Arsh Shaikh, Bachelor of Commerce student and business owner
When you walk into any of the four Flynn’s Dairy Bar and Convenience stores in the Halifax area, you are quickly immersed in a wide-ranging world of tasty treats. From classic candy delights to rare delicacies—Flynn’s has it all:
Noodle gummies – check!
Jolly Rancher slushies – you know it!
Dunkaroos pancake mix – you bet!
This is only scratching the surface. The store is also home to creative milkshakes crafted with your favourite cookies, candy and chocolate—and let’s not forget the ice cream.
The business opened in March 2020, starting with the first location in downtown Halifax and has grown since then with a store on Spring Garden, one in North-end Halifax (5552 Kaye Street) and another in Spryfield (383 Herring Cove Road).
The stores are run by Raees Shaikh and his sons Arsh and Zaid. Arsh is a second-year Bachelor of Commerce student at the Sobey School of Business. His journey to entrepreneurial success in Halifax started with his business-minded family and he credits his grandfather and father for igniting his professional passion.
“Growing up, I wanted to be a pilot,” says Arsh with a smile. “When I was 13, my father gave me an opportunity to take on some responsibilities at one of the businesses he owned while he was away. When he got back, I was eager to take on more work and wanted to learn as much as I could.”
From there, Arsh continued to hone his business prowess. In 2018, his family made the move from India to Canada. When it was time for him to attend university, he started doing his research and learned more about the Sobey School of Business and knew it was the right fit for him.
“My professors are like family, they treat everyone really well, says Arsh. “They listen and they’re flexible and understand what’s going on with their students, they’re very caring and supportive of your education and goals.”
The knowledge he’s gaining from his degree is providing a more solid foundation for his business expertise.
“My Bachelor of Commerce is helping me improve my writing skills,” he says. “It’s helping me be more strategic, to better understand the principles behind accounting and further enhance my relationship-building skills.”
Arsh has been able to strike a balance between maintaining his studies and running Flynn’s through clear, consistent communication with his professors as well as taking on a course load that’s right for him. When he’s done his BComm, he knows what he wants to do next.
“I’m going to pursue a master’s degree and it’s going to be at the Sobey School of Business,” he says with a smile. “I enjoy how passionate people are here and how your professors get to know you by name.”