Walid Mahmoud wanted nothing more in life but to open his own pizza shop. After spending two years in Italy preparing pizza at a common pizza shop he knew he could do it. He opened up his first pizza shop in June under an Italian flag with Arabic writing on it. It was a block down from the “green zone” of central Baghdad. Business did great for a while until the terrorist blew up the United Nations compound. Business slowly got worse and worse. He didn’t last long as an Iraqi soldier before coming home. Once he made his way home he went to Jordan to run a pizza shop with his cousins. After a while of turning out 500 pizzas a day he heard some exciting news on the radio, the Americans overtook Baghdad. Returning home he opened up his finally pizza shop and has been in business ever since.
What made Mahmound’s idea so brilliant? Well he took a bad situation and turning it into a profit. He knew Americans would be in his area for a while, if not forever, and he knew they liked pizza. So using his training he opened up the only pizza joint around knowing that these Americans would go there to eat without having competition. He involves his family not only from borrowing money from them but he also uses there labor. His brothers put on the toppings, a nephew puts them in boxes, and a brother-in-law runs the cash register.
I think a burger join such as Burger King or McDonalds would do well over there during war. With all the Americans over there they are bound to make businesses. Americans are known to be the fattest people right? So why not feed off of that? You know they want greasy burgers and fries so give it to them and you will make tons of money. I personally would not go into business overseas, especially during a war! It is way too dangerous and I am not willing to risk my life for money.
To open a business you first must decide whether you want to open in the free zone or the UAE market. In the market the regional people are more willing to buy your products and it is easier for you to buy theirs. However the government also takes part of your profit and decides what you can and cannot sell. In the UAE zone anyone can buy your stuff, however it’s a far stretch because people do not want to be out there. You get to keep your profits and sell what you wish but less people are going to be willing to buy. King Rent A Car is a car rental service in Iraq. It originally started here in the United States, the owners opened a franchises overseas knowing that many tourist would need rides places. It has become a very successful business.
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