We Aim to Increase Our Total Sales by 60% by the End of 2025

Interview: Dilek Hayırlı

Mektaş Makina owner İbrahim Keklik said; “Our goals for the rest of 2024 and 2025 are big. First of all, we will focus on strengthening our sales-oriented strategies and increasing new customer acquisition. We have planned to grow especially in the European and Asian markets. By the end of 2025, we aim to increase our total sales by 60%.”

Mektaş was established in 2007 to operate in the textile and garment machinery sector. The main purpose of the establishment was to close the gaps in the sector by offering innovative and quality products to the local market. Adopting a business model based on customer satisfaction and product quality in its foundation years, Mektaş rapidly strengthened its position in the sector. With its quality-oriented approach and innovative solutions, it has become a reliable brand in a short time. The collaborations and partnerships it has established with domestic and foreign industry-leading brands and companies have enabled it to increase its resources and know-how, to achieve a stronger position and to grow on a global scale.

Mektaş has gained a solid place in the sector with its customer-oriented approach, technological innovations and quality products by showing continuous growth and development since its establishment. The company is innovative in order to maintain this success in the future plans to continue its work in line with its projects and sustainability targets. We interviewed with İbrahim Keklik, Owner of Mektaş Makina, for our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Evaluating the latest developments in the garment industry, Keklik explained their targets and projects for 2025.

“Since we do business with various sectors, we overcome the contraction with the least loss”

We are about to leave 9 months of 2024 behind. How is the year 2024 going for Mektaş? Can you explain with your machine sales figures? What are your expectations and targets for the rest of 2024 and 2025?

In 2024, the textile and garment sectors experienced a contraction of around 40% compared to previous years. Thanks to the fact that our company does business in furniture and various sectors other than textile and garment, we overcome this contraction with the least loss. For the rest of 2024 and for 2025, we have big targets. Firstly, we will focus on strengthening our sales-oriented strategies and increasing new customer acquisition. We have planned to grow especially in the European and Asian markets. We aim to increase our total sales by 60% by the end of 2025. In addition, we will develop various training and support programmes to deepen our relationships with our existing customers and provide them with better service. We believe that we will achieve these targets with our ability to respond quickly to customer demands and our understanding of continuous innovation.

Can you give information about the sectoral strength and product range of the companies you represent in the Turkish market? Which products do Turkish customers demand the most?

Optitex CAD is a software solution that offers simulation in digital fashion design, pattern creation, 3D prototyping and production processes. It allows users to design in an environment close to reality. Since Turkey has a strong tradition in textile and fashion design, Optitex products are especially preferred by large garment manufacturers. Companies turn to Optitex to reduce production and sample costs and speed up their processes. Optitex provides a great competitive advantage to brands thanks to its ability to create real-time designs and realistic 3D simulation.

TKT DoT is another major player offering drawing machines for the textile and garment industry. It fulfils the need for pastel drawing in the process of converting CAD software into production. Manufactured in Spain, these plotters offer a significant productivity advantage with high quality and speed.

Our Dante brand was born with our policy of reaching quality at a cost-effective price and in a short time has spread both in Turkey and all over the world as plotter and cutting machines. With our own brand and the advantages of producing abroad, we are able to offer quality machines and solutions to the market at affordable prices. With our R&D investments, the product range is constantly expanding, allowing us to reach sectoral diversity.

How do the companies you represent implement technological innovations? How do they approach current trends in the garment industry such as sustainability, digitalisation, environmentally friendly product policy? How does Mektaş adapt to these trends?

Sustainability, digitalisation and environmentally friendly product policies are gaining more importance day by day in the garment industry. Digitalisation in the sector enables production processes to become more efficient and flexible. While a more efficient production process is achieved through digitalisation, fewer resources are used and the waste generated is significantly reduced. As a result, we aim to both reduce our environmental impact and remain competitive by taking these trends in the garment industry into consideration.

What kind of activities do you carry out to increase your brand awareness and customer satisfaction?

We increase our brand awareness by reaching a wide audience through social media, digital marketing and traditional media tools. We aim to reassure potential customers by sharing customer stories, success stories and user experiences. In addition, we strengthen our presence in the sector with the events, exhibitions and seminars we attend. We have established qualified technical teams to ensure the quality of our after-sales services. In addition, we increase our capacity to intervene immediately in case of any problem by providing 24/7 accessibility. We receive detailed feedback on customer experiences, especially after the purchase. We evaluate the suggestions of our customers and endeavour to offer innovative solutions for their needs.

“Demand for Eco-Friendly, Sustainable, Digital and Cost- Effective Products Increased”

 What kind of changes and demands do you observe in local and international customer demands? How do these changes affect the strategies of Mektaş?

In today’s world where globalisation is at its fastest pace, global and local customers express the same demands, although not to the same extent. In the global market, we observe that consumers show an increasing interest in environmentally friendly and sustainable products. The tendency towards brands using natural and recyclable materials is increasing. There is a similar trend in the local market. Common customer demands include digitalisation and use of technology, sustainability and environmental awareness, personalisation, fast delivery and technical support. In addition, economic fluctuations increase the price sensitivity of customers in the local market. Interest and demand for cost-effective products have increased. Our company also evaluates these criteria and tries to offer products and solutions with appropriate features and prices to the market.

What can you say about the advantages and disadvantages of the Turkish textile and garment industry in international competition? Can you evaluate Turkey’s strengths in the sector?

The Turkish textile and garment industry offers unique advantages and disadvantages in international competition. Turkey has logistical advantages in both export and import processes due to its strategic location between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. This allows for short delivery times and low transport costs. Turkey is strong in the production of high-quality fabrics and garments. Production processes are supported by the combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. Turkey has a strong industrial infrastructure for the textile and garment sector and a skilled and experienced workforce. The ability to respond quickly to fashion and trend changes is an important advantage of the Turkish textile and garment industry. Disadvantage are; labour and production costs, political and economic instability, especially when compared to some eastern European, Asian and African countries, can have a negative impact on reliability and predictability in international markets. In conclusion, the Turkish textile and garment industry has a dynamic structure with its strengths and the challenges of international competition. Its position in the sector can be strengthened by further increasing its strengths and minimising disadvantages.

“We Do Good Financial Planning for Unexpected Situations”

 How do global economic fluctuations and geopolitical risks affect the sector? What kind of strategies do you develop to cope with such risks?

Global economic fluctuations and geopolitical risks affect the textile and garment industry in many ways. In order to cope with these effects and such risks, we diversify both in terms of suppliers and markets, and we make long-term supply contracts to keep costs under control. We are prepared for unexpected situations by doing good financial planning, management and financial reserves. Focusing on product development processes and seeking innovative solutions, providing competitive advantage, and innovating are among the measures we take. It is critical to adapt to changing market conditions. While global economic fluctuations and geopolitical risks can pose significant threats to the textile and garment industry, we believe that these risks can be managed with the right strategies.

“We will Exhibit Our New Products for the First Time at GarmentTech Istanbul Exhibition’

Can you give information about the products and technologies you will exhibit at GarmentTech Istanbul Exhibition? How is your preparation process for the exhibition progressing?

GarmentTech Istanbul Exhibition is an important event in the textile and garment industry and offers the opportunity to recognise and promote innovations, technologies and products in the sector. We will exhibit products that offer all modelling and cutting room solutions together; CAD/CAM software and digital prototyping solutions, drawing and cutting machines and products that accelerate the design process and make it more effective. We will also have products that we will exhibit for the first time at this exhibition. We believe that we will offer our customers a more effective and efficient workflow thanks to these innovative products. We invite all our customers to our stand to see these products.

Can you give information about the future targets and vision of Mektaş?

As Mektaş, we aim to expand in local and international markets and plan to increase our global presence with new business partnerships and distributorships. We are conducting strategic research to explore new markets. In line with these goals, Mektaş aims to grow continuously and maintain its leadership in the sector.