Begüm Doğulu, a success story from zero to today... The point of success and perseverance

Begüm Doğulu, a success story from zero to today... The point of success and perseverance

Begüm Doğulu, President of the Yacht Tourism Association, told her success story that she started from scratch. Doğulu said that she created Begüm Yatching company from nothing and that she was personally involved in every service of the yachts and that she was a stubborn and strong person. Noting that Turkey's recognition abroad has increased, Doğulu said, ‘We have no other desire than to promote and carry our flag in the best way possible.’

Begüm Doğulu, a businesswoman from Izmir and the President of Yacht Tourism Association, who has become a world brand and the distributor of Mercedes Benz Motor Yacht in Turkey, told her success story. Stating that she established her own company after leaving the company where she worked for 5 years as general manager when she returned to Turkey after going to England for language education, Doğulu stated that she had very little money when she rented her office and could not even buy furniture.

Stating that he had two thousand dollars in the first period he started working and that he learnt that there was a fair in the Caribbean, Doğulu said, ‘I bought a ticket, with brochures bigger than my height. I slept on a bench at the marina. I had very difficult days. I was very upset that things were not working, I was devastated. I spent so many troubled days in poverty. But they were good days, they cooked me, tested me, battered me, but brought me to these days. 30 years have passed since that fair and I started to go to yacht fairs all over the world.’

‘WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPLY THE BEST QUALITY PROVISIONS’

Noting that he opened new offices with the development of his customer portfolio, Doğulu said, ‘We opened our office in Bodrum, Marmaris, Göcek, Antalya and most recently in Istanbul. The company has grown, customers' requests are diversifying. While we used to provide only agency services, they started to ask for provisions and big yachts started to arrive. I realised that I needed to establish a professional system in order to supply the provisions they wanted. I established the provisions system under the name of TPS. We have the opportunity to supply the best quality provisions all over Turkey.’

‘WE HAVE BECOME A PREFERRED COMPANY ABROAD’

Stating that they left behind a satisfied customer base, Doğulu said, ‘We have carried out 85 yacht maintenance and repair works since 2005 until today. All of them were 40 metres and above yachts, all of them foreign yachts and we left behind a very satisfied customer base for all of them. We have also made Turkey well-known in the refit sector, and we are really proud of that. Subsequently, I switched to seaplanes, we focused on luxury vehicle needs, and we host at least 100 motor yachts every year. We have become a fully integrated facility. We are proud that we have become a preferred company abroad, and we are working with all our strength to maintain this.’

Doğulu, who is also the distributor of Mercedes Benz motor yachts in Turkey, said, ‘Mercedes manufactures these boats in Finland, and they offered us to manufacture them in Turkey. We are currently in that negotiation. If we reach an agreement, we will be not only the distributor but also the manufacturer of Mercedes.’

‘WE HAVE NO DESIRE OTHER THAN TO PROMOTE OUR COUNTRY’

Stating that he created himself from scratch, Doğulu said that he was a cabbar, stubborn and strong person and said: ‘We are now in such a state that no one can compete with me, with the labour of 30 years. Our squad has grown a lot. We no longer have any desire other than to promote and carry our flag in the best way possible. I did not come from wealth, I came from the street, I used to look after boats in extra time to contribute to my family. My feet are on solid ground. I did it from scratch. I have been in every kind of service for yachts. I am not a rich kid who got the job from his father.’

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