Tag: startups

A real bootstrapper – literally

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

The other day I was in the RACV club when I ran into a business I had heard about.

shineshoeshine – which as you’ve probably guessed is a shoe shine business run by bootstrapping entrepreneur Kate Kay.

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I had a chat with Kate who has a permanent shoe shine location in the Rialto Towers in Melbourne – a classic corporate targeted location. But also sets up in lots of temporary locations as can be seen above in the RACV city club.

There’s a lot to like about this business:

  • low startup costs (Some polish, foot stools, a chair…)
  • Reinvents old world values and personal service
  • Instant cash payments for service
  • Ability to be mobile

and my favourite part which I’ll talk about in more detail….

What Kate is now doing is offering her services as a promotional tool. Where brands & company’s can hire her services as a special offer to their staff or customers. The cool thing about this idea is that Kate can become your personal selling agent and talk to her ‘captive audience’ about which ever topic you choose, while her and her staff are busy shinning.

I think it’s a great idea, with a cool point of difference – You can contact her here.

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What to change

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

There is no limit to the available resources available to entrepreneurs these days. Everyone is an ‘expert’ on what ‘you’ should be doing with your business. This blog included.

So with all the recommendations of what makes sense, it really comes down to one thing: What to change.

What should we change to make our startup more successful, and the answer is this:

Only change things which aren’t working.

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Regardless of who the advice comes from – even if it is advice from the uber successful. Their method might not work in your industry, with your team, or maybe, they got lucky. If you’ve worked out a method that works, stick with it.

Only take advice, where advice or change is needed.

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Irony

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

I’ve been thinking late that many of our so called labour saving inventions are simply a bad idea. Including but not limited to escalators, revolving doors, auto opening doors and electric hedge trimmers. These tiny ‘exercise saving’ devices have become so pervasive that we had to invent other little machines which are ‘labour creating’ – like gym memberships, treadmills and other contraptions we’d find in a gym….

Net result = obesity crisis

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Here’s an idea: remove all the unneeded labour saving devices, (exclude those needed for disabled access) reduce energy requirements, remove the need for gyms and improve the health of the populous.

Startup crew out there – create something which helps society.

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Value & people

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

We often define value in monetary terms. I try not to. Because value is quite simply not defined as such in it’s primary meaning.

The dictionary defines value as the following: relative worth, merit, or importance.

That said, we ought define the value of what we do and create to how important it is for us and the people around us. If we do this, the money will find us.

Speaking of people….

Here’s a list of things people are not:

  • Targets
  • Numbers
  • Revenue opportunities
  • Resources
  • Demographics
  • (Insert marketing jargon here)

Only when we treat whoever we are dealing with in buisness like people, will we get the positive response we are hoping for.

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Business Pitch

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

The other day I was involved in pitching my business rentoid.com – I wanted to stay true to my beliefs and present a largely visual presentation to what I expected was an ‘info hungry’ crowd. The type who don’t mind a page full of words and numbers. My rule was no more than 6 words per slide. Some had only 2.

I think the format is pretty useful, so I thought I’d share it. Basically in each chart just change the word ‘rentoid’ and insert ‘your business’ and I think it would be just fine. It was for a pitching competition (I know they seem to be the trend of the day) and we made it to the final after a few stages so I guess it’s a method which has worked. It’s only 5 slides. I think talking to pictures works because it makes people listen, not read, and it shows you know your business.

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Start this file

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Here’s what to do today:

First:

Start a file in your email application which says the following:

‘Mentors & encouragement’

Next:

Whenever you get an email thanking you, admiring you, or congratulating you – save it in this file.

After:

During the tough times / days / challenging periods in startup land, read these emails you have gathered over time.

They will help you battle on. Today I got one such email saying ‘I rock’ – for a little thing I did for someone. I felt really good about it. So I saved it in said file.

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* This may sound egotistical, but in world full of knockers, and negativity it’s a little thing which helps us stay the course.

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