Family-owned businesses have been considered the core of the economy and have enjoyed a stellar reputation for many years. In addition, they have a status that is often an advantage for them. It is pretty much known that in a family business, the first generation makes it, and the second generation sustains it. For a long time, it has been believed that family businesses are more fragile than other businesses. Every successful business in the world today was born from the entrepreneurial dream of the founder. For a successful generation change in a family business, it is important to transfer the entrepreneurial vision to the one being passed the torch. Children often look up to their fathers in business and aim to accomplish their dreams, and many build on a dream with their fathers. Karam Zahalka of the Zahalka family is one such example who embarked on his journey as a businessman under the shadow of his father and is on his way to expanding his family business.
Zahalka joined his father’s business and is taking it to new heights by using new ideas and using his young generation’s mind as well. Since he was a kid, Zahalka spent a great deal of time understanding the business and made a conscious decision to join his father’s business and give him a hand.
Zahalka’s life has been shaped by many aspects of his family business. Growing up in an educated, business family has been a rite of passage for him. As he grew older, a handful of business lessons have served him well over the years. Zahalka saw it as an opportunity of a lifetime when he joined hands with his father in his company, Urban C. He made his entrance into the company as he studied aluminum fabrication and realized that he had the ability to make connections with people. It was that moment when he decided to become the second-generation businessman in his family after his father.
Immersing himself in the glass and aluminum business
It is well said that every business has its own set of challenges, and diving into a glass and aluminum business is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of hard work and many bumps down the road to becoming successful in the business. When following the vision instilled by the founder of the company, any business can succeed as long as the torch is passed to safe hands. When Zahalka stepped into his family business of glass and aluminum, it was a small place. With fresh ideas in mind, Zahalka has been able to expand his father’s company into a 3000 square manufacturer. Due to his relentless efforts and ability to connect with the right people, he has grown the once-small aluminum manufacturer into a big and worldwide company.
Leading the operations in UAE
UAE is home to many established businesses and is a thriving business hub. Dubai is an emerging market and growing company fostering foreign investments and business diversification. In 2021, Zahalka planned to expand his business when he decided to start the company’s operation in Dubai, expanding it to a 1500-square manufacturer. Stepping into aluminum and glass can be really rewarding and challenging at the same time. As businesses and processes evolve over time, there will always be a demand for new features, products, and services. Zahalka, in this sense, has gained knowledge of the aluminum and glass industry since he was a kid. With the industry exposure he received at an early age, he now has poured more attention into growing and improving new aluminum profiles for his company.
The honey spoons
Zahalka spent a lot of time with his grandmother, and during that time, he was exposed to the many benefits of honey. His grandmother would use honey as a substitute for any medicine. Spending a childhood watching honey being used at home for medical purposes and then watching the positive results fascinated him. On his trip to Turkey, Zahalka was exposed to the honey spoon industry and chose to explore honey until he discovered a recipe for making a honey foundation for various drinks and delicacies.
Zahalka founded “Tiberius Honey Spoon,” and the honey produced is sold to large companies and countries around the world.
