Interviews

The Solution for Multiple Hat Syndrome: Interview with Gloria Bell from Red Stapler Consulting

posted November 14, 2008 by Alexis S.  |  Comments (0)


Entrepreneurs wear multiple hats each day. From networking, creating invoices, developing contracts, managing clients, to actually performing whatever their specific skill-set may be, entrepreneurs often find the entire process to be rather exhausting. Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs cannot afford to hire an office manager to handle all of these daily tasks.

Gloria Bell noticed that her entrepreneurial friends were struggling to manage some of their office work. She was also aware that her friends were able to carry out some tasks, like keeping in contact with clients, but were terrible at other tasks, such as keeping track of their invoices, etc. Gloria was mindful of these issues due to the fact that she had spent years performing office managerial duties for corporations both large and small. After assessing her own skill-sets, Gloria realized that she could offer a la carte office management services, that would prove to be incredibly valuable for the independent workers facing difficulties maintaining certain aspects of their business. It was at this moment that Gloria decided to formalize her idea and create Red Stapler Consulting:

“Red Stapler Consulting was formed to meet the unique needs of freelancers, independents and small businesses.  We want to provide them with the assistance and means to bring their business to the next level and higher.  By providing office management and business administration services on an as needed, a la carte basis, we provide our clients with superior service at a price that takes into consideration an indie’s budget.”

I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Gloria about her new business. She not only went into great detail about her services, but  also displayed sincere passion and enthusiasm for her business and the ability to assist others.

What is Red Stapler Consulting?

We offer business and office management services primarily for freelancers, independents and small businesses. Red Stapler is also a business touch point for entrepreneurs seeking business advice. My clients can call me to discuss certain services or even if they have a quick question. I want to be a resource for business information.

Where did you get the idea for Red Stapler Consulting?

I have run three small businesses before. Through the last one, I met several independents and freelancers and began to understand their business models and lifestyle. One thing I often heard was, “I don’t have time to do this or I am not good at doing this.” These independents were stuck performing these tasks, because they couldn’t afford to hire someone to do office management. 

I noticed that when creative freelancers are suddenly pulled away from work and have to update client contacts or invoices, that there is a huge lag time that may detract from their creative process. They don’t realize how much money they are losing from being pulled away from their work. So my thought was, let me create a business that will perform that one service that they don’t like to do. If I can help one person run their business better and as a result be much happier, only then will I consider myself successful. 

Why did you want to create your own business?

I was burned out in my previous job. I interacted with a lot of individuals who had their own business and they were a true inspiration. After I realized that there was an opportunity out there to do something I was passionate about, I had do make the move.  I wanted to take charge of my own destiny.

How did you prepare for the launch of Red Stapler Consulting?

I sat down and looked at what my experience was, what skills I have, and questioned if those skills were strong enough to help people run their business better. Overall, I didn’t need to do much planning since I am working with services and not selling a product. I looked at my best skills and thought about how I could use them to help other people. Then I made the website and started to spread the word through twitter, friends, etc.

How is Red Stapler Consulting different from other virtual/personal assistants?

Our business is very different from personal assistants, as we offer a la carte services for independents that can’t afford to hire a full-time office manager. For examples, you can hire us to just do your invoices or file maintenance.  We offer custom solutions for your specific business needs.

What if the most requested service?

It is actually a toss-up between contact/client follow-up and the  financial services. I will do the accounting so that come time to file taxes, the freelancer just has to turn in what I’ve completed over the year.  I am very familiar with most financial systems, such as quickbooks, and am willing to use whatever program that they are comfortable with.  The other aspect that independents seem to to really want help with is the follow-up with leads, contacts and their clients.  Coming back from a meeting or a conference with a stack of business cards and then finding time to follow-up with those people can be frustrating. I help relieve that problem by doing that initial follow-up via email or direct mail and then maintaining those contact follow-ups as needed.  With the holidays approaching, I am also getting a lot of requests for help with their annual client appreciation cards, gifts, etc.. 

What other services does Red Stapler Consulting offer?

We offer the following services in packages or on an a la carte basis: Write / Type / Proofreading Services. Invoicing. Bill Payment/Expense Tracking. Contract, Lease and Agreement review and negotiation. File Organization & Maintenance. Client/Contact Maintenance & Recognition. Travel arrangements. Mailing. Personal Assistant Services.

Do you have any future goals for Red Stapler Consulting?

I would like to see Red Stapler’s services offered nationally. I have a rough 5 year business plan. However, my most important goal is to help countless independents become more successful. 

What advice would you give to fellow entrepreneurs?

Be honest with yourself. Have a deep understanding of what you’re good at and what you’re not. Once you figure that out make sure that you’re passionate about you’re doing.

For more information about Red Stapler Consulting visit, http://redstaplerconsulting.net/  Gloria also offers advice about organization, scheduling and other tips for small businesses via her blog and twitter (@Theredstapler). 

alexis-s Alexis Siemons is a freelance writer and creative business consultant living in Philadelphia. She has a passion for language and explores it in her blog, The Lexicon . When not using both hands to feverishly type, she balances a teacup in one while working on her tea blog.
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Duck . . . Duck . . . Google watch out?

posted November 5, 2008 by David Speers  |  Comments (0)

Duck Duck Go logo

“Duck Duck Go is a new search engine, like Google. We help you spend less time and effort searching by combining results you are used to with much better info from human powered sources like Wikipedia.” in their own words

There is no bigger skeptic when it comes to startup search companies. To this humble mind it just seems way to hard/crowded/overwhelming to take on monsters (in size not ideology) like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. The amount of energy and capital they have to put into R&D and marketing makes the idea of competing almost laughable. So why would anyone, especially someone smart enough to get into MIT, put their life on the line to do just that? Quite honestly, because it might just be the smartest way to make money.

With Google and Microsoft in a technology arms race reminiscent to the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War (guess which one is the USSR) they are acquiring tech companies left and right that could potentially give them any tactical advantage against the other, sort of like satellite states. Just recently MSN started integrating the technology from the recent purchase of search company Powerset that is not dis-similar from Duck Duck.

Created by MIT Alum Gabriel Weinberg, Duck Duck Go was made available to the public on September 25, 2008. Gabriel was kind enough to put a Phast Pitch together for Phillypreneurs and we’d love to introduce you to him and Duck Duck Go:

More specifically, here’s how Duck Duck is different then the big 3 (Google, Yahoo, MSN)

# Top results for most topics are from human powered sources, e.g. Costco. (Note the much simpler link titles and descriptions.)

# We have special pages to help you separate topics with similar names, e.g. apostle.
# Related topics, news and images are displayed on the top right (instead of ads!), e.g. Weezer.

# We have special pages that group related topics, e.g. Communication disorders.

# Official sites are labeled as such and put right on top so you don’t have to think about it at all, e.g. Bill Gates.

# Ability to search other sites directly, e.g. !youtube another bubble (sites list).

# Keyboard shortcuts: → ← ↑ ↓, Enter (go), n (news), i (images), r (related topics), h j k l (arrow alts.), and / (search box).

# Automatic highlighting of the last link you visited when you click back.

# Detects phone, tracking, and car #s; zip, book and product codes; and street and IP addresses.

While I don’t think Google has to start building its Duck Duck defense strategy just yet, I do think that companies like Duck Duck and Powerset make complete sense as acquisition plays for Google and Microsoft (Yahoo is out of the picture now that it’s on the sales block itself). So watch Duck Duck and Gabriel’s twitter feed for meetings in Mountain View or Redmond in the next year or two.

PS
Attention Developers: Duck Duck does have an API and we would love to hear about projects you develop with it.

david Dave Speers is an online marketing consultant and start-up junky that has worked with a wide variety of Philadelphia businesses. Dave spends most his time annoying really smart people at Indy Hall co-working collaborative.
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Philadelphia, have you met Tapinko?

posted September 25, 2008 by David Speers  |  Comments (1)

No? Well then, let me be the first to introduce you:

What is Tapinko?
Tapinko is an online management SAS for purchasing and managing a variety of offline ads (e.g. multiple newspapers, billboards, text messages, etc). In other words, Tapinko is an offline ad management application. Tapinko has initially focused on the college Newspaper market, including UPenn, Harvard and Tufts. It’s one of the early stage start ups to graduate from the first DreamIt class at the beginning of the month.

Who is Tapinko?
Peter Groverman (Co-founder), Nicolas Warren (Co-founder) and John Valentine (Corporate Development). Peter first felt the need to simplify offline ad management as a student. After only being able to sell eight months of advertising for a twelve month calendar, Peter realized that there had to be a much better way to sell offline advertising, whether it be newspaper, billboards or urinal ads. Bingo (insert light bulb), create an intuitive and user friendly market place for offline ads online. After some prodding from his friends and family, Peter embraced his entrepreneurial passion and recruited his friend, and web guru, Nic Warren to start work on what would become Tapinko. It wasn’t until after his first year of Villanova Law school and recruiting a promising classmate, John Valentine, that Peter was ready to make an all or nothing bet on Tapinko.

Who do they have to beat?
Google Print Ads, Google Audio Ads, Google TV Ads, Tactician,

How are they different?
Instead of embracing the obvious broker model of connecting publishers and businesses directly, and therefore cutting out the traditional and entrenched sales reps, Tapinko has created a tool set that existing ad sales teams (or anyone) can use to organize and execute their buys.

How are they paying for it?
Friends, Family, DreamIt and Visa cards are at the ready if it comes to it. Now that’s the sound of an entrepreneur who’s got the start-up bug! Before it comes to that though, they are actively pursuing Angel and VC funding.

Peter Groverman pitching on DreamIt funding day.

To the whole Tapinko team we wish you the best of luck and look forward to hearing about your many successes!

david Dave Speers is an online marketing consultant and start-up junky that has worked with a wide variety of Philadelphia businesses. Dave spends most his time annoying really smart people at Indy Hall co-working collaborative.
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Dutch Umbrella: “Bringing people & businesses together one umbrella at a time.”

posted September 11, 2008 by Alexis S.  |  Comments (0)

Philadelphia’s motto, The City of Brotherly Love, creates great expectations for our community. Some businesses in Philadelphia actually meet and exceed those expectations, one of which is Dutch Umbrella.

Dutch Umbrella “is a system for the shared public use of umbrellas comprised of pick-up and drop-off locations within a defined urban area.” In addition to being an incredibly helpful idea, Dutch Umbrella is a “community supported effort to encourage citywide sharing.” As Philadelphia’s one and only umbrella sharing system, Dutch Umbrella is truly sticking to their tag line of “bringing people and businesses together one umbrella at a time.”

What started as a neighborhood effort in Fairmount, quickly expanded to other areas of the city, such as Old City, Rittenhouse, Washington Square, etc.  Within each neighborhood, one can find Rain Drops (umbrella drop off baskets) in restaurants, hair salons, bars, stores, etc. There are over 2800 umbrellas currently circulating in the city that can be tracked with RFID tags.

Karen Rostmeyer and Joe Carlson, co owners of Dutch Umbrella, are incredibly passionate about their business and love the fact that it is strengthening the concept of sharing and trust within local neighborhoods. 

I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Karen, and she shared an inspiring story while offering great advice for any entrepreneur.

Where did you get the idea for Dutch Umbrella?

Joe was bar-tending at Bridgid’s in Fairmount and saw a flow of umbrellas on rainy days. Some people would leave their umbrellas behind, and Joe would offer the umbrellas to those caught in the unexpected rain. So he thought, well why not make that an official business. We could get the restaurants together in the area, print on the umbrella panels and give them out to people caught in the rain. When I was given an opportunity to change careers, I did a feasibility study and found we could make money expanding to Center City and other walkable communities. Not only did it seem like a smart business idea, but I also got the immediate sense of doing something that benefits others.

What resources did you use prior to launching Dutch Umbrella?

I read a lot of blogs and books, such as The Art of the Start, The Tipping Point, Think and Grow Rich, E-Myth, etc. Joe and I made appointments with a small business lawyer and patent lawyer, which turned out to be wonderful experiences since their advice was incredibly useful. We also joined organizations like the local Chamber of Commerce, CCPA, and SBA, which were great for networking purposes.

Our best resource was a class at Wharton SBDC. I took the shorter class on writing a business plan. I used this program for a previous business venture, and had a consult with a professor who gave me some very real, direct, honest and useful advice. I plan to do a consult with them this winter to review the growth plans for Dutch Umbrella. Looking back, I would have utilized the school more because it’s such a wonderful resource.

What was biggest challenge you encountered?

Neither of us had a business background. I was in IT and Joe is a Geology major working in the restaurant business. So, we had to research everything, from learning how to start and maintain a business, to getting the umbrellas, to tagging them, to printing on them. Another challenge was doing all of the paperwork to legally make Dutch Umbrella a business.

How did you initially explain Dutch Umbrella to potential clients?

We had the advantage of knowing the Fairmount community and they had heard about our idea. Initially we created a power point and spoke to businesses about how it benefits customers, which in turn creates a great image for them. In addition to creating a great image, customers often return to the place of business when dropping off the umbrella, creating repeat business.

Do you have any future plans for Dutch Umbrella?

We’re looking forward to expanding to other neighborhoods in the city.

We also just had our first event in Old City, where we created a tasting stroll with restaurants that are part of the Dutch Umbrella community. Everyone was given a Dutch Umbrella Passport and had the chance to get it stamped at 6 locations, and then ultimately receive a $5 gift certificate towards the restaurants for each stamp.

We plan on hosting more events within each area to highlight the neighborhood and participating Dutch Umbrella locations. It’s really about supporting a community within a community.

Do you have any other advice for entrepreneurs in Philadelphia?

Have mentors or mentor-like influences.  There are mentor resources out there…Score.org is a great one!  And I’d recommend checking out some blog sites.  Jeffery Gitomer is wonderful for sales advise.  And I happen to like sites like StartBreakingFree.com.  They are mentor-like influences to help guide you through. There’s also any number of local organization for businesses chock full of folks that love to mentor and help out.  The Chamber and CCPA are two I belong to and find helpful. 

Surround yourself with encouraging people.  This can be a friend, acquaintance or a customer who just loves what you’re doing.  Or it can be a program like The Big Idea with Donny Deutch, or a newsletter.  Even when you love what you’re doing, there are some really tough days and you need to know how to get through them.

Be committed.  Understand the costs, what you’re willing to give up for this adventure.  I started this one after 23 years at one company.  There were a lot of things I was immediately giving up by starting my own business, instead of finding a job in another company.  I decided what the most I was willing to give up was and stuck to it.  If it goes beyond it, I’ll need to rethink what I’m doing.  And you need to be realistic.  Folks have lived in cars, sold their homes and moved their families in with relatives, and much more, to make their dreams come true. 

For more info about Dutch Umbrella, visit www.DutchUmbrella.com

 

alexis-s Alexis Siemons is a freelance writer and creative business consultant living in Philadelphia. She has a passion for language and explores it in her blog, The Lexicon . When not using both hands to feverishly type, she balances a teacup in one while working on her tea blog.
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Vintage Philly: 10 questions with Heather Waity, owner of Vintage Connection

posted August 27, 2008 by Alexis S.  |  Comments (4)

Philadelphia is on its way to becoming a serious vintage hot spot, as new vintage stores are frequently popping up in Philly neighborhoods. However, there’s much more to the vintage retail business than finding a few pretty trinkets and raiding mom’s closet. In fact, Heather Waity of Vintage Connection shares her secrets to success as an entrepreneurial retail owner later on in the post. Vintage Connection, located on the corner of 9th and Bainbridge, has been showcasing its vintage flair for almost a year in the Bella Vista neighborhood.

What started out as a small online business of selling vintage finds, quickly evolved into an idea with serious business potential, as Heather started gaining attention from clients nationwide. Her passion along with the support of new clients “inspired [heather] to open [her] own store and closet to the Philadelphia public.”

Vintage Connection not only benefits the fashion savvy, but the eco-conscious as well, since “research shows that more than half of the clothes thrown away can be recycled. Reusing clothes helps conserve textiles which use a lot of energy and pollute the environment.” Vintage Connection truly is a sustainable business.

Even though Heather has come quite far since her opening day, she feels that she has a lot more to learn and so much growth to look forward to. She is incredibly thankful for the support she has received from the Philadelphia community, and we’re positive that they’re just as grateful for her store.

 

A few questions for the retail entrepreneur:

Before opening Vintage Connection, what were you doing?

Before I opened the store, I was a makeup artist for 6 years. I was also selling my vintage finds online.

 

When and why did you decide that you wanted to open your own business?

It was a spur of the moment choice. I really liked the aspect of buying and selling vintage, and saw a lot of potential in this neighborhood.

I was really inspired by the boutiques on Market street, and thought that if I applied my passion I could do it too.

I made an effort to save money so that I could open my own store. I really felt like I needed to make a move and at least try.

 

What was the process of finding a retail space in Philadelphia?

It was too easy for me. I literally had a spur of the moment idea. My boyfriend was a realtor at the time and found the spot I’m currently located in. I thought it was too good to be true. After seeing how perfect the place was I immediately gave my best offer. Luckily, the first offer fell through and I got the space the following week. I then spent the following two weeks buying vintage. I opened the store so quickly that I’m still building it to what I want it to be.

 

Did you do any research about the retail business prior to opening Vintage Connection?

I got a lot of ideas just by visiting other boutiques and combined that knowledge with my ideas. I also sought out business advice from an antique dealer.

 

What was the biggest challenge that you encountered?

I knew how to buy for women, but not so much about men’s fashion. I had to learn about buying men’s vintage items, which meant lots of research.

 

What was your first pleasant surprise after opening the store?

I opened on 0ctober 17th and a few weeks later someone from DigPhilly approached me about writing a piece about the store. I was beyond excited and surprised. To this point, I haven’t had to advertise because I’ve received so much great press. I feel really lucky.

 

What have you learned about business from opening your own store?

The business is always changing and you have to stay on top of the seasons, relating to fashion trends, in order to succeed. You really need to understand the psychology of the customer.

 

What do you think about the Philadelphia boutique scene?

I love shopping in Philadelphia. I think we have the best boutiques. They truly inspired me to open my own store.

  

What do you do to grow your business and attract customers?

I try to host several events in the store that showcase my new collections. I also like to highlight local artists and designers, which draws quite a crowd, since Philly is so supportive of the local scene. I think it’s really important to support local talent, and Philadelphia has a lot of amazing artists.

 

 What advice would you give to entrepreneurs in Philadelphia?

 Become familiar with all of the business laws. It’s important to do the research yourself, so that you’re familiar with everything and don’t have to rely on others.

Get a good accountant

Be yourself. Be very selective about what you put in your store, because it represents you.

Be true to who you are. 

 

For more information about Heather Waity and Vintage Connection, visit http://shopvintageconnection.com/

 

alexis-s Alexis Siemons is a freelance writer and creative business consultant living in Philadelphia. She has a passion for language and explores it in her blog, The Lexicon . When not using both hands to feverishly type, she balances a teacup in one while working on her tea blog.
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Meet the Maestro of Malls, Joseph Coradino

posted August 18, 2008 by B. Frank  |  Comments (0)
courtesy of Philly.com

Joseph F. Coradino

Age, birthplace: 56, South Philadelphia

Occupation: President, PREIT Services L.L.C. and PREIT-Rubin Inc, the companies that handle leasing and redevelopment of 38 malls and 13 shopping centers (Cherry Hill, Plymouth Meeting, etc.)

Hometown: Philadelphia

Education: Urban studies, Temple University; master’s in urban planning and finance, University of Arizona

Personal: Wife, Dawn, a trained opera singer and music teacher; one daughter, 17, who just got her driver’s license.

Management Style: “Inclusive and driven.”

Hobbies: “Working out keeps me sane; cooking keeps me connected to my roots.”

Quote: “My takeaway is you can get more done as an entrepreneur than a bureaucrat. . . . That you can accomplish things.”

Read more about Coradino in the business section of Philly.com

b-frank Entrepreneur, Statesman, diplomat, educator, inventor, author, printer, philosopher, scientist, shopkeeper, musician, economist, public servant and American hero.
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Food For (Entrepreneurial) Thought

posted August 8, 2008 by Alexis S.  |  Comments (3)

This past Saturday, I treated my taste buds to a fantastic dinner at JAMES restaurant in the Bella Vista neighborhood (I highly recommend the sweet herb agnolotti dish and the beer ice cream). A few days later, I found many more reasons to love this Philadelphia dining establishment after sitting down and chatting with the owners, Chef Jim Burke and Kristina Burke, General Manager. Both Jim and Kristina are true entrepreneurs and have a long history with Philadelphia, as they both have spent much of their culinary life working here. In fact, history is what they both love about Philadelphia, as they believe it is “comparable to a European city, in the sense that history is preserved and it is not afraid of being new.” Their history with the city’s restaurant industry is a big reason why they chose Philadelphia for JAMES’ location, as they’ve made strong connections with farmers, purveyors, future customers, and business contacts over the years. Jim noted that, “those are the people who you need to support your business, as it is a daunting task to start from scratch in another city where you have no history.” The underlining message to entrepreneurs is, start in a place where you have already built a solid reputation and let your previous successes support your new adventure.

The process of idea to conception for the restaurant only took Jim and Kristina a year and a half, and after creating the business plan JAMES was open in less than 5 months. During that time, the biggest challenge that Kristina and Jim faced was only having two sets of hands to get everything done.  Most restaurants have an opening team and entourage that take care of the logistics, construction, etc., however, Jim and Kristina managed to successfully get JAMES up and running by themselves. They stressed the importance of sticking to deadlines and maintaining a steady pace, as “it’s a domino effect. If you don’t get the gas turned on then you can’t get the liquor license, etc.” That being said, they believe that the bureaucracy of Philadelphia deters entrepreneurs and small businesses from opening, as the process is complicated. A simplified process would benefit both the entrepreneurs and the city because, “what makes cities unique are small business owners that bring their own flavor. A boutique style attracts tourists and new residents, as it creates a desirable identity and atmosphere,” noted Kristina.

Eleven days after their opening, the editor of Food & Wine magazine made a visit to JAMES which was followed by a glowing review. Positive press continued as JAMES was awarded for a best dish and earned a spot as a top ten restaurant in less than a year. Six months later, Jim was named as one of the top ten best new chefs in Food & Wine magazine.

JAMES is truly putting Philadelphia on the culinary map with the commitment to buying local produce, not just in the summer months but year round in both the kitchen and at the bar. Jim noted that, “we’re advocates for farmers and we believe there needs to be change.” A dining experience is not just about glamour, but “the importance of knowing where you get your products from.”  The challenge that comes with supporting a local agricultural scene is consistently finding local produce year round for the seasonal menus. Kristina is committed to researching vineyards and seeking out new farms since their small sizes do not allow them to produce on a large scale. It’s not just about taste, but also having “entrepreneurs support one another and creating a sustainable local economy.” Lucky for them, Philadelphia has a strong network of organizations that connect farmers with restaurants.

Jim and Kristina are a truly wonderful husband and wife team. Their entrepreneurial success is a result of their trust and shared vision. Their advice to entrepreneurs is to “know exactly what you want to be and stick with it. You can’t be everything to everybody, even though most restaurants have mixed identities.” Their overall message: Know your strengths and your weaknesses. Have confidence in your vision. Be true to yourself, even if it sometimes feels like a risk. That big risk can lead to an even bigger reward, especially when you are as passionate as Jim and Kristina.

alexis-s Alexis Siemons is a freelance writer and creative business consultant living in Philadelphia. She has a passion for language and explores it in her blog, The Lexicon . When not using both hands to feverishly type, she balances a teacup in one while working on her tea blog.
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Interview with Al Taubenberger, President and CEO of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce.

posted August 8, 2008 by Melissa  |  Comments (1)

I recently had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with a very busy man, Mr. Al Taubenberger.  Most Philadelphians know him as the Republican who ran against Michael Nutter for Mayor, but many more know him as the president and CEO of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He works day in and day out to help small and large business capitalize on new opportunities and network with one another.

1. What do you do for a living? How did you get started in the business? Was that something you always wanted to do?

“I am the President and CEO of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce.  I was asked to apply for the position.  It was not something I wanted to do, however, it was brought to my attention that I could always say no.  But once I had the job, even from the first day, I knew that it was a job I would love and have every day going forward.”

 2. What would you do with your life if today if you knew you could not fail?

“Sky Dive, with absolute assurance that the parachute would open. I would do it, because failure in that situation could result in my demise.”

3. What characteristics or traits do you believe successful people have in common?

“High Energy, and Commitment to one another regarding follow up and keeping their word.”

4. How do you plan to change what you do today to grow your business for the future?

“More emphasis on Marketing and letting people know what I am doing.  I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing, but I’m going to turn it up a notch and do it even better and more efficiently.  Serving your customers makes it happen.”

5. How did you get others to believe in your dream?

By sharing the spot light and making them a part of that dream.  A long time ago a father of a United States President, by the name of Joe Kennedy said ‘A Successful Campaign is the Culmination of many people’s ambitions.’”

6. What is the biggest challenge you face along the way?  How do you overcome that challenge?

“Doing as many things as possible.  I always have a full day, servicing the GNPCC members, also with outside organizations and volunteerism. I am very involved in our community town watch and civic association, as well as the German community. I’m a father of 4 so I am constantly on the go.  Managing time can be a real challenge. Trying to be in 2 places at once can be done, it’s difficult, but possible.”

“I meet these challenges by working with people.  Telling them honestly what I can and can’t do.  And having people work with you in a very close fashion.  I couldn’t do any of the many great things I do if I didn’t have the support from friends, coworkers, and most importantly my wife.”

7. What kind of formal/ informal education do you have?

“I have a Bachelor of Science from the college of Agriculture at Penn State University majoring in agronomy, which is soil science and field crop management.  It is a totally different field than what most people expect.  I use it everyday because the one thing that is used in politics, business and agronomy is the artistic use of manure. Nothing grows without it.”

8. What advice would you offer to someone starting out?

“Know the business that you want to get in as well as possible, work for someone who is successful in that business.  Learn as much as you can about it and then when the moment is right, make an offer on that business or strike out on your own, making sure you have the capital to support it.  The more you know the better off you are.”

9. What is the one accomplishment that gave you the greatest sense of pride in what you are doing?

“Taking the GNPCC to the next level by starting a newsletter, which the chamber had not had in 30 years.  We’ve also built the chamber into something far beyond what I had imagined when I first started.”   

10. Will you run for Mayor again?

“I might, but I will not run against Michael Nutter.”

11. What kind of relationship do you maintain with Mayor Nutter?

“An excellent one.  We speak regularly and also meet on a regular basis, which is about once a month.”

12. What is the biggest change you’d like to see in the city of Philadelphia?

“More jobs, greater employment and opportunities for people who really have difficulty in the inner cities.” 

melissa Melissa Centifonti was born and raised in Philadelphia. She has a BA in Liberal Arts and spent her early career in art education. She currently works as a realtor on the Centifonti-Lippman Team in the Keller Williams Realty office, located in Washington Square.
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10 Questions with the #25 best bar in America (which just so happens to be in NE Philly)

posted July 1, 2008 by Melissa  |  Comments (0)

Grey Lodge Pub

Ever since that first move off campus, all other moves have been determined by the need for a great place to socialize over great beer and food within walking distance of my home. That’s how I came to meet Scoats, the owner operator of my home away from home, The Grey Lodge Pub.

Scoats and his partner Patrick McGinley have created a space that dazzles the taste buds. They offer choices in an area where it’s mostly the same old stuff from one space to the next. I was curious about how Scoats has not only stayed the course by going against the grain, but innovated and succeeded through the hard times to become the nationally recognized success that he has today. Scoats was gracious enough to sit down for ten quick questions:

1. What do you do for a living? how did you get started in the business? Was that something you always wanted to do?

I own and operate The Grey Lodge Pub, a beer bar and restaurant in Northeast Philadelphia. I have been doing it for 14 years.I worked my way through college in the restaurant and nightclub business. After realizing I wasn’t going to last 20+ years in a cubicle the Fortune 500 world, I decided the restaurant business was a business I could do. While it didn’t start out as a dream, it has evolved into one, which maybe why I am doing it after 14 years.

2. What one word would you use to describe where you are and what you have accomplished?

Established.

3. What would you do with your life if today if you knew you could not fail?

Open a 2nd location in another city. Or I’d become a full time writer and artist.

4. What characteristics or traits do you believe successful people have in common?

Persistence, determination, and imagination.

5. How do you plan to change what you do today to grow your business for the future?

My business might be right-sized as it is. If we do expand, I would need to hire a manager to do a lot of what I do.

6. How did you get others to believe in your dream?

Persistence, and chasing a dream that others were dreaming (for a good beer bar to exist in Northeast Philly).

7. What was the biggest mistake you made along the way?

Choosing the wrong partner initially.

8. What kind of formal/ informal education do you have?

College degree, CPA certification.

9. What advice would you offer to someone starting out?

Be able to happily live cheaply for many years when you are starting out. Expect to work long hours for many years.

10. What is the one accomplishment that gave you the greatest sense of pride in what you are doing?

Being listed as one of the best bars in America by Esquire Magazine. We were also Ranked #25 nationwide by the Beer Advocate

melissa Melissa Centifonti was born and raised in Philadelphia. She has a BA in Liberal Arts and spent her early career in art education. She currently works as a realtor on the Centifonti-Lippman Team in the Keller Williams Realty office, located in Washington Square.
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Meet the Godfather of Creative Collaboration: Geoff DiMasi

posted June 10, 2008 by David Speers  |  Comments (4)

“I intuitively know that there are business oppurtunities around [collaboration] but I’m also just interested in the Humanity of it, the Spirit of it.” - GD

If his fundamental roles as the co-founder of Indy Hall co-working collaborative, core member of Vox Populi gallery collaborative, re-inventor of Junto ‘club of mutual improvement’, assistant professor at the University Arts, principle founder of Punk Ave design studio and champion of June 11th’s (tomorrow as of the posting of this post) collaborative experiment, Ignite Philly, aren’t enough to don Geoff DiMasi the Godfather of Creative Collaboration then maybe his strong Italian heritage and South Philly address might seal the deal.

Despite the business of preparing for Ignite Philly, I was able to score a couple minutes to sit down with this mild mannered dynamo to talk about his inspiration and why collaboration is essential for entrepreneurs to survive and thrive.

david Dave Speers is an online marketing consultant and start-up junky that has worked with a wide variety of Philadelphia businesses. Dave spends most his time annoying really smart people at Indy Hall co-working collaborative.
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