Gregg Jantz Jr started his entrepreneurial l journey at a very young age. At age 11, he started Edmond Segway Tours, a Segway sale and rental company. The business has been a success and unlike most startups that fail in their first few years of operation, Edmond Segway Tours has been in operation for a decade, and profitably. The company’s success is a reflection of Gregg’s hard work, perseverance, and disciple. Gregg also owes the success of his company to supportive parents. From the time he started Edmond Segway Tours, his parents have been supportive all through. Gregg has learned a lot from their experiences as successful business people. Besides running the company, Gregg is also a college student and equally gives his best on it. When not studying or running the business, Gregg enjoys riding the Segway with his friends. To him, Segways are not just a business, they are a passion. Gregg also spends his free time networking. Meeting new people opens a way for him to socialize and also develop new business links. His ease of making new friends has been one of the reasons why he has managed to run a successful Segway sales business for a decade.
How did you get started as an entrepreneur?
Passion for Segways drove me to the business world. When I was 11 years old, my parents took me on a trip to Hawaii. It’s here that I learned about Segways and I instantly got hooked. I just loved them. When we went back home, I realized that I couldn’t find a Segway anywhere. That’s when I decided to start selling and renting them, while also having fun.
Tell us how you became a successful entrepreneur?
I owe most of my success to my parents. I started my business at age 11 years, and like every other child that age, I knew very little about business. My parents mentored me and with their help, coupled with a passion for the business, it became a success.
What is your strategy for growing your business?
I pursue an aggressive social media marketing strategy. Most of our clients are young people who also happen to be heavy social media users. So far the strategy has worked in drawing in new clients to the business.
How did you get your first customer?
When I started the business, I was riding the Segway for fun around town. This caught the attention of teenagers in my locality and that is how the business gained its first customer.
How long did it take for you to become profitable, when you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
It took about 6 months for the business to turn a profit. From the day I started it, I never had doubts that the business would succeed. I can attribute this to childhood innocence and the strong passion I had for the business.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I have made lots of tough decisions for the good of the business. I can’t really point to one that has more weight than the rest. As an entrepreneur, every day is decision time and most of them are not easy.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I am very passionate about everything that I do. Whether it’s running my business or studying, I always give my best. To a large extent, this helps me go the extra mile and it’s a major factor in my success.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The most satisfying moment was when I made my first sale. I felt so happy knowing that people were receptive to the idea of Segway as a way to have fun. It was wonderful.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I believe the future of my business is good. I am most excited about the exponential growth of platforms like YouTube. Going forward, they will play a more central role in marketing this business.
What business books have inspired you?
The most inspirational book I have read so far is Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson. It has helped me take a more mission-driven approach to my business. It’s a book I would highly recommend to all entrepreneurs.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to keep going with the Segway business. It’s a business that is passion-driven and passion is the key to the success of any business.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
Yes, I am lucky to have started a successful business at a very young age. I would be glad to share my business insights with other young entrepreneurs. Anyone who wants me to mentor them can find me at the company’s offices.