The term 'Bossman' signifies a respected figure managing local shops, especially among South Asian patrons in the UK. Family-owned newsagents operate under challenging conditions, often with long hours and little time off. Many have shown resilience, keeping businesses open during pandemic lockdowns, providing essential services, and adopting new strategies like delivery for vulnerable community members. The shared experiences of these shop owners reflect a broader narrative of dedication and perseverance within the South Asian community, illustrating their importance in maintaining local commerce and community ties.
The Bossman is as quintessentially British as tea and scones. Once used as a genderless term of endearment for the person in charge of a local newsagent or kebab shop, these days, it's heard across generations and taking on a new life across TikTok and Instagram, with netizens sharing their appreciation for their local Bossmen.
My dad, Hans, moved from Punjab to Glasgow in the 1980s, setting up a shop there that he has run ever since. Like most family-owned newsagents, our shop ran on 16-hour shifts, weekends, and no paid time off.
My parents, like many others, worked through the pandemic, starting a delivery drop-off service for high-risk elderly people in the community. A similar story can be heard in the homes of thousands of South Asians throughout the UK.
Saliesh, who runs University Stores in Bethnal Green with his family, tells me: 'We survived lockdown, but a lot of shops closed. The day it happened - the lockdown - it was like a crazy ghost town.'
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