Meet Mark Giles, Owner of Phrixus Technologies in Mount Kuring-Gai
Phrixus Technologies provides Managed IT Services to small to medium-sized businesses Australia wide.
Why did you start your business?
Having a technical background, I arrived in Australia wanting to continue this passion and interest and for the previous 6 years had been working for the world’s largest Virtual Reality company, so I directed my business towards VR. Take up was slow as the technology was too advanced at the time for the market. I was also working for a small IT supplier and realised the need to support the IT we were selling, and the business grew from there.
What’s the story behind your business?
Initially I won a large contract supplying display PC systems for Keno, the business direction was really IT support and as we kept on being referred to other businesses we kept growing. We then moved out of being a home-based business in my garage to a commercial unit in Mount Kuring-Gai in 2003.
Who works in your business?
We have a small team of 5 staff that I have retained for a long time, my senior tech has been with me for over 12 years and the other staff have been with us a minimum of 5 years each.
What are the benefits of your products and services?
We provide reliable and affordable IT products and services. Clients with access to professional IT support are much more efficient and profitable and their staff avoid the frustrations of working with IT and cloud solutions.
How do you help your customers?
With our friendly approach to IT support and being attentive and efficient, we educate our clients with the best way to utilise their IT investments.
What is unique about you and your business?
We do not sell products and solutions to our clients just to achieve any sales targets. All the products we provide add value and reliability.
Why are you passionate about your area of work?
Our staff are passionate about technology and the advances it has made in the modern workplace. Being able to recommend and implement solutions to our clients to make them more efficient and to achieve an outcome is very rewarding.
How do you keep yourself and your team motivated?
We conduct regular weekly team meetings and have ongoing on-the-job training for our staff. All staff are keen to continue to learn new technology and this is a driving influence.
Why do you love being a local Hornsby Shire business?
After arriving in Australia in 1998 I setup home and then my business in the Hornsby Shire region. It’s a great area to live and do business.
Why are you a member of Hornsby Chamber of Commerce?
I have been a member for the most part of the last 18 years and it has been good to see the way the chamber has developed over the past couple of years and adds value to its members. I would like to get to more face to face meetings when we are allowed again.
Why do you think small businesses are so important to the local communities and Australian economy?
Employees in small business amount to 97% of the Country’s workforce, there are over 25,000 businesses in the Sydney area alone so these figures cannot be overlooked.
Who inspires you and why?
As a lifelong fan of Leicester City in the UK they certainly inspire me, a small team with modest background managing to win the most prestigious Premier League title a few years ago is an inspiration to everyone as to what can be accomplished with great teamwork. On an individual basis I have had many mentors over the years all that have had an influence and inspire me.
To find out more about Phrixus Technologies, visit their website: www.phrixus.com
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