BACK TO THE SOURCE

Faces of Almaz Holding

BACK TO THE SOURCE

The most interesting point in the story of «Almaz Holding» is the destiny of people. the company is managed by Farid, Flun and Khidaya, two brothers and their sister, who went in for the jewelry business after «passing half of their life on Earth»,' and achieving much

One might start telling the story of «Almaz Holding» and the family of Gumerovs from their return to the motherland. A return that is neither like the return of a prodigal son nor like the statement that there is no prophet in ones country. A magnificent arrival on elephants, victorious music, and welcoming cries of the people... Farid Gumerov, General Director of «Almaz Holding», is primarily a businessman, and then a man of arts, would laugh at such an image from the Indian cinema...Let him tell the story himself

The basis of our company has been laid by jewelry plants that were well-known from the Soviet times. The President of the holding is my younger brother Flun. He graduated from the Kazan Engieering-Construction Institute and worked in Moscow as head of a construction office. When he had a chance, he set up a construction cooperative. He met some people working in the jewelry business and set up a wholesale trade enterprise.

Company «Almaz Holding» that was established in 1993 as a wholesale firm was a success. In 1998, Administration of the Kostroma Region, concerned about the Krasnoselsky Jewelry Plant that was on the decline and even at the brink of bankruptcy, applied to our company for assistance. That is a famous plant dating back from the rimes of Boris Godunov. Responding to the request of the Kostroma Region Administration, the team of «Almaz Holding» worked out a comprehensive program for plant development and formulated concrete objectives, one of which was to prove that our craftsmen were no worse than any foreign ones. Governor of the Region supported the issue, and the plant was completely refurbished, became cost-efficient and generates profit. Workers came back, and life started bubbling. Moreover, the plant became one of the best in Russia. There are one thousand employees now, and Flun Gumerov is its General Director. In 1999, in Oryol, we constructed a jewelry plant Golden Eagle, which turns out over a thousand items of jewelry to date.

How come you came back to Tatarstan?

One might say, thanks to Tatarstan authorities and particularly to President Mintimer Shaimiyev. He is a striking connoisseur of the art of jewelry and is aware of its problems. He is serious about them and renders real support as the leader.

Flun first met President Shaimiyev at a jewelry exhibition in Kazan three years ago. The President examined out booth, learned that we were born in Tatarstan and work in Moscow and Kostroma. He also learned that came from the same district: we were brought up in the village of Checher (Aktanyshsky District), next door to the President's native village. He suggested us to revive national jewelry arts in Tatarstan. In Kazan, there are home jewelers and small workshops meeting individual orders. At the time, there was no large-scale production that could make use of the rich traditions of national Tatar and Kazan art of jewelry and that would restore its style. We were interested in President's suggestion, and we applied to historians, arts experts, and painters studying national arts. The traditions are abundant! This year, a book was issued on The Story of Jewelry Business in Russia, and there are many pages dedicated to Tatar arts.

In a book on The History of Jewelry Arts in Russia published this year, many pages are dedicated to Tatar arts. In accordance with President Shaimiyev's suggestions, a program for the development of jewelry industry was elaborated for the entire Volga Region, with the center in Kazan. We bought out a dilapidated but formerly beautiful building in a convenient place. We reconstructed it, actually built it anew while preserving its historical look. Merchants and other rich people lived at the place in the center of Kazan. Where else should a jewelry shop be set up? The shop was opened, and in due time we intend to open here, at the third floor, some jewelry workshops.

To date, we have three shops in Kazan, three in Naberezhny Chelny, one each in Nizhnekamsk, Almetievsk and Chistopol...

You mentioned a peculiar Kazan jewelry style, what is it?

Kazan jewelry has always had features of its own. Local merchants cooperated with countries of the East and Central Asia. Trade developed, and connections with European craftsmen strengthened. In Kazan, traditions and cultures of the East and the West met, and that was reflected in jewelry items, in their style. That is clearly seen in old jewelry items found in excavations. In addition, national features were present in jewelry produced in Chuvashia, Udmurtia, and Bashkiria. It was interesting for us to see how their style was reflected in Kazan items, but it was also interesting to see national decorations of those nations. Serious work is performed in that direction. On request of the President, the authorities allocated us 300 square meters of area in the Kazan Kremlin to set up a museum of jewelry art. Thorough work is being done. It is hard but interesting. And highly responsible. An artistic design of the museum is practically ready: it will have to be set into the Kremlin, its esthetics and history. There is a workshop there as well: one can place an order with the craftsmen. Within two or three hours, while the tourists are sightseeing in the Kremlin, their order will be ready. The work can be done in the presence of the customer as well. The Kremlin is a historical place, and we can get down into history. Many people tried to restore national arts, but they failed. We believe into the success of our business. One of these days, we make a presentation to the President on the museum design. The administration and managers of the Kremlin liked the museum sketches.

What are your parents? How come you started a jewelry business?

My brothers and my roads in life were different, but we arrived at the same point, and that is not accidental. I am a lawyer, militia colonel; I retired from the post of a local head of criminal militia. My service record in the militia is 27 years long. I often visited my brothers company after work. I was interested. He suggested that I should manage business in the region. Currently, capital overhaul is carried out in 'Yakhont' and Granat, two well-known Kazan shops owned by the company. We constructed a third shop for our own money. Our sister works as brothers deputy in Moscow, the other manages business in Ufa.

Our parents were ordinary people. When father was young, he worked at the mine, then they moved to the country and became collective farmers...

Family has a strong impact on a persons life. What has it given you for your business and life in today's settings?

Naturally! We were brought up in a rural locality, and the family had clear-cur rules and morals. We were taught: you mustn't deceive, and you mustn't steal. If your neighbor has an apple tree, and the branches stretch into your garden, you mustn't pick apples.

There are official data according to which Russias shadow turnover of precious metals and stones amounts to, regrettably, 60 percent. Every second item is counterfeited. We have never sold and will never sell items of doubtful origin as a matter of principle. That is why our position at the market is so advantageous. People trust us.

Jewelry decorations must bring joy to people. One cannot build ones happiness on someone elses bad luck, on deceit. It might happen that for the sake of beauty a person gathered the last money, bought a thing to wear, and is unaware of what that really is... Famous people apply to me. They want to buy presents for some ceremonial occasions, for their relatives. Today, when any glass can be converted into a diamond, when there are tools that can make any metal to shine as gold, buyers must be sure that the item is authentic. Our popularity follows from our scrupulousness. You know, they used to tell: honor is above profit or cash. To earn your profit, you must first earn your good reputation. Then money will come.

In the early 1990's, when you set up your company, I think, people were not after buying jewelry. Can many people afford to buy expensive decorations or kitchenware today?

Once, in Naberezhny Chelny, the plant stopped because of fire. Many people were left without a job. That was the time when we opened out first shop there. Despite anything, people were buying jewelry. It seems that the purchasing power should drop during hard social periods, but it is the other way round: it has a clear-cut tendency for a rise. Maybe, because people then strive for beauty more. As Dostoyevsky had it, neither nation died because of lack of bread, but they died because of loss of its language, culture, and tradition. The art of jewelry is part of national culture. Any person, regardless of age, education or occupation, has a need to set up a holiday, to sing and listen to songs; they go to the theater or cinema any time. I think, jewelry and theater have the same roots — they bring joy to people.

First, they became leading jewelers in Russia, then entered the West. They acquired authority. Then they became Tatarstan jewelers called for by the Republican President to revive national art of jewelry. Their destinies meandered but brought to the same: first to success, and then to the source. To their native land, where people of the same blood, tradition, and beauty live.

Petr BELKIN