About the Entrepreneur
Mohammad Isaac Sidique is a Hong Kong-born and raised Pakistani who has dedicated much of his life to supporting the local community. With a background that includes working in community centers, the labor department, and as a security supervisor, Isaac embodies a spirit of selflessness and kindness. His deep passion for shisha led him to start his own venture during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Issac found out that the prices for shisha in the local market were very expensive, he started doing his research and engaged with suppliers from China, Dubai, Turkey, and India. It was then that Issac realized he could bring suitable and viable products and supply them to the F&B industry of Hong Kong, especially bars and restaurants with shisha offerings. Soon, he got acquainted with many business owners who couldn’t resist his offer, which was the best competitive price package for restaurants to purchase shisha-related supplies.
About the Business
ISKI Hokkah is a unique business in Hong Kong that specializes in selling shisha products and flavors at highly competitive wholesale prices. As the cheapest supplier in the market, ISKI Hokkah imports its products from various countries, including Turkey, Russia, India, and Dubai.
ISKI Hokkah differentiates itself by offering a wide range of shisha products and flavors, catering to the diverse needs and preferences of its customers. The business maintains a comprehensive inventory of shishas, flavors, and related accessories, ensuring that its B2B clients have access to a vast selection of high-quality options.
Challenges Faced by the Entrepreneur
- Lack of Time and Expertise in Managing Social Media
Isaac struggled to find the time and expertise needed to manage ISKI Hokkah’s social media presence. Although he understood the importance of an online presence, his busy schedule with his other full-time commitments made it difficult to regularly update and engage with customers on social media platforms.
- Lack of Product Shots and Visual Content
Another challenge was the lack of professional product shots and visual content to showcase his products. Without high-quality images and engaging content, it was hard for Isaac to attract and retain customers.
Direct Business Support Provided by FSI and CBI Intern
Through FSI’s Community Business Internship Program, ISKI Hokkah received valuable support in addressing its challenges. With the dedicated efforts of FSI and our Community Business Intern, Yusuf Mohideen, who contributed a total of 23 hours of work from May to June 2024, the following objectives were accomplished:
- Created Branded Invoice Template
- To enhance ISKI Hookah’s professional image and streamline its billing process, we developed a customized branded invoice, while ensuring the invoice template is user-friendly and easy to fill out, with clear instructions and placeholders for all required information.
- Conducted Product Photography
- Organized a professional product photography session to produce high-quality images and videos of ISKI Hokkah’s extensive range of shisha products and flavors. These images and short clips were crucial for enhancing the business’ online presence.
- Content Creation Plan for Social Media Posts and Reels
- Enhanced content engagement, content management, and content creation to reach a wider audience and increase awareness of ISKI Hokkah’s brand. The success of this social media campaign will be measured by comparing Instagram dashboard metrics before and after posting reels regularly over a month, scheduled every other day, three times per week.
- Developed 10 engaging social media posts or reels highlighting the user-friendliness of the hookah equipment and the multitude of flavors. These posts were designed to be eye-catching and appealing to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Understanding that the hookah – the instrument used for smoking shisha – is not commonly understood by everyone, efforts were made to simplify the concept through posts and reels, showcasing non-nicotine options, various flavors, and international varieties.
- The long-term objectives of this plan are to ensure that once the foundation for the business and brand image of the company is built, it will be easier to take off from there. Subsequently, Yusuf will demonstrate to Isaac ways to create the desired style of Instagram reels.
From the Entrepreneur
“The team at FSI has been incredibly supportive of my business. As a busy entrepreneur, I don’t have much experience with social media and engaging with customers online. FSI and Yusuf have stepped in to assist me in taking professional shots of my products and teaching me how to manage our Instagram account, which has been a huge help. I’ve noticed more inquiries and interest from customers, which is fantastic. I’m grateful for the hands-on support from FSI, allowing me to focus on providing the best shisha products to my clients.” – Mohammad Isaac Sidique
From the Youth
“I definitely felt super pumped to help Isaac’s business, as I was also developing my own content creation account on the side and was using my newfound editing and filming skills to support ISKI Hokkah. I love using my creative vision in designing posters and reels to solidify ISKI’s brand image, as personal branding is what makes the product more marketable to the clients. I understand how crucial it is for businesses to really put themselves out there and I’m glad I could help ISKI Hokkah do so.” – Yusuf Mohideen
Interested in learning more about ISKI Hokkah? Visit ISKI Hokkah’s listing on GuideFong here!
Get Involved
Here’s how you can help FSI support more grassroots businesses in mutually beneficial ways:
- Join our Community Business Support Internship to equip yourself or your students with business consultation skills and help under-resourced entrepreneurs;
- Sponsor and/or volunteer for our Community Business Support Internship, Impact Jams, Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur’s Toolkit etc. to channel private-sector resources towards positive social impact;
Check out GuideFong to find more grassroots businesses, try them out, leave reviews, and tell others about Hong Kong’s first online directory for ethnically diverse businesses!
