Kanpur: This city's JAJMAU is still famous for the leather business despite all the ups and downs. There is a simple tendency among the business community who never ever appears satisfied with the pace of their business. This propensity is not even denied by the young businessmen of the area.
The leather business, of course, attracts young people. Talking to one young man dealing in exports of the leather items to mainly European countries, it becomes quite clear that the business prospects are not as much favourable as it used to be during his father's time. "Various factors have ruined leather business", he stated adding that we were running the business anyhow.
Yet to complete his thirty-year young Zoheb understands the peculiarities of the business fully well. When he was asked how did he counter the competitive market, he swiftly answered back it was not hard to deal with. If I take my example I do not hesitate in lowering the rate for clearing the stock. I thank Almighty as my competitors were not those who higgle vastly, he said.
On shifting the business to Kolkatta he replied it was not a solution for us. What we were compelled to face in Kanpur's Tannery Town was not suddenly going to change there. Therefore it was far better to find a solution here and we endeavour to grasp.
When his attention was sought on changing the business, he did not pause longer but replied it was not a bad idea indeed. So far we were making leather in our tanneries and supplying them. But entry into a retail business takes time to establish.
Our ancestors had established a leather business in Jajmau on seeing the Britishers and it continued up to two generations. What we realise at present is that they were not mechanised. They earned profits enough in those past years. It was not possible today, he maintained confidently. On the present-day situation, he did not mince words in saying that we were beset with different challenges today. It would be solved sooner or later. Though the business faces a tardy pace, there will dawn good days upon us in future, we expect it.
