Mr. Papageorgiou, Johnson Tech Hellas AE, interview

17 LYCEUM OF ATHENS INTERVIEW with CEO Mr. G. Papageorgiou of

Johnson Health Tech Hellas AE.

eTwinning project on ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2014-2015

ENTREPRENEURIALPROJECT Public link to this TwinSpace: http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net/web/p105472 `

Our students visited the premises of Johnson Health Tech Hellas AE. in Athens where Mr. Papageorgiou welcomed them.

Our students recorded the interview and the link can be found on You Tube where you can enjoy the whole interview in English!

We thank Mr. Papageorgiou for being so kind to respond in English so as everyone in other countries can understand him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwEBuvtM6z8&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGgwWJ2PvUU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkZeEIhan9o

1.The Entrepreneur 2.Challenges 3.Opportunities 4.Measures of Success

The Entrepreneur Johnson Health Tech Hellas AE. The company was founded in 1975, in Taiwan by Peter and Cindy.

The Greek representative office was created in 2014.

The company provides high tech fitness equipment to hotels, individuals and gyms.

Meanwhile the company is also sponsor to a Greek well known football team; 'Panathinaikos' .

The company is located next to a monument of great historical importance , the Panathinaiko Stadium where the first Olympic Games were held in 1896.

Mr. George Papageorgiou is the CEO of the Greek branch whom we visited on Friday 14th of November 2014. He was kind enough to offer us an interview. He explained to us many things about the business and what it is like to be an entrepreneur.

The company has a website at : http://gr.corporate.johnsonfitness.com/ European and other partners can be found here: http://www.matrixfitness.com/content/europe

By Evelina Dejongste

Challenges - In a period of economic crisis in Greece, Europe and globally it is a risk to start a new business.

The risk proved to be worth the effort as it seems people are turning to sports and working out to relieve stress. Therefore gyms are sprouting in every neighborhood which translates into a demand for fitness equipment. Individuals are also becoming more aware of the values of exercise and are buying fitness equipment as well. The fitness market is opening up despite the financial ‘crisis’ while other sectors of the business world are unfortunatelly closing down.

- Providing service and products on demand is an ongoing challenge the company sucecssfully handles as the ‘mother’ company takes care of everything. They construct and distribute the equipment offering service as well.

- Mr. Papageorgiou hasn’t got much free time for his family, though he receives support from them. He tries to keep a balance between family and business. He says it is difficult to handle both when you don’t have free time. Sometimes there is free time thanks to the fact that they belong to a big brand. On other occasions he tries to exercise, by running.

- Advertising and promoting their equipment and services pose another challenge. They deal with it via innovative ideas he explains in the video.

Opportunities - Despite the ‘crisis’ there is rising interest in the market for fitness equipment.

- They have become sponsors of PANATHINAIKOS football team which is a great promotional opportunity for a fresh business and also equip large hotels and organizations.

- The ‘mother’ company takes care of their families with incentive programs they offer. For example this year the company has set a target and if the Greek company reaches it, they will win a trip to Shanghai in China for himself and his family.

- A second example he mentioned was that the daughter of the MP of Italy won a drawing contest. Therefore the girl will receive a prize and also the company will provide her school with necessary equipment.

Success Mr. Papageorgiou answered that the best thing is when he creates a new project and when he realizes when his customer is satisfied. He emphasized on the point when he sees that his customer is satisfied with what they have agreed and that it is working.

Moreover Mr. Papageorgiou stressed that most important is not the money he earns, but at the end having happy customers and progress for his business.

Mr. Papageorgiou explained that the company was only recently established, in April of 2014, therefore they have run a very short period in order to set their targets. However, they have already managed to build awareness in the market (to make the company known).

The fact that they equip large gyms, hotel gyms and are the sponsors of ‘PANATHINAIKOS’ football team is a promising step towards establishing themselves in the Greek Market.

With regards to the numbers in Greece, their goal is to break even. If they reach to make a profit, then they consider themselves successful.

By Eleni Pampori

The students who visited Mr.Papageorgiou and conducted the interview, were: Maria Papageorgiou, Evelina Dejongste, Evelina Tsomi, Mariza Christofi, all Year 11 students (in the 2nd grade of Lyceum).

Teacher : Elen Sotiropoulou

Our questions

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17 LYCEUM ATHENS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1.

WHERE IS THE COMPANY LOCATED?

2.

WHAT IS THE MAIN SUBJECT OF YOUR COMPANY?

3.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO DEAL WITH/DO THIS BUSINESS?

4.

DO YOU WORK OUT/EXERCISE/ LIKE SWEETS/ENJOY COOKING?

5.

IN WHICH WAY DO YOU FIND YOUR JOB/BUSINESS FULFILLING?

6.

WAS THIS BUSINESS A DREAM YOU HAD SINCE YOU WERE YOUNG?

7.

WHAT SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED FROM SOMEONE TO MAKE IT IN THIS KIND OF BUSINESS?

8.

WHAT SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS DO YOUR EMPLOEES NEED TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE JOB DEMANDS?

9.

WHAT RESOURCES DID YOU ACCESS AND UTILIZE TO GROW YOUR COMPANY?

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2014-2015

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

10. WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE LIKE? WORKING HOURS? PART-TIME? OVER-TIME? 11. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOU PERSONALLY? 12. WHAT ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES? 13. WAS IT EASY TO FIND ALL THE FORMS OF SUPPORT YOU NEEDED? 14. IS IT DIFFICULT TO PROMOTE YOUR COMPANY NOWADAYS THAT MONEY IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR BUSINESSES? 15. HOW DO YOU PROMOTE / ADVERTISE YOUR COMPANY? (IN GREECE – ABROAD)

16. WHAT ARE SOME DAILY TASKS YOU NEED TO PERFORM ROUTINELY? 17. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORKPLACE? WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE- IF ANY? 18. HAS THE GENERAL CRISIS AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS PROFIT? 19. HAS IT BEEN EASY TO GET FUNDING /DO THE PAPERWORK TO GET THE LICENCE / PERMIT? 20. WHAT KIND OF DIFFICULTIES/ CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE AT THE START? 21. HOW DID YOU TACKLE THE CHALLENGES? 22. WHAT KIND OF DRAWBACKS DO YOU HAVE NOW? IF ANY… 23. DO / DID YOU FACE ANY PRBLEMS WITH THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES OR TAXATION DEPARTMENT? 24. HOW HAS THIS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE? 25. DO YOU HAVE ANY FREE TIME? HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND IT? 26. WHICH IS THE MOST SATISFACTORY EXPERIENCE YOUR BUSINESS HAS OFFERED YOU THIS FAR? 27. WHICH WERE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR COMPANY? DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN REALISING THEM? 28. WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED? 29. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE STARTING UP A SIMILAR BUSINESS? 30. WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE YOUR STORE/PRODUCTS/SERVICES?

Keep working out…..that’s the spirit!

We wish to thank Mr.Papageorgiou for the interview and his kindness and wish him all the best in his Business as an Entrepreneur!