Amazing people that I have met in the recent months include the nice middle-aged gentleman called Mohammad Ashraf who sells fresh vegetables and fruits from his pushcart in my neighborhood.
The first time my son saw the display of his wares from our balcony, his reaction was "Vow!!! this cart looks like a display from Carrefour".
(He spent his childhood in the UAE where most fruits and vegetables are in season the year round at the main hypermarkets like Carrefour, Spinneys etc.).
In his excitement he was only too pleased to run
downstairs and get me what I needed from Ashraf.
I take this as a great tribute to Mr. Ashraf, whose small one-man business can definitely compete with the largest Hypermarkets on quality and freshness of his wares as well as his superb Customer Service.
Neatly arranged in separate bags on his hand-pushed cart, each and every piece is clean and fresh.
He promises to take back any piece of vegetable that you are not happy with and replace it with a fresh one at no extra cost.
Intrigued by this vegetable cart that has no mess of wilted and dying herbs rather it is very attractive due to the colorful arrangement of glistening, perfectly shaped pieces of cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes and crisp bunches of coriander, mint and fenugreek, I wanted to know more about his business philosophy.
Ashraf goes to the Vegetable Market very early in the morning and selects the best produce even if he has to pay a little more. This way he brings the best quality vegetables to our doorstep every day.
He sells most of the stock on his cart in a day. He showed me one piece from the day before that was still quite fresh because he selects his wares very carefully.
The value of honesty and dealing fair in business is the legacy of his father who was also a vegetable vendor.
Ashraf earns about 15000 Rupees (USD 150 approx.) every month with which he supports his young children, who go to school.
His main worry is to find good husbands for his daughters. Strangely he is neither critical of the government nor does he have high expectations of them. He is happy to be able to earn an honest livelihood and appears content and proud of his efforts.
Though Ashraf cannot read English, I am sure it will make him very happy and proud to hear from me what you have to say about his business spirit ... so please do share your feelings which I will convey to him Insha Allah.
 | |
| What a lovely display - Farm-fresh vegetables |
The first time my son saw the display of his wares from our balcony, his reaction was "Vow!!! this cart looks like a display from Carrefour".
(He spent his childhood in the UAE where most fruits and vegetables are in season the year round at the main hypermarkets like Carrefour, Spinneys etc.).
In his excitement he was only too pleased to run
downstairs and get me what I needed from Ashraf.
 |
| The mobile Vegetable business of Mohammad Ashraf |
I take this as a great tribute to Mr. Ashraf, whose small one-man business can definitely compete with the largest Hypermarkets on quality and freshness of his wares as well as his superb Customer Service.
Neatly arranged in separate bags on his hand-pushed cart, each and every piece is clean and fresh.
He promises to take back any piece of vegetable that you are not happy with and replace it with a fresh one at no extra cost.
Intrigued by this vegetable cart that has no mess of wilted and dying herbs rather it is very attractive due to the colorful arrangement of glistening, perfectly shaped pieces of cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes and crisp bunches of coriander, mint and fenugreek, I wanted to know more about his business philosophy.
Ashraf goes to the Vegetable Market very early in the morning and selects the best produce even if he has to pay a little more. This way he brings the best quality vegetables to our doorstep every day.
He sells most of the stock on his cart in a day. He showed me one piece from the day before that was still quite fresh because he selects his wares very carefully.
The value of honesty and dealing fair in business is the legacy of his father who was also a vegetable vendor.
 | |
| Ashraf knows the value of Customer Service |
Ashraf earns about 15000 Rupees (USD 150 approx.) every month with which he supports his young children, who go to school.
His main worry is to find good husbands for his daughters. Strangely he is neither critical of the government nor does he have high expectations of them. He is happy to be able to earn an honest livelihood and appears content and proud of his efforts.
Though Ashraf cannot read English, I am sure it will make him very happy and proud to hear from me what you have to say about his business spirit ... so please do share your feelings which I will convey to him Insha Allah.
