From the salesman to entrepreneur

Diving into poverty and having no literacy, Firoz Kabir started work when he was just nine
years, as a salesman, in a grocery store in Gaibandha. After 7 years of Firoz’s entrance into
the sales service, his master launched a candle-making factory and appointed Firoz to
candle-making and selling. Until that time, Firoz was single and did not bother about salary
amount.

However, after marriage, Firoz realized the BDT 1800 a month he earned was hardly
enough for his newly formed family. Neither had he education nor other options to leave the
job. So, he planned to have a side income from home and from candle-making as easy,
profitable and can be done with few investments. But he had no money yet to start that.

While he was planning for that, his sister’s husband was also planning for giving Firoz a
black-white color television as a wedding souvenir. Knowing this, Firoz immediately asked
for cash instead of television and he was given BDT 3000 in exchange for the television.

With that money, as Firoz had planned earlier, he bought a second-hand set of candle-
making dice from someone who did not use that any longer, bought 5 kilograms of candle
molds, with his wife started candle-making at home, and sold them in a local market in a
very small scale. Once this news came to his master; however, his master was not
displeased as he felt the need of his family.

After two years, while Firoz saw his side income was growing and he was confident he
decided to leave the job and focus on candle-making. His master also welcomed his
decision and let him farewell with two sets of candle dice as his retirement pension, hoping
for his well-being. As it happened, soon his master closed the business, for shortage of
manpower.

But, for 20 years, he has been making and selling candles from his capacity and capital. But,
one moment a big shock came to his business, as others, he lost his capital during COVID-
19. Then he looked for help but without a mortgage no bank came to help him, then SKS
Foundation came to help him. and for candles has declined. But he sees this as an
opportunity.

“Many ended up, but I remain. This closure has opened an opportunity in a non-competitive
market. That put me ahead of others.