Interview 13
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Q: What was your first experience of Ladypool Road and what was the aim?

A: I used to work as a beautician when I met a customer who told me about CRB on ladypool road and that they want to rent out a room. I called Charmaine at CRB saloon and a rented the room. Here I started threading, waxing, facial etc. and I am still in this business.

Q: when did you start it?

A: In 2001

Q: Who were your clients when you started?

A: The African / Afro Caribbean ladies used to come there for hair. They started to come to me for facial, waxing and threading etc. The local ladies started to come when they saw it. Also ladies who came for shopping also started to come as well as there was no need to appointments. It was quite mixed make up. There were also women from typical traditional backgrounds who did not want there in-laws to know that they were coming for threading. Now things have changed. Most shops are run by the ladies. There are lots of boutiques, bridal dresses, cloth shops. Mostly run by women. Now the area has developed a lot. There used to be one Bisma, two chip shops, Raja brothers, Uncle home stores. Now see the shops from the start of Ladypool Road. Its nice, good.
There are lot of women in businesses now. I think there is more awareness now.
Due to education, media exposure, more and more women are involved now. It was not like this before. I saw may be one or two ladies working but now there are quite a few. Oh yes, I remember ladies used to work at Uncle Stores from beginning and at Bisma. Now there are shops mostly run by ladies. Boutiques, bridal ware, midland fashion all are ladies.

Before here I used to live in Pakistan. We came here from Pakistan. First stayed in Manchester for a while and then came to Birmingham in Small Heath. First it was rented and now we bought a bigger house. I have two children. One is training to be an accountant and the other one is into hair dressing.
First I used to live in Pakistan. My husband got visa to study here so we came here. We were not sure how we will adjust being so westernised. But it was good. We saw that there is no difference. Men and Women both worked. I started slowly slowly. My husband used to study and work part time. I used to pick up my children. I gave time to my kids and to my business. We used to travel on buses and gradually bought a car and a house. Now children are grown up and I am working.

Q: Has your work been mostly beautician related?

A: yes.

Q: Right from start

A: yes

Q: How did your business develop? You mentioned that you have good clientele.

A: yes. Thank God. One day a week I go to Reditch. Rest I work from home. I do mobile as well. Now I have passed driving test. Now I drive myself. There is no problem with travelling. Where ever the client is I give time. I do not mind even if clients come at 11pm. I do not say no.
I have struggled a lot in the beginning. Threading was not very common. Very few people did it. I used to work at the jewelers during the day. I used to finish around 8 to 8.30. My husband used to come to collect me with children. He used to wait for me at the bus stop and we used to go home together. That how I studied at the East Birmingham College. I used to have evening classes from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. My husband used to come there to collect me on no 17 bus then we used to reach home by 10 – 10.30 at night.
My husband has helped me a lot. He has been very cooperative. Because of support to each other we are where we are. He himself is a Chartered Accountant and as I mentioned earlier that children are studying. Thanks to Allah, we do not have any problem. It is very important to be cooperative and supportive to each other. The thinking shouldn’t be that the women stay at home and men should earn. This is wrong thinking. If husband and wife are like wheels of a car then they should support each other. That’s how life should be if you want to be happy.
I would like to mention something. I used to have a client from Reditch at the Ladypool Road. She said mentioned that there was no body in Reditch who was doing threading and if I could come once or two days a week to Reditch. It will be good for me and also for the ladies there who do not go out. So, I started once a day in Reditch. It was good there. I could not drive so I used to go by train. My husband would drop me to the train station in the morning and I used to come back at 10 -11 at night and my husband used to pick me from the train station.
It was struggle. Now its better.

Q: You got support from your husband.

A: Yes. I got lot of support from my husband and I understand that the ladies working on ladypool Road can only do this with the support of their husbands.
Otherwise I have also seen that the ladies say that the men should earn and we should stay at home. Without each other’s support one cannot go forward.

Q: What are your achievements and what are you proud of?

A: I am proud that I have kept my family united. My children are getting good education. I have taught them what is good and what is bad. I have guided them that this is the right path and this is the wrong path. This is my achievement and this is my pride that my family is together and I want them to be like this.
I used to see some children using drugs and wildly driving cars. That used to worry me. I felt that I should educate my children well. And for me that I should stand on my own feet. I should not be dependent on any one.

Q: what do you think about the future? Will you continue working?

A: yes I work and actually I feel bored when I do not work. I am used to it.
If you have skill you should use it. I am hoping my son will take my business forward. He is hairdresser and studying makeup. My future daughter in laws are studying this as well. So hopefully in future we can start a big saloon together.
My wish is to have a big saloon here in Ladypool Road with my son and daughter in law. My friend’s daughter in law buys clothes from Ladypool Road and people come to shop here from different towns.

Q: what is special about Ladypool Road? Why do people come here from different town?

A: Most people come here for grocery. They see variety on the same road. There are beauty Salons, grocery, Boutiques, Hair and Jewellery shops. Even sweet shops are here. There are restaurants. You can eat here as well. That’s why Ladypool Road is famous. People say that they shopped, they went to eat at Ladypool Road. Another specialist is that women run lots of businesses. It makes is easier for women to shop there.

Q: What do you think about the future of Ladypool Road? Do you think businesses will grow?

A: I think men will go redundant here. You see men in few shops. Mostly women are running businesses. I think it is good. Its equality in man and woman. I prefer to see Asian women coming forward.

Q: My Last question is what message would you like to give to women?

A: My message for new generation ladies, young girls is that they should come out and stand on their own feet if you have a skill or you are interested in something. There are ladies involved in photography. There are ladies who are video makers. Its not like only men can do this. Women can do it too. Come out and prove it that you can do it. Be strong, stand on your own grounds and do not rely on others.

Thanks for this interview

Thanks.


Sonia Sabri Company, 202 Moseley Street, Birmingham B12 0RT UK