From filling a gap or providing solutions to the community to establishing a countrywide name, Muslim businesses have achieved great success while passing the reins from one generation to the next.
Ferisha Mohammed-Williams, the owner of Brandid House of Fashions Ltd can attest to this. As she has built on the business started by her mother, who made clothes for Muslim women who struggled to find outfits suitable for Eid.
“It’s a second generation, female-owned and family-run business. My journey began very early in life for me, having watched my mother, Acklima, sewing for practically all of my life,” said Mohammed-Williams, who initially pursued a career in the banking industry before returning to the family business as she maintained a passion for style and fashion.
“I decided to start an Islamic clothing boutique 15 years ago. When we started, there weren’t as many stores selling Islamic clothing as there are now. That meant a lot of women had to get their clothes made for Eid. which my mom did as she had a pretty decent Muslim clientele. So we decided we would capitalise on that client base with her being in the boutique during the day, and me part time on evenings and weekends. Our first Ramadan was a success, with me having to make a quick two-day trip during the month to replenish stock, as word quickly spread. Within the first year of business, I had customers asking if I would also do western wear for them as most would only wear Islamic clothing on occasions.”
While demand was high, it also proved demanding for Mohammed-Williams as she juggled travel to supply her customers and her job at the bank. Eventually, she took the leap into business full-time and ushered in another major change.
“First change would be the name from A & F Fashions to Brandid House of Fashions, named after our two sons, Brandon and David. I had a vision for Brandid. I knew what I wanted for my business. Two and a half years later, we were able to expand and move into a bigger and more comfortable space.”
Her religious background, as well as her time in banking, proved a major influence on her philosophy.
“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that customer service can either make or break your business. Therefore, service is the one thing that is never compromised at Brandid. Every client who walks through our door is individually and personally attended to and addressed by name. We have forged amazing relationships with clients over the years with many of them still loyal to this day,” said Mohammed-Williams,.
“Having been raised in a Muslim home all my life and seeing the changes that were emerging in the Islamic fashion industry, it was exciting to be part of that change that was taking place and being Muslim it was easier to reach the Muslim community. I loved the fact that women could dress modestly but still look beautiful and feel good about what they’re wearing and about themselves.”
The Brandid owner said she was especially pleased to have the opportunity to empower and uplift other women through her work.
She said, “Ours is a space where all women, not just Muslim women, can come in and feel safe and special. During Ramadan, we get the opportunity to outfit entire families, and in some cases, we get to dress up to three generations at one time. It’s almost as if we have a community of our own at Brandid.”
Expanding from poultry to gyms
Khan’s Poultry also started from a humble background, which has now expanded across the country.
Nyal Khan, director of Khan’s Poultry, recalled the brand’s beginnings.
“My grandmother would have started this business back in 1962 and a very simple way, at her house in Gasparillo. My dad eventually got into the business in 1990 with his first shop in Marabella, and it progressed from there.”
He continued, “In 2018, I decided to enter the business as well with my younger brother, Jaaen, and we decided to take it to another level by expanding the retail presence. So we would have expanded the retail presence by opening some additional stores, and well, here we are in 2026.”
Khan’s has since expanded to seven branches in Diego Martin, Chaguanas, Cunupia and Gulf View.
Khan said while the brand firstly focused on providing Halal meats to the community, that focus also ensured the business would maintain a high standard.
“As a muslim, we have a culture, and I suppose it’s part of our business as well that we provide Halal products to our customers. And by Halal, we also mean fit for consumption. And fit for consumption will also impress upon all business to ensure we provide the highest quality. So we place a special emphasis on quality of product. And you know, giving good value to the customers as well as quality would be one of our major features. Our tagline is quality and trust, and this is what we try to give to our customer base.”
Apart from Khan’s, the company has also found success with the Raw Fitness brand with gyms at multiple locations.
“Raw Fitness is an entirely different venture. Raw Fitness really started because we had vacant real estate that we wanted to put to good use, and it turned out to be a positive business venture. We decided to expand from there. We did our second location at Brentwood Mall in Chaguanas, and we are now doing a third location at Icon Plaza in Aranguez, “ said Khan, who explained that he had maintained a similar approach across his businesses.
‘I would say, focus on quality, focus on your customers, try to fill the gap that there’s in the market where you provide a solution to any need that a customer would have. But the prime focus is on quality,” said Khan.
However, both business owners noted there had been challenges, which are part and parcel of the journey.
Mohammed-Williams said navigating COVID proved a turning point as well.
“For most small businesses, COVID was a challenging time, seeing many closing their doors permanently. That was not an option for me. At Brandid, we sell an experience, not just a product, which means that you have to have that personal experience. However, with non-essential businesses having to be closed, it brought about a change for us; we had to go online.
“Offering online ordering and delivery service was something I never thought I’d ever do,” she said, “But that along with setting up an appointment system two days a week, where my assistant and I saw regular long standing customers only, on a one on one basis, is what helped us to navigate those challenging times and now we have three additional employees. I’ve learnt that being innovative and willing to change as you go is part of my journey as an entrepreneur.”
While Khan’s had been on an expansion push, there had been setbacks on the road as well. After opening a location on Ariapita Avenue in 2023, the company gave up the location in 2025.
Khan admitted that the economy often operated in cycles and that adapting to the challenges was a necessity in business.
“As any good businessman, you must be able to adapt to the environment that you operate in. So whether it is challenging or not, you must be able to adapt your own business to meet the needs of your customers,” said Khan, “Businesses are a cycle. The economy is typically cyclical, so there’s always a way to be profitable in any cycle once you know how to adapt to that particular cycle.”
Both encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to push onward despite the challenges, ensuring that they maintained a vision and a duty to customers.
