franchise
Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Fahim, Group CEO, Paris Gallery Group of Companies
Iraq on the agenda Paris Gallery opens its first Iraqi outlet in Baghdad
Group CEO Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Fahim on what it takes to make the cut for the luxury group’s franchise roster
P
aris Gallery Group of Companies’ latest regional expansion, that of the first Paris Gallery outlet in Baghdad, Iraq, is a franchise agreement with the Iraq-based Al Handal International Group (AHIG). Currently headed by founder and Chairman Wadea Al Handal, Vice Chairman Hardan Noori Ayyed Al Handal, and CEO Mohammed Noori Ayyed Al Handal, AHIG has an established multisector portfolio that spans logistics to media to oil and gas amongst others. The launch of
“the franchisee should have good understanding that businesses are about people- retaining and satisfying customers and other stakeholders are what makes a business successful.” 52
Entrepreneur march 2016
makes for a good contender for a partnership with the luxury retailer in a franchisee capacity. And true to form, Al Fahim stresses that the Paris Gallery consumer-first strategy is a top requirement when the group opts for a partnership. Any prospective “franchisee should have good understanding that businesses are about people- retaining and satisfying customers and other stakeholders are what makes a business successful.” Originally signed in 2012 during a join press conference in the UAE, the partnership agreement with AHIG isn’t necessarily as stringent as what you’d expect in terms of such contracts, as the retailer is treating each franchise on a case-by-case scenario. “We will remain open to suggestions, and it will not be a follow-it-to-theletter model,” explains Al Fahim, adding that working closely with AHIG (and any other franchisor) is in the plan, together with an open platform for suggestions. Typically, in the world of franchisor agreements, the more stringent the relationship, the harder it is to navigate, and the less likely it is for franchisees to succeed as many face unique country-specific challenges. According to Al Fahim, Al Handal International Group is a multinational group that has a very strong business reputation in the region. “We share mutual goals over the long term,” he says. “They have the commitment that is required to run a retail business such as ours, and they were not only comfortable
the Baghdad outlet was the second franchise announcement of 2015 for the Group; the first being earlier last year at Baku, Azerbaijan. “A promising franchisee should have a good business reputation, strong management and teambuilding skills, a good understanding of what is required to make the franchise relationship work, knowledge about what they have to do to drive the business to success, and the preparedness to work hard and maintain high standards of service delivery,” says Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Fahim, Group CEO, Paris Gallery Group of Companies, in response to the question of what Mohammed Noori Ayyed Al Handal, CEO, AHIG