With a flourishing furniture business to showcase, the renowned and established Ahmed Sharif group has now diversified into family hospitality venture in Juffair with its awe-inspiring Orange Suites hotel apartments that has been recently inaugurated. BTW speaks to Mr Mahmood Sharif, Co-Owner of Ahmed Sharif Furniture and Orange Suites Hotel Apartments to understand what keeps this family business moving from strength to strength with time.
Tell us briefly about yourself: Where you were born and raised, any special childhood memories?
I was born in Bahrain and raised in Manama, along with my 12 brothers and 6 sisters. Having been more inclined towards sports during my childhood days, I took an intense liking to bowling and pursued my interest during my adolescent years. Through practice and hard work, I went on to represent Bahrain at a national level and have won championships for over 15 years.
Tell us about your various enterprises, and when and how they were founded.
One of our enterprises is Ahmed Sharif Furniture, founded in 1979 which has steadily grown and expanded over the years. From one showroom in Manama, we now have 3 branches around the Kingdom, with our Sehla showroom being the largest. With a keen passion for engineering, and after completing my education, I was eager to set up a construction company. Several buildings have been successfully completed in and around Juffair, under the banner of Mahmood Construction (Ahmed Sharif Group), with the latest projects accomplished being Bridge View, Orange Tower and now Orange Suites Hotels Apartments.
What have been the various challenges in the furniture business venture and how did you overcome them?
Although there is a lot of competition in this field, we have succeeded in establishing and maintaining an excellent reputation and high market share over the years. Our family has always practiced good business ethics and we have maintained strong customer relations with our clientele. The new generation of my family has joined the business and the introduction of fresh minds helps us to keep up with the current trends as well as keep abreast of the changes that take place in the market.
From furniture and constructions to hotel and hospitality business, describe the journey and the vision behind this diversification and venture of Orange Suites.
Through the years, I have received immense support from my family who has constantly encouraged me to work hard and to not shy away from taking up challenges that contribute towards the growth of my career. With keen passion for engineering & architecture after completing my education, I was inspired to try something new in starting up a hotel. Many of my friends and family who have made occasional visits to the Kingdom have expressed their concern in the lack of good family hotels in the Kingdom of Bahrain. That is when it dawned on me that I should try to fill the gap of constructing a hotel that upholds its traditional values, while providing a clean and safe environment where families can feel right at home.
Belonging to an established business family of Bahrain, did it help you or make things more challenging for you as an entrepreneur?
By the grace of God, and through the support of my family, I have also been receiving enormous support from good friends who have been with me through good times and bad. There have definitely been challenging times and situations, which have all been taken positively and as a good learning experience for my career. I am a firm believer that hard work always pays off.
How long has it taken you in completion of Orange Suites?
Orange Suites took us around 25months in completion, and was constructed in order to complement the Orange Tower as a twin in façade.
What according to you are the essential qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
The essential qualities of a successful entrepreneur are having an eye for detail and perseverance. Nothing comes free and nothing comes easy, we all have to work hard. Setting goals, dreaming big and being honest are the keys to success. Â Â
What is the most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur?
The most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur is having your dreams and goals fulfilled and witnessing your aspirations materialize into well-recognized ventures in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Where do you see the Orange Suites project in the next 5 years?
As far as Orange Suites is concerned, I am positive that, our guests will embrace our hospitality and genuine warmth. Since the opening of the Hotel, we have acquired a loyal customer base from the region, which we continue to serve at an exceptional standard and that proves to be a tremendous achievement for us.  Â
If you were to own another enterprise in the place of your current ones, what would it be?
If not for my current venture, I would certainly have endeavored to create a well established Sports Academy with the desire to encourage the country’s youth to get physically fit and active. I believe this is of utmost significance for the current generation since they are engrossed in their digital world of technology and are totally unaware of the importance of exercise that will benefit them in the long run. During our childhood days, we spent most of our time outdoors engaging in sports and other activities, which were vital in building a strong mind and body.
What is your message to aspiring entrepreneurs of Bahrain?
Open your mind, look for opportunities and don’t be afraid to do things differently. There is a whole world out there waiting for you and now is the right time to achieve your ambitions!