Asian Trader Magazine – 12-25 May 2017

14 ASIAN TRADER 12 MAY 2017 http://www.asiantrader.biz

Follow us on: http://www.twitter.com/AsianTrader Like us on: http://www.facebook.com/AsianTrader

AWARD WINNER

SHAKHIL BASHIR

comes to this one,” says Shakil.

Because of the store’s success, Shakil and

his brothers have recently heavily invested

in the store: modernising the fascia,

extending the store so it displays a hugely

impressive alcohol selection and renovating

the stock room and o ce areas.

Although Shakil doesn’t spent much

time behind the counter these days, he has

fond memories of the early years.

“It is great working for yourself as there is

nobody telling you what to do,” says Shakil.

“We worked hard at fi rst and it was a bit

stressful but once I left work it was enjoy-

able.”

“It is fun to meet di erent people every

day. With regular customers coming in and

out, they become your mates. It’s very social

• instead of going into the pub people come
  to the shop to buy something – and chat to
  you for half an hour. If you are new in the
  shop you want to talk to customers and
  make them feel welcome. You end up
  knowing everybody and what’s going on in
  the area.”
  With over 25 members of sta , the KASA
  stores are already providing valuable
  employment in an impoverished area,
  however, Shakil and his brothers also o er
  other assistance when they can.
  “We do a lot of work in the community,
  particularly sponsoring local rugby, football
  and cricket teams,” says Shakil. “We also
  sponsor individual athletes – local golfers
  and boxers. There are always people coming
  to see me – someone has been hounding me
  this week and texting me today. He is a
  boxer. We also sponsor a lot of plant pots
  around here. There is a good sense of

community in this area.”

Rivals

When it comes to the competition of local

supermarkets and expresses, Shakil has

some strong, and perhaps not totally

expected views.

“The retailers who complain about

supermarkets are often the retailers who

aren’t spending a penny on their own shop,”

says Shakil. “They have the same shop they

did in the 1980s and they plod along and

complain. They need to move with the

times. Some retailers take money out but

they don’t put it back in again.”

“If you keep your shop modern then

maybe Tesco wouldn’t open up next to you

because you’d be the competition.”

Shakil believes the vast majority of

retailers make good money, especially those

who work in the shop all day and often live in

the premises too.

“Retail is lucrative and there is good

money in it,” says Shakil. “Modern, younger

shopkeepers seem to be doing things

di erently – they work fewer hours and take

on extra sta so they have more time to chill

out and it isn’t so hands on.”

On the topic of competition, what do

retailers in south Leeds make of the

brothers’ successful stores?

AWARDS

2016

Asian Trader

Independent

Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by

What the Asian Trader

judges said:

“KASA is named after four brothers –

Khalil, Aqueel, Shakil and Adeel – who

own this and three other stores. The store’s

innovative design in an old building allows

the owners to tell customers about its history.

With an excellent bakery and food-to-go

counter, the store has four full time and two

part time staff to assist customers. The

shop also has an outstanding walk-in-

chiller room for white wines,

lagers, beers and soft

drinks.”

SHOP NAME: KASA

LOCATION: South Leeds

RETAILER NAMES: Shakil Bashir,

Aqueel Bashir, Adeel Bashir and

Khalil Bashir

AWARD: Asian Trader Best

Independent Of The Year 2016

(Booker)

Award Winner KASA1.indd 14 5/4/2017 8:22:15 AM