GLORIOUS PLC - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Glorious was established in 1977 in Harar by Abdusamed Ibrahim. The company was originally named Orsor, and it initially focused on small-scale distribution of electrical items, watches and local music productions. The company then opened a branch in Dire Dawa in 1979 under the name Masnoy, and then branched out to Addis Ababa with the help of Abdusamed’s brother Saad Ibrahim in 1985 under the name Glorious. The establishment of the company coincided with the coming to power of a Marxist regime, which ruled the country for the next 17 years. As much as the progress of the country was held back by the absence of a free market, so was the growth of Glorious. The founders of Glorious kept their dreams alive, ready to spring into action when the opportunity availed itself. Their dream would  

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come true with the economic liberalisation that was introduced in 1991. Glorious was among the first companies to jump into action immediately, which helped put it at a leading position in the market.

Today Glorious has a wholesale center and six retail showrooms all in prime locations within Addis Ababa and one in Adama (Nazareth). There are subsidiary branches in Harar and Dire Dawa, which serve as strategic outlets for the east and southeast parts of Ethiopia. There are also independent sub-agents in the regional cities of Adama (Nazareth), Awassa, Bahr Dar, Dessie, Gondar, Jimma, and Maqale, completing the national network. Dealers, now reaching about 50 in number as well as individual retail buyers in Addis Ababa comprise the largest portion of the customer base.

Since the small scale commencement of the business in Harar over 30 years ago, the company’s capital and annual turnover have grown 224 times and 338 times, respectively. Glorious today employs over 300 workers of various professional levels.