌĞƉĂƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĂǇ ĂƚůĞĂƐƚ ŽŶĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞĞŬ ŝƐ ƋƵŝƚĞ ŐŽŽĚ͘ ^ŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ͕ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ ŝŶ ĨĂĐƚ͕ ŝĨ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ĨĂůůƐ ŽŶ Ă ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƚƌƵůǇ Ă ďŽŽŶ͘͟

SINGAPORE FLOWERS ŶŽƚŚĞƌ ƐŚŽƉ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ

ĞǆŝƐƚĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ ŝƐ ^ŝŶŐĂůƉŽƌĞ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ͕ dŚĞǇ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ŽƵƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐŵĂůů ƐƉĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĞǆƉĂŶĚĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ƚŽ ŶŽǁ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ĞǀĞŶ Ă ĐŽůĚ ƐƚŽƌĂŐĞ ƌŽŽŵ͘ ͞sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĂƐ ďŝŐ ĂƐ ŝƚ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŽŶĐĞ ƵƉŽŶ Ă ƟŵĞ͕ DŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ƐůŽǁůǇ ĐĂƚĐŚŝŶŐ ƵƉ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ^ƚĞǀĞ sůĂũŝĐ͘ >ĂƐƚ ǇĞĂƌ ƚŚĞǇ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϯϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ,ŽůůĂŶĚ͕ ^ŝŶŐĂƉŽƌĞ͕ /ŶĚŽŶĞƐŝĂ͕ <ĞŶǇĂ ĂŶĚ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͘ KŶ Ă ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ĚĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ĨŽƵƌ ĚƌŝǀĞƌƐ ŽŶ ĚƵƚǇ͕ ďƵƚ ŽŶ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚĞŶ ĚƌŝǀĞƌƐ ƌƵƐŚŝŶŐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ƚŽ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ďŽƵƋƵĞƚƐ ƚŽ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ƐƉĞŶĚ ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϬ ŽŶǁĂƌĚƐ͘ ,Ğ ŽŶĐĞ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ Ă ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŽƌĚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ϮϱϬϬ͘ ͞dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŐŝŌŝŶŐ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǇŽƵ ŐĞƚ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƵƚǇ ĂŶĚ ďŽƵŶƚǇ ŽĨ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ͘ ŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŚĂƉƉǇ͘͟ 68

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Valentine’s V l ti ’ D Day iis one off th those h h holidays, lilid d which hi h are k known ffor th the gift ift giving i i ttradition. diti F From roses, tto stuffed toys, from chocolates, to candies, they are all popular gift choices across the world. Bahrain is not different. Business in Gulf spoke to a few businesses that are already preparing for the big day.

TROUSSEAU BAHRAIN &Žƌ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƞƵů ĂŶĚ ůŽŶŐ ůĂƐƟŶŐ

ŐŝŌƐ͕ dƌŽƵƐƐĞĂƵ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ŚĂƐ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ͘ ͞tĞ ĐĂŶ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞ ŐŝŌ ŚĂŵƉĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ďƵĚŐĞƚƐ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ &ĂŚĂĚ ů ĂŝŶ͘ dƌŽƵƐƐĞĂƵ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůǇ ƐƚŽƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ <ŝŶŐĚŽŵ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŽŶĞ ĐĂŶ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ŝ ^ĂŶƚĂ DĂƌŝĂ EŽǀĞůůĂ WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŝŌ ƐĞƚƐ͕ ŚĞ ĂĚĚĞĚ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ dƌŽƵƐƐĞĂƵ͕ EĂŶĐǇ ů ĂŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ďĂƐĞ ĨŽƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞƐ ĂǇ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ďŽƚŚ ĞǆƉĂƚƐ ĂŶĚ ůŽĐĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŐƌŽƵƉ ǀĂƌŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϬ ƚŽ ϱϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĂŐĞ͘ ϵϴй ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐůŝĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ƌĂď͕ ĂŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĂƚ͕ ϲϬйĂƌĞ ĂŚƌĂŝŶŝ͕ ϯϬй ĂƌĞ ^ĂƵĚŝ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂƌĞ ĨƌŽŵ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƌĂď ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ĂůƐŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƐŝǆͲŶĞĞĚůĞ ĞŵďƌŽŝĚĞƌǇ ŵĂĐŚŝŶĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂůůŽǁƐ ĨŽƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝǌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŐŝŌƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ǀĞƌǇ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ͘ ͞^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĐŽǀĞƚĞĚ ŝƚĞŵƐ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƚŚĞ ŝ ^ĂŶƚĂ DĂƌŝĂ EŽǀĞůůĂ ŵĂƐƐĂŐĞ ĐĂŶĚůĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŝŶĂ ŵƵƐŝĐ ďŽǆĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽŵĞ ĞŶĐƌƵƐƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ^ǁĂƌŽǀƐŬŝ ĐƌǇƐƚĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ >ĂĚǇ WƌŝŵƌŽƐĞ ŝƚĞŵƐ͘͟

ROLANDA FLOWERS KƉĞŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ϭϮ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ZŽůĂŶĚĂ

&ůŽǁĞƌƐ ĚĞĂůƐ ďŽƚŚ ŝŶ ǁŚŽůĞƐĂůĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƚĂŝů ƐĂůĞ ŽĨ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ͘ ͞sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ďŝŐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ͖ ŝƚ ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ ĨĞĞůƐ ůŝŬĞ ǁĞ ǁŽƌŬ ǇĞĂƌ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƉƌĞƉƉŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ďŝŐ ĚĂǇ͘ tĞ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƌĞĐĞŝǀŝŶŐ ĞŶƋƵŝƌŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŽƚĞůƐ ĂƐ ĞĂƌůǇ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ZŽůĂ ĚŶĂŶ͘ ͞^ŝŶĐĞ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ĚůŝǇĂ͕ ǁĞ ŐĞƚ ůŽƚƐ ŽĨ ĞǆƉĂƚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĂůƐŽ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ƉŝĞĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƌ ƐĂůĞƐ ƉŝĞ͘͟ dŚĞ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ƐƉĞŶĚƐ ƌĂŐĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ϯϬ ʹ ϭϱϬ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ĞǀĞŶ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞŶƚ ĂďŽǀĞ ϭϬϬϬ͘ ͞/ƚ ŝƐ ƋƵŝƚĞ ĂŶ ĂĚƌĞŶĂůŝŶĞ ƌƵƐŚ͕ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ƐŽ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŝŶ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͛Ɛ ůŝǀĞƐ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ͕ ůŽǀĞ ŝƐ ŝŶĚĞĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Ăŝƌ͘͟ KŶĞ ĐŚĞƌŝƐŚĞĚ ŵĞŵŽƌǇ ĨŽƌ ŚĞƌ ŝƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ĐĂůůĞĚ DƐ͘ >ƵĐŬǇ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ͕ ĂƐ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŚĞƌ ƐŚŽƉ ǁĞƌĞ ŐŝŌĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ĮƌƐƚ ĚĂƚĞ͘ ^ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ŚĂĚ ŽŶĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ǁŚŽ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐĞŶĚ ŚŝƐ ďĞůŽǀĞĚ Ă ďŝŐ ďŽƵƋƵĞƚ ŽĨ ƌĞĚ ƌŽƐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚǁĞůǀĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŝŶ Ă ƌŽǁ͕ ŶŽ ŵĂƩĞƌ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŚŝƐ ƐǁĞĞƚŚĞĂƌƚ ǁĂƐ͘ JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS dŚĞ ĨƌĂŶĐŚŝƐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƚƌĞŶĚǇ ĨƌƵŝƚ ďŽƵƋƵĞƚƐ ŚĂƐ

ďĞĞŶ ŽƉĞŶ ŽŶůǇ ĨŽƌ ƚŚƌĞĞ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ Ă ƚƌĞŵĞŶĚŽƵƐ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ͕ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ZĂĐŚŝĚ ^ĂŵŚŽƵŶ͘ ͞tĞ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĨƌĞƐŚ ĨƌƵŝƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĚŽŶĞ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŚǇŐŝĞŶŝĐ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͘͟ dŚĞǇ ƐĞĞ Ă ƐƉŝŬĞ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϳϬй ĚƵƌŝŶŐ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͘ ͞ ůŽƚ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƉƌĞĨĞƌ ƉůĂĐŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ŽƌĚĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞĨĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ŝƚ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐŽŵĞ ǁĂůŬͲŝŶ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͘ ĞƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚƌŝĐĂĐǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ŝƚ ĐĂŶ ƚĂŬĞ ĂŶǇǁŚĞƌĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĮǀĞ ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐ ƚŽ ĂŶ ŚŽƵƌ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞ ŝƚ͘͟ ,Ğ ĂĚĚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ƐƉĞŶƚ ŽŶ Ă ƐŝŶŐůĞ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŽŶ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ϯϬ͘

GLAMOUR CHOCOLATES ŶŽƚŚĞƌ ǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ ƌƵŶ ďǇ ZĂĐŚŝĚ ^ĂŵŚŽƵŶ ŝƐ 'ůĂŵŽƵƌ ŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ĂŶ

ŽŶůŝŶĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ dŚĞǇ ƐĞůů ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĐĂŬĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂƌĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ >ĞďĂŶŽŶ͘ &Žƌ ŶŽǁ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŽŶůǇ ŽŶ /ŶƐƚĂŐƌĂŵ ďƵƚ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ƐŽŽŶ ďĞ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŽƵƚůĞƚ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ŐĞƫŶŐ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĞŶƋƵŝƌŝĞƐ ĨŽƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƐƵƌĞ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ĚĂǇ ĨŽƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ ͞KƵƌ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŚĞĞƐĞĐĂŬĞ ĂŶĚ ďƌŽǁŶŝĞƐ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƟŶŐ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƋƵĂŶƟƚǇ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƌƚ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂŬĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐ ĚĂǇ͘͟

LE FLOWER & CHOCOLATE ͞tĞ ĂƌĞ ǀĞƌǇ ĞǆĐŝƚĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ

ŽƵƌ ĮƌƐƚ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ǌƌĂ DƵŬŚƚĂƌ ŽĨ >Ğ &ůŽǁĞƌ Θ ŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ͘ ͞tĞ ĂƌĞ ŐĞƫŶŐ ƌĞĂĚǇ to meet the big demand that ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƐƵƌĞ ǁŝůů ĐŽŵĞ͘ &ƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ǁĞ ŬŶŽǁ ĨŽƌ Ă ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ϭϮƚŚ ƚŽ ϭϱƚŚ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ďƵƐǇ ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ ŇŽǁĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŐŝŌ ƐŚŽƉƐ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐŝŶŐ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͕ Ăƚ ƌĞĂƐŽŶĂďůĞ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘͟ ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ǁŽƌŬĚĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ƚǁŽ ƐƚĂī ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉ͘ Ƶƚ ĨŽƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚŝƌŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚ ƟŵĞƌƐ ƚŽ ĐŽƉĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐůĂƵŐŚƚ ŽĨ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ͘ ͞tĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ůĂƵŶĐŚŝŶŐ ĂŶ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƟŶŐ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ ƐŚŽƌƚůǇ͕ ƵƐŝŶŐ Ăůů ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŵĞĚŝĂ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ /ŶƐƚĂŐƌĂŵ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ĂůƐŽ ŚĂǀĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƐĞůůŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĂĚƐŝĚĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƌĞĂ ŽŶ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͘ tĞ ŚŽƉĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŽĨ ŵĂŶǇ ďŝŐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ͘͟ 70

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

BELLS ŚŵĞĚ ů ĂůŽŽƐŚŝ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ĞůůƐ ƚǁŽ

ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ŝƐ ŐĞƫŶŐ Ăůů ƐĞƚ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ ƚŚĞ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ƌƵƐŚ͘ &Žƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ƐĞĞ ĂŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϯϬϬй ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ ͞tĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůƌĞĂĚǇ ƉůĂĐĞĚ ŽƵƌ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĚĂǇ͘ ^ƵƉƉůŝĞƌƐ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŚŝŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŽŶĞ ŵŽŶƚŚ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ ƚŽ ƉůĂŶ ĂŚĞĂĚ͘͟ ,Ğ ƐĂǇƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ă ŵŝǆ ĐƌŽǁĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ͕ ďŽƚŚ ŵĞŶ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŵĞŶ͘ ͞/ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐĂǇ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ă ϱϬͲϱϬ ĚŝǀŝĚĞ͘ Ƶƚ ŵĞŶ ďƵǇ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐǁĞĞƚŚĞĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŵĞŶ ƵƐƵĂůůǇ ďƵǇ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ Žƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ĂƌĞ ĂůƐŽ ŵŽƌĞ ǁŝůůŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐƉĞŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƚƌǇ ƚŽ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŵƵĐŚ ŽŶ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞƐ ĂǇ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĞǀĞŶ ŐŽŶĞ ĂďŽǀĞ ϭϱϬ͘͟

THE FLOWER SHOP >ŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ ĂƌƌĞĨŽƵƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ

ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ŝƚǇ ĞŶƚƌĞ͕ dŚĞ &ůŽǁĞƌ ^ŚŽƉ ƐƚĂǇƐ ƋƵŝƚĞ ďƵƐǇ ŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶ͘ ͞/ ůŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƵƌ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ĐĂŶ ďƌŝŶŐ Ă ƐŵŝůĞ ŽŶ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ĨĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞŵ ŚĂƉƉǇ͘ ǀĞŶ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞǇ ĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ƐŚŽƉ͕ ďĞ ŝƚ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞ Žƌ ůĂƐƚ ŵŝŶƵƚĞ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ƉĂŝŶƚ Ă ĐŚĂƌŵŝŶŐ ŝŵĂŐĞ͕ ŽĨ ŚĂƉƉŝŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ůŽǀĞ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ĂƌůĂ DĞůŬŝ͘ &Žƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ďĂƐĞ ŝƐ ŵĞŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ŵĂŝŶůǇ ŽƌĚĞƌ ďŽƵƋƵĞƚƐ ŽĨ ƌĞĚ ƌŽƐĞƐ͘ ŶĚ ƚŚĞǇ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƵƉ ƚŽ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͘ KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ŝƚĞŵƐ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĐĂŶĚůĞ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ůŝŬĞ Ă ƌĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ͘

REGALO FLOWERS ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ƌƵƐŚ͕

ZĞŐĂůŽ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ ƐĞůů ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ Ă ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚ ƌĞĚ ƌŽƐĞƐ͘ ͞ ůŽƚ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ĂƚůĞĂƐƚ ŽŶĞ ǁĞĞŬ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĂƚĞ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐŽŵĞ ǁŚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ŝŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ŵŝŶƵƚĞ ƚŽŽ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ŵĞĞƌĂ ĂƋĞƌ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŚĞƌ͕ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂƌĞ ǁŝůůŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐƉĞŶĚ ďŝŐŐĞƌ ĂŵŽƵŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ďĞŝŶŐ ϯϬ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ƐŚĞ ĂůƐŽ ŬĞĞƉƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉ ŽƉĞŶ Ɵůů ŵŝĚŶŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŶŽ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ŝƐ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ĐĂŶ ĂůƐŽ ƉůĂĐĞ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ďǇ Ă ƉŚŽŶĞ ĐĂůů ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĂǇ͘ KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ŝƚĞŵƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ZĞŐĂůŽ &ůŽǁĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŚĂƉĞ ŽĨ ůŝƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂƌƚƐ͘

BLOOM N FANTASY ͞tĞ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ũƵƐƚ ĚŽ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŝŌƐ͕

ǁĞ ĂůƐŽ ĚŽ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ƵƐŝŶŐ ĂůůŽŽŶƐ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ DĂŶĂů ů ĂǇĂŶŝ͕ ǁŚŽ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ŝƐ Ă ĐĞƌƟĮĞĚ ďĂůůŽŽŶ ĂƌƟƐƚ͘ ,ĂǀŝŶŐ ƐƚƵĚŝĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͕ ƐŚĞ ŚĂƐ ƐĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ ĨŽƌ ĐŽƵƉůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌŝǀĞƐ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŝƚ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ƚŽŽ͘ ͞tĞ ĂƌĞ ďƵƐǇ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ͘ tŚǇ ŶŽƚ ƵƐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĂǇ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĂǇ ƚŽ ƐŚŽǁ ŽƵƌ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ Ăůů ŽƵƌ ŶĞĂƌ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĂƌ ŽŶĞƐ͍͟ ůŽŽŵ E &ĂŶƚĂƐǇ ĂŚƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽƉĞŶ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϭϵϵϮ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ ŝƚĞŵƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŚĞĂƌƚ ƐŚĂƉĞĚ ůŽůůǇƉŽƉƐ ĨŽƌ ĂƐ ůĞƐƐ ĂƐ Ϭ͘ϯϬϬĮůƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ĂŵŽŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ƚŽ ŐŝŌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚ /ŶƚĞƌŇŽƌĂ͕ ƚŚĞǇ ĐĂŶ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŝŌƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͘ ͞dŚĞ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞǆĐŝƟŶŐ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ ^ŽŵĞƟŵĞƐ͕ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ͕ ĞǀĞƌǇŽŶĞ ŽŶ ŵǇ ƚĞĂŵ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŵǇƐĞůĨ ũƵŵƉ ŝŶƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĐĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂƌƚ ĚŽŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌŝĞƐ͘͟

SOFITEL BAHRAIN THALASSA SEA & SPA ͞/Ŷ ϮϬϭϮ͕ ^ŽĮƚĞů ǁĂƐ ĨĂŝƌůǇ ŶĞǁ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ

ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͖ ǁĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϰϰй ŝŶ ŽĐĐƵƉĂŶĐǇ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ^ĂŵǇ ŽƵŬŚĂůĞĚ͘ /Ŷ ϮϬϭϯ͕ &Ğď ϭϰƚŚ ĨĞůů ŽŶ Ă dŚƵƌƐĚĂǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĐƵƉĂŶĐǇ Ăƚ ^ŽĮƚĞů ĂŚƌĂŝŶ ǁĂƐ ϵϬй͘ ͞dŚĞ ǁŚŽůĞ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ ǁĂƐ ďƵƐǇ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ͘ tĞ ƐŽůĚ ŽǀĞƌ Ă ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ŝŶǀĞŶƚŽƌǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ DĂŐŶŝĮƋƵĞ ZŽŵĂŶĐĞ ƉĂĐŬĂŐĞ ƚĂŝůŽƌͲŵĂĚĞ ĨŽƌ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ Ă ĐŽŵƉůŝŵĞŶƚĂƌǇ ƐƉĂ ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ͘ ^ŝŶĐĞ Ăůů ƐƉĂ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚƐ ĐŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ ďĞ Įƚ ŝŶƚŽ ŽŶĞ ĚĂǇ͕ ǁĞ ĞǀĞŶ ŐĂǀĞ ŽƵƚ ŐŝŌ ǀŽƵĐŚĞƌƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƵƐĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ůĂƚĞƌ ĚĂƚĞ͘͟ dŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ŽƉƟŵŝƐƟĐ ĂďŽƵƚ ϮϬϭϰ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽĐĐƵƉĂŶĐǇ ŝƐ ĂůƌĞĂĚǇ Ăƚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϯϬй͕ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƟŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ sĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ ĂǇ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĨĂůůƐ ŽŶ Ă &ƌŝĚĂǇ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ƐŽůĚ ŽƵƚ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͘ ͞tĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŽīĞƌƐ ƚŽ ĐĂƚĞƌ ƚŽ Ăůů ŽƵƌ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ĞǆƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ďĞ ŝƚ Ă ƌŽŵĂŶƟĐ ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂĐŚ͕ ƐŝŐŶĂƚƵƌĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂǁĂƌĚ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ >Ă DĞƌ͕ ŽƌŝĞŶƚĂů ďĞůůǇ ĚĂŶĐĞ ƐŚŽǁ ĂŶĚ ƐƵĐĐƵůĞŶƚ >ĞďĂŶĞƐĞ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ ŝŶ WĂƐŚĂǁĂƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚ ďĞŝŶŐ /ƚĂůŝĂŶ tĞĞŬ ĨĞƐƟǀĂů ŚĂƉƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϭϮƚŚ ʹ ϮϭƐƚ ŽĨ &ĞďƌƵĂƌǇ ĨĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐ ^ŽƉƌĂŶŽ ĂŶĚ dĞŶŽƌĞ ƐŝŶŐĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ /ƚĂůǇ sŝŶĐĞŶǌŽ ^ĂŶǌŽ ĂŶĚ ĂƌůĂ DĂǌǌĂƌĞůůĂ͘͟

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

MAKE HER FEEL SPECIAL With Al Zain Jewellery’s Valentine’s Collection

he journey of life begins with love, embracing each stage with your loved ones, celebrating each special moment. Embrace the symbol of love this Valentine’s Day with Al Zain’s Valentine’s collection. Their exquisite pendants, earrings, rings and bracelets are set with stunning heart shaped rubies surrounded by sparkling diamonds all set in 18 carat white gold. The ruby has been synonymous with love for generations, its colour is believed to come from the internal flame that no individual could extinguish. Beautifully paired with the timeless symbol of love, romance and commitment, the diamond. Al Zain has taken these classic symbols of love and created beautiful, contemporary designs that have been exquisitely hand crafted by their skilled artisans. The passion and attention-to-detail that is invested in to each unique piece of jewellery simply embodies Al Zain’s philosophy of giving, from the hearts of their family to the hearts of yours.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

18k white gold, 0.13 carat diamond and 0.970 carat ruby pendant

18k white gold, 0.18 carat diamond and 1.51 carat ruby pendant

18k white gold, 0.14 carat diamond and 1.20 carat ruby bracelet 18k white gold, 0.28 8 carat diamond and 1.55 carat ruby ring

18k white gold, 0.20 carrat diamond an nd 1.48 carat rubyy ring 18k wh hite gold, 0.35 5 carat diamo ond and 2.20 carat ruby earrings

18k white wh gold, old, 0.34 carat diamond d and 2.16 carat ruby r eearrings

18k white gold, 0.23 carat diamond and 1.76 carat ruby earrings

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

PASSIONATELY CHOPARD A hint of romance is in the air. Like a radiant sunbeam breaking through wintry grey skies, Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to open your heart to your beloved and offer her a token of affection. On February 14th, Chopard becomes a messenger of the most beautiful vows of love, conveying pledges that are as precious as they are symbolic.

SPECIAL DATE

The Happy Sport Automatic watch equipped for the very first time with a mechanical self-winding movement is the perfect accessory to ensure a punctual arrival for the next tête-à-tête. The iconic Chopard timepiece with its blend of sophistication and elegance becomes even more seductive when it comes to celebrating love. Its delightfully feminine pink satin strap provides the perfect foil for the silver-toned JXLOORFKp GLDO HQKDQFHG E\ seven moving diamonds. The most ardent Valentines may prefer the rose gold version with its case entirely set with diamonds and fitted with a matching pink alligator leather strap.

JUST YOU AND ME “Toi et moi” rings are especially romantic interpretations of the Happy Diamonds collection poetically interpreting loving ties. The diamond-set white gold or rose gold models for Valentine’s Day feature two tenderly entwined hearts, each beating to the twirling rhythms of a moving diamond.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

THE GRAND CREATION OF A GRAND COMPLICATION During the 174 years since it was founded, Patek Philippe has demonstrated its expertise in the entire spectrum of horological complications. Now, with the Ref. 6002, the Sky Moon Tourbillon has a successor that redefines the term grand complication â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with a case and dial that require the utmost in craftsmanship and artistry.

s regards the movement, the new Ref. 6002 is largely identical with its predecessor. The totally new aspect of the Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002 is its appearance, with lavish decorations that elevate it to the status of a grand creation. To refer to a case or a dial is almost a sacrilege in the context of the Ref. 6002. Sculpture would be the more fitting term for a genuine work of art like the Sky Moon Tourbillon. In particular, it showcases two artisanal skills: the

art of the engraver and that of the enameler. Since the advent of Genevaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watchmaking heritage in the late 16th century, both of these crafts have been inseparably allied with watchmaking. Because the first portable timepieces of the epoch were still very inaccurate and had to be reset several times a day, they were primarily objects of prestige. That made it all the more important to endow them with precious materials and painstaking decorations as testimony to the influence and affluence of

their owners. The invention of the balance spring toward the end of the 17th century marked the beginning of the era of precision timepieces that were also suitable for scientific measurements. The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002 unites these two dimensions with incomparable poise: the precision of a tourbillon timekeeping instrument with the rate accuracy of a chronometer and the immaculate decorations that reflect the finest artisanal traditions of Geneva.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

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he most enticing aspect of Crowne Plaza Bahrain is the fact that it is cozy, and at the same time, it is right in the center of the Ànancial district. When it comes to the rooms, the guests have multiple choices: they can pick the North Wing rooms which are snug, with a unique old world charm or the South Wing Rooms which are sleek and modern.

ROOM

A RETREAT IN THE CITY &URZQH 3OD]D %DKUDLQuV 3URPLVH 2I /X[XU\ Crowne Plaza Bahrain has just launched their recently refurbished South wing and it boasts a number of developments. Business in Gulf got a unique opportunity to stay and experience it. Here is our review. 76

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

The room we got that day was the Suite. In one word: it was amazing. The brightly lit living area gave way to the bedroom, which of course came with the attached bathroom. The hotel is located right in the middle of a busy area, but once you enter the hotel, you are indeed transported to a quiet and comfortable setting. Even when you look out from the room windows, what greets you is the green gardens or even the pool view. No sign at all of the trafÀc. The attention to details, which they have given, is commendable. The dining area, along with the sofas are the Àrst view when you enter and you know for sure that it is going to be a great stay. The fruit basket, along with a selection of assorted bite sized interesting snacks, nuts and the complimentary water bottle are arranged beautifully on the dining table.

‘The Media Hub’ unit, which is built into the wall, is a great addition, especially for the technology lovers, as it allows you to connect all your gadgets. You can even connect your laptop to the TV through this, and don’t worry if you forget to bring your cables, the hotel can help you with it. The Wi-Fi speed is quite fast and you can connect up to three devices to the room Wi-Fi. Even in the bedroom, every minute detail is taken care of. The air conditioner’s control panel is just next to the bed, thus ensuring that you won’t have to drag yourself across the room to change the temperature while you are sleeping. The temperatures are shown in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, to make it easier for the guest no matter what they are used to. The night-lights are a great addition as well; it gives the room a wonderful glow, which will most deÀnitely help you relax and doze off. If you’d rather sit up and read, you can convert it into a reading light with just a Áick. They also provide a selection of pillows, in case you are not satisÀed with the supremely comfortable pillows, which are already in the room. There is a pillow menu, which explains the kind of pillows available, and all you need to do is ask for the perfect pillow.

Another unique item that can only be found at the Crowne Plaza Hotels is the aromatherapy based ‘Sleep Advantage Kit’. It includes a spray for the pillow and a roll-on for the pressure points. A whiff and a dab away, you are sure to sleep like a baby. The bathroom is extremely very elegant too. The rain shower comes with a temperature control option and an anti scalding switch makes it very safe, even when you want really hot water. The toiletries, from Molton Brown are luxurious. The furniture in the rooms, from the sofas to the bed to even the ergonomic Herman Miller desk chair is perfect for both work and leisure. All in all, the suite delivers all its promises, and if you stay here once, you will deÀnitely return.

FACILITIES

The Hotel delivers all the facilities that any Àve star properties can be proud of. The fully equipped gym is just right for your early morning workout. And if morning is not your time, then you can visit the gym anytime between 5am and 11 pm. And you can also go for a dip at the outdoor swimming pool. Or you can just sit and soak up the sun at the poolside. If you want something a little more hardcore, you have the option of

the tennis or basketball court. And if you are a one-man army, then you can head to the squash court instead. De-stress after or before the work out at the Sauna, or treat yourself to a massage. The well trained masseuse, will make sure to massage away the strain and stress and you will feel completely refreshed and ready to take on the day.

EATERIES

The eating outlets at the hotel offer a wide range of choices. The complimentary breakfast that you get with the sty is served at La Mosaique Restaurant, which even offers a beautiful outdoor seating, to enjoy the sunshine. For the Indian cuisine, one can head to the Spices Restaurant and if it is seafood that you crave, Waves is the place to go to. If you’d rather just have a drink and take it easy, The Harvesters Pub & Terrace is perfect. But if you are a sports fan and don’t want to miss a match, the Tracks Sports Br is for you. Each of these places come with their unique offers and promotions, so please don’t forget to check with the reception. But if you are too lazy to get out of the room, you can order room service as well. To make your booking, visit www.cp-bahrain.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

ONE STOP HUB

FOR BUSINESS LEISURE

Stay Connected To the Heart of the City at Sheraton Bahrain Sheraton Bahrain is among the most well known five star business hotels in the Kingdom. Business in Gulf got an opportunity to stay there for one night to check out the services and facilities. Here is our review.

he Sheraton Bahrain Hotel is known for luxury, for being among the Ă&#x20AC;nest in the hospitality industry and they did not disappoint. It is quite possible that you forget it is located in the middle of the busy Ă&#x20AC;nancial district when you step into the lobby of the hotel. It is truly calm and serene, and a promise of things to come.

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Room

The hotel features 256 guest rooms and suites with the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper(SM) Beds, free WiFi, comfortable work spaces and memorable views of the city and Arabian Gulf. The Clubroom was on offer for the night and on entering itself, you realize that it is going to be a cozy,

comfortable and relaxed night. The room comes equipped with all the necessary amenities. The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed is comprised of luxurious sheets, a deluxe duvet, a selection of feather down and hypoallergenic pillows, and a custom mattress. It is so soft and snug, that it was almost like sleeping on a cloud. It is specially designed to ensure that

you get a good night’s rest. One of the more interesting appliances in the room was the unique coffee and tea brewer, and the Columbian coffee sachets, which made some really delicious coffee. And if you just want to soak away the tiredness, the bathtub is just perfect. With the soft lighting and the luxurious Shine Spa toiletries and the Sheraton rubber ducky to keep you company, you are sure to feel completely refreshed. Another beneÀt of having the Club Room is the complimentary access you get to the Club Lounge, where you can sit, relax and enjoy some snacks and drinks with a beautiful view overlooking the city. The Club Lounge also has a meeting room, which allows you to organize meetings in plush luxurious settings.

Facilities

Sheraton Bahrain has a number of facilities to boast of. Like the Sheraton Link Experience. Set in the lobby, the Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®, where guests come together to meet, connect and relax. Complimentary

amenities include fully-wired workstations, free WiFi, newspapers, printing services, TV and a pleasant setting to come together. The Sheraton Fitness is also perfect for you to get your workouts in, even when you are on the move. The Sheraton Àtness program was created in partnership with worldrenowned personal training experts Core Performance to keep guests at their peak at all times. You can take part in state-of-the-art Àtness centers, specialized in-room and restaurant dining options, a custom website with online Àtness programs and more. Staying Àt has never been easier.

Eateries

The Hotel has a number of options for your meals. The complimentary breakfast buffet is served at the al SaÀr Hotel. And boy! What an amazing spread it is. The restaurant also serves the buffet during lunch and you can order a la carte as well. If you are in the mood for some Chinese, then head to the award winning Soie Restaurant for a delectable menu to be enjoyed in a

beautiful ambience. Check out their offers on www.soiebahran.com For something a little more Arab, head to the Persian Restaurant, Golestan. Their business lunch menu is quite exciting and Àlling too. With the business lunch option, you can get in and out in less than one hour. Explore the restaurant by visiting www. golestanbahrain.com If you are looking for something a little lighter, Espressamente Illy café is the place to go. From sandwiches to cakes to coffee and juices, you can pick the best and tastiest options on the island. And if you want to chill with your friends over drinks, An Nada Lounge should be your pick. With the entertainment from the live band, this sure will be a memorable outing. And always make it a point to ask about the special promotions and deals at all of these outlets to make the best out of your stay. The Sheraton Bahrain is indeed the one stop shop for all the needs of a businessman, and he can rest assured, that he will be well taken care of. To make your reservation, visit www.sheratonbahrain.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

TOP 10 PRIVATE JETS So you’ve finally decided that you need your very own private jet, but you can’t decide what kinda colour scheme to go in for. Well look no further, as this month we share with you some of the most colorful business jets around.

NIKE’S SNEAKER-INSPIRED GULFSTREAM G550 At the top of any list – and worthy of a ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŵĞŶƟŽŶ ʹ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ EŝŬĞ ŇŝŐŚƚ ĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ͕ ǁŚŽ ŵĂŶĂŐĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ ĐŽͲŽǁŶĞƌ WŚŝů <ŶŝŐŚƚ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ EŝŬĞ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ͘ EŝŬĞ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ Ă 'ƵůĨƐƚƌĞĂŵ 'ϱϱϬ ;ŵƐŶ ϱϭϮϭͿ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ dŚĞ WƌĞŵ ZĂǁĂƚ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϯ͘ 'ƵůĨƐƚƌĞĂŵ Ăƚ >ŽŶŐ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌǇ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟǀĞ ƉĂŝŶƚ ũŽď͕ ĐƵƐƚŽŵŝǌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă EŝŬĞ ͚ƐǁŽŽƐŚ͛ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝů ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐŽůĞƐ ŽĨ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ƐŚŽĞƐ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƌŶĞĂƚŚ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶŐƐ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝǌĂƟŽŶ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ĞŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝů ŶƵŵďĞƌ ;EϭϵϳϮEͿ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌ ƚŚĂƚ EŝŬĞ ǁĂƐ ĮƌƐƚ ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞĚ͘

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

PRADA’S JET BLACK GULFSTREAM G450

WƌĂĚĂ ĂƌĞ ƐǇŶŽŶǇŵŽƵƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽůŽƵƌ ďůĂĐŬ͕ ƐŽ ŝƚ ĐĂŵĞ ĂƐ ŶŽ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞ ǁŚĞŶ Ă 'ƵůĨƐƚƌĞĂŵ 'ϰϱϬ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ũĞƚ ;ŵƐŶ ϰϮϳϵ ͬ /ͲyWZ Ϳ ǁĂƐ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ŝŶ Ă ŐŽƌŐĞŽƵƐ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ŵĂƩ ďůĂĐŬ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͘ DǇ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĨĂǀŽƌŝƚĞ ŽĨ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞƐ ŚĞƌĞ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ ŽƵƚ ǁŚĞƌĞǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ŇŝĞƐ͘

THE FEATHERED GULFSTREAM G650 OWNED BY NIKE’S PHIL KNIGHT

EŝŬĞ͛Ɛ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ ĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ ǁĂƐ Ă ďƌĂŶĚ ŶĞǁ 'ƵůĨƐƚƌĞĂŵ 'ϲϱϬ ;ŵƐŶ ϲϬϮϰͿ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ EŝŬĞ ŇŝŐŚƚ ĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞ ƚŚŝƐ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ ĐŽͲŽǁŶĞƌ WŚŝů <ŶŝŐŚƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟǀĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ ŝƐ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŽŶ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŽŶĞ ƐŝĚĞ ƐŚŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ƉŝĐƚŽƌŝĂů ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ EŝŬĞ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĞĞŬ 'ŽĚĚĞƐƐ ŽĨ sŝĐƚŽƌǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ ƐŝĚĞ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ƐƚǇůŝǌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ KƌĞŐŽŶ ƵĐŬƐ ŝĐĞ ŚŽĐŬĞǇ ƚĞĂŵ͛Ɛ ŚĞůŵĞƚ͘ dŚĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƐŝĚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶŐƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĨĞĂƚŚĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶŐƟƉƐ ŝƐ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŐŶĂƚƵƌĞ EŝŬĞ ͚ƐǁŽŽƐŚ͕͛ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƵůƟŵĂƚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵŝǌĂƟŽŶ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝů ŶƵŵďĞƌ͗ Eϭ< ͘

LIME-GREEN CITATION MUSTANG

ŶŽƚŚĞƌ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĐŽůŽƵƌ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ŝƐ ƚŚŝƐ ĞƐƐŶĂ ŝƚĂƟŽŶ DƵƐƚĂŶŐ ;ŵƐŶ ϱϭϬͲϬϮϲϮ ͬ Ͳ/ EͿ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ŶŽǁ ďĞĞŶ ƐŽůĚ ŝŶ &ƌĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ &Ͳ,W, ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ͘ /Ɛ ƚŚŝƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͍ ,ĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƐĂǇ͕ ďƵƚ ŝƚ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ƐƚŽŽĚ ŽƵƚ͘

SILVER AND YELLOW GULFSTREAM G550

tŝƚŚ /ƚĂůǇ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨŽƌ ĨĂƐŚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐƚǇůĞ ŝƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ĐŽŵĞ ĂƐ ŵƵĐŚ ŽĨ Ă ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐĞ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ /ƚĂůŝĂŶ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůŝƐƚ͘ ^ŝƌŝŽ ^Ɖ ƚŽŽŬ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌǇ ŽĨ Ă 'ƵůĨƐƚƌĞĂŵ 'ϱϱϬ ;ŵƐŶ ϱϯϭϰ ͬ /Ͳ s Ϳ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϭ ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟǀĞ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ƐŝůǀĞƌ ĐŽůŽƵƌ ƐƚǇůŝƐŚůǇ ŵĂƚĐŚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ǇĞůůŽǁ ĂŶĚ ďůĂĐŬ ƐƚƌŝƉĞƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ďƌŝŐŚƚĞŶŝŶŐ ƵƉ ĂŝƌƉŽƌƚƐ ŝŶ ƵƌŽƉĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĞǀĞƌ ƐŝŶĐĞ͘

LEWIS HAMILTON’S CHALLENGER 605

KŶĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ĐůĞĂƌůǇ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ŵŝŶĚ ƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƚ ŝƐ &ŽƌŵƵůĂ KŶĞ ƌĂĐŝŶŐ ĚƌŝǀĞƌ >ĞǁŝƐ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ƚŽŽŬ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌǇ ŽĨ Ă ŽŵďĂƌĚŝĞƌ ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƌ ϲϬϱ ;ŵƐŶ ϱϵϬϰ ͬ 'Ͳ> ,Ϳ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ũĞƚ ŝŶ :ĂŶƵĂƌǇ ϮϬϭϯ͘ tŝƚŚ ŝƚƐ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ďůĂĐŬ ĐŽůŽƌƐ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ĂůƐŽ ĐĂƌƌŝĞƐ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝǌĞĚ ƚĂŝů ŶƵŵďĞƌ͕ ǁŝƚŚ 'Ͳ> , ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ >ĞǁŝƐ Ăƌů ĂǀŝĚƐŽŶ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ͘

BRAZILIAN FALCON 7X

dŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŽĨ ƚǁŽ ƌĂǌŝůŝĂŶͲƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ůŝƐƚ ŝƐ Ă ĂƐƐĂƵůƚ &ĂůĐŽŶ ϳy ;ŵƐŶ ϭϲϮ ͬ WWͲZ& Ϳ͘ ĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ŝŶ ƵŐƵƐƚ ϮϬϭϮ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ Ă ƌĂǌŝůŝĂŶ ŚŽůĚŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ĞĂƌůǇ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϯ͕ ƚŚŝƐ &ĂůĐŽŶ ϳy ǁĞĂƌƐ Ă ƐƚǇůŝƐŚ ŵŝǆ ŽĨ ďůĂĐŬ͕ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ŝƚ ƐƚĂŶĚ ŽƵƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƵƐƵĂů ǁŚŝƚĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŝŶƐƚƌŝƉĞƐ͘

OAKLEY’S MILITARY-INSPIRED GLOBAL EXPRESS

A VERY BOLD-LOOKING GLOBAL EXPRESS

KĂŬůĞǇ͛Ɛ ŽŵďĂƌĚŝĞƌ 'ůŽďĂů ǆƉƌĞƐƐ ;ŵƐŶ ϵϭϲϮ ͬ EϮdͿ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŵĞ ŽĨ ďůĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŽŶĞ ƐƚĞƉ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ͕ ďǇ ĂĚĚŝŶŐ ǁŚĂƚ ŽŶ ĮƌƐƚ ŐůĂŶĐĞ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ĐĂŵŽƵŇĂŐĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͘ >ŽŽŬ ĐůŽƐĞƌ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ͛ůů ƐĞĞ ŝƚ͛Ɛ Ă ƉŝĐƚŽƌŝĂů ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŵĂƉ͕ ĂůďĞŝƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŶƟŶĞŶƚƐ ŵŽǀĞĚ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŽ Įƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĐƌĂŌ͘

BRAZILIAN CHALLENGER 300

dŚĞ <ŽŚůĞƌ ŽŵƉĂŶǇ͕ ďĂƐĞĚ ŝŶ ^ŚĞďŽǇŐĂŶ͕ tŝƐĐŽŶƐŝŶ͕ ŝƐ ďĞƐƚ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨŽƌ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƉůƵŵďŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͕ ďƵƚ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂǀŝĂƟŽŶ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĨŽƌ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ Ă ŽŵďĂƌĚŝĞƌ 'ůŽďĂů ǆƉƌĞƐƐ ;yZ^ ŵƐŶ ϵϮϵϬ ͬ Eϳϵϳ<<Ϳ ŝŶ Ă ŐŽƌŐĞŽƵƐ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƚǇůŝƐŚůǇ ŵŝǆĞƐ ƌĞĚ͕ ďůĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ƐƚƌĂƉ ůŝŶĞ ͚dŚĞ ŽůĚ >ŽŽŬ͛ ƉĂŝŶƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝů͘ Ɛ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ 'ůŽďĂů͕ <ŽŚůĞƌ ĂůƐŽ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞƐ 'ƵůĨƐƚƌĞĂŵ /s^W ;ŵƐŶ ϭϰϮϵ ͬ Eϳϳϳ<<Ϳ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͘

ĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ ĚĞƉĂƌƟŶŐ DŽŶƚƌĞĂů ŽŶ ŝƚƐ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌǇ ŇŝŐŚƚ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĂǌŝůŝĂŶ ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƌ ϯϬϬ ;ŵƐŶ ϮϬϯϮϱ ͬ WZͲ Ϳ ƚĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞŵĞ ŽĨ ƵƐŝŶŐ ďůĂĐŬ͕ ƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ Ă ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͕ ďƵƚ ƐǁĂƉƐ ƚŚĞ ƵƐƵĂů ŽƌĚĞƌ ďǇ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞĚŽŵŝŶĂŶƚ ĐŽůŽƵƌ͘ dŚĞ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ďůĂĐŬ ŇĂƐŚĞƐ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚŝƐ ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƌ ϯϬϬ ƌĞĂůůǇ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ ŽƵƚ͘ JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

FASHION

THE LAT A EST AND TRENDIEST WAY TO DRESSING UP BIG brings to you the latest fashion from the top brands in the fashion world. vv

Salvatore Ferragamo Double Gancini Reversible Leather Belt Smooth Italian calfskin leather belt reverses from black to auburn, and is joined together by a double gancini buckle with a wooden insert. ferragamo.com

Manolo Blahnik Swan Embellished Satin Pumps An ornate beaded embellishment sparkles on this elegant pump made of fine Italian satin. manoloblahnik.com

Etro Ruched Printed Jersey Dress The ultra-flattering effect of strategic ruching makes this printed jersey silhouette a chic, utterly wearable choice. etro.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Lacoste Marceau Leather & Suede Boots A rugged, outdoor-inspired boot, refined in leather and suede for rustic yet handsome style. www.lacoste.com

Clover Canyon Faux FurLined Printed Neoprene Coat Jewel-toned faux fur lines the inside of this quintessentially Clover Canyon printed coat, creating a modern but opulent statement piece youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love year after year. clovercanyon.com

Band of Outsiders Reefer DoubleBreasted Coat Striped knit trimming along the pockets and cuffs lends a sporty finish to a refined outerwear silhouette of fine Italian wool. bandofoutsiders. com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

LIFESTYLE

STUFF WE LIKE Check out the latest gadgets and a host of other items for executives on a break or having some family time

Ă&#x2030; MAD

CATZ R.A.T.TE GAMING MOUSE

The Mad Catz R.A.T.TE (TE here stands for Tournament Edition) gaming mouse will play nice regardless of whether you get your gaming kicks from the PC or Mac platform. Specially designed to appeal to the e-sports professional, it will feature a newly developed Phillips Doppler-laser sensor so that it can offer reference quality tracking with speeds up to 8200 DPI. Apart from that, every single feature of the R.A.T.TE has also been specially engineered for mobility, performance and precision, where the overall weight has been reduced to decrease inertia, while both speed and resolution have also radically improved to deliver faster reaction times.

madcatz.com

Ă&#x2020;JVC

EVERIO RUGGED AND WATERPROOF CAMCORDER

JVC unveiled a new lineup of Everio camcorders that are immune to the elements. These rugged camcorders are water, dust, shock and freeze-proof, making them perfect companions to document your extreme adventures. Both models, GZ-R70 and GZR-10, feature JVCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quad-proof structure which makes them water resistant up to 5m and able to withstand drops from as high as 1.5m. The camcorders will capture full 1080p HD video in temperatures as low as ÂŚ Ă&#x17D;% Ă&#x17D;(

jvc.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Ă&#x2021; NEPTUNE PINE ANDROID SMARTWATCH

(QT VJG 0GRVWPG 2KPG UOCTV watchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early prototype has been made available to the masses, so do not be surprised to see how large it would actually look when you have it nestled nicely on your wrist. Hardware URGEKÂ˛ECVKQPU QH VJG 0GRVWPG 2KPG KPENWFG C ÂŠ FKURNC[ YKVJ C Z pixels resolution, a 5MP main shooter at the back, and a microSIM slot to let you use it like a regular smartphone, all of it TWPPKPI QP #PFTQKF ,GNN[ $GCP

neptunepine.com

Ă&#x2C6; POLAROID

SOCIALMATIC CAMERA

(QT UVCTVGTU VJKU YKNN DG 2QNCTQKFÂŤU XGT[ Â˛TUV 9K (K GPCDNGF ECOGTC VJCV VJG[ have rolled out, and there will also be additions to their tablet, mountable sports action camera as well as home entertainment lines. As for the JCTFYCTG URGEKÂ˛ECVKQPU QH VJG 2QNCTQKF 5QEKCNOCVKE YJCV YCU QPEG C EQPEGRV PQY HGCVWTGU C OGICRKZGN ECOGTC C ÂŠ VQWEJUETGGP .%& FKURNC[ YJKEJ YKNN TWP QP VJG #PFTQKF OQDKNG QRGTCVKPI U[UVGO 9K (K CU YGNN CU $NWGVQQVJ YJGP KV EQOGU VQ EQPPGEVKXKV[ QRVKQPU CPF C <GTQ +PM <+0- HQT short) printer that is capable of printing out photos without the need for any kind of ink cartridge that could get rather messy on your travels.

Ă&#x2021; BED

PRISM SPECTACLES RAY BAN SOLAR-PANEL SUNGLASSES

social-matic.com

Designed by Sayalee Kaluskar from Mumbai, India, this pair of sunglasses was turned into an iPhone charger by just adding solar panels on each arm and is useful when the sun goes down. The solar-panel sunglasses can recharge your iPhone and it comes with a power cell wired to a battery hidden within the plastic that can restore the converted energy. The cells charge the battery while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wearing your glasses in the sun. At the end is an iPhone Lightning connector that is plugged into your phone and gives its battery a shot of juice when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re indoor. The Ray-Ban Shama Shades are part of a UVWFGPV RTQLGEV CV /KCOK #F 5EJQQNKP 5CP (TCPEKUEQ

slashgear.com

Ă&#x152; MEZE

11 DECO WOOD EARPHONES

Gone are the days when earphones are merely called electronic gadgets and dull accessories. The Meze 11 Deco earphones, the newest addition to the Meze wood family, are designed for those who already have a musical identity. Meze 11 Deco combines good music and aesthetic style while maintaining a crisp but warm, natural sound delivered by its handcrafted wood enclosure.

Ă&#x2021; RAZER

NABU BAND

mezeheadphones.com

KU VTWN[ VJG [GCT QH 9GCTCDNG 6GEJPQNQIKGU 96 9JGP [QW UGG C EQORCP[ NKMG 4#<'4 YJKEJ KU MPQYP HQT KVU JKIJ RTQÂ˛NG ICOKPI FGXKEGU GPVGT C OCTMGV NKMG VJKU [QW ECP VGNN VJCV VJG 96 VTCKP KU leaving the station and no-one wants to miss the next big thing. The ICFIGV KU ECNNGF 0CDW CPF VJKU KU 4#<'4ÂŤU EQORGVKVQT HQT DQVJ URQTVU DCPFU 0KMG (WGN ,CYDQPG 7R Â&#x; CPF UOCTVYCEJGU 3WCNEQOO 6QS )CNCZ[ )GCTÂ&#x; 6JG Â˛TUV VJKPI VJCV KU UVTKMKPI CDQWV VJG FGUKIP KU VJCV KV KU TGOCTMCDN[ UOCNN HQT UQOGVJKPI VJCV JCU VGZV PQVKÂ˛ECVKQP ECRCDKNKVKGU UETGGP NKIJV XKDTCVG VJCPMU VQ C UOCNN 1.'& UETGGP

razerzone.com

Ă&#x2026; SAMSUNGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

ULTRA-HD TV

110-INCH

6JG IKCPV -QTGCP Â˛TO JCU NCWPEJGF VJG worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest home TV with its massive 110-inch TV that measures upto 2.6 meters by 1.8 meters; the new Samsung *& 68 MPQYP CU Â¨ -ÂŠ JCU HQWT VKOGU more pixels than the standard HD TV with the use of OLED. OLED has ultrathin screens that display more detailed images with promising picture clarity and impressive color saturation. The screen is so big that audience will feast over the almost life-size images of players in a football match plus a cinema experience right in your living room. It also offers MultiView which allows two people to watch different shows at the same time.

samsung.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

SHOWCASING TALENTS

Entrepreneurs at the Bab Market

he Ministry of Culture organized the pop up souq, theBAB Market at the Bab Al Bahrain, in a bid to promote entrepreneurship. It gave an opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. The market included 20 stalls set up along the covered walkway under the Bab promoting local handicrafts and products. It also included a pop-up gallery at the Bab Mall, with each exhibition staying up for a week.

BAHRAIN RETAIL FAIR ORGANIZED

Massive Turnout at the Exhibition Centre

he four-day second Bahrain retail fair and seminar was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. Addressing the gathering, Nader Al Moayyed, undersecretary for Trade, Ministry of Industry and Commerce patronized the event. The addition for this year was the auto section.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

A UNIQUE

OPPORTUNITY Entrepreneurs at the Amwaj Market

he Amwaj Market which was held recently converted the Lagoon into a pop up bazaar. It gave an opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. Entrepreneurs set up stalls to sell numerous items including food items, jewellery, accessories, artwork and more. The market succeeded in giving these young talents a taste of how it will be run their own business.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

BD 7500

FOR CHARITY T

Al Ghalia’s Zumbathon Raises Money

he Bahrain Cancer society was presented with a check of BD 7500 by Al Ghalia at a special event held at Al Bandar Resort. The Zumbathon was organized by

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Dessange under the Áagship of Al Ghalia Group in cooperation with Salsa de Bahrain and Bahrain Salsa Festival 2014. The Zumbathon was a full day of fun Àtness, dancing

music and festivity for kids and for those young at heart. This activity is part f al Ghalia’s Corporate Social Responsibility, where they give back to society.

A RACE

FOR CHARITY Bellboys Rush To the Finish Line

otel bellboys went head to head with their trolleys in a Àercely fought race. Scores of people showed up to cheer on the bellboys who raced each other with their decorated trolleys full of luggage to the Ànish line. The Àrst bellboy race ever in Bahrain kicked off yesterday in the car park of the Mâvenpick Hotel. Bellboys from some of

the top hotels in Bahrain took part in the competition, including the Mâvenpick, Gulf, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, Radisson, InterContinental Regency, Crowne Plaza, SoÀtel and Majestic Arjaan Rotana. The Crowne Plaza Hotel was announced as the winners following the Ànal race. Around BD4,000 was raised during the event, which was given to the Palm Association to support needy families.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

&ODVVL¿HGV

BD 30

INTEX i-Buddy3

Nextbook 7SE

7”Screen, 4 GB Storage, WiFi, Android

BD 50 BD 7

Kaspersky Internet Security

BD 75

Norton Antivirus

BD 2.5

SanDisk 16 GB Flash Memory

SanDisk 8 GB Flash Memory

BD 3.5

8”Screen, 4 GB Storage, WiFi, Android

Nextbook 10SE

BD 80 BD 75 Color Laser Printer , Scanner & Copier

Nextbook Pre SE

Sony 4 GB Flash Memory

ing & epair ce on Raintenan M

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

7”Screen, 8 GB Storage, WiFi, Android

BD 115

10”Screen, 8 GB Storage, WiFi, Android

SAMSUNG CLX-3305

SAMSUNG TAB 3

% 5 2 unt o c s Di

Color Laser Printer , Scanner & Copier

BD 100

BD 5

BD 9

Brother MFC-7360

Laser Printer

BD 80

Brother HL-2130

BD 5

Nextbook 8SE

SanDisk 8 GB Flash Memory

BD 79

BD 25

BD 39

7”Screen, 4 GB Storage WiFi, 3g Android

BD 150

SAMSUNG CLX-3305

Color Laser Printer , Scanner , Copier & WiFi

BD 160

SAMSUNG TAB 3

7”Screen, 8 GB Storage, WiFi, 3G, Android

Pc Doctor

P.O. Box 21331 , Manama , Bahrain lolo complex - manama - shop no: 8 Tel. (+973) 17 251114, Fax. (+973) 17 252455

HP Laser Pro 200 Color MFP M276n

Color MFP M276n Printer , Scanner , Copier , Fax & Feeder

HP Laser Pro 200 Color MFP M276nw

Printer , Scanner , Copier , Fax , Feeder & WiFi

&ODVVL¿HGV

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Well worry no more! The answer to your issues is a phone call away. Anne Mostafa,PsyD Clinical Psychologist Tel: +973 36317033, email: doctoranna@psychologistbahrain.com www.bahrainpsychologist.com JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

. . the B I G

HOTEL guide YOUR GUIDE TO THE KINGDOM’S HOTEL OUTLETS

DINING Al Safir Restaurant

ơ Ǥ

Ǥ Opening Hours: Ǧ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ ͗ǣ͔͔ ǣ ͜ǣ͔͔ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Saraya: All Day Dining / International ơ ƪ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ

Soie Chinese Restaurant

Wok: South East Asian Restaurant

Golestan Restaurant Ǧ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͕͖ǣ͔͗ Ȃ ͖ǣ͙͘ ͛ǣ͔͗ Ǥ Ǥ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͗ ǣ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ Ȃ ͗ǣ͙͘ ͛ǣ͔͗ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͗

Espressamente Illy ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͔ǣ͔͔ For Information & Reservations Ƥ ǣ +973 17533533 ext 259 ǣ +973 17 533 533 ext. 497

ǣ +973 17 533 533 ext. 375

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Fiamma: Italian Restaurant

Opening Times: ͚ǣ͔͗ ͕͔ǣ͔͗ ȋ͕͕ Ȍ ǣ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ ͗ǣ͔͗ ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ ͕͔ǣ͔͗

Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͗

Opening Hours: ͚ǣ͔͗ Ǧ͕͔ǣ͔͗ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ Ȃ ͗Ǥ͔͗ ͛ǣ͔͗ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͗ ƪ ǡ Ǥ

Business Lunch, Kempinski

Deluxe Room, The K Hotel

ǣ +973 17 533 533 ext. 1790

± ƪ Ƥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Tapas: Restaurant

ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͕ǣ͔͗

La Mer: Seafood Restaurant

ǡ Ǧ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Pashawat: Arabic Restaurant

ơ Ǥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ ͕ǣ͔͗ ȋ Ȍ For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1763 6363 Concierge: +973 39349659

China Garden

Zahle

ǡ ǡ ơ ƪ ǡ Ǥ

ǡ ǡ Ǥ

Opening Hours: ͕͖ǣ͔͔ ͗ǣ͔͔ ͛ǣ͔͔ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕ǣ͔͔ ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͖ǣ͔͔ ͕͖ǣ͔͔ Ǧ͗ǣ͔͔ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͖ǣ͔͔

Fusions

Klouds Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ ͕͕

Friday Brunch ơ Friday Brunch!

Plums ǡ ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ ͕͕ǣ͔͗

Primavera ǡ ơ Ǥ

Opening Hours: ǡ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ ͘ǣ͔͗

Opening Hours: ǣ ͗ ǣ ͛

The K lounge

Nirvana

ƪ Ǥ ǣ ͙ ͛ Ƭ Ǥ

ƪ Ǧ Ǥ

Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͕ ͖

Ǧ ǡ Ǥ

Kenza Lounge

Opening Hours: ǣ ͖

ǡ Ƥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ ͖ For Information & Reservations

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000 Klouds: (973) 1736 0000 ext. 4019 K Pool: (973) 1736 0000 or email banquet@thekhotel.com

ǧ ǡ Ƭ Overlook Café ǡ ǡ ƪ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͔ ͚

La Med Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ ͕͔ǣ͔͗ ơ ǣ ͗ǣ͔͗ ǣ ͗ǣ͔͗ ǣ ͗ǣ͔͗ ǣ ͛ ͕͕ǣ͔͗ ǣ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ ͘

Opening Hours: ͗ ͛ ͕͕ǣ͔͗

Burlington Club

The Lobby Lounge Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͜

The Ritz Gourmet Lounge Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1758 0000

Al Waha ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͚ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͔ǣ͔͗ ͕͖ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͗ǣ͔͗ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͔ ǣ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ Ǧ ͘ǣ͔͔

ǯ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͚ Ȃ ͕͖

La Pergola ǯ ǡ ơ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͕͖ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͗ǣ͔͔ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Margarita Mexicana ǡ ǡ ǯ Ƥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͚ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͖ǣ͔͔

Royal Thai ǯ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͕͖ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͗ǣ͔͔ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Sato

Ǧ ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͕͖ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͗ǣ͔͔ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Takht Jamsheed ǯ ǡ ǯ ơ Ƥ Ƥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͕͖ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͗ǣ͔͔ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

For Reservations

Al Waha: +973 1774 6425/26 China Garden: +973 1774 6423/24 Fusions: +973 1771 3000 La Pergola: +973 1774 6419/20 Margarita Mexicana: +973 1774 6462 Royal Thai: +973 1774 6421/22 Sato: +973 1774 6429/30 Takht Jamsheed: +973 1774 6431/32 Zahle: +973 1774 6417/18

Txoko ȋ ȌǤ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͚ǣ͔͔Ǧ͖ǣ͔͔

Imari ǡ ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͜ǣ͔͔Ǧ͖ǣ͔͔

Le Sauvage ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͚ǣ͔͗Ǧ͔͔ǣ͔͔

Le Domain [34] Opening Hours: ǣ ͚ǣ͔͗Ǧ͔͔ǣ͔͔

Figs & Olives

Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͖ǣ͔͔Ǧ͔͔ǣ͔͔

The Cigar Lounge Ƥ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͜ǣ͔͔Ǧ͔͔ǣ͔͔

The Deli ±Ǧ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͜ǣ͔͔Ǧ͖͕ǣ͔͔ For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 16000 400, 16000 200, 16000 222, 16000 333.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

La Med, Ritz Carlton

Opening hours: ǣ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ǧ ͕͖ǣ͔͔

T-spoon

ơ Ǥ

ƪ Ƭ ǡ ƪ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͝ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͕ǣ͔͔

Mezzanine Lounge ͕͕ Ǣ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͕ǣ͔͔ Ǧ ͕ǣ͔͔

Zytoun

Opening hours: ǣ ͚ǣ͔͗ Ǧ ͕͕ǣ͔͔ For Reservations

Hotel: +973 1729 8008

Yalla Yalla

Nasmat - Lounge & Restaurant

±ǡ ơ ơ Ǥ

ơ ǯ Ǥ

Bennigan’s

Opening Hours: ͕͔ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͛ǣ͔͔

Saveur ǯ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͚ǣ͔͗ Ǧ ͕͕ǣ͔͔ ͕͖ǣ͔͗ Ǧ ͗ǣ͔͗ ͛ǣ͔͔ Ǧ ͕͔ǣ͔͗

Opening Hours: ǣ ͚ǣ͔͗ Ǧ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͚ Ǧ͖

Cucina Italiana Ǥ Opening Hours: ͚ǣ͔͔ Ǧ ͕ǣ͔͔

Baharat Ƥ ǡ Ǥ Opening Hours: ͛ǣ͔͔ Ǧ ͔͕ǣ͔͔ For Information & Reservations All restaurants: +973 1717 1000

SHOPPING Alhilal Bookshop

Y Silk’s restaurant Ƥ Ǥ Ǧ Ȁ Ǧ Ǥ Opening Hours: ǣ ͝ǣ͔͔ Ǧ ͕͔Ǥ͔͗ ͕͔ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͘ǣ͔͔ ͙ǣ͔͔ Ȃ ͕͖ǣ͔͔ For Reservations

Silk’s restaurant: +973 17460017

Opening Hours: ǣ ͝ ͝

Alhilal Bookshop: +973 17 531 665

ǧ ǡ Ƭ Chopard Boutique Opening hours: ǣ ͛

Mohd Sharif Hatam & Sons

La Perle ǡ Ƥ Ǥ

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Opening hours: ǣ ͕͔ ͖ Ȃ ͘ ͜ For Information

Chopard Boutique: +973 17 580 667 Mohd Sharif Hatam & Sons: +973 17 580 889

SPA & SALON

Ƭ Pure Spa Opening Hours: ǣ ͕͕ǣ͔͔ ͜ǣ͔͔

Image Spa & Leisure Opening Hours: ǣ ͚ ͕͔

For Information & Reservations +973 1717 1122

Sheraton Health Club Opening Hours: ǣ ͛ ͕͔

Sheraton Fitness Opening Hours: ǣ ͝ ͜ǣ͔͗ For Information

Image Spa & Leisure: +973 17 524 570 Sheraton Fitness: +973 17 524 570 Sheraton Health Club: +973 17 533 533

ǧ ǡ Ƭ Elie & Jean Beauty Center Gents Saloon Opening hours: ǣ ͝ǣ͔͗ ͜ ǣ ͕͔ ͛

Sports Club & Spa (Membership only) Opening hours: ǣ ͙ǣ͔͔ ͕͔ǣ͔͗ For Information

Elie & Jean Beauty Center - Gents Saloon: +973 17 580 798

Thalassotherapy ȋ Ȍ For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1763 6363 Concierge: +973 39349659

ǧ ǡ Ƭ Elie & Jean Beauty Center Gents Saloon Opening hours: ǣ ͝ǣ͔͗ ͜ ǣ ͕͔ ͛

Sports Club & Spa (Membership only) Opening hours: ǣ ͙ǣ͔͔ ͕͔ǣ͔͗ For Information

Elie & Jean Beauty Center - Gents Saloon: +973 17 580 798

Ann Beauty Salon Ǥ For Information & Reservations Ƥ Ƭ ǣ +973 1782 7999 ǣ Ƥ ̷ Ǥ Ǥ ǯ ǣ +973 1781 3750 ǣ Ǥ Ǥ ǣ +973 1700 1317 ǣ Ǥ Ǥ

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The K lounge Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2022;Í&#x2022; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Í&#x2013;

Champions Sports Lounge Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2022;Í&#x2022; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Í&#x2013; For Information

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000

Sherlock Holmes Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2022;Í&#x2013;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? Č&#x201A; Í&#x2013;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â?

Typhoon Bar and Lounge Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2122;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? Č&#x201A; Í&#x2022;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â? Â&#x192;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ÇŁ Í&#x2122;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? Č&#x201A; Í&#x203A;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â?

Vintage Wine Bar Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2122;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? Č&#x201A; Í&#x2022;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â?

For Reservations

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000 Sherlock Holmes: +973 1771 2450 Typhoon Bar and Lounge: +973 17 746 395 Vintage Wine Bar: +973 1774 6461

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NIGHTLIFE An Nada Lounge Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ÇŁ Í&#x2022;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D; Â&#x2019;Â? Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Í&#x203A;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D; Â&#x2019;Â? Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A; Í&#x2022;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D; Č&#x201A; Í&#x2022;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D; For Information

An Nada Lounge: +973 17 533 533 ext. 293

ĆŹ Boudoir Opening Hours: Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2020;Â&#x192;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2020;Â&#x192;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2122;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? ÇŚ Í&#x2013;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â?

Bizarre Lounge Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í?ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? ÇŚ Í&#x2013;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â? For Information & Reservations Hotel: (973) 1717 1000

ĆŹ

Amber Bar

Le Bellevue

Lagoon Pool Bar

Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x161;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x203A;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2013; Â&#x201E;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2018;ĆĄÂ&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2021; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2014;Â?Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â&#x192; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021;Ç¤ Â&#x2039;Â&#x2030;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021; Â?Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026; Â&#x2039;Â? Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030;Â&#x2022;Ç¤

Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x153; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Í&#x153;

Opening hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2DC;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â? ÇŚ Í&#x2013;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â?

Lobby Lounge Bar

Pool Bar

Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x153; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2030;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;

Tapas: BAR

Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D; Â&#x201E;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2021;Â? Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2122;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2020;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2020;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;ÇŚ Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2020;Â&#x192;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2026;Â&#x160; Í&#x2022; Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Ç¤ Č&#x2039; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2020;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2020;Â&#x192;Â?Č&#x152;Ç¤

Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x2022;Í&#x2022;ÇŁÍ&#x2014;Í&#x201D; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2030;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;

Opening hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í?ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â? ÇŚÍ&#x153;ÇŁÍ&#x201D;Í&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â?

Opening Hours: Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŁ Í&#x161; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Í&#x2013;

For Information

Hotel: +973 1763 6363 Concierge: +973 39349659

For Reservations

Hotel: +973 1729 8008

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

Quoted “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Earl Nightingale

“Why climb the corporate ladder when you can build an elevator in your own building?”

“Always consider who you’re learning from. Don’t listen to people who are not experiencing the success you want.”

Joshua E. Leyenhorst

Ehab Atalla

“One person with passion is better than 40 who are merely interested.”

“Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.”

“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”

Tom Connellan

Robert H. Schuller

Richard Branson

“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.” Steve Jobs

88 96

FEBRUARY JANUARY /2012 FEBRUARY 2014

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