Introducing New Galway based startup – OnePageCRM
Michael Fitzgerald tells us about his New Business OnePageCRM….
Company: OnePageCRM
Website: www.onepagecrm.com
Founders: Michael FitzGerald
Age: 39
Based: Galway
Staff Number: 5
Date started: March 2010
Tell us what your business does?
We have developed the first of a range of productivity products for small business and sales teams. Our flagship application, OnePageCRM, is an easy to use sales action-based application that helps small business generate revenue and focus on sales activity. We have developed a unique system whereby users are encouraged to make sales decisions upfront rather than deferring them to a later date. The result for business owners is that they are not only able to generate and move sales through to completion smoothly and quickly, but with this reassurance they have more clarity when they have to manage other elements of their business.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
From the lack of a suitable product on the market! I knew I needed a CRM for my increasingly busy client services company, so I lined up about four products to test, leaving the one I thought I’d use to last. But I was flabbergasted at how poor they were for the sales function of a small business– so I searched for others and still no joy.
I’m a GTD person (productivity method Getting Things Done), and thought I should apply that concept to sales and OnePage was born.
I hate inefficient processes. More than any part of your business, sales needs clarity and upfront decision making. It is important to keep the focus on the next action to move a sale forward towards completion.
Have you always wanted to run your own business?
Not always “run it”, but to have one, yes. I had dreams of being “the inventor in the backroom” but still owning the company. Now I’m used to working with people and getting out there.
What planning did you do before you started up?
To be honest, not an awful lot! I’m a product person so I want to build a good product. Then build a better one. My main ‘plan’ was to make sure my product was both unique and solved a problem in the market. I’d hate to have a “me too” product.
Which entrepreneurs do you admire?
Personally, I don’t like or use the term entrepreneur. I love business and businesses. To see a shop owner opening up the shutters at 8:00am, sweeping around the entrance and fixing the shelves is like watching the beginning of a show! I’ll always chat to them and ask how things going.
Of the better known ones, I admire Michael O’Leary, but he’s a one-off. Dermot Desmond is one of Ireland’s finest, he is very astute.
What challenges have you faced how have you overcome them?
There are many challenges but funding is one of the biggest. Finding the right people to work with you to bring your product to market is another. You need that trio in your start-up team – product, tech and commercial. Luckily I have a great team now.
Lots of your challenges though, are inside. You’ll get knocked back and put down, but you have to believe that “if you don’t give up, you’ll be impossible to beat”. So it’s your choice, don’t give up.
How have you promoted your business?
To date it’s been through social media, PR and encouraging word of mouth. The big drive has yet to be put into place. We’ve spent a year developing the product with early adopters and finding our product/market fit.
There is a lot planned for the coming weeks including the redevelopment of our website and the introduction of reselling programs.
Are you optimistic about the remainder 2011?
I’m feeling confident from the point of view that our product is geared for international markets. We have users from all over the world and the response has been great. We have not lost a single subscriber and we intend to keep it that way!
We have a new product in development that is geared towards sales teams which we will be launching into Beta late this year as well as some developments in our current product that will meet the needs of a wider market.
Also, since we use OnePageCRM ourselves to boost sales, we have good reason to be optimistic!
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
After getting some industry experience behind you, just do it! The biggest risk is not taking one.
It should be in an area where you have some passion, but also keep in mind that one day you may need to scale it. As they say, think about building pipelines instead of carrying buckets. From a personal point of view; get up early and plan your day – pick the toughest task and tackle that one first.
