Interview with Tony Karam : Mamcy Shopping Mall from a young entrepreneur!

James Khangenbam *

Tony Karam : Mamcy Shopping Mall

Do you feel proud to buy products from a locally own showroom? There has always been a remark that all the big retail showrooms are own by people from outside the State. Time has changed and many young entrepreneurs had set their minds in the retailing business. We bring to you an interesting story of a young man who owns a mall and run multiple showrooms under a single roof.

Tony Karam an interesting guy who has a hobby of aero modeling and often shops online for his remote control run aero plane parts is running a mall at his courtyard. Mamcy Mall after the completion of its first phase building now has a showroom for brands like ADIDAS, LEE, Benetton, W for Women, etc. It also has an eat out Flavia where one can have a cup of Coffee and munch delicious cakes before or after shopping. Recently ADIDAS Original was added Polittos – the Joy of Chicken a Singapore based food chain where you can get burger and fried Chicken started service with many turn ups for the delicacy.

Located at Thangmeiband Lourungpurel Leikai where many shops and automobile outlets have lined up in recent times, Mamcy Mall is picking up customers steadily. Here is what Tony has to express us.

Q : An idea to a Mall
A : Earlier we use to rent out our building to retail shop, it was in 2009. I came out for vacation from my work and I was looking out for some business set up in Manipur. I observed lack of retail hub in my State whereas our people were aware of Mall as they go out of the State.

I took feedback from my friends in setting up a mall for Multinational brands. I did not go back to join my work that was in Nov. 2012. I was working in a Los Angeles based seven star Cruise Ship.

My friends gave me positive vibes which was the turning point of my life.

Q : Erecting a Mall Building
A : We knew that the building should be a plan building added with luxury and lifestyle, that was just a dream in the beginning. Hijam Somorjit a good friend of mine gave me good time and we plan a lot together. Once the building was in the skeletal stage, we carry out banners like 'booking open for retail shops.

I was disappointed when people approached to open automobile shops for Tractor. There were many automobile business dealers approaching me but I have to decline.

I started surveying Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar and gave proposals to existing retail shops to come and open their showroom at Mamcy Mall. I also printed flyers. Somorjit my friend got selected in an army recruitment exam. I was hopeless.

One day an elderly person Kamal Jain approached me as he show the flex carrying ads of my Mall. He assured that he will bring branded companies to open their showroom at my mall. Then the first multinational brand landed it was ADIDAS. That was in mid 2013. I prayed to God to open the showroom it took a long time to click the opening.

Q : Catching up the multinational brands
A : My friend Kanglei Yumlembam wants to open a branded showroom for Bata shoes. The interior fitting was done and Bata Showroom was open for the first time at my Mall. Next opening was ADIDAS.

Then the Benetton people came, I pick them up from the Airport. Their remark when they landed in Imphal was 'Imphal is Black and White at their first sight. They also agreed to open their showroom at the first floor of MAMCY MALL.

The first ad of Benetton read like – 'Imphal has just got a little more colorful.

LEE opened up. W for Women roped in and now all the brands are lined up and I could not provide space for them.

Employment

Tony is employing around 25 individuals presently. 5 salesperson at Benetton, 5 at ADIDAS, 4 at LEE, 4 at W for Women. And 7 trainees at his Mall. One city Manager looks after all the staffs of MAMCY Mall.

Q : A keen study on Customers
A : Tony observed that in Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar the footfall at the retail hub is between 9 am to 3 pm. Whereas in Mamcy Mall peak footfall is from 3 pm to 7 pm. Office goers park their car and picked up their choice when they come back from their office. They have a quick grab at the Flavia and a cup of coffee. Family shopping with children is there as Benetton has a collection for children. Tourists also came to buy clothes from the Mall expressed Tony.

Tony Karam : Mamcy Shopping Mall

Q Potential customers
A : Once I notice some family buying for 25 k or 35 k from the ADIDAS showroom at a time.. Every youth wants to wear shoes by ADIDAS or LEE or Benetton. I have also come across some people who fly to Guwahati or Kolkata for shopping. Manipur has got potential customers for multinational brands

Mamcy Mall is a gateway to good shopping for the State. In fact when somebody buy a product from the mall. The salesperson here gets incentives and you are helping in one way. Our staffs have product knowledge and they are trained by the companies expressed Tony.

Q : Maintaining a Mall with multinational brands
A : "Retail management has to be standard. Staff and owners need to follow certain norms. At the onset they did all the interior design works, the ADIDAS, Benetton, LEE sent their men to work on electrical, room set ups, stickers, display etc.

They also taught the staff on customer relationship, product display etc. Whenever we are to launch a product, or change the stickers on our wall they would fly in and do the needful. Working with them is very encouraging", says Tony.

ADIDAS original is on the way and we are opening up shortly. It will be a premium store claim Tony.

Q : Future plans
A : "At the present building set up of MAMCY Mall, we could claim that the first phase has completed. I am on my second phase and it is 7 times bigger.

I am planning to open a food court and gaming zone, the footfall will increase thrice than present as per my expectations. Moreover I have a plan to open a cinema hall for 150 to 200 capacity.

Instead of picking up branded products from the malls in the metropolitan cities, brand crazy people can pick up from a mall own by the locals.

Luckily many branded companies are approaching for a space in the MAMCY Mall now. My plan is now is to create a hyper market with clothing and departmental store. It would be more challenging and harder work informed Tony.

Tony has hospitality background. Academically he has completed B.A in Hotel Management from an institute at Kolkata. Tony gives training to his staff on hospitality. MAMCY Mall have staffs from different community. The Mall is open to people who have working experience in retail shops.

Earlier Days

Tony was a Chef De Parte at Crystal Cruise – one of the most luxurious and best cruise ships in the World. Crystal Cruise was a Los Angeles Company travelling around the World. In the beginning he worked as a Commis – Vegetable man. Through his hard work and dedication Tony got promoted in three months to Demi Chef De Parte (half chef) and my last salary drawn was 2400 US dollar. He enjoyed to and fro flight tickets for his vacation at home. He was waiting for another promotion but stayed back in Imphal and started working for his Mall.

Q : Credit
A : First to my friend Hijam Somorjit, Kamaljit Jain business partner, Chandi an architect friend here who was working in Australia and to all my friend who help me financially and physically.

One sentence on your efforts

With my dream and vision I overcame all the hurdles.

See photo gallery of Mamcy Mall here