Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in e-commerce and digital marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jason Boyce, CEO & Founder of Avenue7Media, located in Milwaukie, OR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Avenue7Media is a software-enabled full-service Amazon agency that supports profitable growth for our direct-to-consumer product brands.
Tell us about yourself
I got my start back in 2003 selling basketball hoops online with my brothers. When Amazon approached us and asked us to list our products on their fledgling platform, it changed the trajectory of my life and career. I became a top 200 seller and sold on the platform for 17 years before having an exit and pivoting to consulting. I love working with passionate brand owners and providing the insight, strategies, and support they need to grow their businesses. Helping change the lives of sellers and brand owners, like mine was changed, is my key driver. It gets me up in the morning, and it provides the mission for the Avenue7Media culture.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is recent. I've been lucky to bring on the best talent and executive team in our space. Having the business in a position where we can attract the best talent has accelerated our growth and our client's growth beyond what I had envisioned.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There's always a tension in managing the day-to-day while focusing on the future of the company. Fortunately, we have an incredible executive leadership team that is committed to growing and improving our quality of service, so we're able to share that responsibility together. The most challenging years are behind me when I could see a vision not yet realized. There's a balance between knowing where you are and seeing where you want to go responsibly.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Having a great product or service.
- Building a great brand.
- Constantly improving everything you do to make it better. Constantly evaluate and improve the quality of your product or service, and pay attention to trends and what the data tells you. Ultimately you have to have a great brand that allows you to separate yourself from the "me too" imitators and protect the brand equity you've built and back it with really great IP.
- Lastly, find meaning beyond dollars in what you do. For me, fighting for small businesses and sellers makes the hard work and sacrifice worth it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://avenue7media.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theavenue7media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avenue7media/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Avenue7M
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avenue7media
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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