entrepreneurs 21


Pictures by Angus Thomas


that for the launch we would need external investment and since they’ve been on board things have escalated rapidly.


Rafi “sold” Centerprise to me, their pride and their commitment; we liked the fact they were large enough to support us but small enough to be dynamic and hands on. They really care about the investment they have made. There’s no doubt we would have got there without them, but they certainly multiplied the opportunity.


Can you really go head-to-head with online giants such as Amazon?


The sky is the limit for OnBuy, we’d really like to give Amazon a run for their money and I think we can. We want 5% of Amazon’s market share in five years, which would be in excess of £100 million. We have a number of USPs – we don’t compete with the retailers to sell their own products and I think the fact we are a British


business, paying UK taxes and boosting the UK economy means people will want to sell with us and buy with us. We’re investing in Britain and I want us to be seen as the John Lewis of online marketplaces – a brand that people rely on and trust.


Have you got any big names on board yet?


We’re already talking to brands including Reckitt and Benckiser, Alliance Healthcare and WorldStores. The potential is huge and we’re very excited about our soft launch this month. This is five years’ worth of ideas; we want to build up gradually, make sure the system is stable and sign up sufficient sellers before we do our major launch, complete with TV advertising, in September 2014.


How does OnRecycle fit?


We’re active recyclers and I think green credentials are essential to a business. Typically, when you buy a new gadget such as a phone, the old one often ends up unwanted in a drawer, but in fact there is a value in that old technology, even if someone doesn’t actually want to use it, the components can be re-cycled. OnRecycle enables customers to get the best price for their old gadget and recycle at the same time. The plan is to integrate it into OnBuy so we merge the ability to dispose of the old item at the same time as buying the new one.


Your uncle was an early inspiration, who inspires you today?


I’ve always admired Richard Branson for starting something from nothing and more recently Rafi has been a major influence. He invested in me personally as well as the business, and has taken time to mentor me in areas where I needed support. I’d like to do the


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – NOVEMBER 2013


same for someone else one day, to give young entrepreneurs the chance to do something.


Do you ever stop working?


When I do have any time I spend it with my family, my son is only eight months old and everything I do is for my family. Running a successful business isn’t about pride or ego, it’s not about money, for me it’s about providing security for my family. I come from a working class background and that’s what gives me my ambition and drive – I want my son to stay grounded and share those values too.


I’ve also just designed and am building my own house, which is something I’ve always wanted to do and I also love cars, but they need to be used, not kept in the garage.


So what happens next?


I’ve just turned 29 and ultimately, I would like to be able to walk away within the next five years if I choose to. By then I will have put in place the processes and the teams to ensure the business can run without me every day, then I can concentrate on coming up with the ideas. I see myself as a strategic thinker and that’s what I want to do more of.


I would like to think that if I am successful I will be able to spend a lot of time doing things to help people. I believe you get to a point where you only need so much money, as long as you are financially secure, then there is a lot you can do.


I really admire the actor Don Cheadle for his humanitarian work and I have a real desire to support projects which give people the help that they need. I’m not looking for personal recognition, I would prefer to do things anonymously, but as a British company there are plenty of opportunities to support people in Britain in a variety of ways. That’s my next ambition.


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