07 Feb Q & A with Iowa Entrepreneur – Stephen Fry
Welcome to the first feature in our series of Q & A’s with Iowa Entrepreneurs! In this blog series, Iowa business owners share their stories. Find out how and where they got started, the challenges they faced along the way, rewarding experiences, most pivotal relationships, advice and more. Our goal with this series is to inspire new entrepreneurs, inform others about what it’s like to start your own business, and to show the impact (great or small) you can make as a result of starting your own business.
In 2011-2012 I had the opportunity to participate in the statewide Leadership Iowa program through the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. This was an incredible program where I met many esteemed colleagues throughout the state, learned about the many issues affecting the people and communities across Iowa, and traveled to various communities big and small to learn about how businesses, organizations, and individuals are working hard to make Iowa the best it can be. The insight, collaboration and innovation happening throughout our state is what has fueled my passion for the work I do.
One of my classmates has long been an inspiration to me as I dreamed about one day starting my own business. Stephen Fry and Michael Bird started their business, Spindustry, back in 1996 and have since grown that business to serve nationwide and truly excel in digital innovation. Spindustry is made up of three different companies that essentially do three things: e-commerce, large-scale web application development, and training and development solutions. Spindustry’s e-commerce systems alone typically generate more than $1 million in sales every day, resulting in $3.5 billion in sales for their clients during their 22 years in business. Isn’t that simply incredible?
As I have been attending a similar Leadership Iowa experience in the Carroll-area the past two days, I can’t help but be inspired by the number of innovators, entrepreneurs and passionate community members who continue to make a difference not only in Iowa but throughout the nation and our world. There is so much to be proud of in our great state. Thank you to Stephen and his team for their insight and innovation to keep Iowa competitive. Now let’s find out how Stephen and his team made their dream a reality as he reflects on Spindustry’s beginnings!
These are the original 1996 Spindustry logo sketches on a restaurant napkin!
Q & A with Stephen Fry
Emerge Marketing Solutions: Why did you want to start your business in Iowa?
Stephen Fry: We started in suburban Des Moines, but back then, as we approached the broader United States, we were often considered “rural” by our prospective clients. Rather than downplay that, we led with that; our team is well-educated, highly experienced and engaged over the long-term (our average employee tenure is now nearly 13 years). This resonated with our clients as they battled constant turnover.
EMERGE: What have been the biggest challenges you’ve encountered over time?
FRY: Starting, building and growing a business is always a mixture of fun and challenge. With hard work, a collaborative experience and a bit of good luck, we navigated through the .com and 2008 recessions, constant technology changes, new competition and tight labor markets.
EMERGE: What is the most fulfilling part of your job as a business owner?
FRY: Over the years we’ve been fortunate to receive countless industry awards and accolades, but nothing is more rewarding than building partnerships predicated on trust earned by significantly exceeding established goals and offering our team members a place to work that demands brain power in exchange for great flexibility.
EMERGE: What relationships/partnerships were most pivotal for your business?
FRY: There have been so many. Like all new businesses, the most important were when we started. We had no history, customer testimonials or work examples to share with our prospects. Several of my friends in business gave us a chance – and we didn’t let them down. I’ll always be grateful for their faith in us.
EMERGE: What’s your best advice for other entrepreneurs just starting out?
FRY: There’s no doubt that starting a business takes tenacity and a leap of faith. If you’re following your dream, jump in with both feet and focus on serving customers well. If you do that, good things will follow. Another thought is that you can’t be afraid to charge appropriately for your product or service.
EMERGE: If you could do it all over again, would you?
FRY: Absolutely!
Meet Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry is co-founder, owner and Chief Operating Officer at Spindustry Digital. Stephen serves as a business consultant who has experience in international sales and marketing, manufacturing and insurance company operations. He has served numerous clients across a broad range of industries during his tenure and digs in to find solutions that help successfully grow organizations. Steve participates in numerous business groups and boards and has been recognized as an entrepreneurial leader by Ernst & Young, Iowa Governors Council, Leadership Iowa, Inc. Magazine and the Des Moines Business Record. Stephen holds BA in Graphic Design and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications from Iowa State University.
Learn more about Spindustry
Industry/Business Type: We provide technology and marketing solutions to organizations seeking to leverage the power of the digital world to grow. The Spindustry Group is made up of three different companies that essentially do three things:
#1: E-Commerce
Our client partners engage us to lead large-scale E-Commerce efforts that typically surround replacement parts. Each month, collectively, our clients sell $80 million of equipment and parts online to customers across the globe. Our comprehensive E-Commerce store system, called SpinMarket, is often leveraged and customized to support our clients’ sales efforts. Our deeply experienced development and technical support teams bring these online store experiences to life, integrating back office platforms, like ERPs, accounting systems and CRM applications. Our marketing team builds sophisticated campaigns that drive new buyers and engage existing customers.
#2: Large-Scale Web Application Development
In addition to E-Commerce, our team designs and builds large web applications with comprehensive features and functions that serve our clients’ customers, employees and partners. This includes dealer portals, resource libraries, Intranets and large public websites that serve global audiences.
#3: Office 365/SharePoint Solutions
We have a team that specializes in Office 365/SharePoint development and training solutions. This group serves for-profit and non-profit organizations seeking to enhance collaboration, workflows, Intranet communications and documents/records management.
Read more about Spindustry’s story at https://www.spindustry.com/about-us/.
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