INTERVIEW WITH JIM GERAKARIS
President and founder of Innovative Video Solutions
About Innovative Video Solutions:
Built on the philosophy of exceeding client expectations, Innovative Video Solutions is a professional video production company based in Carlsbad that can provide assistance with video production needs from concept to completion.
When and how did you start the company?
I started the company in 1990 near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While working on the business part-time, I worked three jobs to bring in enough money to buy equipment. In 1993, I took the business full-time. By 2000, I had seven employees. We've hit a few bumps along the road, but you have to expect that when you run your own business. In 2004, I got married to a wonderful woman. My wife, Sara, helps with running the business. In 2006, we moved our business to Carlsbad. Relocating a business is like starting over from scratch. Since relocating, we have been building our local client base here in Carlsbad, as well as maintaining our clients in other states.
What makes your company unique?
We focus on getting results for our clients. We do not just make videos, we create innovative videos that have increased our clients' sales by 15 to 35 percent. We also create videos that have helped our clients streamline their operations and improve productivity, which has saved them a lot of time and money, thereby giving them a good return on investment.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love what I do! There are many aspects I enjoy, like helping others with our video productions and seeing our clients' faces light up from excitement when they see their finished video, plus the results they get from using the video.
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Don't give up. There will be many bumps, trips and falls along the way of starting, running and growing a business. If you fall, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, learn from your mistakes and keep on going until you reach your goals and dreams. Remember, the urge to quit is the last obstacle between you and your goals.
What is the best thing about owning your own business?Freedom; my time is my own. I do spend a lot of time working on and in the business, but I make my own schedule and decide where and how I am going to spend my time. Remember, we all have a limited time here on earth and each and every moment is precious. We need to be wise in how we spend it.
What is the most difficult aspect of owning your own business?
I think the most difficult aspect about owning a business at this stage of the game is starting over following our relocation. It takes time to market, network and build relationships, as well as make enough sales to provide an ongoing stable income.
How do you plan to grow your business?
We are constantly upgrading our production equipment to keep our company on the leading edge of technology and trends in our industry, so that we can give our clients the sharpest edge over their competition. We take our work seriously and we plan on taking our time to grow properly so that we will continue providing our clients with the best service and video production possible. Over the next five years, we plan to hire a sales team, as well as more production and administrative staff. We also are planning to move into a larger office space in the next two to three years.
What are your future business goals?
To exceed our sales and business growth goals each year for the next five years, keep our company at the cutting edge of technology, be an industry leader and to continue to provide new and innovative ways to help our clients.
Innovative Video Solutions
(760) 930-9049
www.InnovativeVideoSolutions.com
President and founder of Innovative Video Solutions
About Innovative Video Solutions:
Built on the philosophy of exceeding client expectations, Innovative Video Solutions is a professional video production company based in Carlsbad that can provide assistance with video production needs from concept to completion.
When and how did you start the company?
I started the company in 1990 near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While working on the business part-time, I worked three jobs to bring in enough money to buy equipment. In 1993, I took the business full-time. By 2000, I had seven employees. We've hit a few bumps along the road, but you have to expect that when you run your own business. In 2004, I got married to a wonderful woman. My wife, Sara, helps with running the business. In 2006, we moved our business to Carlsbad. Relocating a business is like starting over from scratch. Since relocating, we have been building our local client base here in Carlsbad, as well as maintaining our clients in other states.
What makes your company unique?
We focus on getting results for our clients. We do not just make videos, we create innovative videos that have increased our clients' sales by 15 to 35 percent. We also create videos that have helped our clients streamline their operations and improve productivity, which has saved them a lot of time and money, thereby giving them a good return on investment.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love what I do! There are many aspects I enjoy, like helping others with our video productions and seeing our clients' faces light up from excitement when they see their finished video, plus the results they get from using the video.
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Don't give up. There will be many bumps, trips and falls along the way of starting, running and growing a business. If you fall, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, learn from your mistakes and keep on going until you reach your goals and dreams. Remember, the urge to quit is the last obstacle between you and your goals.
What is the best thing about owning your own business?Freedom; my time is my own. I do spend a lot of time working on and in the business, but I make my own schedule and decide where and how I am going to spend my time. Remember, we all have a limited time here on earth and each and every moment is precious. We need to be wise in how we spend it.
What is the most difficult aspect of owning your own business?
I think the most difficult aspect about owning a business at this stage of the game is starting over following our relocation. It takes time to market, network and build relationships, as well as make enough sales to provide an ongoing stable income.
How do you plan to grow your business?
We are constantly upgrading our production equipment to keep our company on the leading edge of technology and trends in our industry, so that we can give our clients the sharpest edge over their competition. We take our work seriously and we plan on taking our time to grow properly so that we will continue providing our clients with the best service and video production possible. Over the next five years, we plan to hire a sales team, as well as more production and administrative staff. We also are planning to move into a larger office space in the next two to three years.
What are your future business goals?
To exceed our sales and business growth goals each year for the next five years, keep our company at the cutting edge of technology, be an industry leader and to continue to provide new and innovative ways to help our clients.
Innovative Video Solutions
(760) 930-9049
www.InnovativeVideoSolutions.com