When Azad Sheikh arrived in New Zealand from his native Fiji in 1992, the only thing he knew about Mobil was that it was a large multinational company, pumping gasoline, oil and gas into vehicles.
Little did he know that he would shortly become a part of the growing corporate by establishing an owner-operated outlet.
Neither did he know that the Mobil connection would drive him to several places around Auckland before dropping him off at Mangere, where he was slated to pump progress and prosperity, not only for himself but also to scores of others directly and indirectly.
But what he knew was that getting there would not be easy.
An electrical engineer with 18 years of experience with the Fiji Electricity Authority, he was aware that success in a career or business required a spark of an opportunity.
He may have spurned his moorings in the Pacific Island nation but there was no cause for despair. New Zealand was bigger and afforded greater opportunities.
Mr Sheikh grabbed the first offer of a Mobil franchise in South Auckland’s Otara soon after his arrival.
In many ways, it was a bad bargain.
A year later, the pumping station had to be written-off –Aucklanders demanded ambience and added value – not just a station that dispensed petrol, diesel or oil.
“Mobil New Zealand officials took me to Mobil outlets in Mt Wellington, Dominion Road (Balmoral), Penrose and Puhinui in Papatoetoe. It was an exciting experience and learning process in each of these places but I finally returned to Mangere,” Mr Sheikh said.
If destiny had locked him into the South Auckland operation, he was determined to make the best of the opportunity.
It was propitious that his wife Saiedah was not only an understanding partner in life but was also an illustrious colleague at work.
Together they began to build the Mangere operation.
More than 10 years later, the place started to show strains of age and dilapidation.
Mobil Mangere had to be razed to the ground and rebuilt, brick by brick.
“That was another challenge but we sensed another opportunity to do something different. Mobil Mangere had to offer a different but exciting experience to the people of Auckland and visitors,” Mr Sheikh said.
How many hundreds of hours were spent over the months when the new service centre was being rebuilt would not be known but a few factors were apparent to his peers, friends, colleagues, suppliers and Mobil New Zealand officials: that no expense or effort would be spared to make it a centre of quality service, innovative ideas and pride.
Such was the passion to build a centre of excellence that Mr Sheikh decided to have a 24-hour restaurant and a conference and function centre that took him to places and people.
And when it opened in March 2006, Mobil Mangere was distinct and different from its counterparts elsewhere in the country.
Located in a 5000 Square meter plot, the new building and its facilities, accounted for $3.9 million investment that has begun to pay off.
Apart from normal shopping facilities provided by a petrol station such as lubricants, vehicle-related items, dairy products, confectionery, newspapers and magazines, the new complex has a Country Fried Chicken franchise, Indian and other services and facilities.
“Mobil Mangere has become a precinct for businesses and families. During the day, it is mostly ‘food’ for the vehicles, while it is the food for the palate after dusk. Petrol, diesel and other related products would always remain the thrust of such organisations but customers have begun to look for diversity and variety, which will continue to be the driving force of this business,” he said.
Mt Sheikh spends at least 17 hours a day at the complex and is confident that his children – sons Aizaz and Zeead and daughter Farihah would continue the family tradition of hard work, dedication and integrity.
