It has been an incredible year for 352 Media Group. We have grown by leaps and bounds since the 30 Under 30 list came out last year (and some of our growth is thanks to the list!). In fact, I was just notified that our company made the new Inc. 5,000 list that is coming out in a few months!
We are a custom Web site development company and interactive marketing agency, and the demand for Web site services and marketing is growing exponentially. In the past year we landed several major national accounts, and our top client this year to date has been American Express. We have also done a considerable amount of work for Microsoft, Outback Steakhouse, and more than 300 other businesses ranging from start-up companies to large enterprises.
We also redeveloped our own Web site in January, www.352media.com, and integrated a 'Web video host' into it. This is a new technology that is gaining popularity on the Web, and we are on the forefront of it. I encourage you to visit our site and to see the video on the home page and the 'Company' page which showcases this new technology.
Expansion wise, we opened a new office in Atlanta, Georgia with 3 employees right around the time the '30 Under 30' article came out, and we now have 12 people in our Atlanta office! We also hired full-time Account Managers in Seattle, Washington, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Jacksonville, Florida to facilitate our expansion.
The '30 Under 30' article last year gave us some great exposure and momentum. We received several sales inquiries after the article ran, and the article was also a point of pride for our staff who worked so hard to get us to where we are today.
#24 Josh Kowitt
Business is great. Sales are up over last year. We've found that making the 30 Under 30 list has given us increased credibility with our customers -- but it is by no means a magic bullet to your marketing/sales strategy. Advice for young entrepreneurs -- the list is just the beginning.
#25 Kelvin Joseph and #26 Samanta Joseph, Samanta Shoes
Business has expanded tremendously since being selected to the 30 Under 30. Samanta Shoes was originally designed for sophisticated women that have dynamic lifestyles. This year, we developed a collection for the fashionable businessmen. Samanta also added a new niche by offering large-size women's shoes in sizes 11, 12, and 13. These additional product offerings have increased sales by 30 percent.
We plan to expand our wholesale distribution from 20 to 40 independent retailers. In addition, we are in discussions with two major department stores, who are interested in carrying our products. These developments may result in a 300 percent increase in sales in 2008.
Being listed as a 30 Under 30 winner added instant credibility to our company. As result, we made the New York Post young entrepreneurs list, and were invited to speak at various conferences. One of these conferences helped us make direct contact with one of the largest department stores in the country.
We advise young entrepreneurs to live balanced lives. Don't allow your successful business to keep you from having a successful life. Money does not equal happiness. Having a good relationship with God and family should be your top two priorities.
#28 Michael Hyacinthe, Urban Liberty
First and foremost, I would like to thank Inc.com for such a wonderful recognition. Since then, our company has been doing really well. We are reaching our goals and establishing different avenues to promote our brand. We have just completed a major partnership with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. This partnership would give us direct access to all the man and women who serve in the military along with spouses and dependents around the world.
On May 4, Urban Liberty opened its first retail store at the Fort Hamilton Army Base in Brooklyn, N.Y. The store opened with a live fashion show for the troops. The turnout was overwhelming. Military personnel and family members enjoyed a night of fashion and comedy that promoted our support for their efforts and promoted our new store. Although it has been a short time, our store has proven to be popular with all post personnel. Sales figures have exceeding our projections by 15%.
We are currently in negotiations for opening up a second and larger store at the Fort Drum Army Base located in upstate New York. Construction has already been started and we are expected to open up in spring 2008. Our expansion goals are to establish a chain of retail stores on different military bases through out the world. We plan to offer our website as an extension to our retail stores for those stationed in remote locations. Our company goal is to try and open up one to two stores per year.
Being among this very elite group of individuals have allowed to expand my networking capabilities and establish promising relationships with other alumni. My advice to this new group of honorees are to always work hard, study your market, and minimize expenses unless the benefit outweighs the cost.
#29 Erik McMillan and #30 Christina McMillan, Silent Technology
Since our election to the 30 Under 30 list, we received a large amount of publicity from news organizations, new clients, and potential buyers. We have several new projects in the mix, including expansion and growing our product line. Thank you for highlighting us as top performers -- it has helped push us to the next level.
Our advice for other young entrepreneurs is to "follow your dreams and start NOW." It is much easier to start your own business at a young age and learn from your mistakes as you go. If you wait to start your own thing until later in life, chances are you'll have a family, a job, a mortgage, or other complications where taking big risks is harder to justify. Plus, the faster you start, the sooner you'll get there. The later you start -- yes, you guessed it, the LATER you'll get there.
