Smart50 rank: 46
Revenue: $6,765,945
Growth: 38.72%
Founders: Dean J. Ramler, 29, Ruslan Kogan, 28
Head Office: Victoria
Employees: 11
Industry: Internet
Website: www.milandirect.com.au
Many retailers are complaining about the move to offshore retailing but Milan Direct founders Dean Ramler and Ruslan Kogan – of Kogan Technologies – aren’t fretting, because business is booming.
“Five years ago people were a little skeptical to purchase furniture online but not anymore. Bricks and mortar furniture stores today are barren,” Ramler says.
Founded in 2007, Milan Direct provides high design furniture and replicas of famous pieces, designed to be sold at cheaper prices.
“We are now Australia’s leading online retailer for designer furniture, having sold over 400,000 pieces of designer furniture to over 100,000 highly satisfied customers,” Ramler says.
The stats prove it – Milan Direct recorded 38.72% growth and revenue of $6,765,945 last financial year. Not bad for a company with a start-up cost less than $25,000.
“The most challenging part of starting up Milan Direct was that we had next to no start-up capital and we had to ensure that we got our brand out there as much as possible,” Ramler says.
Milan Direct has had its fair share of challenges but Ramler sticks by the philosophy that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
“We see setbacks as challenges – every business faces them every day. Each challenge we overcome we become a better business,” he says.
“Every day brings new and exciting challenges at Milan Direct.”
Now the company has moved to Britain and Ramler says the next step is adapting that international model to the next country, with Europe, Asia and the United States next.
“Now that we have fine-tuned our business processes we can roll out Milan Direct into any country that has customers who demand great designer furniture,” he says.
