Join The Dragon
Thursday 23rd April 2009
EVERY day presents a different challenge when working for new BBC Dragon Shaf Rasul, according to Susana Garcia, who is in charge of sales for the Scots entrepreneur’s E-Computers business. It is now the largest storage media distributor in Europe and one of the biggest buyers of optical storage products in the world.
Susana joined the business as a European sales representative in November 2003 but is now charged with managing sales teams throughout the UK and Europe. The trilingual business graduate is also responsible for supply chain management, purchasing, health and safety, courier relationships and recruiting new staff.
She said: “There is no typical day working for Shaf as he is constantly exploring new ideas and business opportunities to exploit different market areas.
“You can describe working for Shaf in many ways but it certainly can’t be described as routine or boring.”
As well as E-net computers, Rasul has an expanding venture capital portfolio focused on property, asset management, internet technology and e-commerce.
Recent investments include discount e-tailer boffer.co.uk which sells one product a day at a knockdown price. The site – which sells goods including laptops, iPods, digital cameras and LCD televisions – continues to grow throughout the credit crunch as consumers look for better deals online.
“Shaf is a self-made entrepreneur who thinks outside of the box, can always see new opportunities and always has a positive outlook,” says Garcia. “Boffer.co.uk is a great example of how he continues to work closely with his management teams to grow his business interests during the economic downturn.”
E-Net computers is currently looking for e-commerce marketing specialists, who are up to date with internet trends, have experience in an e-commerce related business and have an awareness of internet retailing, blogging and social media networking.
So what does it take to be successful with Rasul, who was recently named as one of two new Dragons in an online version of the Dragons’ Den? “We are always looking for creative and dynamic people who can contribute to the team with new ideas and it’s also important that you are driven, enthusiastic, committed and willing to put in a lot of hard work,” she said.
“Working for Shaf is very rewarding and he always recognises the importance of the team around him in helping realise his objectives.”
Rasul has also recently invested in a new asset management vehicle to help retailers liquidate excess stock.CPM Asset Management will buy unwanted stock from retailers facing financial difficulties and sell it on to consumers through distribution channels including boffer.co.uk.
The next stage of CPM’s development will be to establish an online business to supply stock directly to traders. It will launch as Estock, a membership-only trade site, in the next six weeks. “We are looking for product managers, buyers, sales people, marketeers and warehouse staff,” said Shaf Rasul. “This is a fantastic opportunity for driven, switched-on people to join a business in its infancy and play a key role in its strategic development.”
Edinburgh-based Rasul features in an online version of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den alongside Julie Meyer and host Dominic Byrne of the Chris Moyles Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
For more information on job prospects e-mail susana.garcia@e-netdistribution.co.uk