Akangchila Longchar
Morung Express Feature
A man of many dreams! After reading the story of this young entrepreneur, you’ll definitely conclude with this statement.
Hito Shohe knew he wanted to be his own boss since even his school days. And he couldn’t wait! Right after his studies, Hito straightaway setup a venture that was hitting sales- a mobile store. But this didn’t go as he expected so he shut it down.
Subsequently, he dabbled in a bit of cooking and baking course but he was not convinced that this was the right choice. He then started to take coaching in Table Tennis and Badminton. He even went on to represent Nagaland State in Table Tennis. For a while he also contemplated taking lessons in Lawn Tennis. A keen lover of sports, and clearly with the right skills, Hito made the hard choice not to pursue it further. “I felt there was not much scope. Maybe I can take time out and play again,” he says.
However, it is his love for four-legged furry darlings which truly cemented his choice of profession. And it is this choice which paved the way towards recognition.
Hito is known by many people for organizing the first dog show in Nagaland. The dog show was held successfully with various categories such as best of breed, fancy dress competition, cutest dog, ugliest dog, obedience and best hairstyle. It was a good opportunity for dog owners to show off their four-legged family members and also for dog lovers to witness different breeds of dog.
Understanding that the concept of pet care is still at a nascent stage in Nagaland, he brought everything related to pets under one roof- “Furry Friends” located at DC Court Junction, Dimapur. A complete pet store it offers pet food, vitamins, fishes, birds, pet accessories, books etc. He is also a wholesale distributor for Pedigree.
This store is Hito’s long-awaited dream. After having owned several good quality breed dogs and seeing the standard of quality in other cities, he really wanted to bring in good quality breed of dogs for sale. Furry Friends has so far sold 240 dogs.
He prides himself in the fact that he offers quality dog breeds. After many years of experience, he now orders from two main dog breeders who assure him quality of the highest standard. He admits that good quality breeds costs a lot of money, definitely not affordable for everyone. Good quality breeds are bought as show dogs, status symbol or by serious dog lovers. “I have seen an increase in the trend for quality breed dogs. People are willing to spend a lakh and more here,” he says.
For those who cannot spend so much money, as a solution, Hito recommends local people to sell the offspring of these quality breed dogs at a reasonable rate. Nevertheless he honestly shares that a lot of his clients always walk in to Furry Friends wanting to sell at commercial price; many times, at the original price of the dog which they bought.
Hito himself is the proud owner of 11 dogs who he spoils to no end. He candidly admits that Sunday is Dog picture time. The dogs also have a specially made water tank which serve as their swimming pool.
From his first dog- a Golden Retriever, Hito’s love for four-legged furry darlings kept increasing. And when he saw online videos of dogs being trained, he was so impressed. This led him to take a training course. He figured he should take the course to train his own dogs at home. But offers to train dogs keep pouring in for Hito. But with limited time, having to maintain his dogs at home along with his pet store and several other businesses, he regrets that he has no time for training.
“Training takes time. It’s not easy. Buying a dog is not enough and just because you love dogs is also not enough. Dogs become like human beings the more time you spend with them. I don’t agree to people who buy a dog and leave him alone at home. Buying a good breed for show or status symbol is not enough,” says this passionate pet lover. He adds, “I love my dogs so much that when I don’t spend enough time with them, I feel they are sad”.
Hito shares some suggestions with our readers: The owner should always give the food. When giving food, try teaching basic training commands like sit, stay, wait, stand etc. take your pet for walks. Also, make the habit of taking your pet out for a short stroll after food to be potty trained. He also recommends letting your pet socialize with human beings and also other pets, but only after a period of six months. “When you teach your dog, not only their behavior but even their personality changes. Every training requires time and effort so stay patient,” he advises.
A man of many dreams. This serious pet lover also runs several other establishments. He is currently in the midst of setting up a family restaurant which would cater to Indian Food.
For a young entrepreneur, one wonders if it is a daunting task. “You just have to be brave and give it time. Any business, if you give time it works out. I also believe that if you follow anything which is genuinely something you’re interested in, it will never go to loss,” he says.
