Page 91 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition July-August 2021

SHRI JAYANTILAL SHAH

CENTREX OPTICIANS, MUMBAI

(AGE 93)

TIO: Let us start this feature with a brief
history of your company. Please tell us how,
when and where you started this company?

Jayantilal Shah (JS): I started my journey
when I was 18 years old. I hail from a small
village named Limbdi in Gujarat. In my teens
I had come across a lot of my native guys who
migrated to Mumbai and became financially
successful. They were engaged in either Cotton
Speculation or in Optical trade. Mentally I had
made up my mind to follow them. I came to
Mumbai with no money in my pocket. I am
grateful to Popular Optical Stores (Kalbadevi) as
they offered me my first job in 1946. Come 1951, JAYANTILAL
the entrepreneur in me forced me to think of a SHAH
start-up. I vividly remember that date 14.07.1951
– I got my personal Sales Tax no. registered by
the name of Central Optical Co. I used to operate TIO: At that time, the industry was still at a
from my residence – a minuscule room in Dadar. nascent stage. What kind of challenges did you
God has been kind to me, since then there face and how did you overcome them?
was no looking back. On 26 January 1972, we
th
started a Retail operation by the name Centrex JS: Being a middle man between a wholesaler
Opticians in Vile Parle (East), Mumbai. An air- and a retailer is tough. I used to visit retail stores
conditioned showroom in that era was a big and supply them with their requirements of
deal. Centrex Opticians was the first AC Optical frames or lenses, after procuring them from
store in the suburban belt of Mumbai. Today wholesalers. The challenge I faced was the need
Centrex Opticians is 49 years old and is taken to provide the supplies timely and with minimal
care of by my son, Milind Shah and my grandson, margin. After analysing the situation, I zeroed in
Harshit Shah – MBA (Retail Management). They on two problem areas: I realised the necessity to
both enjoy the good-will and are constantly have ready stock for selling which in turn meant
striving to strengthen it. My younger son that I needed adequate funds which I did not
Dr Kalpesh Shah is an Eye Surgeon. By the grace have at that time. I am indebted to M/s Hatim
of God, we cater to everything in Eye-care and Bros. who came forward to help me. He offered
Eye-wear today. security and guarantee to a money-lender

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