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https://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/its-my-life/when-work-is-driven-by-passion-everything-seems-exciting

How do you typically start your work day?
I like to have a brief meeting with my team to discuss matters of the previous day – for example, where things can be improved and what can be done differently. From a retail point of view, it is important to engage with your staff on a daily basis so you can find out what the needs of the customers are and how to meet their expectations.

What is your favourite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is that it isn’t really work at all! When your work is driven by passion, everything seems exciting. Interacting with different clients, meeting like-minded people, sharing trade knowledge and getting creative with jewellery are some of the things that make my work more interesting. No day is the same as the previous one – which is something I am really happy about.

In your workday, what is the one thing you cannot do without?
I make it a point to visit stores every day and ensure that operations are running smoothly.

What advice would you give your younger self, if you could?
Listen to your elders – they have experience and you can learn a lot from them. I have learnt more while working these past few years than I have learnt in my entire time in school and university. That is because I am surrounded by people who have been in the industry for decades. Hearing about their experiences can really change your perspective.

Who’s your role model as the perfect professional, and why?
My father happens to be my role model and mentor. Anil Dhanak started this business when Dubai was still at its very early stages of growth. Over time, he has been through a lot of ups and downs but I have never seen him lose hope or ambition. So, whenever I find myself lacking motivation, I ask myself what my father would do in the situation.

Your favourite indulgence when you need a break from work?
Music and meditation. Music calms me down and gives me that much-needed break. Meanwhile, meditation clears my thoughts and refocuses my energy towards my work and life. The best part is that you can do both these things in the comfort of your own  home.

Any insights or tips you can share on how to make the most of your workday?
I don’t think there is any one particular thing. When I first started working, I kept changing my habits to gradually building up to the style that suits me now. It is important to constantly change because what has worked in the past may not always work in the future.

How do you maintain a work-life balance?
With the retail industry, we unfortunately have to work through most of the festive seasons like Diwali and Eid, when other people are celebrating with their families and friends. So, at the end of these seasonal periods, I make it a point to spend time with my family and friends – maybe even travel.

Any advice for youngsters just getting into the professional arena?
Be patient! There is so much information available to youngsters these days that they get influenced really quickly into making decisions that promise success and money but can be detrimental in the long term. I think it’s very important for anyone who is starting out to not expect too much too quickly.  

Credit

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/local/arjun-dhanak-honoured-with-young-entrepreneur-award

Arjun Dhanak, director, Kanz Jewels, was honoured with the young entrepreneur award in a glittering function organised by a leading event management company in Dubai.

Abhishek Bachchan, the Bollywood superstar, handed over the certificate to Arjun. The memento was handed over by Shaikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, a member of the Sharjah ruling family in the presence of UAE’s leading business tycoons and socialites. Announcing this in a press release Arjun expressed his happiness for being a recipient the award.

“Honours and recognition add more responsibility to what we do. Receiving an award from one of the leading talents in Indian cinema is a great privilege. I strongly believe that we will strive to provide enhanced value to our customers in a socially responsible manner. I am deeply indebted to the organisers who have recognised my contributions by bestowing this award. It is indeed a great honor. I dedicate this award to my parents and I am thankful to my dad Anil Dhanak, managing director, Kanz Jewels for guiding me in the right path. His strong business acumen and dedication are my inspiration,” he added.

Established in 1991 by the dynamic Anil Dhanak, Kanz Jewels is one of the oldest jewellers in the Deira Gold Souk. A strong industry knowledge and determination have played crucial roles in Kanz Jewels expanding its operations to 9 showrooms over the past few years.

Credit

https://www.pressreader.com/uae/khaleej-times/20170429/282437054017186

Dubai — Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh inaugurated Kanz Jewels’ first showroom at Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai, its ninth showroom in Dubai in the presence of thousands of well-wishers.

In a glittering ceremony that attracted hordes of loyal customers, Singh brought Meena Bazaar to a standstill with his charismatic personality. Announcing this in a Press release, managing director Anil Dhanak said the showroom inauguration by Singh was one of the best that the industry has seen in recent times.

“The presence of Ranveer Singh added magic to our inauguration. He is the true heartthrob of Bollywood and we are happy to note that he took time off from his busy schedule to be a part of our expansion into Meena Bazaar. The huge crowd that were there to witness our inauguration justified our decision to make our presence felt in Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai, after establishing ourselves very strongly in Gold Souk, Deira. Apart from Ranveer Singh the inauguration was attended by many celebrities, who are our regular customers. It goes without saying that Kanz Jewels is the most preferred jeweller in the region for movie stars, sports personalities, diplomats and industry leaders, as well as tourists from across the globe,” he added.

“Ranveer created magic with his presence. Thousands of customers had lined up, much before the scheduled opening time in and around the showroom, to catch a glimpse of their favourite superstar. While we had a tough time in regulating the huge crowd, we are happy to note that our entry into Meena Bazaar has been well received by our patrons. We already notice that we have been able to expand our customer base with the inauguration of our Meena Bazaar showroom and we will soon be opening more showrooms in the region,” he observed. Established in 1991 by Dhanak, Kanz Jewels is one of the oldest jewellers in the Deira Gold Souk. A strong industry knowledge and determination have played crucial roles in Kanz Jewels expanding its operations to nine showrooms over the past few years.

“I believe it is our product designs, jewellery range with high quality craftsmanship and excellent service that have made Kanz the favourite of customers in this part of the region. ‘Kanz’, an Arabic word that means ‘treasure’, has stayed true to its meaning among discerning customers. Our wide range of collections include bridal, full set, bracelets, bangles, rings, earrings and chains as well as accessories. We have a special workshop for manufacturing jewellery and this helps us to create unique pieces. We have a wide network of distributors and we import from Italy, Korea, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, India, Singapore, Pakistan, Malaysia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. All our stores are strategically located and the ambience makes every jewellery shopping a golden experience,” said Dhanak.

Credit

https://www.masala.com/power-player-arjun-dhanak-reveals-his-plans-to-take-the-kanz-jewels-legacy-forward-276250.html

Kanz Jewels Director Arjun Dhanak talks about his inspiration and achievements in this exclusive interview

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He is a chip off the ‘ol block. Veteran Anil Dhanak set up Kanz Jewels almost 39 years ago and made it a name to reckon with in the market. So much so that in Gold Souk – the go-to address for jewellery shopping in Dubai, Kanz Jewels has seven stores. Besides, there is one in Meena Bazaar and another in Gold and Diamond Park. Twenty-eight-year-old Arjun took over in 2013 after he graduated from London and gave it the thrust of youth energy it needed. And ever since, the brand has seen an upward trajectory with two new stores, renovation of old stores, a full-fledged production unit, new design philosophy and more. Last year, the brand made headlines when Ranveer Singh, no less, was brought down for a store launch.

Arjun, who considers his father to be the biggest inspiration, humbly says he does not want to compare his family-run business to other brands boasting of a mammoth retail network, but he is rightly proud of the growth Kanz Jewels has achieved in a short time. The current focus for the young man is going digital in a big way as well as bringing out new lines of jewellery targeted at a younger audience. While traditional pieces will never fade, Kanz is moving more towards Italian and Turkish jewellery designs to create a more international product line.

Dynamic and on-the-ball with the changes in the design field, Arjun believes that the personal touch that he and his father bring to the business differentiates Kanz Jewels from other brands. They take a special interest in creating bespoke pieces that cater to every need of a customer. Recently, they even brought the famous musical Mughal-e-Azam to town, giving a unique experience for their clients.

With his focus and determination as well as deep acumen, Arjun is all set to take Kanz Jewels to newer levels of success, in the forthcoming years.  

Credit

https://gulfnews.com/business/retail/selling-gold-without-the-bazaar-mentality-1.2030941

Anil Dhanak, managing director of Kanz Jewels, is bucking the trend where gold retailers have little time to offer personalised customer service.

Dubai: Go heavy on the bling — that’s the way 22-carat gold jewellery has traditionally been sold in the UAE. Store walls and window displays stacked with assorted designs and collections in the brightest of lights to shock and awe shoppers into buying.

There is little or no room for understatement — that was the prevailing sentiment among retailers.

Now, Anil Dhanak, managing director of Kanz Jewels, has set about rewriting tradition.

Recently, the retailer opened a store in Dubai’s Meena Bazaar locality, with an emphasis on creating a more refined space, both internal and on the facade.

“The way gold jewellery is getting sold is as if it’s a commodity,” said Dhanak. “You had shoppers walking about trying to get bargains on what are essentially precious items. And retailers had little time to offer personalised customer service, as long as they were able to sell at the lowest price.

“The trade was relying exclusively on promotions and offers to get shoppers in. I want to change that marketplace mentality — even if it’s only at a single store.”

That means creating a store environment more in tune with what one sees in diamond jewellery retail.

There are pop-up mirrors at the Kanz store, a very eye-catching chandelier, state-of-the-art displays (that means not even a single old-school lock and key will be found anywhere within the main shop area) and a high degree of personalised service. It takes up two floors, totalling 325 square metres.

“But this store will still sell 22-carat gold jewellery and not diamonds or any sort of coloured stones,” said Dhanak. “I have no plans to add diamond jewellery — you need a lot of market knowledge to venture into that.

“Very simply put, I have created a Starbucks cafe-style ambience to sell Indian masala chai [tea], even if it means a 20-30 per cent higher cost of operations. Though gold jewellery retailing is commoditised, it doesn’t mean all retailers have to follow the same pattern.”

Dhanak is even willing to lose customers if they perceive the new store to carry higher margin merchandise.

“I am not aiming for the mass market crowd — there are enough shops within Meena Bazaar to cater to that demand,” he said. “Being in this particular location means the majority of shoppers will be domestic unlike the Gold Souq where there is a higher mix of tourist buying.

“But, even in Meena Bazaar, there will be a certain buyer who will want to shop and be served in an ambience different from the crowd. That’s the shopper we are after … and there are enough of them out there.”

There are no plans to do a makeover on the seven stores Kanz operates in the Gold Souq. “They will continue to have their “jewellery walls” and operate the old school way,” said Dhanak, who is also on the board of directors of the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group. “I took my time to do up the Meena Bazaar store in just the way I wanted — that took the better part of a year to complete. I was prepared to run up higher costs since it meant more time before the shop opened.

“At the end of the day, I wanted to make some change in the gold retailing business. I had to make that point.”

Credit

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/doing-things-differently-can-help-your-brands-success

When it comes to the competition in Dubai’s gold scene, Anil Dhanak, managing director of Kanz Jewels, knows where he stands. While many of the well known gold and jewellery brands have upwards of a 100 outlets across the UAE, Kanz has a total of nine stores in Dubai. Despite this, the brand has carved a name for itself in the business, along with a reputation to match. The stores are a popular setting for many Bollywood films, and have often been heavily featured in many promotional tourism videos.

The secret to the brand’s success is due to Dhanak’s decision to cater to a very niche segment, a vision to do things differently, and an emphasis on customer experience. “If you want to leave a mark, one should not follow,” says Dhanak.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, he highlighted how his 37 years in the business had taught him a few things, from when he first started as a salesman in his uncle’s gold shop. “What I realised was that there was a vacuum when it came to a certain segment in the market. You have maybe two per cent of the population in this country that does not care about any promotions or deals. When they enter a shop, it is with the decision to spend, and so it would be a disrespect to offer them a promotion. These are customers that don’t want to be part of the crowd; they want to own unique pieces that sets them apart and speaks volumes about themselves.”

Dhanak revealed that Kanz was able to distinguish itself early on by offering a selection that wasn’t available anywhere else. “We buy from small workshops and factories and then make a change to the designs to stay exclusive in the market.”

In addition, the brand prides itself on introducing many new ideas in the market. Dhanak explains that even early on in his career, when he was working in his uncle’s gold shop in Dubai, he had kept his eyes and ears open on ways to distinguish himself from his competition.

“I started off by doing everything by myself in that store. I was the only one who had their store open on a Friday in the Dubai Gold Souq back in the day. I was also the first one to start the straight working shift in 1995 because I had read an article about it. Kanz was also the first gold store to have female staff and a doorman to welcome customers. Today, many other brands have followed in our footsteps.” Another area where there is no room for compromise involves his employees. Dhanak firmly believes that if a manager takes care of his employees, then they will take care of his clients. He introduced many ways in which his employees can give their very best at the job, including finding them accommodations close to their work stations.

Lastly, he believes that it is the little things that go a long way towards making the customer experience memorable. “We spend a lot on our store interiors and ambiance. We offer our guests masala chai, and we have pop up mirrors at every station so customers can look at themselves wearing the jewellery before making their purchase.”

Speaking on his plans for the future, he revealed that Kanz will be re-launching their very first store at the heart of the Dubai Gold Souq. The brand is aiming to open the store before Diwali. Dhanak also revealed that the brand won’t be focusing on any more store openings for a while after that.