Sakura International

Sakura International is tucked away on the first floor of 54, Abdul Rehman Street. If you have been to Masjid Bunder, you know it is one of the busiest trading hubs you will ever see in Mumbai. The streets are narrow and always full of handcarts and people carrying heavy loads on their shoulders. Our office is up a narrow flight of stairs. It is not the easiest place to find if you are new to the area, but our regulars know exactly where we are and how to get here. Inside, it is a bit of a maze of boxes and samples. We deal with a lot of different products, so things can get a bit messy during the peak season when everything arrives at once. We do not have an air-conditioned lobby or a receptionist; you just walk in and talk to whoever is free at the time. It is loud, it is hot, and it is always moving. We spend our days negotiating prices and checking on the stock in the back. That is the nature of business here. We have tea delivered in small glass cups several times a day to keep us going through the afternoon. The walls are lined with shelves that go all the way to the ceiling. It is a tight space, but it is efficient for what we do. We have been part of the Abdul Rehman Street crowd for years.