Today we’d like to introduce you to Abdul Maniya.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had left my home in Pakistan at the age of eighteen. When I first arrived in U.S, I searched for something familiar—to give me a taste of home in a new Country. In Pakistan, my family owned clothing and home textile factories so naturally, I gravitated towards this field.
As a child, I was very mischievous and dependent— which worried my parents—so they sent me abroad to help me “make something of myself.” When I first came to U.S, I worked in a retail store called Sydney Cawley Associates in Old town, Chicago as a purchasing manager of clothing. This was my first exposure working in the clothing industry and it propelled me to venture deeper into it.
In 1985, I opened my very first clothing and home textile wholesale business with a friend. We started with very little money but refused to take any loans from the bank. Our goal was to put our earnings into our business until we received a profit. This tactic proved to be successful and we began to get the attention of large, established companies like Fruit of the Loom, Gildan and other similar businesses. Over time, the well-known American-Canadian manufacturer of branded clothing, Gildan gave us bonuses because we exceeded their sales target. Alongside our sales prospect, my business partner and I worked hard to establish a Company which was inclusive, irrespective of a persons’ financial status, color, race, or religion—demolishing the fences humans tend to create.
Then in 2009—after much thought and consideration—my business partner and I decided to part ways, so I opened my own wholesale business which continued to focus on apparel and home textile products. As with my first business, I strived to focus on the ideals and values I had grown up with—love and respect for everyone. I grew up in a household with a driver, cook, housekeeper, and nanny—since my parents needed help to raise my twelve siblings— and the hired helpers were all treated with genuine respect. My parents constructed small houses in our courtyard for our house helpers, so they could live with comfort and ease. In the late hours of the night, we would sit, laugh and talk with them as if they were our own—which they did become over the years. Even to this day, I feel a strong connection with everyone who worked at our house, making me feel that the bonds of human connection are unlimited—when we dismantle the human borders, we’re able to form connections we could have never imagined. I want to emphasize this valuable lesson in my business so we have a home-like atmosphere where my employees and customers feel the same way I felt as a child—that we are all part of one big human family.
In order to accommodate everyone’s preferences and needs, we sell affordable apparel and home textile products in different colors, styles, and sizes. This way, I can feel reassured knowing we aren’t leaving anyone out because everyone deserves to get basic items at affordable prices. I feel a sense of pride knowing that my products will cross human lines to give people something we all share in common—everyday essentials.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey has certainly had its ups and downs. When my business partner and I started our business in 1985, we faced tremendous challenges in establishing our Company. We had many great visions and insights, but it was a challenge to put them into practice. My daily mantra was “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” This was instilled in my mind at a young age when I saw my father struggle with a family business where my six uncles worked alongside him. I saw him work hard to overcome the challenges he faced with a large family—to balance different mindsets, conflicting needs, and cash flow. In the same way, we too struggled in our business but worked tirelessly to establish a solid foundation by forming strong bonds with businesses and employees.
With each struggle that came my way, I was determined to fight even harder. When I started my second business with my sons in 2009, I had only a small amount of money in my bank account. In the first year of my business, my patience and faith were really tested, yet I held on to God and concentrated on the day-to-day challenges. If I looked at the peak of the mountain, the climb would have been impossible. Instead, I trudged ahead slowly until I finally saw a breakthrough.
A dear friend offered to send us t-shirts to sell—without a payment date—until we got back on our feet. My sons and I worked long hours, and we rode each hurdle with faith and persistence. Today, at 63 years of age, I deliver products to customers all across Chicago, unload heavy boxes from my truck, and carry on other strenuous work which people may consider too much for my age. I want my kids to understand that hard work doesn’t have to end when we get older. In fact, the more we work, the more likely we are to stay “young” and active. As the author and activist Booker T Washington said, “Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.”
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business provides good quality apparel—with a focus on 100% cotton— and home textile products to retailers at low prices. Since our wholesale business mainly sells to retailers, we have created a website which caters to individual buyers and businesses all over U.S. On our website, we have over 70 brands in various sizes, colors, and styles. We are most proud to have a Company which is managed by me, my two sons, and son-in-law. With a family-run business, we put our heart and soul into our daily operations, making sure to provide excellent customer service and low prices.
Also, we custom print apparel for non-profits, restaurants, clubs, and anyone else who needs to prints 35 or more pieces. We mainly started custom printing to help non-profits and other organizations which make a difference in the community—we provide quotes which either meet or beat our competitors’ price. Since I started my business, my goal has always been to use my business platform to make the world a better place one shirt at a time.
Pricing:
- For wholesalers, we have shirts as low as 55 cents and socks as low as $3.50 a Dozen
Contact Info:
- Address: 4242 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
- Website: www.ezconnection.com
- Phone: (773) 856-5350
- Email: info@ezconnection.com
- Facebook: @EZConnectioninc
- Twitter: @EZapparel
- Yelp: sumaiyamaniya@gmail.com
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
