Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Austin Remey, CFO of VanCraft Campervans, located in Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
VanCraft is in the business of building, selling, and renting fully off-grid campervans that are adventure-ready. Our customers are people who are passionate about the outdoors.
Tell us about yourself
I was recruited as a strategic partner in the very early days of VanCraft to create and execute a strategic growth roadmap to scale the company without onboarding outside capital. I was able to leverage my background in strategic corporate finance to create a new business strategy and systems that enabled VanCraft to grow 15x in my first three years with the company. Building a cool business, the relentless pursuit of daily improvement, and sharing a product that enhances outdoor enthusiasts' lifestyles are what gets me out of bed every morning.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was joining a company that wasn't able to make their next payroll and was operating out of a small garage space.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about running a business is finding and keeping the right people to help you support the vision and mission of the company.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top three tips would be:
- Avoid paralysis by analysis. Launch with your MVP (minimum viable product) and make adjustments as needed based on internal and external feedback.
- Don't spread yourself too thin. Focus, double down on what's working, and don't chase every revenue opportunity that presents itself. Become an authority in your niche.
- Build a solid foundation. Design and build business systems to support growth and then consistently test and refine those systems as the business grows. Never let your systems or product offering stagnate.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://van-craft.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vancraftcampervans/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/van_craft/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vancraft-llc/
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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