I’m currently looking at potential business ideas which Inshallah I wish to develop next year. One of my ideas is to purchase a catering trailer selling desi style food.
I was talking to a trusted friend (a desi) and explained my idea-she was mortified. She basically went on about the fact that catering trailers/burger vans etc were not seen as respectable in our community, and are best suited to erm the uneducated non-desi folk. Now I argued by corner, I mean you must walk around with your eyes closed if you haven’t noticed the amounts of takeaways, eateries owned by Asians in the UK but her arguement was ‘there respectable, trailers are like not’. Hhhhmmm not really an educated arguement, still it has kind of dented by semi-inflated ego as I thought I was onto a good idea. She said I was potentially going to cause my family ‘a lot of hassle in the community’. Hey?! Do they pay my bills??
My friends husband is a taxi driver, and I asked her to explain how her husbands job was respectable yet running a trailer for a while (before purchasing larger ones, and hopefully having others working alongside myself) wasn’t. Her justification was ‘that’s different’.
I won’t be put off the idea, as I have done my research (unless the business would potentially not be profitable) and I’m up for a challenge-afterall I wouldn’t want to wake up at the age of 40 and think I had a good idea and didn’t go through with it. I already run a business, so have the business experience. I’ve also dabbled in catering before, so have slight experience in that too.
My question is what is considered respectable by the British Asian/Asian/Desi (whatever you wish to call yourself)? I know that Doctors rate highly on the list, so do Alims/Alimahs, Teachers, Solicitors (to some extent), people in management and as far as I know ‘businessmen’. Is running a business that includes catering trailers really THAT bad compared to a takeaway? Or is this a case of the jealousy monster rearing it’s ugly head?
It's not bad at all. Any means of earning halal money is fine and respectable. It's us humans who look at certain professions as respectable and some as not so respectable.
You do what you feel like doing. It's your life and you do things as you please (as long as your actions are not hurting anyone) . You should not be bothered by what your friend is thinking. She has freedom of thinking and a freedom to have her opinion let her have it ! You have yours. Once someone said to me when I was going through problems in my life that "We don't live for people" ....yes it is as simple as that you are living for yourself and your family ...you are not living for your friend or any other person who down plays your ideas or goals.
The best example of your question I have seen if of Bohra community ...if you are aware of them. They feel no shame in adopting any profession as long as it's halal and approved by their spiritual/religious leader. You'll find in them many men who have retired from prestigious positions and have either opened up small shops of groceries or small outlets where they prepare smaosas and other things for school canteen etc. I have even seen them selling aloo chola chat at the road side and they feel proud of it. None of their community members look down at them they see work as work. They excel in catering services and confectioneries and they earn a decent living out of it. I knew a widow from the said community who didn't have kids and she used to make pooris every day in her house and would sell it ...that was how she was making her living. She didn't ask for money instead she used the skills she had and earned enough to feed herself two times meal.
What is shameful is when we earn money trough haram means and when we ask for money from people out of laziness.
Re: I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
Oh dont listen to anyone..! people all find ways to put u down! even doctors clean the toilets in their own homes! and some of the stuff they have to do at work is DISGUSTING! u just need to put things in their individual context.. just because u get paid for somethng it doesnt make it less respectable..its a really good idea and u should go for it! my local jacket potato man has a trailer..and he has just brought a brand new range rover!!! we all have to start somewhere..and if its a trailer then so be it! but never miss chances in life because people put u down! a business is a business! I wish u all the best! xxx
It's not bad at all. Any means of earning halal money is fine and respectable. It's us humans who look at certain professions as respectable and some as not so respectable.
You do what you feel like doing. It's your life and you do things as you please (as long as your actions are not hurting anyone) . You should not be bothered by what your friend is thinking. She has freedom of thinking and a freedom to have her opinion let her have it ! You have yours. Once someone said to me when I was going through problems in my life that "We don't live for people" ....yes it is as simple as that you are living for yourself and your family ...you are not living for your friend or any other person who down plays your ideas or goals.
The best example of your question I have seen if of Bohra community ...if you are aware of them. They feel no shame in adopting any profession as long as it's halal and approved by their spiritual/religious leader. You'll find in them many men who have retired from prestigious positions and have either opened up small shops of groceries or small outlets where they prepare smaosas and other things for school canteen etc. I have even seen them selling aloo chola chat at the road side and they feel proud of it. None of their community members look down at them they see work as work. They excel in catering services and confectioneries and they earn a decent living out of it. I knew a widow from the said community who didn't have kids and she used to make pooris every day in her house and would sell it ...that was how she was making her living. She didn't ask for money instead she used the skills she had and earned enough to feed herself two times meal.
What is shameful is when we earn money trough haram means and when we ask for money from people out of laziness.
Re: I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
i really can't see how its not respectful, its not like ur doing something haraam, sinful or illegal. ur only selling food! diamond321 put it perfectly in her post
Re: I think I’m going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
***There is nothing dis-respectable about making an honest living with whatever means one has !
People who define a living by such standards are usually those who are too lazy to get off their behinds and improve their living by actually working hard , they expect others to support them and whine on about how unfair life is and how they’ve been dealt an unfair blow.
As long as what you do is halaal , do not consider anyone’s silly opinions except for you and your partners. What your thinking of is a smart business move and has a lot of potential as well as gives you the flexibility of being an independant owner , so I say go for it :k:
Re: I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
great idea, chillysauce always sells well, you'll need familly with you (workers) right from the start because you'll be soso busy. if you have sunday/weekdays markets/carboots contact organiser book your spot in advance!
You should definitely go for it, sounds like a brilliant idea.. Some desis are so hung up on ideas of what's 'respectable' trying to reason with them, even when their arguments have absolutely no logic, is like banging your head against a brick wall..
I've always wanted to run a business as well but as they're all so-called 'professionals' my family have always looked down their noses whenever I've mentioned it, apart from my dad who's always been supportive in whatever I've wanted to do (but on the condition I do my degree so I have something to fall back on). The funny thing is when someone does go into business and ends up doing really well ppl act like they thought it was a good idea all along. It'll be like all the negativity they were throwing ur way never happened. I can think of 3 or 4 ppl just off the top of my head who started businesses on a v.small scale and are now living quite comfortably, as well as earning a lot more than the average nine-to-fiver they're prob getting a hell of a lot more job satisfaction and a better quality of life from spending their time doing something they really really enjoy.
Re: I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
Btw there's a show on one of the BBC channels at the moment called 'High Street Dreams', dunno if you've seen it but it's really interesting, u get a real insight into what ppl have to go thru in terms of new business ideas :)
Re: I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
go for it girl ,theres nothing to be ashamed about as long as its halal earnings its all that that matters not what people think,and all those restuarants and businesses started from bascially nothing just with an idea with hardwork and duas youll do fine.
In the name of Allah who is provider of rizq and give sustenance to us human beings in different ways. A very good idea princess1983!. Wish you good luck and insha'allah may you be successful in your endeavors. Don't let anybody discourage you just because they think it is "not respectable". And i think you know it and aware that they won't be paying your bills at the end of the day.
I say take princess87 advice like the word gold and inspiration!
Oh dont listen to anyone..!** people all find ways to put u down! even doctors clean the toilets in their own homes! and some of the stuff they have to do at work is DISGUSTING! u just need to put things in their individual context.. just because u get paid for somethng it doesnt make it less respectable..its a really good idea and u should go for it! my local jacket potato man has a trailer..and he has just brought a brand new range rover!!! we all have to start somewhere..and if its a trailer then so be it! but never miss chances in life because people put u down! a business is a business! I wish u all the best! **xxx
Re: I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!
It's a great idea.
I have already seen a food trailer about an hour or so away from where I live. It is run by a husband and wife team and it is soooooo popular, with the locals (asians and even more so with non-asians). They are always so busy. So there definitely is a demand for it.
There will always be people who mock and bring us down. Aslong as you are content and know what you are doing and sought the relevant advice from professionals, then just take what other 'wellwishers' say with a pinch of salt.
!