Atin Patel, winner of the ‘Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) is not a businessman in a hurry. He has the patience and perseverance of the most experienced in the industry, with a combination of energy and spirit of adventure that are the attributes of successful entrepreneurs.
His Company, Multitrade International also won the ‘Business Excellence in Customer Service’ and the ‘Supreme Business of the Year’ Awards gratifying the members of his family, employees, suppliers, customers and well-wishers.
He said that the Awards recognised the dedication and hard work of his team.
“I am very proud of them,” he said.
Impressive growth
Multitrade International had a modest beginning with lofty objectives. Established at a residence in the East Auckland suburb of Howick in 1992, with the objective of supplying quality hardware and building products to the construction sector of the Pacific Islands, the Company has grown from strength to strength. Among the highlights of its growth programmes was the acquisition of, ‘Ecolife Lighting,’ a lighting company that fuelled its expansion plans to supply quality lighting products to the Pacific Islands.
Strategic tool
“Our core competency is sourcing products based on customers’ requirements. We have developed various products manufactured OEM in Asia and marketed with their own proprietary brand names. Multitrade also has agencies of globally recognised brands of lighting, tools, tap-ware and other plumbing products with exclusive rights to export to Pacific Island market,” Mr Patel said.
He developed the ‘Balanced Scorecard,’ a learning tool from the ‘Icehouse’ Owner Manager Programme, which encourages managers to relate key data from information management systems against the company’s business plan.
“We use this information to develop and implement short and medium term strategies,” Mr Patel said.
