Naushad, MBA, chucks MNC job to launch a Paan shop

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
Naushad Sheikh with his father at latter's paan shop (Left) and in his shop (Right)
Naushad Sheikh with his father at latter's paan shop (Left) and in his shop (Right)

 

Mohammad Akram/Mumbai

 

A dream is not that you see in sleep; the dream is something that doesn’t let you sleep. This inspirational quotation of the former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is what has propelled Naushad Shaikh of Mumbai to give up his well-paying job to launch a Paan (Beetle leaves) shop. 

 

In three years, his Paan is a rage with all sections of society including film stars and has thrown up ideas to lakhs of youth who are desperate for white-collar jobs without realizing the scope of traditional businesses. 

 

Once upon a time, Naushad, who has four brothers, had a hard time raising funds to pay his tuition fees for his MBA course. Today, his shop is often referred to as B A Paanwala though its name is The Paan Story.

 


Naushad Sheikh at his Paan Shop

 

Naushad Sheikh, a resident of the Mahim area, was always impressed with his father Anees Ahmed’s way of running his Paan shop. Growing up, Naushad started helping his father at the shop.

 

He occasionally managed the shop when his father took a break to have his meals or do some chores.

 

The father got his son enrolled in an English medium school and later, Naushad joined Rizvi College for his MBA course.

 

In college, he was assigned to do a project on a business venture. His project was rated very good, it got him appreciation. However, the teacher Shahid’s parting shot that he must implement this project was enough to give birth to a dream in Naushad’s mind.

 

His teacher’s words echoed in Naushad’s mind every day. After completing his MDA, Naushad worked in many multinational companies. While he was at work, his teacher’s words kept buzzing in his mind; he wanted to do something different and realize his dream.

 

In the year 2018, Naushad left his job. His family was upset with him for leaving a well-paying job. However, they soon reconciled to his wishes and support him in realizing his dream.


Naushad Sheikh's paan for couples

 

Naushad Shaikh turned into a paanwalla and earned snide remarks from friends and relatives. People generally said that higher education had spoilt Naushad and turned him into a crazy person to be dealing with stuff his father did. Some even blamed his parents for not giving a reality check to their son.

 

Naushad had to put up disapprovals of his ‘panawalla’ venture from all sides. His wife was the only person who encouraged him.

 

“When I opened the shop, people's thinking changed. Selling paan was my hobby; I identified myself with it. I had three big dreams in my mind: the first was to sit along with my father at the shop; the second was completing an MBA degree and the third was working in a multinational company,” Says Naushad Shaikh, whose all dreams have become a reality.

 

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His shop is receiving orders from all over India. The paan is consumed as part of the food habit in places like Nagpur, Hyderabad, Patna, Ranchi, Bhopal, Siliguri, Kochi. Large orders are placed with Naushad’s shop for social functions and parties in these big cities. His clients include many famous Television actors, film personalities, and singer Sukhwinder Singh, of the Chal Chaiya chaiya fame.

 

He says he has been receiving a lot of love and patronage from the customers. Even on daily basis, a large number of people walk in with their families to buy paan, “My paan shop is completely different from the common paan shops. Here Tobacco and its products are not available and that makes it a very family place.


The Paan Shop

 

He sells about 35 varieties of paan with prices ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 6,000.

 

Recently he launched a “paan box for the couples”. It is a big hit with customers since it has different paan for the bride and groom. This paan has ingredients like saffron, honey, perfume, and Rose, in it.

 

He has plans to expand his business to every corner of the country and even to other countries.