Success Stories - Start-Up Phase Forum

admin · 01-10-2008, 04:45 AM

Tell us your success story. It will upbuild all of us. Details- please How did you do it?

Thanks for sharing.

mollyL · 01-29-2008, 09:30 AM

Sally, I don't know that I have a success story for you but I plan to! I want to say that your forums have been invaluable in giving me lots of ideas and support.

Clancy · 02-01-2008, 10:39 PM

Description: Modular furniture manfacturer with more than 50 sales outlets
Founders: Shawn Nelson, 28
Location: Salt Lake City
2004 projected sales: More than $30 million
http://www.lovesac.com

A Bag Is Born: At age 18, Shawn Nelson was watching TV on the couch when he decided "a huge beanbag thing" might be more comfortable. He bought 14 yards of vinyl, cut it into a baseball shape, and spent three weeks filling it with anything soft he could find. The finished LoveSac was 7 feet wide, and everyone who saw it tried it out--and loved it.

Pocket Power: When neighbors started placing orders, Nelson decided to start his company almost as a joke. With free help from his friends, he made the LoveSacs in his parents' basement and sold them at trade shows, events and even the drive-in. Business was moderate at best, until he got a call on his cell phone that changed his life: a quarter-million-dollar order from Too Inc., which was looking for a back-to-school offering for its Limited Too stores. "I answered the phone and said, 'Twelve thousand LoveSacs? Sure, no problem. That's what we do; we're the best in the world at it,'" remembers Nelson.

Hard Road: Undaunted, Nelson amassed $50,000 in credit card debt building a factory. He worked 19-hour days and slept at the factory. "It nearly broke me emotionally, physically, mentally," Nelson says. "My hands were cracked and bleeding. We finished the order [for Too Inc.] but ate up all our profits." Just when things seemed darkest, a deceptively simple idea presented itself: Open a mall store. Not just any store, but one designed from the beginning to look like an upscale chain--even before it was a chain. It paid off: With some 55 stores, about half of them franchised, LoveSac is looking at sales topping $30 million this year.

Looking Forward: "We're headed toward owning [the market for] oversized living," says Nelson, who dispenses with all modesty where his business is concerned. "We're going to have a catalog that'll be three inches thick, selling everything that's over-the-top, bling-bling, LoveSac-get-out-of-our-freaking-way."

Unstoppable: No one fully expected LoveSac's success-not even Nelson himself. He says being committed to solving any problem is vital to his--and any entrepreneur's-success. "Decide that there is always a way," he says, "and you'll find that there is."

http://www.entrepreneur.com/worklife...icle78418.html

admin · 02-05-2008, 05:13 PM

Here are a bunch of success stories. It's really encouraging to see that we CAN succeed!

http://www.wenportal.org/success_stories/

admin · 02-05-2008, 05:25 PM

"One of the things you learn if you want to be a successful start-up is that you have to have at least one person who’s totally dedicated to getting the job done,” muses Roest. "You must have someone who will not take no for an answer. It’s a core success factor.”

http://www.maxpc.co.uk/features/defa...bsectionid=606

Jill Morehouse · 08-03-2008, 12:10 PM

I like reading success stories. When I have more time I plan to share a few that I've had. I look forward to getting to know and interact with the people here. I work from home and have 3 children. It would be nice to have an adult conversation. It's hard for me to get away from home so this will be perfect.

Jill

01-10-2008, 04:45 AM	#1
admin Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 527 Rep Power: 10	Success Stories Tell us your success story. It will upbuild all of us. Details- please How did you do it? Thanks for sharing. __________________ ~Sally~

02-01-2008, 10:39 PM	#3
Clancy Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	From Couch Potato to Furniture King Description: Modular furniture manfacturer with more than 50 sales outlets Founders: Shawn Nelson, 28 Location: Salt Lake City 2004 projected sales: More than $30 million http://www.lovesac.com A Bag Is Born: At age 18, Shawn Nelson was watching TV on the couch when he decided "a huge beanbag thing" might be more comfortable. He bought 14 yards of vinyl, cut it into a baseball shape, and spent three weeks filling it with anything soft he could find. The finished LoveSac was 7 feet wide, and everyone who saw it tried it out--and loved it. Pocket Power: When neighbors started placing orders, Nelson decided to start his company almost as a joke. With free help from his friends, he made the LoveSacs in his parents' basement and sold them at trade shows, events and even the drive-in. Business was moderate at best, until he got a call on his cell phone that changed his life: a quarter-million-dollar order from Too Inc., which was looking for a back-to-school offering for its Limited Too stores. "I answered the phone and said, 'Twelve thousand LoveSacs? Sure, no problem. That's what we do; we're the best in the world at it,'" remembers Nelson. Hard Road: Undaunted, Nelson amassed $50,000 in credit card debt building a factory. He worked 19-hour days and slept at the factory. "It nearly broke me emotionally, physically, mentally," Nelson says. "My hands were cracked and bleeding. We finished the order [for Too Inc.] but ate up all our profits." Just when things seemed darkest, a deceptively simple idea presented itself: Open a mall store. Not just any store, but one designed from the beginning to look like an upscale chain--even before it was a chain. It paid off: With some 55 stores, about half of them franchised, LoveSac is looking at sales topping $30 million this year. Looking Forward: "We're headed toward owning [the market for] oversized living," says Nelson, who dispenses with all modesty where his business is concerned. "We're going to have a catalog that'll be three inches thick, selling everything that's over-the-top, bling-bling, LoveSac-get-out-of-our-freaking-way." Unstoppable: No one fully expected LoveSac's success-not even Nelson himself. He says being committed to solving any problem is vital to his--and any entrepreneur's-success. "Decide that there is always a way," he says, "and you'll find that there is." http://www.entrepreneur.com/worklife...icle78418.html

02-05-2008, 05:13 PM	#4
admin Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 527 Rep Power: 10	Success Stories Here are a bunch of success stories. It's really encouraging to see that we CAN succeed! http://www.wenportal.org/success_stories/ __________________ ~Sally~

02-05-2008, 05:25 PM	#5
admin Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 527 Rep Power: 10	Shazam, a mobile song-recognition service - Many challenges "One of the things you learn if you want to be a successful start-up is that you have to have at least one person who’s totally dedicated to getting the job done,” muses Roest. "You must have someone who will not take no for an answer. It’s a core success factor.” http://www.maxpc.co.uk/features/defa...bsectionid=606 __________________ ~Sally~

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01-29-2008, 09:30 AM	#2
mollyL Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Sally, I don't know that I have a success story for you but I plan to! I want to say that your forums have been invaluable in giving me lots of ideas and support.

08-03-2008, 12:10 PM	#6
Jill Morehouse Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	I like reading success stories. When I have more time I plan to share a few that I've had. I look forward to getting to know and interact with the people here. I work from home and have 3 children. It would be nice to have an adult conversation. It's hard for me to get away from home so this will be perfect. Jill