A local Internet start-up is looking to double in size and is on the search for some new team members.
Giftcard Zen, a website where people can buy and sell giftcards at a discounted rate, was started by Aaron Dragushan in September 2012. Since its start, Giftcard Zen grows 15 percent each month.
Dragushan was inspired to start the business after he saw a similar idea pitched on the television show Shark Tank. He says what separates his company from his competitors is the emphasis on electronic gift cards.
“People are selling us their gift cards,” Dragushan explained. “A good example would be if someone gave you a Nordstrom gift card and there’s no Nordstrom in Flagstaff, you could sell it to us for 80 cents on the dollar and we would sell it to somebody who loves Nordstrom for 90 cents on the dollar.”
Dragushan manages the business side of the company, including development, sales, customer service and finance. Rizo, the dog, is in charge of creating a happy office environment. After nearly two years of growth, Giftcard Zen is looking to expand and is hiring for the following positions:
- Two customer service specialists
- Two website developers
- Two sales representatives
Dragushan strives to make Giftcard Zen the best workplace it can be. “The truth is that gift cards are what we do as a business, but what we’re about is being a great place to work,” he said.
The office is lined with windows, creating a vibrant workspace, and employees get paid to participate in yoga practice every Thursday. Employees can also receive health insurance benefits through an HSA account, to which the company contributes.
Dragushan says he strives to provide employees with the space and tools they need to do their jobs and then gets out of their way.
“It’s all about people’s freedom to do a great job without being micromanaged,” Dragushan said. “We set the direction and then you kind of go off and fill in the blanks. A lot of that has to do with start-up culture – you’re growing so fast that micromanaging doesn’t work. You need to hire great people and then trust them.”
Dragushan said he wants to keep Giftcard Zen in Flagstaff because of its open and unique environment.
“I was living in Flagstaff when the business started, and it’s been amazing to be in Flagstaff because it’s a very intentional town,” he said. “People are choosing this town to live in and are very happy to be here, so we want to grow in Flagstaff and provide great jobs.” FBN
For more information or to apply for a position, visit GiftcardZen.com.
By Maria DiCosola