From hobby to award-winning honey: A journey
MUSCAT, MARCH 23
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Translation, Ahoud bint Rashid al Shibliyah spent nearly a decade in search of a job. However, inspired by her husband's hobby of beekeeping at the time, Al Shibli embarked on an award winning entrepreneurial journey. In today's edition of CEO Talk, we interviewed Al Shibli, the CEO and Co-Founder of 'Ypyap and Param', an award winning Omani honey brand that has garnered national and international attention.
THE BEGINNING
What started as a hobby soon evolved into a full-fledged business. 'Initially sparked by my husband's hobby of beekeeping at the time, we started the project in 2010 as a home-based venture,' shared Ahoud, who was actively seeking employment for eight years. 'However, due to the growing demand for honey, [we] eventually decided to open the first 'Ypyap and Param' store in Liwa [in 2018], which became the only job I truly enjoyed.' Today, the company operates two branches, in Suhar and Liwa, along with a retail outlet at Muscat International Airport and a sales point in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Last year, the brand was recognised with the Entrepreneurship Award for Best Micro Business in Al Batinah North.
CHALLENGES
The road to entrepreneurship was not without its challenges, one of the biggest being the saturation of the local honey market. 'We faced several challenges — one of the most difficult was the saturation of the Omani honey market and figuring out how we could stand out,' said Ahoud. 'We had to come up with new marketing ideas that would bring something fresh to the world of Omani honey. We also worked to correct some of the misconceptions about honey, its importance, how it's produced and what the proper strategies are for beekeeping and producing Omani honey.' Product development and packaging also presented their own challenges.'
There were also challenges related to product development and packaging, especially considering that society has a fixed, traditional image of what Omani honey should look like — and changing that isn't easy.'
However, according to the CEO, continuous learning and perseverance were key to the company's success. 'But with perseverance, determination and by participating in several programmes, courses and workshops in management, marketing and financial planning, we were able to get to where we are today.' Additionally, she emphasised the importance of values. 'Honesty, credibility and integrity are the foundation for all other values — and these are the principles our company is built on. The honey trade relies on trust, especially when it comes to quality and packaging.'
On a personal level, the CEO shared that balancing entrepreneurship with family responsibilities is one of the most demanding aspects of her journey. 'This is the hardest part of my daily life as a female entrepreneur, but with God's help first and then by organising priorities and having a set schedule for everything — whether related to work or family — I'm able to manage it all,' she said. She added that family support also plays a big role in keeping things under control. 'The most important thing is to maintain balance — neither side should overwhelm the other. Balance is the foundation of life.'
MILESTONES AND MOTIVATION
Since the launch of the company, Ahoud has marked several milestones in her entrepreneurial journey which fuelled her growth. She was honoured by the Ministry of Social Development on Omani Women's Day for her contribution to the economic sector In 2021 and in 2023, she received the Al Batinah North Entrepreneurship Award and was named Promising Entrepreneur for Al Batinah North and South at the Women's Conference in 2024.
However, a significant moment in her career came when she presented her success story to Her Highness The Honourable Lady Assayida Ahd Abdullah Hamed al Busaidi, Spouse of the Sultan of Oman, at the launch ceremony of the "Reefi" financing product in 2021. 'It was a strong source of motivation for me to continue, as I saw in her a role model and a source of encouragement to keep going and strive for excellence,' she said.
Additionally, she was selected to share her success story at the Saudi-Omani Investment Forum in Riyadh in 2023. 'It made me feel that reaching the top is not impossible and not far out of reach,' she said.
KEY TAKEAWAY
In conclusion, the CEO offered advice for those interested in entrepreneurship, 'Business is an adventure — and those who love adventure should start a business. It's true that the business world is full of challenges and obstacles, but it excites you with the thrill of competition, achievement and overcoming hurdles. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and allows you to make a positive impact in your community — to become a role model that others can look up to.'
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