Today we’d like to introduce you to Ibrahim Vaner Ozgur.
Ibrahim, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Turkey 1976 in a border town of Van. Until college lived in Ankara where I got my basic education then my first abroad adventure was to go to college in Hong Kong. It was totally different culture but I was young to adapt and there was nothing to complaint about accept big cost of living in Hong Kong. I had to work and study to get marketing degree.
Right after graduation, I have moved to Shanghai which was another big trading city and I got a great position in a fortune global 500 company. I was selling and marketing heating equipment which was big success and built my self-confidence in business. 2005 I have set up a company in Hong Kong with my friend and still my business partner to make procurement for European companies. We worked with hoteliers, casinos, supermarket chains, furniture retailers, municipalities. We have opened local and overseas offices until 2015 when we moved to US to invest and to explore new markets.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was fairly smooth to reach today but of course, in the retail business there is human factor that surprise us everyday. It’s sometimes us sometimes customers we have to make everybody happy that’s nerve recking but at the end of the day we sleep peacefully. In the beginning, finding local sources was nightmare and we had many mistakes made us pay for it. There is always solution comes with patience. So far, the biggest challenge was to find right marketing channels to reach millennial generation.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mid in Mod Furniture Houston – what should we know?
We have been living overseas for over 18 years doing manufacturing and project procurement for branded hotels and universities and theme parks. After moving to Houston on 2015 it was a new city new life; it was time to use my global experience in local market. However, I didn’t have local project connections which is long term relationship investment. First year we have researched about Houston furniture industry; furniture stores, wholesalers, and importers. In order to introduce our company first thing was to have a name card and local operation. Me and my business partner we have set up Midinmod Furniture Houston in 2106 from a 15000 sqf EADO warehouse showroom.
2016 Mid In Mod was a small start-up however, our taste of modern furniture designs and colors got accepted by the millennials very fast and our little investment pushed us to medium size operation with 45000 sql warehouse 15000 sqf store floor with over 20 full-time employees. We are offer dining room, living room and bedroom furniture including tables chairs couches bed frames and nightstands. From the day one we have been design competitive company but in addition to that no middle man direct sourcing from ethical manufacturing facilities made us price competitive over other furniture retailers in Houston. Over the time, nationwide retailers copied our models and colors; this was a big success for a start-up business. In the last three and a half years, we have learned effect of social media and online existence.
At the moment, we have three locations Houston, Katy furniture stores and Sugar Land warehouse. Our nationwide online sales developing tremendously which made us more confident about our business future trends. So far, Houston furniture store management connected us to Texans. We made great friends and opportunity give back to community in every opportunity. There is long way to go but it is a beautiful adventure to live. I always think to Houstonians to be so welcoming newcomers I can say Houston is our home.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First of all, Houston is really welcoming foreign investors it has been a big plus. Our employees and families believed in us and keep pushing us further.
Pricing:
- Fabric couches starting from $399
- Dining Chairs starting from $59
- Platform Beds starting from $399
Contact Info:
- Address: 2803 Westheimer rd Houston Texas 77098
- Website: www.midinmod.com
- Phone: (832) 954-9714
- Email: ivo@midinmod.com
- Instagram: @midinmod
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midinmod/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/midinmod
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
