Saman Abid is CEO of Brandso Marketing; she started her personal business three years ago. She started her career in 2012 with Indus News TV channel as a news anchor. She has also acted in numerous commercials and TV dramas. She played a daughters-in-law role named Faiza in Drama Serial “Riffat Aapa Ki Bahuein” on-air Arydigital, in this she gained fame.
Reporter: What is the reason for leaving the successful life of showbiz and coming to business?
Saman Abid: During showbiz, I was offered morning shows in which Asad Malik advised me in a meeting why I don’t start my own business. In fact, I belong to a business family. My father-in-law is a famous builder from Punjab. I have a Masters in Marketing and I started my own business because I live in a business family. I thought that what I have learned should be a part of my practical life. My family members helped me personally. Before starting the business I was associated with a private company which was an engineering company and I was the marketing head of this company. One year I worked in this company and gained experience but Showbiz gave me confidence.
Reporter: Tell our readers something about your work. What are your accomplishments in three years?
Saman Abid: I did three big projects at the engineering company I was associated with and nowadays I am involved in the promotion of beauty parlors and restaurants.
Reporter: what kind of advertising campaigns for parlor and restaurant?
Saman Abid: Five years ago, the marketing method was different. We only focused on TV. We didn’t know anything about digital marketing. Marketing means educating the public about our product. It will make and the seller will sell but we people marketing company identify any item nowadays advertising any product on television is very expensive now people have options especially through Instagram Advertising is a great option with millions of people on it so we can make a video to advertise anything and post it on Instagram. Now the marketing method has changed so we have moved to digital marketing and it is for local companies is a great platform because their budgets are low because International companies have better annual budgets in this regard and there is also a tic-tac-toe advertising campaign. We distribute a lot of things in Pakistan. This includes TPLink and our largest investment distribution. We have done a lot of work in this regard in Punjab. We provide CCTV cameras and services to various companies and now in Karachi.
Reporter: The current government is pursuing a policy of low import and high export. What problems will you have with the import of your product?
Saman Abid: We try our best to work in accordance with the rules and regulations of the government. We pay regular taxes. As far as incentives are concerned, we are not given the same benefits as the exporters because of the increase in exports. Foreign Exchange comes to the country so we are trying to produce the cables in the country and soon we are starting this work in the business zone near Lahore.
Reporter: You have also worked in Lahore. What is the difference between work in Karachi and Lahore?
Saman Abid: The working environment in Karachi is much better than in Lahore. The people I have been in contact with within Lahore, are not very active in terms of work. Professionalism is more visible in Karachi and the hub of Pakistan.
Reporter: What are the issues for working women?
Saman Abid: Working women face harassment and this is the biggest problem. Women are harassed in different ways and I feel that women all over the world face obstacles in moving forward. We have to train girls to fight their ditches.
Reporter: You’ve been in showbiz, so you didn’t think of opening a boutique or a parlor, which was a relatively easy task?
Saman Abid: Because I’m educated in marketing, that’s my tendency. Showbiz groomed me and gave me confidence but knowledge about marketing.
Reporter: What are your plans for the future?
Saman Abid: At the moment I feel that my responsibilities have increased along with my work experience so I try to help people. In this way, I have started social work. Showbiz was my hobby and business is my also hobby. I want to see my company’s employees in a better position. I want to work on Women in Power. I want to help people who want to get an education or a job because being dependent on a man is not the goal of slavery, but it does hurt women’s self-esteem, so I want women to work.
Reporter: How much has Corona affected your business?
Saman Abid: Our marketing side was very impressed because the exhibitions had stopped during the Corona. Many businesses also lost due to the lockdown, but our IT work was not affected.
