Mrs.Burçin
Burçin Couffeir and Beauty Center
Burçin has launched out her
bussiness starting first by
attending the courses
provided by Vocational
Education Centre under
Education Directorate in
Mersin and succeeded at
becoming an employer with
three personnel by opening
her own Couffeir and
Beauty Center.She made use
of the KOSGEP support for
women entrepreneurs.
The start of the business
What year did you establish
your own company?
“I established Burçin Couffeir
and Beauty Center in September
2010. ”
*Where is the company located:
rural area or city?
“It is in the city center as it
doesn’t have a parking place
problem ,its prefered by working
women .It is also very close to
big shopping malls,so it s also
prefered by housewives,too
when they come to the shopping
centers.”
Is your present business the first
company that you own?
“Yes,it is my first company .It is
as if my baby,we have passed
crawling phse.We had many
difficulties but we started to
develop more than we guessed at
the begining.For my company
the pureness and quality are
important factors.”
What were your reasons to establish the company?
“Because of my personality I like prettying up the people and/or help them to be
prettied up.Im also easy going in terms of communicating with people.If I had
not started this job ,I would have been a stylist.I have been in this sector since I
was 11 years old.I „ve made use of the opportunities come to the forefront.”
What problems did you encounter when establishing the company?
“I can say that things did not work
properly as we calculated.First I had
had a plan to finish up everything in
two months time at large when
establishing the company,but it took
longer.I was selective at the process
of personnel recruitment.I also had
difficulties in recruiting the supplies
but come up with a good quality at
the end.
I had difficulties in advertising.The
ones coming coincidentally
appreciates the way we work and
finds the saloon impressing but tells
that they have not heard about us
much in terms of advertisement.”
How did you overcome the problems?
“I had full support of my husband and family and friends.I was a little known by the people
around as the shop but I welcomed the customers nicely and behaved sincere,it also worked to
have permanent customers.”
Did you benefit from external support to set up your business (financial, training,
advisory, etc.)?
“When setting up my bussiness I received a great support from KOSGEP(Small and Medium
Industry Development Organisation) that was a grant for an amount of 27.ooo Turkish
Liras.I can summarise process untill setting up my bussiness like that, first I had attended
various types of education and training sessions.Through Vocational Education Centre
under the Provincial Education Directorate I got beautician,masseur training and laser
course certificates.And after taking up the necessary training I had worked as master
apprentice as an employee.Now I take courses for a higher level afterwards that is master.in Im
originally a graduate of high school but now I m registered for the Open Vocational High
School .It is beacsue Im open to improvement and renewal.I would like to learn everything
related with my present job to add the contributions of the new knowledge and experience into
practice and update my profession.I received the recommendation of experienced
entrepreneurs and the courses and trainings I got before were very helpfull for me and KOSGEP
was the main financial, training supporter of my bussiness after rewarding me with the grant
following the entrepreneurship course they provided for the entrepreneurs.I have prepared a
bussiness plan to their approval in the framework of the Entrepreurship Support Programmes
with attractive facilities they have for the women.”
The present situation
What are the activities/services that
your company provides?
“Beauty,hair dressing ,depilation,massage for
both men and women.”
Do you employ other people? If yes,
how many?
“We are 4 persons all here.We work
approximately 12 hours a day except
Sundays.The personnel is important for me
,their work discipliene and education.”
Where your business is located:
home, office, other?
“My shop is quite large and designed
like a home style.There are plenty of
hair dressing and beauty shops around
our present working place but there is
a clear difference of hygiene and
quality I can say.This was originally
mentioned by my customers
themselves. “
How many hours per week do you work?
“The saloon is open for 12 hours a day ,but I do not work after 8 p.m.”
Do you have problems to balance work and family life? If, yes, how are you
going to overcome those problems?
“I do not work and live as well just for money and money.I keep time for myself at
weekends especially .I have two kids. One is a girl eleven years old and my son
is at the age of six..Since I prefer to work by appointment ,there is no
turbulance in life I can say .I even go to my vacation .My mom is dealing with
the kids out of the school time at home.”
What problems and obstacles your company is facing now? How are going
to overcome them?
“I do not have serious problems for now fortunatelly.It is beacsue I can make my
payments in time which is very important when you are self employed.It has
been 7 months all since I established my shop.The remarkable obstacle I face
with now is the advertising issue that is important considering the
competititon in the market.But I guess it was due to the inefficiency of the
opening ceremony.”
Plans for the future
*What are the advantages for a woman to
*What are your business plans for the be the owner of the company based on
future? your experience?
“The very short term plan for the future is first
preparing an advertising poster and setting up “When you are self confident you have a
a website.I should have planned more carefully more social surrounding and you cam
the opening ceremony.I had short of money make decisions on your own.More of
then and I could not plan and it as I wish the things are likely under your
actually.But for the future I would like to offer control and you stop seeing things in
service in a higher level.I aim to go on black and white”.
improveing myself,because it does not have an • What are the disadvantages for a
end ,it must be continuous.Meanwhile I will woman to be the owner of the company
try to keep up with the programmes of based on your experience?
KOSGEP(Small and Medium Industry
Development Organisation) and enlarge the
capacity of my saloon.A playground for the “You have limited time compared to
children of the customers ,sauna,hobby garden before in terms of saving time for
/corner etc. are some of my future plans …My yourself.You take more carefull steps
customers should be relaxed on their coming unlike the times you breast the things
,it would be nice if they have a chat and be as it comes.You have more
comfortable with their children.I mind the responsibilities for managing a
child friend shop/saloon and the customer can company and you yourself have to face
enjoy herself playin chess or some other the serious obstacles and
hobbies.Becuse you save serious amount of communication is more important
time by coming to the har dresser and waste then”
some of it by waiting or doing nothing.My
present company is just a starting point.There
is much to do in future.”
What would be your advice to other women who are considering to open up their own
companies?
“First they should be in the very business
that they enjoy doing.Money is less
important when it is subject to be an
entrepreneur.Education and training in
the business area you would like to be in
is more important .Even if you have
money without education ,you can easily
go backwards in business life.The
personel ,the team you will work with is
important ,too.They should add value to
the company .And if you are sure of a
thing ,take strong minded steps and do
not be afraid and never give up.One can
overcome the problems by struggling not
by keeping waiting.You sould not be
totally boss minded but act as if you are a
personnel too and save sometimes time
for them in outdoors.It really works.”
What is your current position in the company?
“Im the owner of the company “
Information for statistical purposes:
“Im a graduate of high school and I would like to receive info about wiser
project later on with a great pleasure,too…”
.
Contact: Burçin Oflas
Bay –Bayan Kuaför ve Güzellik Salonu
0090324 2335697
Camişerif Mah. 5235 Sok.No:15 Kat:1 Mersin/Türkiye
burcinoflas@hotmail.com