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A Tale Of 2 Immigrants—& 2 Cellphones

by Thomas MacMillan | Jul 31, 2008 1:01 pm

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Posted to: Immigrants, International, Fair Haven

073008_TurqCell-3.jpgMuhammed Ugurlu is building a successful Fair Haven cellphone business by creating personal connections with other local immigrants. He spent one morning this week helping out Amir Shog, whose face was still swollen from getting jumped the night before.

Ugurlu recently opened his shop, TurqCell, on a stretch of Grand Avenue currently undergoing a revitalization (previous story here). The native of Turkey is one more entrepreneur in an immigrant neighborhood that’s trying to build itself up in a down economy. Since opening his store in April, Ugurlu has been doing well. He attributes his success to his customer service and his efforts to reach out to locals, like Egyptian immigrant Amir Shog.

Amir’s New Phone

IMG_1681.jpgAmir Shog was in the store (pictured) on Tuesday morning, clutching a towel to his swollen face and buying a new cellphone to replace the one he’d lost when he was mugged the night before. Ugurlu hooked Shog up with a new phone, made sure he had the right charger, and even disposed of his therapeutic towel. Shog walked out with a brand new phone, unaware that he’d be back in less than an hour with a new cellphone problem.

In the meantime, Ugurlu sat down with a reporter and, over a cup of strong black Turkish tea, explained why his business is a success with Fair Haveners.

073008_TurqCell-1.jpg“Customer service,” he said. “I fix their phones, I do stuff sometimes for free, I show them choices.” Ugurlu said that his efforts have given him a reputation in the neighborhood. Word of mouth brings in customers from far and wide, despite the fact that Ugurlu hasn’t done any advertising.

“I have a customer that comes here from Meriden, because he has a friend in Fair Haven that recommended me,” Ugurlu said.

Ugrulu explained that he has tapped into the close-knit Latino community in Fair Haven, which can be challenging, since he doesn’t speak Spanish.

“Ninety percent of my customers are Spanish-speaking,” Ugurlu said. Sometimes hand gestures and pen and paper don’t cut it, and customers have to pull in a translator off the street. He said that he offers undocumented immigrants a variety of pre-paid cellphone contracts, the kind that don’t require a social security number.

Ugurlu has found support from local community leaders like developer Angelo Reyes. He’s also made helpful connections with the Grand Avenue Village Association, an organization of local merchants working together to revitalize the neighborhood.

On a street that has recently seen three businesses robbed, Ugurlu said he sometimes feels unsafe. But he’s confident that his store will not be targeted, “because I have a good relationship with people.”

Amir Returns

073008_TurqCell-2.jpgPretty soon Amir Shog (at right in picture) showed up again. Earlier, he’d come to TurqCell because he didn’t have a phone. He came back because he found out he actually had one phone too many. Turns out the phone that he thought had been taken by muggers was actually under his bed the whole time.

Ugurlu couldn’t take back the phone he’d sold to Shog that morning. But he did offer to help him get rid of his old phone. “I’ll try to sell it and give you the money,” Ugurlu said, explaining that he’d put it in his display and offer it as an option to his customers. Shog ultimately decided to just hold onto both of his phones.

It wasn’t the first time Ugurlu has offered to do a free consignment for somebody who ends up with an unneeded phone. “Sometimes people buy phones on the street in New York, and then find out they don’t work with their plan,” Ugurlu said.

Thinking Globally

Despite the success of his cell phone store, Ugurlu sees the business as just a temporary means of survival. He has global aspirations.

Starting in August, Ugurlu will begin taking night classes at the University of Bridgeport, working towards a master’s degree in global development and peace. He hopes to get a job working internationally with the U.N. or the World Bank.

In the two years it will take to get his degree, Ugurlu will continue working six days a week as the only employee of TurqCell. He’s hoping that business will remain steady.

“I’m not looking to make tons of money,” he said. “It’s just to help me survive.”

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