Birevim - Business Development Executive of the Year
Company: Birevim, Istanbul, Turkey
Company Description: Birevim offers financing for homes and cars to low to middle income consumers. Rather than charge interest, like banks, Birevim only charges an upfront, nominal 7% commission based on the value of the home or car, and never charges any interest again. This unique sales model makes home or car ownership to marginal populations. Since its beginning in 2017, Birevim has doubled its size each year,
Nomination Category: Business Development Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Business Development Executive of the Year
Nomination Title: Birevim's Murat Ciftci- Impact, Influence, Inspiration
Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since the beginning of July 2017 (up to 650 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
“Impact, influence and inspiration”
How did a first year university student from a modest town in eastern Turkey revolutionize home ownership for low to medium income people throughout the republic?
INSPIRATION FOR INVESTORS AND CUSTOMERS
As a first year university student in Istanbul in 1979, and deeply in love with his childhood sweetheart, Murat Çiftçi proposed marriage to her. Despite the protestations of his father, Murat and his true love married at a very young age – only to be cut off financially by Murat’s father. This separation went against Turkish values and traditions and was a major shock to Murat. But he surged ahead.
That was a turning point in Murat’s life: being financially independent, supporting a wife and soon-to-be-born child, while maintaining his university studies. He quickly discovered that rent payments on their modest flat absorbed most of his income. Life would have been much easier if they had a home of their own with more disposable income to provide for his family.
These humble beginnings not only comprised inspiration for a novel home financing scheme, but served to inspire Murat’s investors and customers…to this day.
It is said that impact, influence and inspiration are the keys to successful business development. Murat’s journey is a perfect example.
INFLUENCE TO SPREAD THE PASSION
Murat did extensive research on home financing and was stunned by the high cost of home mortgages, steep interest rates in Turkey and the massive amounts of monthly installments.
Murat spent a great deal of time seeking a sustainable and plausible business solution that would enable people buy their own homes. Majoring in math, he easily calculated various scenarios for affordable installments. Murat also researched the real estate sector in which he worked briefly to become familiar with the in’s and out’s of mortgage lending. He made a decision to dedicate his life to this ideal: to ensure that everyone can own their own home, regardless of socio-economic standing. This decision became the root of his passion.
IMPACT TO GET RESULTS
Turning to business development, Murat’s efforts and commitment paid off, conceiving an innovative solution that he brought to life in 2015. Thanks to this solution, people would no longer have to pay high interest and buy a home at a reasonable price without stretching their budgets. The solution was brilliant - a nominal upfront 9% ‘commission’ on the value of the home to be financed with no interest or hidden costs afterwards.
Not only was the financing model fresh, but people who typically would not even qualify for a bank loan would now be able to afford to buy a home of their own…or even a plot of land or automobile. They could choose the number of installments for their loans according to their ability to pay, giving customers unheard of flexibility.
Murat discussed the matter with a friend who became his first investor. They conceived the Birevim brand – opening a headquarter office and one branch, and then three branches, in August 2016.
The unique idea attracted a great deal of attention. The impact of the launch and ensuing public interest served as the impetus for enormous growth, attracting more investors…not to mention customers.
People flocked to Birevim for the no-interest home loans. In the first year, the number of branches increased from 4 to 26.
In 2017-8, Birevim grew by 1000%, employing nearly 600 people in 46 branches. Some $628 million in home sales was generated, producing $56 million in commission income.
In the meantime, Murat settled the dispute with his father. Murat was actually grateful for the rift that forced him to develop a successful business that made more than 18,000 people happy finally able to buy their homes at reasonable prices. In the end, Murat realized his dream, for himself and for his customers.