Ruslan Kogan
Ruslan Kogan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Website | http://www.kogan.com.au http://www.kogan.co.uk http://www.milandirect.com.au http://www.milandirect.co.uk |
Ruslan Kogan is the 28-year old [1] founder and CEO of Kogan Technologies.
Ruslan Kogan is also one of the founders of Milan Direct, an Australian and UK furniture retailer,[2][3][4]
Ruslan Kogan holds controversial views regarding the consumer technology industry. He has publicly expressed his opposition to the Australian Government's proposed internet filter.[5] He was recently[when?] invited by Gizmodo to write a guest post outlining his opposition to the filter.[6] He is also the only executive from a consumer electronics vendor in Australia to actively be campaigning against the introduction of 3DTV into homes around the world.[7][8]
Ruslan Kogan is the first Australian to register as a passenger on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic sub-orbital spaceflight, having paid a deposit on the US$200,000 ticket.[9][10][11][12]
Ruslan Kogan promised to release Australia’s first Android phone[13] before delaying it at the last minute, saying "I can't make any further comment".[14]
Kogan's T-shirt in the picture at right quotes a protagonist of controversial capitalist writer Ayn Rand: "The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me".
Kogan
Ruslan Kogan started working for himself at the age of ten by re-selling lost golf balls to golfers at Elsternwick Golf Course in Melbourne.[15] He attended Melbourne High School[16] before going on to complete a Bachelor of Business Systems (Information Technology) at Monash University.[17] Leaving a job at Accenture,[18] Ruslan Kogan started Kogan Technologies in 2006 in his parents' garage in Melbourne, Australia.[19] Ruslan revealed in October 2010 that there were many initial roadblocks; namely that Chinese factories would not deal with him, and his closest advisors and friends thought he was crazy for thinking people would buy TVs online.[20] Since then, he has grown the company significantly, with A$9M revenue in the 2008-09 financial year, and an estimated A$17M in 2009-10.[21]
In October 2010 Ruslan Kogan revealed in an interview that he would be expanding the Kogan brand to the UK, following the successful launch of Milan Direct in the same year.[22] In November 2010 Ruslan Kogan announced the opening of www.kogan.co.uk.
Ruslan Kogan appeared on the cover of the March/April 2011 Wealth Creator magazine. The story reported that the Kogan business is valued at over A$200million.[23]
Awards
Ruslan Kogan and his company Kogan Technologies have won the following awards:
- BRW 2009 Fast Starters list at rank 37[24]
- BRW 2010 Fast Starters list at rank 17.[25][26]
- BRW named Kogan the 15th fastest growing company in Australia, with 106.74% growth.[27]
- BRW Young Rich List 2010 with a reported wealth of A$29M[28]
- BRW Young Rich List 2009 with a reported wealth of A$15M[29]
- The Age Top 100 most influential people in 2008 [30]
- T3 29th most influential person in the technology industry[31]
- Anthill Top 30 under 30 entrepreneurs for 2010[32]
- Australian Retailer's Association Retail Innovator of the Year 2010[33]
LivePrice
On December 1, 2010 he announced the launch of LivePrice, an invention that changes the way Kogan products are priced.[34]
After launching LivePrice in Australia, Kogan had sold nearly $330,000 worth of products using the new pricing system in 24 hours.[35]
After being operational in Australia for under three weeks, LivePrice had resulted in over $370,000 of price deductions across the entire range.[36]
LivePrice has a patent pending.[37]
Controversies
Apple
At a technology media conference in Queensland, Australia, Ruslan Kogan revealed that he had been told 30% of Australian retailer JB Hi-Fi's revenue in 2010 had come from Apple or Apple related products. He said this meant some of the country's biggest retailers were too reliant on the success of Apple for their own survival.[38]
Terry Smart, CEO of JB Hi-Fi, responded by saying "That figure is not even close to reality. We don't have a big enough supply that represents such a substantial part of the business." [39]
JB Hi-Fi
Ruslan Kogan then bet Terry Smart, the CEO of JB Hi-Fi AU$1,000,000 that they would not stock Apple hardware by March 14, 2014.[40] The deed for the bet is still available online, though it has not been accepted.[41]
In March 2011, Kogan began giving away free HDMI cables to anyone who had bought a TV from JB Hi-Fi in 2011.[42] This was, Kogan said, a bit to expose that "JB are trying to trick people into thinking they need a $200 cable after buying a FULL HD TV. This is simply not the case." [43]
2010 Harvey Norman dispute
In August 2010 Ruslan Kogan began a "war of words" with Gerry Harvey, Founder of well-known Australian retailer Harvey Norman.[44] The dispute about the future of consumer electronics retailing in Australia—and in particular whether Australians should shop online or in a bricks and mortar retailer, spilled onto the mainstream media on Today Tonight[45] and the Sydney Morning Herald.[46] The dispute erupted when Ruslan Kogan challenged Gerry Harvey to a debate on national TV, which he declined.[47] Ruslan Kogan claimed Gerry Harvey "chickened out".[48] Gerry Harvey replied by calling Ruslan Kogan a "con" in an interview with a national newspaper.[49] Kogan responded with two satirical advertisements, criticising Harvey Norman.[50]
Ruslan Kogan took another swing at Gerry Harvey when releasing Kogan's Q1 FY11 earnings, criticising Harvey Norman's purchase of Clive Peeters.[51]
In December 2010 Gerry Harvey announced plans to follow Myer and open up an online store based in China in order to avoid GST and cut costs.[52] Ruslan Kogan responded by claiming that Harvey Norman and Myer were posturing to force the Government to change import laws, and that their China-based stores were a complete hoax.[53] He said that if Harvey Norman and Myer actually manage to open up their China-based online stores for three months, he would place a prominent link on kogan.com.au advertising his rival's store.[54] Ruslan was interviewed on Australian breakfast TV show Sunrise (TV program), saying Harvey Norman was "full of it."[55] He also published an article through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation lamenting the Australian business scene's focus on regulation rather than innovation.[56]
Kogan Lifestyle
In November 2010, Ruslan Kogan revealed plans were underway to create a sub-brand that would sell jetskis, boats, and potentially cars online.[57]
McDonald's Job Application
In September, 2010, Ruslan Kogan made headlines for having been unsuccessful in a job application to McDonald's, Elsternwick, Melbourne. Kogan reportedly wanted the job to learn about McDonald's business processes. Kogan stated that he respected McDonald's and how they always managed to get your order right, even at 3am in the morning. McDonald's Australia commented on the story, stating that Kogan was not accepted for the job as the Elsternwick restaurant already had enough employees.[58]
References
- ^ http://www.smartcompany.com.au/hot-30-under-30-2010/ruslan-kogan.html
- ^ http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/articles/articles-entrepreneur-profile/furniture-entrepreneur-grows-online-business.html
- ^ http://www.milandirect.com.au
- ^ http://www.milandirect.co.uk
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2010/apr/1/australian-governments-proposed-internet-filter/
- ^ http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/07/fight-the-filter-thoughts-from-ruslan-kogan-ceo-of-kogan-technologies/
- ^ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/technology/d-tv-offerings-limited-as-manufacturers-strike-exclusives-with-movie-rights-holders/story-e6frep1o-1225862181855
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/3d-tv-is-here-but-content-is-not-20100416-skgi.html
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2922920.htm
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNBrhNQC4a8&feature=player_embedded
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lO3FqMIr5M&feature=player_embedded
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkrrdy7yjoM&feature=player_embedded
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/technology/personaltech/18kogan.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=agora&st=Search
- ^ http://blogs.smh.com.au/digital-life/gadgetsonthego/2009/03/02/whoscrewedkog.html
- ^ http://delimiter.com.au/2010/04/01/friday-five-ruslan-kogan/
- ^ http://www.nicta.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/22234/Meet_the_Founder_Flyer_-_Ruslan_Kogan.pdf
- ^ http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/monmag/issue21-2008/alumni/classnotes-2000.html
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/entrepreneur-cuts-tv-middle-men/2007/03/26/1174761375485.html
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/media/20100504_dynamic_business.pdf
- ^ http://www.startupsmart.com.au/growth/2010-10-29/turning-your-idea-into-business-reality.html
- ^ http://www.smartcompany.com.au/hot-30-under-30-2010/ruslan-kogan.html
- ^ http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/364434/kogan_expands_uk/
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/20110301_wealth_creator_the_man_who_would_be_king.pdf
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/BRW-Fast-Starters-June-25-2009.pdf
- ^ http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/articles/articles-entrepreneur-profile/ruslan-kogan-brw-2010-fast-starters-1414.html
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/brw_fast_starters.pdf
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/20101028_brw_fast_100_kogan.pdf
- ^ http://www.crn.com.au/News/233776,tech-companies-populate-brw-young-rich.aspx
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/media/BRW_Young_Rich_2009.pdf
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/media/Age_top_100.pdf
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/20101101_t3_ruslan_kogan.pdf
- ^ http://anthillonline.com/ruslan-kogan-2010-anthill-30under30-winner/
- ^ http://www.retail.org.au/index.php/articles/Kogan_Technologies_marked_as_pioneer-_2010_Charter_Security_Retail_Innovator_of_the_Year_announced_
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kogan_Technologies#Whitegoods
- ^ http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/02/kogans-liveprice-sold-almost-330000-worth-in-24-hours/
- ^ http://www.connectedhometechnology.com/article/kogan-liveprice-helps-australians-save-370000-three-weeks
- ^ http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2011900708
- ^ http://delimiter.com.au/2011/03/01/store-retailers-apples-bitch-claims-kogan/
- ^ http://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/20110302-jb-hi-fi-chief-denies-ruslan-kogan-claim-that-30-of-sales-come-from-apple-products.html
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/technology/ruslan-kogan-challenges-jb-hi-fi-chief-to-1m-bet/story-e6frfro0-1226016953150
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/wager_deed_-_kogan_-_smart.pdf
- ^ http://www.cnet.com.au/free-hdmi-cable-for-jb-hi-fi-customers-339311440.htm
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2011/mar/16/kogan-offers-free-hdmi-cables-cut-cable-con/
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/hometech/hes-a-con-harveys-war-on-cheap-tvs-20100824-13pdc.html
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/koganvideo#p/u/3/WiAGblf2BNQ
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/hometech/hes-a-con-harveys-war-on-cheap-tvs-20100824-13pdc.html
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2010/aug/16/gerry-harvey-responds-kogan/
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2010/aug/24/harvey-backs-out-debate-kogan/
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/hometech/hes-a-con-harveys-war-on-cheap-tvs-20100824-13pdc.html
- ^ http://mumbrella.com.au/kogan-launches-video-attack-on-rival-retailer-harvey-norman-32062
- ^ http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/articles/articles-entrepreneur-profile/kogan-growth-gerry-harvey-2172.html
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/business/harvey-norman-plans-to-match-myers-internet-move-20101206-18mbf.html
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/media/uploads/20101207_afr_battle_of_the_box_heats_up_over_online_imports.pdf
- ^ http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2010/dec/6/im-calling-gerrys-and-bernies-china-bluff/
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLPRyhQ6DuM
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2010/12/06/3085423.htm
- ^ http://www.current.com.au/2010/11/01/article/Kogan-Lifestyle-to-sell-boats-jet-skis-and-maybe-cars/OGRNFMUJNN.html
- ^ Ruslan Kogan's McDonald's application rejected