Laleli Dergisi Sayı: 160

206 LASİADЛАСИАД
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LASİADЛАСИАД 207
Glad to have you…
“If a man started a business just to make money, he will most probably not be successful.”
Joyce Clyde Hall. He was a small kid when his father left home in 1899. He started to work when he was 8 years old to look after his mother and his brothers. When he was
14 years old, he could save only $540. He decided to sell postcards with images on them. He founded his first company when he was 17 years old. In 1910 he settled in Kansas
with only two boxes of post cards. When the shop he had burned in a fire when he was 24 years old, he lost all his property. He did not give up and started everything from the
beginning and he laid the foundations of the $4-Billion “Hallmark Cards” company which now has 2.400 stores and 16.000 employees. When he retired in 1966, he worked for
the Kansas city where he lived for the rest of his life.
Cylde Hall’s success story is, I think, hidden in the sentence I mentioned at the beginning of this page. I think that there are five important similarities when we evaluate from
the point of Laleli and Lasiad. The first one is that the life is not only about earning money and that it should not be an objective but a tool for living. We, as the only non-governmental
organization of the region, are trying to shoulder the heavy work load of Laleli and can reach back of the beyond via this significant association. The association brings
us together around the same objective and brings us into line via the social responsibility projects they carry out and satisfy a significant need. The second thing is the lives of the
shopkeepers and industrialists in the region which are similar to the life of Cylde Hall. Our shopkeepers who keep working despite many wars, continuously changing markets,
customs problems, exchange rates and political crisis are so much similar to that kid whose shop burned in the fire, aren’t they? How many times did we started life from the
beginning! I believe that not losing hope and being hopeful for future is the main philosophy of Laleli. The third similarity is that like Cylde Hall the fact that starting life at an
earlier age and taking big responsibilities is not something new to us. I believe that although we are from different social backgrounds, we all have sometimes sad but mostly nice
memories about these streets and pavements. In this respect, it is certain that we owe to Laleli. The fourth similarity is that the economic power and size of the small business
founded by the small kid grew like the small and peaceful family district as Laleli which has turned into a worldwide renowned important fashion center. I believe that the most
important asset of Laleli is its name, image and brand value. From this point of view, protecting this value and developing it should be the main duty of Laleli residents. The last
similarity is that Cylde Hall paid the faithfulness to his city where he earned his life by serving to his city till the end of his life. If we, as the people living and earning our lives
in this region, can contribute to this region and pay our debts, we can do this via Lasiad. Hereby, I would like to extend my respects and gratitude to all our friends worked for
Lasiad since its foundation. We are so grateful to have such a strong and respected association which always supports us.
As you know the General Assembly of Istanbul Ready-to-Wear Apparel Exporters Association (İHKİB) was organized within this month. Our efforts we carried out in line with our
vision and the strategic objectives we determined yielded results and three of our friends from the region took part in the management of this umbrella institution. I would like
to wish them success in their jobs and thank all our friends and members who participated in the general assembly and voted. We will continue working to fulfil our duties and
try to make the voice of Laleli heard in all platforms. As your sincere supports exist, be sure that the growth and development of Laleli will continue. It is this unique brotherhood
and unity within us that keeps us strong.
I would like to celebrate Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir who was re-elected in the previous local elections last March for his success and wish him success with the hopes of continuation
of his services for our region. We always felt his sincere support with us and I believe that his support will continue. Finally, although we are having a difficult period
due to the political and economic crisis experienced, I wish you hopeful, fruitful and peaceful days.
Respectfully,
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