Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 7)

Sramana Mitra: How many people do you have? OJ Whatley: We currently have 20 employees. Sramana Mitra: That’s very good – 20 employees, $20 million in revenue. OJ Whatley: Half of those are sales associates. Sramana Mitra: That is my next question. What is the composition?  Half are sales associates, what is the other half

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Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 6)

Sramana Mitra: Regardless, in 2008 you were generating business at your own site. Talk to me specifically about your own site – developing your own site, business on your own site, the traffic. How much business do you do today on your own site? OJ Whatley: Back then, as it is today, it’s primarily keyword-driven.

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Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 5)

Sramana Mitra: You said in 2006 you were doing $6 million? OJ Whatley: Yes, $6 million – $500,000 in receipts per month. Sramana Mitra: What was the inventory situation at that point? OJ Whatley: I probably had closer to 50 to 80. Sramana Mitra: That’s still out of your home?

Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 4)

Sramana Mitra: It sounds like your business was entirely Panerai until what year? OJ Whatley: Until about 2003. Sramana Mitra: What did you do after 2003? OJ Whatley: Again, I’ve always loved watches. Panerai has captured my heart. In fact to this day, my license plate is Panerai. I fell in love with Panerai like

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Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 3)

Sramana Mitra: Talk a bit more about some of the granular details of specific elements? OJ Whatley: In 2000, I walked into a watch store and I happened to pick up these hardcover books on the history of Panerai. They were like coffee table books. I went on eBay and found about eight of these

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Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 2)

Sramana Mitra: Why watches? OJ Whatley: I’ve always loved watches. Even going back to my days as a 10-year-old, I was always enamored of watches. Sramana Mitra: It’s a passion. OJ Whatley: Yes. The price points were $10 to $300. I was always obsessed with watches and I’ve been wearing a watch since I was

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Ultra-Light Startup to $20 Million in Revenue: WatchUWant CEO OJ Whatley (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. OJ Whatley did $6 million in revenue in 2006 from his home, with ‘me, myself, and I.’ Further elaborating on the ultra-light startup trend, we bring you his story of approaching $20 million with 20 employees. Sramana Mitra: Let’s start at the beginning of your story.

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