Ödül Çağra:

"Our Mission is to Provide a Diverse Selection of Products Known for Their Quality and Reliability to Our Community."

We discover how Çağra & Co. Ltd. evolved into an exceptional establishment, providing quality products and impeccable service to its customers, in a compelling story through an exclusive interview with the driving force behind the company, Ödül Çağra.

Can you briefly tell the story and development of Çağra & Co. Ltd. and about yourself?

My father, Kamil Çağra, and my mother, Ayşe Çağra, started their business in 1988 in a 40 m2 rented store in Kyrenia, with consignment goods. On September 16, 1995, they took their first steps toward expansion by relocating to our own building in the heart of Kyrenia. We bought a 5-acre land on the same street in 2004, and over the years, expanded it to 6.5 acres in 2012, 8 acres in 2017, and finally, to a 10.5-acre warehouse in 2019.

We built the second level of our main building in 2010 and launched it as a showroom. I was of university age at the time. After graduating from the Interior Architecture faculty in the UK in 2014, I had a five-month internship experience at an interior design office in Ortaköy, Istanbul. After the decision was made by the Çağra family to expand and establish branches, I permanently returned to Cyprus.

In 2015, I became a member of the Çağra board of directors. In September 2015, we opened our Famagusta branch with an area of 300 m2, and later in March 2018, we moved to a new location with 3,000 m2, which was well appreciated by all of our customers. The second floor was completely redesigned as a showroom. We continued to grow our business with a warehouse at Famagusta Free Port and another closed warehouse that we bought and constructed at Famagusta Industrial Area.

A CONCEPT WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN FIND ALL KINDS OF MATERIALS

At Çağra, our goal was to create a concept where customers can find all kinds of materials from the base to the rooftop. I believe that after ten years, we have fulfilled this goal as the second generation, with my brother Olgu Çağra joining in 2013 and myself in 2015.

Because of our extensive range of brands and products, and our understanding that distinct structures must be separated, we divided the hardware and home utensils as Çağra Home Center, and the ceramics and bathroom group as Çağra Showroom Concept, still under the Çağra brand name. This separation was prompted by the fact that these divisions cater to diverse customer bases and operate in different market segments.

In 2015, through a decision made by the board of directors, I became the responsible director for the 'Showroom Concept' stores, while Olgu Çağra took charge of the 'Home Center' stores. Today, with 35 years of experience, we serve Cyprus with a total of 30,000 different product range and 100 different brands through our four stores located in Kyrenia and Famagusta (13,000 m2 outdoor area and 7,500 m2 indoor area) and four warehouses (14,500 m2 outdoor area and 8,000 m2 indoor area).

Could you briefly talk about the mission and vision of Çağra & Co. Ltd.?

Our mission is to provide a diverse selection of products known for their quality and reliability to our community. Our vision revolves around delivering exceptional service and first-class products at the best prices, aligning with our mission's principles.

Çağra is working with many well-known brands such as Seranit, Artemis, Mainzu, Newarc in showroom stores. What do you consider when selecting the brands and goods to include in your structure?

There are various considerations we make while selecting brands for the bathroom. We prioritize working with innovative companies that keep up with the trends and have designs that reflect the current era, while also maintaining a high standard of quality and conducting research and development (R&D) to improve their products. Additionally, as I suppose we are people from the Mediterranean, we cherish genuine relationships with our business partners and seek those who share similar qualities.

In 2023, we formed fresh alliances with Artemis and the well-known ROCA business, which further strengthened our brand.

What are the goals of Çağra Co. & Ltd.?

We are thrilled to share our exciting plans with you. First and foremost, we have set our sights on developing an advanced online sales platform. The groundwork for this project is already in progress, and given the growing significance of online sales in today's world, especially due to the pandemic's impact, we have made the strategic decision to expedite its development. Soon, our online sales website will be up and running, offering you a seamless shopping experience.

With regard to our second goal, we are starting a brand new retail venture called "Çağra Express." This store concept seeks to efficiently meet your demands by concentrating on offering all necessary home necessities at incredibly low prices. We are set to open an 800 m2 store on Larnaca Road, ready to serve you in the near future.

Rest assured that this is not where our goals end. We are just getting started on this adventure as two siblings with the support of our parents, Kamil and Ayşe Çağra. Numerous opportunities lie ahead, and we are excited to explore them all.

GİRNE-KARAKUM SHOWROOM CONCEPT
UĞUR MUMCU CADDESİ, NO:5, KARAKUM/GİRNE CUĞUR MUMCU ÇEMBERİ KARŞISD 0533 858 69 36

GİRNE-ÇATALKÖY HOME CENTER
BEŞPARMAKLAR CADDESİ, CENNET SOKAK, NO.1, ÇATALKÖY/GİRNE (CRATOS HOTEL YAND)
0533 8613694-0533 8613697

MAĞUSA HOME CENTER & SHOWROOM CONCEPT
GLAPSIDES ÇEMBERİ, BAHAR SOKAK NO:8, TUZLA/MAGUSA
0533 850 73 65-0533 82092 75