CHILDRENSWEAR RETAILER LOOKS FOR COLLABORATOR

Katia Najjar

Katia Najjar – a Lebanese national living in Dubai – runs brand Poupette a la Plage, which sells high-end beach clothes and accessories for girls aged 2 to 8 years old.

My background..

I was born in Beyrouth, where I lived until I was 16. I then moved to France – my mother is from there originally – and finished my studies, before going to Switzerland to a hotel management school.  I started my working life at the Marriott hotel in Paris and stayed there for 8 years.  When I met my husband, we began to travel around the world with work. We’ve lived in a number of cities, including London, Jeddah, Thailand and Dubai.

My business..

I started my business in December 2010. I bought the brand as I spotted a niche and wanted to bring the business to the next level. Poupette a la Plage is the only UAE company that sells clothes and beach accessories in Liberty print fabrics for little girls. Our fabric is mainly imported from the UK and 100% cotton. My objective is to introduce the brand to the retail industry. It is a niche market – very sophisticated, yet affordable. There are no similar products like it in Dubai.

Balancing work with motherhood..

I have two children aged 7 and 5. A bus comes to pick them up in the morning and drops them back home in the afternoon. I usually work until 3.30, stopping when they arrive home, and resuming work when they go to sleep. I work a lot in the evenings, which is fine by me as I get used to work a lot when I was in hospitality. I didn’t want to miss the best years of my children, so that’s why I quit my previous job to run my own business.

I am looking for..

I would be interested in a franchise – but most of all, I would like to team up with someone who has solid experience in the retail industry.

My advice..

Enjoy every moment with your loved ones and family. Life is sometimes very short, so spend as much time as possible with people you care about. Move forward and never look back – things happen for a reason.

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