Their accountant and clearing agent may sometimes think they’re crazy, but Layane Makarem and Sabine Kassouf believe there’s method in whatever madness others perceive. The proprietors of A New Earth, Lebanon’s first fully certified organic food store, have just opened up their second premises in ABC Dbayeh. There, the shelves are fully stocked with products imported from all over the world – but the lights still flicker as some last minute technical problems are resolved. It’s hectic at the moment, they admit, but even in a few months when things go back to normal you can anticipate this duo of hands-on business owners will remain busy. “We do everything,” Kassouf, 38, says. “We meet the suppliers, we choose the products, when the products arrive we are here with the workers coming from the port. I think they’ve never seen women being there, carrying loads of boxes.” “I think they are shocked sometimes to see two women waiting, dressed in pants, and ready to pick up things,” Makarem, 32, chimes in.Neither woman has a background in business (Kassouf studied advertising and Makarem, law) but since they joined forces four years ago, Makarem and Kassouf have achieved remarkable success through their flagship Achrafieh store, introducing organic produce to Lebanese consumers as well as providing a retail outlet for organic farmers within Lebanon. “When we wanted to open a second store and we needed some funds, there were several investors who wanted to be behind us, helping us, and not just because it’s us, but because they believe in our project, they saw what we did the first time,” Kassouf explains.“I think what they like is that we’re not just two investors, Makarem adds. “We’re two entrepreneurs in the sense that we’re really dedicated to what we like.”
