Interview with Mr. Karatas

Company Name : Yukatel GmbH

 

Speed, reliability and customer satisfaction Mr. Yusuf Karatas is one of the most famous people of our industry due to his empire

– Yukatel GmbH but also due to his character. Mr. Karatas is a firm believer that hard work, consistency and will power are key ingredients to one’s success.

1. You built up your company in 1995 and brought it to what it is today, what advice would you give a young entrepreneur in order for them to be as successful as you?

A common prejudice is that to be successful you have to have money and power. That Is wrong! Anyone can succeed. Henry Ford once said that “to have success you need skills that are in demand at the moment”, he had such skills. The flair for innovation, a strategy for implementation and luck in making decisions. It is important to have a clear vision and to have the goal in mind and always be ambitious and the courage to tackle. Then the necessary luck will help you make the right decisions to complete this path.

2. Try to compare your workload from when you started up until now, with so many employees. Do you feel you worked harder back then or now, and why?

We live in an epoch of superlatives. Superlative in terms of scientific developments. We speak of technology at the highest level. Our industry must reinvent again and again to continue the success. Only through clear and structured thoughts, we can achieve the challenges of our time.

3. Do you know the names of all your employees and are you having any part in their hiring?

As unlikely as this may sound, by taking a look at my appointment calendar, always a maxim and a heart’s desire. We all know the quote “Pay attention to your gut feeling. No matter how good it looks, if it does not feel good, be on your way”, I rely on my gut feeling as well and this is one of my motto. My gut has not let me down so far, that is why our employees have been on board for an average of 10 years.

4. Undoubtedly, your experience in the electronics market covers many different views, retailers’ point of view, distributor’s, wholesalers and manufacturers. What is your view on the current market situation and what are your predictions for the future?

Forecasts can be hard to come by in such a volatile business. It will be however, as challenging and exciting as every year. Maintaining our product range as well as the intensification in the existing customer business will certainly help us to continue strong in the future as well. There will be a new generation of smartphones that will oblige us to rethink our business. What exact features this will be, remain to be seen.

5. Which mobile brand do you think will survive this period and be the strongest in its category?

I think the big players will lose a few feathers, but they will stay in the market.

6. What is your opinion about Xiaomi? We have seen similar Asian brands have a dramatic increase of sales and an even more dramatic fall. Do you think Xiaomi will be different?

I think Xiaomi will not expect the same fate but it will be for them as challenging as for all other manufacturers on the market. 7. What key features a mobile phone should have in order to succeed? Do you think there is any more room for innovation?

There are many innovations in a mobile device, as this product must be tailored to the needs of the end user. Nowadays, the mobile phones need to be innovative and sophisticated. Whether it is related to sound, comfort, simulation, photography, energy, design or presentation matters, it all depends on what we all want “packed” in a mobile device.

8. Which was your biggest business accomplishment and which your biggest business mistake that you would advise others not to do?

There are usually several components that make up a large, entrepreneurial performance. In our industry, reliability, fairness, right values and quality of service are important success factors, that Yukatel has achieved over the past 10 years among others to be what it is today. A successful partner for our customer! And we want to stay that way. My recommendation to all, remain true to you and your customers!

9. Being as successful as you are, you must be very selective with the people you “deal” with. Which do you think is the best way for a young company to approach you in order to earn your respect?

Openness and honesty, the rest is self-evident.

10. Having been in this industry for so long you have seen a lot of companies come and go through the years, if you can,name 5 company owners you have come to be close with.

I will take care not to judge other companies. Every company has achieved its own success. The important thing in the end is what kind of picture do we leave and this carries the success over the years.

11. What are the key factors that make your customers select you over your competitors?

I have already listed a few ….reliability, fairness, right values, safety and a wide range of products.

12. Which regions are you currently focusing on in business given the current market situation?

We want to continue to stay strong where we have been successful. Regionally we are always open for every new way.

13. We have seen you turn from a delegate of the Partners In Excellence electronics networking convention into a sponsor, why is that?

We have always believed that this industry should be better “networked”and such events contribute to it. 14. Being the Managing Director of such a big company must be very stressful at times, what do you do in order to get away? Do you have any hobbies?

The nice thing about my work is that it’s my hobby too. I do not need a break. The timeout that I take is part of my success because it is used entrepreneurially. Nevertheless, I love to spend time with my family. They are my strength and my belief.

15. Tell us something about your character that we wouldn’t know by just looking at your business career?

My character is explained quickly. I am characterized by loyalty, integrity and

honesty. These virtues best describe me.

16. If you never entered the electronics industry, which industry do you think you

would have followed and why?

Mathematics has always fascinated me. Who knows, maybe mathematician?!

17. Which part of the Partners In Excellence event’s philosophy do you like the most and why?

I do not want to restrict anything. I have always been passionate about such well organized events and accordingly I act as a partner like that. In such a global industry

as ours, it is important to show the flag and to cultivate even more intensively the

already existing and very good business partnerships.

18. What are your future plans for Yukatel? Where do you see your company in the next 5 years?

We will continue to follow our business goals in the next 5 years and try to place

ourselves in an even stronger position with our customers.

19. As we all know, you are also a manufacturer, by reading your website anyone can

understand that you also strive for innovation. Tell us more about the brand Route-

Control and M2M Allnet, how come you pursued this sector?

Short and quick…the market leadership.