A Dundee entrepreneur who was wiped out by a £5 million legal battle has now been recognised with one of the highest business honours.
Yusuf Okhai achieved sales of almost £20m through his company Medea International, which sold cut price ink cartridges from the former Levi’s factory in Dundee.
Then printer giant Epson launched High Court proceedings claiming patent infringement.
After almost five years the case was settled in 2010 but the costs of the fight meant there was “nothing left”.
“We should never have fought because they had a lot more money than us,” Yusuf recalled.
“It was fight or be killed but at the end of that process there was nothing left.”
Unlikely product led to million sales
After the case, Yusuf sold the ink cartridge business. He was then involved with a company making a small perfume spray bottle but fell out with his partners.
Down on his luck, Yusuf’s unlikely saviour came in the form of a knife sharpener and a glowing review from his mum.
“I went to an Ideal Home Show in London and a guy was doing a car boot sales type pitch,” he said.
“I bought the knife sharpener for my mum and asked her if she already had one. She said she had eight – I couldn’t understand why she had so many.
“She was astonished that this one actually worked. That was all the encouragement I needed.
“I tracked down the patent holder in Taiwan, who was also the manufacturer.
My first order was for 100 units. I sold three on my first day on Amazon which I thought was amazing.
“We made a few changes and improved it further and I launched the Any Sharp brand.
“It became the bestselling knife sharpener on Amazon and it’s now in Lakeland and John Lewis.”
More than a decade later it now sells around a million units a year to more than 50 countries.
But remarkably it’s not Yusuf’s only million selling product.
Yusuf’s second million seller
Five years ago he became determined to improve the quality of water bottles. His Ion8 bottles are based on a concept of being able to be used with one hand.
“Who has two hands these days? You could be holding your phone, your child’s hand, a sports bag,” he said.
“I remember walking in the Overgate Shopping Centre from Sports Direct to Stormfront and the only shop not selling a water bottle was Lush.
“I looked at the water bottles on the market and they were terrible – awkward to put water in, leak if they’re dropped, difficult to drink from. It just really upset me.
“Ours are one touch and 100% leak proof.”
The water bottles include a range made from organic materials from plants.
He said his million sales a year for Ion8 was just the start and could ultimately lead to a Dundee factory being established.
The brands operate within Yusuf’s company Aydya which today has been awarded with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
He hopes to grow the business in new markets, including the USA, and build its brands in the UK and across Europe. Exports already account for around a third of Aydya’s turnover.
Same award won by his dad
The award is particularly significant to Yusuf. His father Ibrahim also won a Queen’s Award when he owned the famous James Keiller marmalade factory in Dundee.
“My dad died four years ago but I remember him winning in the 1980s,” he said.
“It’s like it’s gone full circle. The Queen’s Award was always the benchmark for me.
“It speaks of British standards and at the time of Brexit I think it’s valuable. We are elated.
“It recognises the global reach of business with exports to dozens of countries around the world.”
