John Rebello: The young man on the journey of entrepreneurship

Report and Pictures by Eugene Moodubelle

Bellevision Media Network

10 January 2010: “Though today I have a chauffeur driven car and have achieved considerable success in the field of my business, still for me business is like riding a bicycle. While cycling as you cannot stop pedaling and lose concentration and balance, so also in business.” This was the philosophy of business and life of John Rebello, one of the most promising entrepreneurs from Moodubelle who rose from a very humble beginning to be one of the leading businessmen in air-conditioning in Mumbai, who runs the company named Aircare Engineers Private Limited.

Born on 26th December 1963 to late Salvadore Rebello and Alice Rebello as the fourth child among five children, three boys and two girls, John had his education up to SSLC in the St. Lawrence High School. For further education he took admission in the Poorna Prajna College, Udupi for PUC in Commerce. But an accident that occurred gave a new twist to the life and career of John.

It was the monsoon season and John who had gone up the roof of the house to change a tile slipped and fell to the ground that resulted in multiple fracture in the right leg. He was immediately taken to the Manipal Hospital where Dr. Sripath Rao instead of operating the injured leg of John used a new technique of traction for the first time in the history of the hospital. Though John gradually recovered from the injury, he lost his academic year and John feels that whatever happened it gave a new direction to his life.

Like other young boys with dreams in their eyes, John also came to Mumbai in 1980 and started working as an electrician. As he was inclined towards technical education, he did Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). With a diploma in hand, John joined an AC workshop at Dadar where he worked for some time.

John wanted to do something on his own. Thus, he ventured into the business of repairing electrical appliances such as toasters, electric iron, fans, etc. He used to cycle all the way from Sion-Koliwada to Khusrau Baug in Colaba to collect the malfunctioning appliances and repair them in the house of his sister Helen, with whom he was staying. Gradually, John began to do AC servicing along with the electrical work.

Realizing that for any business capital was a must, John proceeded to Gulf to earn sufficient money for investment back in Mumbai. However, within a year John returned to Mumbai with whatever money he could earn. He felt that working for a longer period in the Gulf might help him in earning additional money, but the money would lose its value and back in Mumbai he would also lose the rapport with his customers that he had established while doing his electrical business.

Back in Mumbai, John once again started electrical contractor’s business with the help of the credit from the material suppliers, who were impressed by his honesty and work ethics. John’s business began to pick up due to the good contacts that he had developed with reputed architects who recommended him to electrical work in big buildings.

Along with the electrical work, John began assembling Air Conditioners. He assembled the first AC for Neptune Advertisers, who still continue to be his trusted customers. Mr. Qasim, Director of the Neptune Advertisers has been a good friend of John.

With business picking up, John hired a small workshop in a chawl in Sion-Koliwada where he could store his electrical goods and assemble ACs. In the beginning of 1990s, John established an office and since 1993, he ventured into full-fledged AC assembling.

A big break came in the business venture of John in 1994 when he established Rebello Engineering Company and was offered the dealership in sales and service of ACs by the world famous Carrier Aircon Company. Thereafter, John had to give up assembling of ACs and had to deal exclusively with the sale and service of Carrier ACs.

In 1998 impressed by the phenomenal work done by John’s Company, the Carrier Aircorn awarded his company as the best among the companies dealing with room ACs. However, in 1999, when John ventured into multi-brand AC products, the Carrier Aircon insisted on exclusivity conditions that prompted John to close down Rebello Engineering Company and lay foundation of the Aircare Engineers Private Limited.

John was instrumental in establishing the first multi-brand exclusive showroom at Sector 17 at Vashi in 1999. Second exclusive LG show room came up at S V Road in Goregaon in 2000 and in the same year John’s Company was designated as number one among the dealers by the National of Japan. In 2002, the Aircare Engineers acquired All India Number One position in AC sales and service of the LG Company, a position that was maintained consistently for five years.

Like any businessman, John also wanted to diversify and started dealership in other electronic items in 2002 and continued till 2004. However, having a sharp foresight and visualizing the competition and other market forces, John gradually gave up this venture and concentrated more and more on sales and service of ACs.

In 2001, John had purchased a godown for storing and servicing ACs. Later, with the expansion of business he put up a structure with a storey where presently the Head Office of his company Aircare Engineers is based. The interior designing of the office has been done aesthetically with maximum utility of the space.

John’s company has show rooms at Vashi, Borivali West and Bandra West. During this Dassera another show room will be opened at Nerul. He has multi-brand AC service centers at Goregaon East, Sion and New Mumbai.

According to John, the major activities of his company consist of retailing of ACs at showrooms with proper guidance to individual customers; carrying on larger projects of HVAC through architects and consultants; and distribution of ACs to small dealers and helping the small workshop owners to survive in business.

In 1993, John was married to Violet, daughter of Pascal D’Souza (Pascal Master) of Shankarpura. They have three children-Shawn, studies in 10th std. at Don Bosco High School Matunga; Jaison, in 9th std. in the same school and daughter Shina studies in 5th std. in Auxilium Convent School at Wadala.

John’s Aircare Engineers Private Limited has a formidable strength of over 200 workforce, both technical and office staff. While John himself is the Managing Director of the company, his wife Violet and Ivan D’Souza of Nakre are the Directors.

In spite of this phenomenal success in business, John feels that he cannot rest his oars. He personally takes interest in every aspect of the business, holds regular meetings with the staff and dealers and intends to take the company further on the road of progress. He is simple, amiable and generous. He is nostalgic about Moodubelle and misses the festive seasons such as Monthi-fest.

When asked about his secret of success, John says that ‘hard work, dedication, honesty and patience’ were the four words that saw him through the hard days that he had to face in the initial period of his business. John is still young and has futuristic vision and energy to carry his business to new heights. Bellevision salutes this young man on the journey of entrepreneurship and wishes him success in his future business ventures.