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MOBILE phone retailer turned property manager Ron Bakir (pictured) has taken out the title of Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2013.
The former owner of the Gold Coast-based Crazy Ron's mobile phones retail chain has been quietly chipping away at the property market since 2004.
In that time he has forged a new path in property through his company HomeCorp Group which has developed more than 1500 residential lots across Australia and turned over $500 million in a sector that has been both punishing and rewarding in recent times. His Surfers Paradise-based company, HomeCorp Group, has just breached $106 million in turnover, up 34 per cent on a bumper $79.1 million in 2012.
Bakir epitomises the never-say-die attitude of our young entrepreneurs as he continues to build his business with a renewed focus on the Gold Coast market next year.
Listen to Ron Bakir's interview here.
Taking the award for Highly Commended was Stuart Stratton (pictured above) who is involved in a diverse range of industries, from airport and theme park transfers to field marketing and solar hot water systems to finance broking and debt consolidation.
His two main businesses are Con-x-ion, which offers airport and theme park transfers and charters, and Bsmart which deals in communications.
Jason Ganis (pictured above) took the title of TrailBlazer for his companies, SmartPrint Fleet Management, iFish, and Finance and Print Security.
SmartPrint is among the largest and fastest growing print company in Australia specialising in MPS for laser printer and photocopier fleets, nationally encompassing all service, equipment, maintenance and consumables.
The finalists of the Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2013 have managed to increase revenue more than $60 million over the 2012-13 financial year.
They generate more than $240 million in annual revenue combined and they expect this to rise to more than $350 million this financial year. They also employ more than 700 staff, making them significant contributors the local economy.
Many of the young entrepreneur finalists are finding fortune outside of the Gold Coast economy with some expanding their interests offshore. The sectors in which they operate are diverse, ranging from property to mining and financial services to online retailing.
Yet all are making their mark on the local economy in some way, either through employment or through their collective pool of business creativity that further enriches the Gold Coast's entrepreneurial spirit.
If you are looking for inspiration for your own business, then look no further than the annual edition of Gold Coast Business News. It is a celebration of what makes the Gold Coast great.
To view the entire list of finalists and read their inspiring stories, pick up a copy of Gold Coast Business News at your local newsagent or call us on 07 5575 7400. To subscribe go to goldcoastbusinessnews.com.au .
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