Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al Faisal Holding Company and the Qatar Businessmen Association, Ahmed Mohammed Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Foundation for Social Work, Mira bint Abdullah Al Misnad, Founder of the Modern Family Program, Saba Mohammed Al Fadala, Executive Director at Nama Center, and Shams Al Qassabi, Founder and Manager of Al Shomous Products & Tea Company, with other officials, during the website launch ceremony at Mandarin Oriental Doha, yesterday.
Doha: Qatari entrepreneur and chef Shams Al Qassabi, who is popularly known as the first-ever female merchant at Souq Waqif, is now going global with her famous spices and mixes with the launch of Al Shomous Products & Tea Company’s new website, with the support and sponsorship of the Center for Social Development (Nama Center) yesterday.
Through the new website which displays and sells more than 400 natural food products, Al Qassabi can now cater to her customers worldwide.
The official ceremony for the website launch was also attended by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al Faisal Holding Company and the Qatar Businessmen Association, Ahmed Mohammed Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Foundation for Social Work, and Mira bint Abdullah Al Misnad, Founder of the Modern Family Program. During the event, a presentation of Al Shomous natural products highlighted the support received by the company from Nama Center throughout the years, which has led to Al Shomous’ name crossing Qatari borders all the way to the Gulf and reaching international levels.
The new website will serve as a gateway to facilitate the provision of more products to a larger segment of customers locally, regionally, and internationally than ever before.
In his remarks during the event, Sheikh Faisal also stressed that such initiatives will help increase the ‘Made in Qatar’ products in the market, as well as encourage more local entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.
Saba Mohammed Al Fadala, Executive Director at Nama Center said: “I extend my sincere congratulations to Shams Al Qassabi, on my own behalf and on behalf of all the staff at Nama Center, for this success story that keeps shining day after day, leaving behind outstanding marks and impressive achievements. Nama Center was always present to support this inspiring model and story of struggle written with determination, perseverance, and ambition from day one, despite all the obstacles.
“Therefore, this event represents a continuation of the successes of Al Shomous Products Company, which won the second place in the Leadership Award for the category of the best existing project in 2011. This event marks, as well, a new episode in the efforts of Nama Center that embraces all the challenges the youth could face, while providing them with more opportunities so they could develop their businesses. This meets Qatar’s march towards a knowledge economy in accordance with the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030,” Al Fadala added.
Al Qassabi, the first Qatari woman to kickstart a business and open a popular restaurant in Souq Waqif, said she had only learned to read and write at a later stage in life. She added that she was also already in her mid-40s when she finally pursued her business plan, while facing pressure and discrimination in a male-dominated environment.
“I started the business in 2001, and it was very difficult especially I came from a very conservative family, and Qatar was different 20 years back. I remember my mother telling me then ‘you have come from a very rich family, your father has left you fortune, and what are you doing, you’re selling spices’. But I received support from other people including Father Emir and Sheikha Mouza, who encouraged women to participate in the working sector. And I was part of that change,” said Al Qassabi while talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the event.
Today, Al Qassabi is an inspiration to many young Qatari people. Her spices store and restaurant are now also considered among Qatar’s landmarks which are frequented by many local and international celebrities including David Beckham.
Speaking during the event earlier, she said: “I am very proud to launch the website of Al Shomous Products and Tea Company, which is a remarkable step in our path, and allows us to reach a new and wide audience of customers locally, regionally, and globally.
"Now that Al Shomous products and tea became a landmark in Qatar - because it reflects the local culture and attracts visitors from celebrities and elites from around the world – we found it only right to launch a website that will meet the needs of this category and others to supply them with the products of their desire.
“The website makes it easier for them to view our products and acquire their needs; customers can also be informed of our latest news such as the establishment of the Al Shomous products factory in the industrial zone. I would like to stress that the launch of the website of Al Shomous Products and Tea Company falls within the framework of our constant pursuit of excellence and leadership, in addition to our keenness on continuous development and keeping pace with the changing needs of our customers at an accelerating pace,” added Al Qassabi.
Al Qassabi’s first steps with Al Shomous Company go back to June 30, 2001, when she participated in Modern Families Exhibition organised by the Social Development House at that time. Shams’ business expanded leading her to open her first store in her home. Then, the major leap in her career came in 2004 when she opened her personal store in Souq Waqif, making her the first Qatari female merchant in the market.
