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Author Topic: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around  (Read 1973 times)

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Offline sammy

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JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« on: February 04, 2011, 04:47:01 PM »
Success through great commitment


Arriving at the two-storey head office at Providence Street, Sangre Grande, a number of young women in the ground floor are busy preparing chicken for the various outlets. The office upstairs is busy as well with phones constantly ringing

"Every day I get ten, 15 calls...we want Japs in Debe, we want Japs in Chaguanas, we want Japs in Port of Spain," Mahabir tells the Business Express.

He sits in his office dressed in a green Japs shirt with the smiling mascot, which he later informs me is a caricature of him by an artist. The 37-year-old businessman, originally from Grande, is very still throughout the interview. His voice is steady and controlled.

At age ten, just after leaving primary school, his mother was introduced to having a business, a restaurant and bar, and he recalls she was "doing pretty good" for herself. He liked the idea of consistent cash flow on a day to day basis.

"I think my vision from small was to be a self-employed person, to be a businessman," he said.
While attending Queen's Royal College he would take orders and sales from his mother's chicken and chips business.

Fresh out of school and at the "tender" age of 17, his mother gave him the privilege to run his own restaurant and bar, N&C. Despite his early excitement, however, the venture failed.

Mahabir explained that though the business was doing very well he was not able to properly manage the cash. He continued to assist his mother with her business occasionally until 2000 "when she actually came to me and offered to hand the business over to me."

Mahabir initially refused because he did not want to face "family pressure" and also wanted his own venture. He was eventually convinced and intended to invest his capital in the troubled business, build it and then return it to her, but she had vowed that she was finished.
"Parents don't normally hand over a business fully to their children. They will give them part of it but usually want to maintain that hold," he said.

He said currently his mother is a director in Japs but she does not have that input and final say parents usually want to have. He noted that having partners established at an early stage of a business tend to bring a lot of problems, especially in the area of decision making. But his having complete control over the business "was a big big part that helped us to transform the restaurant and bar into Japs Fried Chicken".

The restaurant and bar business was originally called Bagoo's Kitchen, nickname of his mother Bhagwatee Maraj, at the original location at the corner of Foster Road and Brierley Street, Sangre Grande. She would later receive the moniker "Madam Japs" being the creator of the Japs taste.

When Mahabir took over he enhanced the recipe and stabilised the amounts so they were more exact, improved the equipment and the look of the workers, and provided a "professional outlook".
In 2007 the Sangre Grande police shut down their restaurant and bar for a weekend, informing them that they did not have the proper licence to sell both alcohol and chicken and chips but would have to choose one. The business had been selling chicken and chips as a "cutter" with alcohol for about 22 years. Mahabir felt that the food aspect had more potential and went with that.

On the name of the business, he explained that a relative previously involved with the restaurant business had the nickname "Jap" and people would say they were going to "Japs". Though he could not recall the origin when he took over the business, he inherited the name. The name had been established by the people, he explained, and he thought sticking with it was the right way to go.

They had initially wanted the name "JFC" but were unsuccessful, probably too close to KFC, and then registered the full name - Japs Fried Chicken. Five more outlets have since been added - a second in Sangre Grande on Andre Street, Tabaquite Road in Valencia, and also in Rio Claro, St Helena and San Juan.

For Mahabir, KFC "is the most prestigious fast food brand" and though he believes he cannot reach to that level he does emulate them and is motivated by their success.
Speaking on the success of Japs, Mahabir said people "just like the taste" and it was the public that created their slogan "The Best Taste Around".
He explained that what makes Japs different is the customers who appreciate a local business, outside Royal Castle, and "a different taste at a more economical value".

He noted that youths especially were fond of the brand and interested in building it, even creating a "Japs" theme song that has aired on radio and at parties. Mahabir said citizens have expressed tremendous encouragement and offered views and opinions, which he was always open to.
He loves the idea of creating sustainable employment for others and wants to employ as many as possible. He currently has 230 employees. As he progresses, he wants to "bring people up with him".

He holds daily meetings with his employees and stressed that they have to able to elevate themselves in the business. He ascribed to the "happy worker, productive worker" philosophy adding that his employees see "fairness across the board" and there is little interference from any family or friends.

He extended his great appreciation to his employees and also thanked his customers, stressing that it was important to pay attention to what they needed.
On his personal success, Mahabir noted that to be successful in business requires great commitment, seven days a week and 364 days a year, and he has shown that dedication in building Japs. He said that many people have tried in this particular industry but have not been able to expand like his.
"I think is really not about difference, you know. It's about committing yourself to achieve a goal."
The advice he would give to the younger generation is that not everything in life comes easy but you have to always pursue your dreams.

"Only your dream that you will live and enjoy."
He noted that the business has gotten involved in community work and also created Sangre Grande-based football club North East Stars, part sponsored by DirectTV.
He said Japs' progress has been "all up there" (pointing to the roof) and "every decision that we made just seemed to flow into place."
"We were guided really by the hands of God so far," he said.
On his desk is Leadership Gold by US leadership expert and pastor, John Maxwell. He is quite a fan of Maxwell's work, as he is always interested in developing his own leadership qualities, and described him a great tutor.
He noted that he grew up in the Christian faith and both his mother and wife are very "spiritually involved".
"I understand the key fact that nothing is possible without him (God)."

Last year in the general election he contested the Cumuto/Manzanilla seat for the PNM but was beaten by the UNC's Collin Partap. He described politics as an "interesting challenge" and he may possibly return to that field. He believes in the political realm he can reach out and help more people.

On the future of Japs he eventually wants to have between 15 and 20 restaurants. He announced that a mobile caravan is being planned that would occasionally visit different areas as a means of ascertaining new potential venues. He said Curepe and Arima were possible target areas and there will be a Japs in Port of Spain "soon".

"The success of Japs is really about commitment to people and to business," he said.
"Giving away something in charity does not cause any decrease in a person's wealth, but increases it instead. The person who adopt humility for the sake of Allah is exalted in ranks by Him".
(Muslim)

Offline Deeks

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2011, 09:20:05 PM »
I was informed by Mike grayson sometime ago that he was a Royalian. Congrats to him. I honestly must say I admire his determination to cultivate NE stars to be a real community team. Blessed!!!!!

truetrini

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2011, 10:29:51 PM »
QRC does always produce good PNM men.

Offline sammy

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2011, 02:29:04 PM »
QRC does always produce good PNM men.

true.
"Giving away something in charity does not cause any decrease in a person's wealth, but increases it instead. The person who adopt humility for the sake of Allah is exalted in ranks by Him".
(Muslim)

Offline Jah Gol

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2011, 03:11:39 PM »

Offline sammy

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2011, 03:33:25 PM »
long time we had some real brilliant men yes.





Rudranath Capildeo
- Mathematician

Rudranath Capildeo was born in Chaguanas on 2nd February 1920 to Pundit Capildeo and his wife Sogee at the Lion House. This building made famous by another distinguished descendant, V.S. Naipaul. His father died when he was five and he helped his mother in the family store. He was educated at the Canadian Mission School at Chaguanas and later attended Queen’s Royal College (QRC) due to the determination of his mother who persuaded the principal of Queen’s Royal College (QRC) to admit her son to the school. In those days East Indians rarely entered secondary schools. His mother accompanied him to Woodbrook for the school week, where he studied up to sixteen hours a day at times. On Friday evening they both returned to Chaguanas to work in the family store.



---

Though he left Trinidad in 1939 to study medicine, Rudranath Capildeo changed his course of study, focusing on applied mathematics and physics. He was committed to understanding the nature of space and time and this sparked his interest in understanding Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity. This work led to several new theories, which had practical implications in aerodynamics and space. They included “The Flexure Problem in Elasticity” (Ph.D. thesis) and his study on the “Theory of Rotation and Gravity” named Capildeo’s Theory, which had applications in early outer space expeditions in the 1960s and 1970s.

http://caribbean-icons.org/science/rudranath-capildeo.htm
"Giving away something in charity does not cause any decrease in a person's wealth, but increases it instead. The person who adopt humility for the sake of Allah is exalted in ranks by Him".
(Muslim)

Offline Deeks

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2011, 06:47:16 PM »
long time we had some real brilliant men yes.





Rudranath Capildeo
- Mathematician

Rudranath Capildeo was born in Chaguanas on 2nd February 1920 to Pundit Capildeo and his wife Sogee at the Lion House. This building made famous by another distinguished descendant, V.S. Naipaul. His father died when he was five and he helped his mother in the family store. He was educated at the Canadian Mission School at Chaguanas and later attended Queen’s Royal College (QRC) due to the determination of his mother who persuaded the principal of Queen’s Royal College (QRC) to admit her son to the school. In those days East Indians rarely entered secondary schools. His mother accompanied him to Woodbrook for the school week, where he studied up to sixteen hours a day at times. On Friday evening they both returned to Chaguanas to work in the family store.



---

Though he left Trinidad in 1939 to study medicine, Rudranath Capildeo changed his course of study, focusing on applied mathematics and physics. He was committed to understanding the nature of space and time and this sparked his interest in understanding Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity. This work led to several new theories, which had practical implications in aerodynamics and space. They included “The Flexure Problem in Elasticity” (Ph.D. thesis) and his study on the “Theory of Rotation and Gravity” named Capildeo’s Theory, which had applications in early outer space expeditions in the 1960s and 1970s.

http://caribbean-icons.org/science/rudranath-capildeo.htm


This guys was brilliant. But his heart was not into TT politics. He was a true scientist. He was honest with himself and went that way. I remembered when they had a special election for his seat. He had won his seat by a mile but he went back to England. They say he had to be home, but he chose England. I think Vernon Jamadar won it. Correct me.

Although not QRC boys, but Camacho and Pawan were brilliant also. I heard that Pawan did significant research for bats and animal rabies.


Pawan  :http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Biography/bio_JosephLennoxPawan_bacteriologist.html.  How come they naever nominated his for a posthumus Nobel prize.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2011, 09:48:59 PM by Deeks »

Offline vb

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2011, 05:53:23 AM »
Is Mahabir the owner of NE Stars?

VB
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Offline weary1969

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Re: JAPs and QRC boy.....quality all around
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2011, 09:57:01 AM »
Is Mahabir the owner of NE Stars?

VB

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Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

 

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