The Right Start: a stationary business with a difference

Having settled on a number of suppliers, Raheb believes relationships are key in any business, and has now developed such a strong friendship with her suppliers in Italy, even their children write to one another.

All products in the range are made under the Duomo brand, which Raheb says was important for brand recognition. “I have a base range of traditional Italian journals, albums and writing instruments, and each year expand the range to meet the needs of the public. We now have hundreds of products including compendiums, expanding files, travel wallets, satchels and travel bags, diaries, wax seals and traditional writing sets.” Her suppliers can customise specific orders, particularly for corporate clients wanting embossed logos and so forth.

Because Duomo was a bit of a hobby to begin with, she took her time with the planning and research, and it meant the business’s launch at the GHA September 2005 trade fair had a better chance of success. “It just started off with a bang. I got huge orders right from the beginning and I think that just boosted my confidence, I didn’t have any dull moments at all.

“In the beginning you think you’ve done everything right and you’ve done all the hard work, but I think until you get it out there and other people agree with you and start buying and putting their money into your product, that’s the only time you really feel it’s going to work.”

And now the business just keeps growing, reports Raheb, who has to keep shifting her goals and targets for each trade fair. “I’ve exceeded my expectations,” she says. “And I think that’s been because I enjoy it and I’m really passionate about the product, and it’s contagious. I think being different and staying different has also helped. If it’s not the product then you’ve got to offer better service or something else that makes you different to everybody else.”

A Helping Hand

Raheb learned early on to ask for help, and without the support of her family she admits the business wouldn’t be where it is today, and probably a lot further behind financially.

Raheb’s father helped fund her first major order and built her trade stand, which she says took a long time. “The only reason why it’s paid off is because he did it for me and I asked him to take it out of my inheritance,” she laughs. “I wanted it to look like an old library or a beautiful office with all the panelled walls and so on, and if I didn’t do that, I don’t think it would have carried the product. People need to see it in its environment.

“Presentation is very important for me and people comment on it constantly. It makes me realise it’s the right direction and the right way of doing it. It stops people, even if it’s not their thing, and they still comment.”