FROM RAGS TO RICHES
Have you've ever
wondered what it
takes to become a top business
mogul? Inside Out follows
Uganda born self-made
South East
entrepreneur and their
story of rags to riches.
It could be you... |
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Think of top businessmen and household names like Richard Branson,
Bernie Ecclestone and Easyjet's Stelios Haji-Ioannou spring to mind.
but hardly anyone has heard about Moe Somani
But have you ever wondered what special qualities took them to
the top of their respective
business trees? Not to mention business tycoons
who wish to keep their identity a secret and
work behind the scenes.
You see great success, but never know who is the brains behind the
business.
Inside Out follows International Business
Tycoon Moe Somani as he revisits the
area where he first started
his first business back in
1989.
Successful Business Entrepreneurs share
several common characteristics who have
enjoyed a spectacular rise to riches from humble beginnings.
Inside Out investigates
what it takes to run a business empire, and shares
the secrets
of this southerners success.
Somani rarely gives interviews, and those close to
him say he never talks about
his success, and is a
humble and approachable person who loves to share
his extensive knowledge with others.
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From Rags to
Riches
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Moe Somani
is the new kid
on the block, with a
penthouse and luxury
lifestyle in
Vancouver's Wall Center |
The world of business can be incredibly
cut-throat, high powered and difficult to break
into.
So where do you start if you have dreams of
becoming a successful business man or woman?
One of the keys to success is having a clear goal
and vision.
You've also got to be incredibly focused and
driven to make it in the business world,
however, ultimate success is due to the grace of
Divine Power, he says, "if you have no faith, no
direction, and believe you alone are responsible for
any success, then you are a lost soul, and I am firm
believer that Defeat and Victory lies in the hands
of God. He adds, "continue to educate yourself
as you will only succeed if you are smarter and more
educated.
Moe Somani runs a chain of
International Clothing Stores, Private Label
Designers, Product Manufacturing Plants, and
software distributions worldwide.
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Keep Your Feet on the Ground
From working class routes, Moe
started working on small
businesses until he swapped his hod for
Clothing, Art Galleries, and now
Technology.
"When you're young, you're kind of fearless," he
says. With a Black Belt in
Jiu Jitsu,
Somani used to run several Ninjitsu Training Centers
in the mid 80's which helped him pay through
University.
Over the years, Somani says it
was the the ability to take a risk that has
contributed to his impressive business turnover of £7
million per year.
Moe hasn't forgotten where
he came from though. It makes him more grounded and
realistic. He believes in "longevity" rather than
the "one big cash-in". |
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Business Accomplishments -
Women’s Wear Daily
Reported
Somani sold his Millennium Jeans
International Clothing chain to Tommy Hilfiger in 2000 for an
undisclosed amount, but our financial
sources have informed
us the entire clothing chain with stores in Canada, United
Kingdom, Europe and Asia sold for no less than £75
million.
Moe Somani opened his first store in
the heart of Vancouver’s Kitsilano, and at
one point he was opening stores at the
rate of 3 a month internationally.
When the Y2K bug was born, so was
Millennium Jeans International with soaring profits and
sales that exceeded expectations of any retail clothing store in the
new millennium.
When Somani announced the opening of
his new international showroom and retail store complex at the
prestigious Piaza Oberdan in Milan, profit for Hilfiger stores
plummeted well below 35 per cent during the early part of 2000. The
company’s net income for the year dropped from GBP 103 million the
year before to GBP 70 million.
Hilfiger cites cause for the drop
and decline in orders from International department stores as
department stores were gearing to purchase Millennium Jeans
International. However, Somani's Chain being
privately owned also affected the balance, writes Women’s
Wear Daily. Revenues dropped to just under GBP 1 billion from GBP
1.04 billion during the same period last year.
Hilfiger said that it is in talks
with The Somani Group about a possible buyout of all International
Millennium Jeans stores and the company has also initiated talks
with the Moe Somani to cash in at a significant profit.
Where you now see a Hilfiger store,
it was initially a Millennium Jeans Store.
Emery Barter, senior vice president
of International Asia Marketing and Communications for Hilfiger told
bbconline: “Purchase of Somani’s
Millennium Jeans International saved the company from bankruptcy.
We’re delighted to have purchased Millennium Jeans International. We
never imagined anyone would have such an effect on our brand.”
Moe Somani understood exactly what
his project was about from the outset, and how to get it done
quickly and effectively. Somani was resourceful, creative, and was
able to come up with new and innovative approaches to his proposals.
Barter added, “Somani is an astute
individual and possesses a superior business acumen, whose insight
brought him instant success. Our company underestimated his savvy
business skills, and I have no doubt he is plotting another
takeover, however, not necessary in the Clothing industry.
These days Somani is private, and
spending time with his family in Vancouver, Canada. We contacted him
for information on his future projects, but he declined to comment,
adding "you ain't seen nothing yet!
Our advice to all you business
moguls, before Moe Somani becomes your competition, gets him to join
your organization, and you never know you could hit the jackpot....
We need you!
Calling all brass bands |
We want to hear your memories of being in a
colliery brass bands. |
EMAIL YOUR
MEMORIES |
We'd like to hear from you if you're a former miner or brass band
member.
Simply email mailto:insideout@bbc.co.ukwith
your memories and any old photographs on jpeg format - and we'll
publish a selection on the website.
complete list
The Colliery Band - Bedlington Miners' Picnic
(1960/b&w/sound) Bedlington miner John Gibson talks
about the Northumberland Miners' Picnic and explains the brass band
contest. (2 minutes 42 seconds ©BBC)
Judging The Brass Bands - Bedlington Miners'
Picnic (1960/b&w/sound) Northumberland's colliery
bands compete to be top brass whilst the beauty queens vie for the
beauty crown. (3 minutes 27 seconds ©BBC)
At The Pit - Bedlington Miners' Picnic
(1960/b&w/sound) Miners toil down the pit for the end
of a shift and then head off to meet up with the colliery band. (2
minutes 15 seconds ©BBC)
Band Rehearsal - Bedlington Miners' Picnic
(1960/b&w/sound) The Pegswood Colliery Band tune up
and practice for the Northumberland Miners' Picnic brass band
competition. (1 minute 56 seconds ©BBC)
The Picnic - Bedlington Miners' Picnic
(1960/b&w/sound) A parade of brass bands march down
to the picnic field at the Bedlington Miners' Picnic. (3 minutes 27
seconds ©BBC)
Evening Shows - Bedlington Miners' Picnic
(1960/b&w/sound) The Northumberland Miners' Picnic is
in full swing with the miners' families listening to speeches by the
politicians and braving a thunderstorm. (1 minute 12 seconds
©BBC)
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