Meet Umar Ayub Sofi, an out of the box thinker from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. He started earning with a job in the real estate sector immediately after completing Masters in Business Administration from Punjab.
After finishing the studies, Umar straightaway reached Mumbai not for a career in acting, but for a job in a sector booming at that time. Owing to his skills Umar got a job fetching him a handsome salary. Some friends in Mumbai in the motorcycle business motivated Umar to explore the market of bike modification – his childhood fascination.
“I began to understand the market during the free time and after getting well versed with the market I decided to come back to Kashmir and start a venture of motorcycle modifications in hometown Baramulla,” recalls Umar.
Umar had faith in his idea and he stood firm to start the unit. Sources of funding were less or negligible and this hampered the process of converting an idea into a profitable business venture, adds Umar. While exploring the options for finance, a friend told Umar about the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI).
Umar was sponsored by the under the Seed Capital Fund Scheme (SCFS) initially for a project cost of Rs. 8.70 lakh.
He started the operations of Vecmania Customs in March 2017 at Stadium colony, Baramulla and has already become a centre of attraction for the bikers in the town. Within a span of three years Vecmania has become a local brand name in the area and the sales turnover has reached newer heights.
Umar has diversified the business ambit by adding activities like making of customized furniture, providing interior solutions to startups. He has done interiors of many successful restaurants in Baramulla and Sopore towns. With his out of box thinking, Umar has become a role model for the local youth.
