Aladdin Moukhallalati is the founder of Halal Advisor. An Australian-based company that helps Muslims find Halal food on the go. Since 2016, Halal Advisor has been providing up-to-date information on restaurants and businesses that offer Halal food options to thousands of their users and followers for free.
For more details, visit their website here.
Here we sit down with Aladdin, to know a bit more about his journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Aladdin: Growing up, I observed my father working tirelessly in his mechanic business, going to work six days a week. He would wake up early and leave early, and sometimes return late at night. This experience instilled in me the desire to run my own business, but also taught me the importance of putting in the necessary hours to succeed. I spent my teens working in Hospitality and always had a passion for food and cooking.
I have often encountered challenges when trying to discover and enjoy multicultural cuisines, as there has been a lack of reliable and current information regarding the availability of Halal options at restaurants and cafes.
In the beginning of 2015, I felt a strong desire to establish a specific platform to assist in removing the discomfort of inquiring about Halal options by contacting the venue in advance, or discreetly questioning the waitstaff.
Halal Advisor quickly addressed this issue for the over 600,000 Muslims living in Australia, showing that there was a clear unmet need in the market. This inspired me to develop an app that would allow users to easily find certified halal restaurants in their vicinity.
As an entrepreneur, I am driven to offer a solution to the Muslim community who also face the same difficulties as myself. My goal is to simplify the process of finding and obtaining food that adheres to Muslim dietary laws for them.
Q. What’s one thing in your routine that you do consistently that has made a huge difference in your personal or business life?
Aladdin:
– Making a daily to-do list and prioritising tasks to stay organised and productive.
– Reviewing progress and setting goals regularly to stay on track and measure progress.
– Setting aside time for my family and regularly getting exercise to improve my health and well-being.
– Consistently maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of the circumstances.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Aladdin: There have been a lot. Firstly, successfully launching the brand into the Australian market that is now recognised by hundreds and thousands of Muslims living in Australia.
Secondly, probably the most rewarding would be this one business I have helped to generate over $200,000 in sales and made a huge impact with her Muslim diners.
Q. How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
Aladdin: Social media marketing, Utilising platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. We have grown to amass one of Australia’s largest social media followings dedicated to Halal food with over 130,000 followers.
We also produce content that includes informative and educational videos, highlighting the various types of Halal-compliant cuisines available for our users and followers to explore.
We leverage our email database of users to promote new venues and stay in touch with our customers.
And finally, we have a strong SEO-optimised website that generates search engine visibility and drives more traffic to our website.
I would say the above tactics have all played a vital role in where we stand today.
Q. What have been your biggest failures or challenges?
Aladdin: One of my biggest challenges when starting out was finding a reliable and efficient development team. With limited funds, I hired my first Freelancer to help me build out the MVP. After a lot of deliberation I quickly realised that I needed to find a new team which set me back, and I quickly had to start from the beginning.
And having a business that is completely reliant on the Hospitality industry thriving, the pandemic was difficult to navigate.
Q. How did this failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
Aladdin: As Einstein famously stated, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” As an entrepreneur, it is essential to learn from one’s mistakes quickly. One should strive to adapt and overcome any challenges or obstacles that may arise.
Q. If someone was to create a TV show about you, what would it be about and what would it be called?
Aladdin: It would document my daily life as a father of two young boys, a husband, a brother, and a son. Additionally, it would highlight my work with other business owners to boost their revenue, as well as the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur. I’m yet to decide on a name. To keep up to date with Aladdin and his journey, connect with him on Instagram or Facebook.
