'Positive': Karim Fayed runs a hearing centre in the basement of Harrods that gives half his profit to a school for the deaf
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18 May 2009
In a small basement room under the world's most famous shop, Mohamed Fayed's son is quietly creating his own empire.
Karim Fayed, who has been profoundly deaf since the age of two when he suffered meningitis, has set up a hearing centre to help others.
It offers free tests and bespoke hearing aids within a few days. Prices start from around £1,000 for each ear.
Half of all profits from the Karim Fayed Hearing Centre, which he says has some of the most advanced equipment in the country, go to Mary Hare — a residential school in Newbury for deaf children that he attended from the age of 11.
Karim, 25, who speaks perfectly, and lip reads as well as using hearing aids, refuses to see deafness as a disability.
He said: "I never felt different. You have to be yourself — it doesn't matter if you are blind, deaf or have one hand, you still have to believe in yourself.
"Being deaf has not shaped me as a person. My development has nothing to do with being deaf. I am a positive person — otherwise this [the hearing centre] would never have come out."
Karim came up with the idea of creating a hearing centre in November 2007. He put the idea to his father, who allowed him to use a space on the lower ground floor of Harrods which had previously been an office.
Karim came up with the idea of creating a hearing centre in November 2007. He put the idea to his father, who allowed him to use a space on the lower ground floor of Harrods which had previously been an office.
Karim said his father is proud of what he has achieved, while seeing it as a good business.
He said: "My dad said this is a good opportunity. It is important to have something that Harrods would benefit from. It is a service no one else offers, but it has the charity side as well."
The centre had a low-profile launch in July last year but is proving a success. Karim wants to open other branches, and will ensure the charity element of the business is maintained.
Describing his hopes for the future, he said: "It's to do with having better success away from here. I want to show I can do it myself, as a challenge. I feel I have earned something from this."
He also wants to raise the profile of Mary Hare school. He added: "I want to repay them. Without their support I would have been a different person. The staff gave me the confidence to pursue my goals."
Karim has arguably the lowest profile of the Fayed family and has given very few interviews. He lives in Mayfair, and has a long-term partner Brenda Costa and daughter Antonia.
He added: "People with hearing loss should never give up hope. You should try to find the best way of overcoming your problems. I don't see myself as a role model, but we have the equipment."
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