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A Dutch Armenian Does Business in the Motherland
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/11/24/a-dutch-armenian-does-business-in-the-motherland/
Thu, Nov 24 2011
The following article was published in September in the Dutch-language
business periodical `Geld & Beleggen: Informatieblad voor de Beleger.'
It's been translated into English by Dr. Bedros Nersessian.
Entrepreneur Aristakes Jessayan was born in Athens, Greece to an
Armenian family and has, for the past six years, run two travel
offices in addition to owning two event agencies in the Netherlands.
In 2007, he traveled for the first time to Armenia, the land of his
ancestors, and fell instantly under the spell of the country. There he
saw a wealth of musical talent alongside great poverty. He has since
set up a charitable foundation, partially funded by the proceeds of a
garment factory that, in his words, started `with a bit of struggle'.
`During my trip to Armenia I became impressed by the country,'
Jessayan says. `Setting foot for the first time in my motherland felt
like a refreshing experience. The people are enormously friendly, but
also I found it challenging; there is a sharp contrast between rich
and poor, and corruption hinders further development. During my stay I
visited a music academy. You see, besides being a businessman, I am
also a musician and music matters very much to me. Let me make a side
note about a highpoint in my singing carrier: It was the 2005
invitation to perform the national anthem of Armenia at the opening
ceremony of the Netherlands-Armenia European Soccer Championship Game.
While I was in Armenia, the school director made sure that a number of
kids performed during my visit. I was impressed by the great number of
talented piano and violin players, especially one girl who had already
been playing piano for 12 years. As it became evident that these
youngsters were in needy circumstances, I made a contribution toward
their teachers' salaries and the acquisition of music instruments.'
The foundation
Back in the Netherlands, Jessayan began a small charity to assist the
deprived in Armenia. `The Aristakes Jessayan Foundation (AJF) aims to
generate funds for children, orphans, war victims, the handicapped,
elders, and other needy people,' the mission statement reads. `We make
sure to reach the recipients directly and not via middlemen or
entities. This is done under the close scrutiny of local AJF
staffers.'
Old Soviet factory
The AJF has been up and running for a couple of years now, and
progressing steadily. Many young musicians unable to afford music
lessons are being helped by the organization to pay their teachers.
The rundown heating system at a home for the elderly and at an
orphanage have been repaired and are running. In March 2011, Jessayan
traveled to Armenia again and met Hakob Harutiunyan, an expert in the
garment trade who previously managed a fashion design school in the
Netherlands. `Together with him, we visited a diamond factory where we
met another mutual friend. The factory was housed within an enormous
industrial complex dating back to Soviet times.'
Wandering around they saw a large room full with some machinery - as it
happens 120 sewing machines - covered with sheets of plastic. `Prompted
by my entrepreneurial instinct, I told Hakob: You are a fashion
designer. These machines are left idle with no purpose. Let's put them
to use.'
Jessayan says that this was the starting point of his Charisma fashion
label. `I became the investor and Hakob the label designer and factory
manager. I like the substantive and hate an idle - excuse the
expression - bull. When I established my travel agencies I had never
done anything in the travel business. I just started and love doing it
with great enthusiasm.'
Polo shirts
Charisma is up and running. The factory's been inaugurated and
prototype batches of high-quality polo shirts, with a stylish, fun
emblem on the collar or sleeve, are ready. `Not long ago, Hakob and I
travelled to Istanbul to purchase a half ton of fabric,' Jessayan
says. `There are huge textile mills in Istanbul where one can find the
best quality fabrics. In anticipation of the forthcoming European
Soccer Championship we also purchased orange colored fabric. We have
currently seven ladies on staff, but it should be many more. I aim for
50-100 workers. In this way I am trying to help provide employment for
my people. A polo shirt will cost roughly 50. The underlying premise
is that for each sold shirt, one euro goes to the foundation, which
assists needy people and institutions - in other words self-help. We are
of a modest scale, but who knows what will pan out.'
One and half million Armenians live in LA
Charisma's future plans are to manufacture other types of clothing and
accessories. But the textile and fashion industry is hugely
competitive. How is the Charisma label going to stand out? `To begin
with, we have an advantage that Armenians, especially in the diaspora,
form concentrated communities. There are 15,000 Armenians residing in
the Netherlands. When I showcase a shirt at a community event, which
next to the Charisma logo carries the `Made in Armenia' label, it
sells because each purchase helps folks back home. In Belgium there
are 25,000 Armenians that can be similarly reached. People who
frequent these gatherings bring with them the `Armenian spirit'. There
are also large numbers of Armenians in the U.S. In the LA area alone
there's around one and half million. I plan to reach such markets and
attempt to expand and popularize the Charisma brand name via the web.'
Entrepreneurship and philanthropy
Armenia is a country of stark contrasts between rich and poor, and
there are many obstacles due to entrenched corruption. Despite this
realization, Aristakes Jessayan is hard at work. `I owe it to my
father, who has always actively helped our people. I asked him once
why he did it. His response was: It is my duty, even though there will
always be people who try to take advantage when you start a project,
even in Armenia. I learned that business and philanthropy are quite
compatible. This is one of the reasons why I want to eventually see
the workers become co-owners of the company. Then they would be even
more motivated about its objectives.'
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/11/24/a-dutch-armenian-does-business-in-the-motherland/
Thu, Nov 24 2011
The following article was published in September in the Dutch-language
business periodical `Geld & Beleggen: Informatieblad voor de Beleger.'
It's been translated into English by Dr. Bedros Nersessian.
Entrepreneur Aristakes Jessayan was born in Athens, Greece to an
Armenian family and has, for the past six years, run two travel
offices in addition to owning two event agencies in the Netherlands.
In 2007, he traveled for the first time to Armenia, the land of his
ancestors, and fell instantly under the spell of the country. There he
saw a wealth of musical talent alongside great poverty. He has since
set up a charitable foundation, partially funded by the proceeds of a
garment factory that, in his words, started `with a bit of struggle'.
`During my trip to Armenia I became impressed by the country,'
Jessayan says. `Setting foot for the first time in my motherland felt
like a refreshing experience. The people are enormously friendly, but
also I found it challenging; there is a sharp contrast between rich
and poor, and corruption hinders further development. During my stay I
visited a music academy. You see, besides being a businessman, I am
also a musician and music matters very much to me. Let me make a side
note about a highpoint in my singing carrier: It was the 2005
invitation to perform the national anthem of Armenia at the opening
ceremony of the Netherlands-Armenia European Soccer Championship Game.
While I was in Armenia, the school director made sure that a number of
kids performed during my visit. I was impressed by the great number of
talented piano and violin players, especially one girl who had already
been playing piano for 12 years. As it became evident that these
youngsters were in needy circumstances, I made a contribution toward
their teachers' salaries and the acquisition of music instruments.'
The foundation
Back in the Netherlands, Jessayan began a small charity to assist the
deprived in Armenia. `The Aristakes Jessayan Foundation (AJF) aims to
generate funds for children, orphans, war victims, the handicapped,
elders, and other needy people,' the mission statement reads. `We make
sure to reach the recipients directly and not via middlemen or
entities. This is done under the close scrutiny of local AJF
staffers.'
Old Soviet factory
The AJF has been up and running for a couple of years now, and
progressing steadily. Many young musicians unable to afford music
lessons are being helped by the organization to pay their teachers.
The rundown heating system at a home for the elderly and at an
orphanage have been repaired and are running. In March 2011, Jessayan
traveled to Armenia again and met Hakob Harutiunyan, an expert in the
garment trade who previously managed a fashion design school in the
Netherlands. `Together with him, we visited a diamond factory where we
met another mutual friend. The factory was housed within an enormous
industrial complex dating back to Soviet times.'
Wandering around they saw a large room full with some machinery - as it
happens 120 sewing machines - covered with sheets of plastic. `Prompted
by my entrepreneurial instinct, I told Hakob: You are a fashion
designer. These machines are left idle with no purpose. Let's put them
to use.'
Jessayan says that this was the starting point of his Charisma fashion
label. `I became the investor and Hakob the label designer and factory
manager. I like the substantive and hate an idle - excuse the
expression - bull. When I established my travel agencies I had never
done anything in the travel business. I just started and love doing it
with great enthusiasm.'
Polo shirts
Charisma is up and running. The factory's been inaugurated and
prototype batches of high-quality polo shirts, with a stylish, fun
emblem on the collar or sleeve, are ready. `Not long ago, Hakob and I
travelled to Istanbul to purchase a half ton of fabric,' Jessayan
says. `There are huge textile mills in Istanbul where one can find the
best quality fabrics. In anticipation of the forthcoming European
Soccer Championship we also purchased orange colored fabric. We have
currently seven ladies on staff, but it should be many more. I aim for
50-100 workers. In this way I am trying to help provide employment for
my people. A polo shirt will cost roughly 50. The underlying premise
is that for each sold shirt, one euro goes to the foundation, which
assists needy people and institutions - in other words self-help. We are
of a modest scale, but who knows what will pan out.'
One and half million Armenians live in LA
Charisma's future plans are to manufacture other types of clothing and
accessories. But the textile and fashion industry is hugely
competitive. How is the Charisma label going to stand out? `To begin
with, we have an advantage that Armenians, especially in the diaspora,
form concentrated communities. There are 15,000 Armenians residing in
the Netherlands. When I showcase a shirt at a community event, which
next to the Charisma logo carries the `Made in Armenia' label, it
sells because each purchase helps folks back home. In Belgium there
are 25,000 Armenians that can be similarly reached. People who
frequent these gatherings bring with them the `Armenian spirit'. There
are also large numbers of Armenians in the U.S. In the LA area alone
there's around one and half million. I plan to reach such markets and
attempt to expand and popularize the Charisma brand name via the web.'
Entrepreneurship and philanthropy
Armenia is a country of stark contrasts between rich and poor, and
there are many obstacles due to entrenched corruption. Despite this
realization, Aristakes Jessayan is hard at work. `I owe it to my
father, who has always actively helped our people. I asked him once
why he did it. His response was: It is my duty, even though there will
always be people who try to take advantage when you start a project,
even in Armenia. I learned that business and philanthropy are quite
compatible. This is one of the reasons why I want to eventually see
the workers become co-owners of the company. Then they would be even
more motivated about its objectives.'