Rasheeda's Shop: A Street Cred Success

Rasheeda Bhamu, with the support of Street Cred, has recently opened a clothes shop on Bethnal Green Road. Here she explains something of her story:

I run a clothing business with matching accessories, ranging from low range to high range so its basically for everyone, for men women and children. I opened my shop in the middle April. Since then it’s been good.

The opening day was good. We prayed in the traditional way and invited locals and friends and families and other colleagues. There were flowers and cards. My main aim was to set up shop with my husband – he’s been trading for a while so I thought why not give it a try? He was the main person who encouraged me so I thought why not; I didn’t have a job so I could do something I wanted to. I sell what people want, normal stuff and things for an occasion. I take orders if they want to change the pattern or colour, whatever they need I try to get.

I started selling through my husband’s stall in Crisp Street. I built it up from there, learning how to respond to customers, what people want and need. You don’t do it in one go. Day by day you learn what people want. I think about what I want. I’m a customer too, I have to think, "what would I like?" I ask my friends, what colours do you like, what price range etc. I’m very confident about my business. But there were times when I worried about it. Before the opening day, I didn’t think it would work, right up until the last minute! But I’ve done it. I had to learn all sorts of skills to get to this point, what does a customer want, how to attract them. It’s really different with every customer. Here every day you have different customers. I’m developing regulars. It helps that I speak the language.

I get my clothes from India and also Bangladesh. My main aim is to get Bangladeshi products that haven’t been on the market yet here. I’d like to go to Bangladesh and do market research myself but I haven’t had a chance yet.

Dinar and Street Cred have supported my a lot. Any questions I had, she helped me with. She advised me regarding the Inland Revenue and also building confidence so that I can do it myself. She’s always there, with any help, if I’m worried I call her and she reassures me. To other women thinking about business I’d say, why not? I’m doing it, around my family, I have three little ones, it’s a difficult balance but it’s possible and very exciting. My husband helps me with them when I’m here and I cover for him. We want to expand. I would encourage all women to go into it, give it a try, why not?!

If you would like like further information on Street Cred, please download the publication produced to mark our 150th microcredit loan or contact the project directly.

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