01:19.4
01:24.4
It's our pride to work with such an inspiration, such as Mr. Rafiq.
01:24.5
01:28.0
His values, his career and loyalty to Tivoli.
01:28.1
01:34.6
All of this can help up us and encourage us, to keep the name of Tivoli always on top.
01:47.6
01:49.0
Hi Mr. Rafiq, how are you?
01:49.1
01:50.6
Hi Syrine, fine, how about you?
01:50.7
01:51.2
Good, thank you.
01:51.3
01:53.1
So, let’s start my first question.
01:53.2
01:54.0
How did you hear about Tivoli?
01:55.7
02:00.5
Well, at that time, there’s no media but my elder brother was here in Doha.
02:00.8
02:06.5
He told me that Mr. Radi has established a company for furniture
02:07.1
02:08.4
and it was a big showroom
02:08.5
02:14.5
and if you like to apply, and I said why not, yes.
02:15.3
02:20.5
Then I came here beginning of January 1980
02:20.6
02:22.2
So, it was like a challenge for you
02:23.6
02:26.2
Not kind of challenge, but it was a good start
02:27.3
02:31.1
and everything was simple
02:32.6
02:35.0
So, the challenge was what you expected
02:35.4
02:36.4
Yeah exactly
02:36.5
02:40.4
Tell us about your employment history with Tivoli
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02:46.2
Well, you know, I started as I’ve told you beginning of January of 1980
02:47.4
02:49.4
I was with account section
02:50.1
02:56.0
at that time there’s only one outdoor salesman in the showroom
02:56.5
03:04.7
so I used to help him to sell outside the showroom
03:06.7
03:09.2
At that time also, I remember Mr. Radi was abroad
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03:15.2
and was reported to him that I was good in sales
03:15.3
03:19.5
so he asked me to stay in sales, stay in the showroom
03:20.7
03:28.9
Then step by step after awhile he appointed me as a sales manager
03:29.0
03:34.8
then after a few years’ assistant general manager, assistant to Mr. Radi
03:34.9
03:39.2
As you see now, my position is a general manager
03:39.3
03:43.0
From worker to general manager, I believe that you went through a lot
03:43.1
03:44.3
Yeah of course
03:44.5
03:47.3
a long experience
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03:50.5
Did Tivoli provide you the good conditions or
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03:54.6
did someone helped you to develop yourself to become what you are now?
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03:59.2
Well, actually I really learned a lot from Mr. Radi
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04:05.6
I gained a good experience from him
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04:07.9
Also, I thought myself
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04:10.9
I used to read a lot of books
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04:15.3
and through communicating with people
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04:18.5
this also gave me more experience.
04:19.6
04:24.4
Tell us about a tough situation and how did you overcome it?
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04:28.5
Well, at that time, Doha was very quiet
04:29.2
04:36.4
Sometimes you feel boring specially at summertime
04:36.9
04:42.4
In Doha, everyone is travelling, you’re alone and you feel homesick
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04:45.8
But anyway, time passed and Doha progressed
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04:50.1
a lot of people coming here more and more and it’s enjoyable after that
04:52.1
04:57.6
And can you tell us at this point, what is the strength of Tivoli?
04:57.9
05:04.9
The strength of Tivoli comes actually from credibility, transparency, and trust.
05:10.4
05:15.3
Spending a lot to upgrade the staff qualification
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05:18.4
and this is really very important.
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05:24.9
So, you think Tivoli has the right people and the right ideas that can work anytime, anyplace?
05:25.0
05:26.5
Absolutely, 100 Percent Yes.
05:28.0
05:33.9
If we meet you outside, how can you describe Mr. Rafiq outside Tivoli?
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05:41.4
Well, outside Tivoli I’m really very helpful to others
05:42.3
05:47.2
Approachable, I can communicate with anyone
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05:58.0
And I’m always happy and to express my happiness to everybody
05:58.4
06:03.0
Tell us a funny story that happened in Tivoli that can still make you laugh or smile.
06:03.5
06:08.5
Well, at that time, there were few shops of furniture
06:09.0
06:12.9
but we’re the leader and still the leader
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06:19.9
It’s funny that people or customers back then, forced us to sell them
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06:23.1
it’s the opposite now
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06:29.9
Making a lot of attraction, social media to attract people
06:30.0
06:36.9
Back then, a lot of customers, few employees
06:38.8
06:42.1
During Ramadan, it’s a peak season
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06:46.7
Customers always buy and wanted it to be delivered immediately
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06:53.3
So, sometimes I delivered it myself to satisfy the customers
06:53.4
06:54.4
This is brilliant service
06:56.7
07:00.5
Then, what advise you can give to Tivoli employees?
07:00.6
07:03.8
Well, they have to be patient
07:03.9
07:07.7
And as I’ve told you; credibility is very important and transparency
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07:12.1
No one comes here and knows everything
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07:15.5
they need to ask for every single thing
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07:25.2
And I think here, everybody is ready to share their knowledge, to be helpful
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07:31.1
Even myself, I’m always ready to help anybody
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07:38.0
So, by sharing this information and knowledge it will help everybody to step up
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07:41.4
It’s our pleasure to work with such an inspiration
07:41.5
07:43.1
My pleasure, my pleasure
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07:47.1
whether in your values, your career or loyalty to Tivoli as well
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07:52.6
So, all of these can only inspire us to develop more, to encourage more
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07:55.7
and to keep the name of Tivoli always on top.
07:55.8
07:56.4
Thank you so much.
07:56.5
07:59.2
My pleasure
