[ad_1]
They say to make success out of one thing, you might want to begin younger. That was what Max Ahmad, the founding father of The Halal Mixologist, did.
From promoting Digimon and Pokemon playing cards to his secondary faculty classmates, to instructing tennis as a Junior College pupil, Max knew that he needed to run his personal enterprise in the future.
His curiosity in enterprise spurred him to pursue a Business diploma at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the place he landed his first job on the Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX).
Little did Max know that this profession path would quickly change with a seemingly unassuming telephone name. It turned out {that a} recruiter from Workforce Singapore (WSG) reached out to him for a job interview within the hospitality sector.
Max shared that he initially was not eager, on condition that he had already secured a job. Nonetheless, he determined to take a leap of religion. This probability encounter opened the doorways for Max to enter the hospitality trade, the place he labored with the Tourism division at WSG.
As a Senior Manager, Max labored carefully with established trade companions and academies, notably Marina Bay Sands, and the Singapore Tourism Board. Through this expertise, he not solely realized from trade veterans but in addition honed his management and administration expertise, which is able to come in useful down the street.
Striking out on his personal
Max knew that deep down, he nonetheless held onto his entrepreneurial dream, and it was only a matter of time.
At first, he dreamed of getting his personal themed boutique resort whereas working with meals on the premises. However, that additionally meant needing a big sum of cash to be invested to launch and maintain the enterprise.
Hence, Max determined to finish his six-year stint at WSG and begin small by opening backpacker hostels: Moni Gallery Hostel at Lavender Street, and The Shophouse Hostel at Arab Street—each of which required decrease funding capital than inns.
While managing his hostels, Max stored his gears working, developing with new concepts that would deliver one thing distinctive to Singapore’s hospitality trade. He turned again to his experiences for inspiration and remembered conducting conferences at resort lounges and bars.
“As I do not drink alcohol, I felt a little out of place being in such places,” lamented Max, and added that he participated in celebrations with a glass of sentimental drink or juice to switch champagne.
It was additionally at that second that Max observed that the rooftop of The Shophouse Hostel was underutilised. “Why not make it a place that can generate revenue?” he stated.
Coupled with a mission to create extra inclusive wine and eating experiences, Max invested S$150,000 of his financial savings and transformed the rooftop area into Singapore’s first halal bar, Atap Bar, in 2017.
He has additionally bought his two hostels to completely concentrate on his eating places. As of now, Moni Gallery Hostel continues to be working and The Shophouse Hostel has closed.
At this level, one would possibly marvel how The Halal Mixologist is said to Atap Bar. To put it merely, The Halal Mixologist began as a advertising device to advertise the bar’s idea.
“What sets us apart from others is that we are a halal bar concept with a mission of bringing fun to halal. We believe in delivering a fun and wholesome experience while being inclusive.”
Max Ahmad, founding father of The Halal Mixologist
Opening his halal bars was not a stroll within the park
However, Max discovered himself getting off to a shaky begin.
Despite his background in hospitality, Atap Bar was his first foray into the F&B trade. As a consequence, Max skilled many struggles, together with licensing, main as much as the bar’s launch.
The shortage of manpower can also be a prevalent downside within the trade, as few harbour the will to pursue a long-term profession in meals—an impediment that Max was all too conversant in.
“It was very tough to rent the best individuals, and one of many errors we made was hiring the flawed individuals who weren’t a very good match for the organisation.
While we’re nonetheless going through this downside, we now have managed to incorporate a option to determine individuals who would purchase into our mission and values within the choice course of. Having a workforce that believes in your mission and the path you’re working in the direction of is necessary.”
Max Ahmad, founding father of The Halal Mixologist
Max added that as Atap Bar was situated on a hidden rooftop, it was difficult for the enterprise to realize a pure footfall. Fortunately, the bar gained traction amongst Singaporeans after a month of opening.
With a constant stream of consumers, The Halal Mixologist achieved profitability inside seven months and broke even after a yr of operations.
2018 was additionally a yr of change for Atap Bar, because the bar quickly occupied The Great Mischief, one other cafe in Singapore for 2 months.
However, two months after the transfer, Atap Bar closed its doorways, to the dismay of many loyal clients. Max revealed to us at Vulcan Post that the owner needed to extend the rental by 50 per cent, a value he was not able to bear.
Atap Bar’s closure didn’t discourage Max, as he continued to open extra halal speakeasies: first with Wanderlost Bar in late 2018, and Fairytail Bar slated to open in April 2020.
But the companies hit a sudden roadblock as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, inevitably delaying Fairytail Bar’s opening. Max described the Circuit Breaker as a “difficult time” for his companies, as dine-ins had been prohibited.
Fortunately, put up Circuit Breaker, each Wanderlost Bar and Fairytail Bar noticed elevated visitors as Singaporeans began to discover extra throughout the nation as a result of journey restrictions.
Out with the outdated, in with the brand new
If 2020 was the yr of change, 2023 could possibly be described as a rebirth for The Halal Mixologist.
The model determined to shut one other chapter with Fairytail Bar, as D’Hotel was slated for renovations. “I guess one lesson we can learn from this is that it is important to have control over the lease, so hopefully one day we will work towards becoming our own landlord!” joked Max.
Not keen to surrender on the model’s mission, The Halal Mixologist launched two new F&B institutions: Nauti Nauti, a poolside oyster bar; and R.I.B, which affords halal takes on Southern soul meals.
The enterprise additionally ventured into e-commerce with Mockohol, an internet platform aiming to make premium halal bottled drinks accessible to the lots at their doorstep.
With the three fledgling companies, one would possibly marvel how Max balances them altogether.
He elaborated to Vulcan Post that social media engagement stays important to selling the model. The Halal Mixologist has since applied a loyalty programme with a reward level system that enables future clients to offset their future payments once they go to their shops.
The Halal Mixologist’s one-of-a-kind bars and eating places not solely caught the eye of Singaporeans but in addition movie and tv giants United International Pictures and Hollywood for the dwell film adaptation of the well-loved recreation Dungeons and Dragons (D&D).
For a month, Wanderlost was transformed right into a tavern paying homage to the sport, and a brand new menu of themed meals and drinks was created. The bar additionally ran D&D video games to commemorate the film, which garnered a lot love from followers and new clients.
The Halal Mixologist affords new companies reminiscent of mixology workshops and pop-up dwell bar stations to diversify their income streams additional and maintain youth growth applications.
According to Max, the Youth Development Programs are the proper platform for teens to get hands-on experiences working in bars and kitchens with out dealing with alcohol. Through this initiative, he hopes to form the long run technology of the halal trade and appeal to extra expertise.
Despite all odds, The Halal Mixologist has developed right into a model that champions inclusivity with their unorthodox halal F&B shops and companies. Looking ahead, Max goals to solidify their companies throughout the Singapore meals scene.
Max additionally expressed his ambition to go upstream for his companies, the place he can develop his personal manufacturing line and create his halal drinks, which he hopes will develop into a family model in Singapore.
Embark in your startup journey with MAS-regulated ANEXT Bank, certainly one of Singapore’s first digital banks for SMEs.
Featured Image Credit: The Halal Mixologist
[ad_2]
Source link
