The Hindu Business Line : Rashid Mirza — A passion for hard work

`RED Tape' may be the brand that got him recognition on the global arena, but red tape is precisely what Mr Rashid Mirza had to counter on a daily basis while transforming a fledgling tannery business into one of the country's largest leather exporting companies.

"In the initial days, I used to work 22 hours a day," says the 49-year-old Managing Director of Mirza International Ltd (earlier known as Mirza Tanners) as he recalls how difficult it was to export an Indian product in the 1970s when India still had the "image of a country of snake charmers." There were no telexes — just dependence on letters and telegrams. The heavy RBI restrictions allowed an expenditure of only $30 per day overseas and "even if you wanted to sneeze, you needed permission."

But, today, with the brand well-established, and several offices and design units overseas, and the company targeting a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore in a few years, Mr Mirza finds the exports milieu totally different, saying, "doors open for you when you say you are from India." Though he can afford to take it easy now, Mr Mirza is far from satisfied and continues to work 10-12 hours a day. "The day I'm satisfied, the company won't move forward," he says, critical of the under-valuation of Mirza International's scrip on the bourses.

Comparing Red Tape with Raymonds, he emphasises that Mirza International too is a "fully integrated house" that carries out every activity under the same umbrella — from tanning to production and marketing. But the company is not getting the weightage it deserves due to inadequate public awareness. "We did not market the company as well as we marketed our shoes," he says.

Work is always on Mr Mirza's mind. Talking about his leisure activities doesn't come very easily to him. Besides, his hectic travelling schedule leaves him little time for anything else, though the daily workout is a must as is a swim in the summer. However, when he does venture a diversion, it is family and friends that he likes to meet up with. Eating out is one of the pleasures he's given up for the last three years. He says, "I used to be very adventurous with food, till my doctors put a stop to it. Now I eat before I go out or when I get back, much to my wife's displeasure." In fact, even when he travels to cities like London, he orders meals from small family restaurants.

Mirza International is primarily a family business even today. His father Irshad, who used to work with Bata and chucked the job to become an entrepreneur, heads the firm as the chairman. His three brothers oversee key functions, while his son has just entered the fray after completing a business degree from California State University.

Mirza International, however, has managed the right balance between being family-run and professionally managed and is gung-ho about the future. Mr Mirza sees huge potential in the retail sector and is busy planning the rollout of Red Tape showrooms and one-stop fashion stores for men, which will include their branded garments and accessories as well, though their manufacture would be outsourced. He doesn't believe that FDI being allowed in retail will adversely impact his venture. "We should look at FDI in a positive manner. We can compete with any multinational. FDI will only bring in more competition and hence a greater challenge for the Indian entrepreneur," he says, with a confidence that he has obviously acquired after coming such a long way.