Home ›› 25 Feb 2022 ›› Nation
Collecting reusable second-hand furniture and other household items such as white goods, small electricals, and bric-a-brac and selling those online and offline made Mymensingh youth Sayem Ahmed a successful entrepreneur.
Sayem created a stir in the divisional headquarters and also on social media as his junkyard named Jhamela Kini (we buy the burden) carries some sort of uniqueness and people got a place to recycle or resell their used items.
Being orphaned while he was a first-year bachelor’s student, Sayem had no other way to maintain his family as his father was the lone bread earner.
He decided to begin a business to run the family but found it tough to choose one as he had limited capital. Finally, he finalised to open a recycling shop.
“There are always some people who want to get rid of their old, broken furniture and some, who wants to buy furniture for sheer necessity at lesser prices; that became the sole idea behind establishing my organisation,” said Sayem, while explaining his journey in the furniture business.
“I began the business to bridge the two parties. This strategy reduces the amount of scrap, discarded furniture, and through refurbishing it we are helping someone who needs it,” he said.
“I had long considered taking different business options, but as my capital was less, reselling old furniture seemed most viable. Therefore, 11 years ago, in 2011, I founded the organisation, and it has become a great success. Now I earn more than Tk 1 lakh a month,” he said. I think the most contributing factor behind Jhamela Kini’s success is my advertising techniques, said Sayem.
“I opened a Facebook page for my shop where I post day to day updates of my products. I also hugely advertised the manner and whereabouts of my business locally, which has a great role behind the popularity the organisation gained through the years,” he said.
Jhamela Kini mainly buys and sells old wooden, steel and other household furniture items and electronic products such as fridges, television, computers. At least, seven to eight employees work at his shop whose salary starts with Tk 10,000.
“I sell refurbished products worth Tk 30,000 per day and earn more than Tk 1 lakh a month,” Sayem said.
“I got a massive response from consumers and netizens for the name of my organisation, but on contrast, I have faced difficulties to get a trademark license for my business for the same reason. However, I got the trade license at last and continued my business with no challenges whatsoever,” he said.
Md Ikramul Haque Titu, mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation, told The Business Post that unique endeavours like Sayem are always appreciated and vital to ensure empowerment of the marginal people of the country.
“We are informed that Sayem’s business is going smoothly. However, if he needs any assistance from us, we will surely try to facilitate him,” the mayor of the city corporation said.
