New Walthamstow barbecue burger joint Smoke & Bones has been opened by 22-year-old Waqas Mir – he shares the highs and lows of being a young business owner
Interview by Marco Marcelline
Did you always want to start your business?
From the age of 16 I knew I wanted to start my own business. I knew it would be hard, so I set myself a realistic goal that if I save my money wisely I can have a shop by the age of 24 or 25 – but it ended up happening at 22!
My colleagues at my first job always had faith in me having my own shop, which really motivated me.
What has running a business as a young person taught you in terms of life skills?
Running a business has helped me in many different ways in terms of life skills. One skill it has taught me is communication and how to deal with different types of customers.
When you work in the food industry you have to be very quick to make a decision and doing that teaches you how to trust your instincts and take risks.
What would you say to another young person who wants to start a business?
One thing I would tell them is don’t rush; don’t have it in your head that you need to start your business at a certain time, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and more importantly don’t be upset when you make them.
I’ll also remind them that starting a business requires you to make sacrifices; I sacrificed a lot of family time so I can work to save for the shop I have now.
Running a new business can be tough – what gets you through the difficult moments?
It’s very hard to switch off when you have your own business but spending time with my family helps me more than anything. Even though Manchester United are rubbish, watching football helps me relax too!
What do you recommend we eat at Smoke & Bones?
I recommend going for our beef brisket, spare ribs or the Big Smoke burger. The brisket is very soft and tender, given it’s a combination of lean meat and fat which creates the ‘melt in your mouth’ flavour.
The Big Smoke burger is very unique as it has burnt ends inside the burger. No one in the area does it so it’s a must try!
You can find Smoke & Bones at 444 Forest Road, E17 4PY, Visit their website for more information
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