Over 100 days ago, I began my journey as CEO at #iBuyFlowFlowers, a scale-up that will revolutionize the B2B flower industry in the US! It’s been quite the adventure. While flying to Dallas for a four-day sales team training, I find a moment for reflection, hoping to share insights for those eyeing a scale-up leap.
Joining during a growth plateau, with critical KPIs in the red, presented thrilling challenges. Coming from a corporate background, accustomed to occasional red numbers, I learned quickly that startups/scale-ups demand swift pivots. So instead of months or quarters, you should be talking about days or weeks! So what did I do? I first started with digital marketing myself. Sales had to get a boost so there was no doubt about that!
And instead of hiring a full marketing and e-commerce team, I prioritized the new roles with immediate customer impact. Shifting from corporate timelines to startup urgency was a personal test, but the results are rewarding, supported by investor Jelle Hoffenaar hands-on involvement.
And then time! Time takes on a new dimension in a scale-up; weekends become dreaded markers of another rapid week. Amidst a whirlwind of operations, tactics, and strategy, time flies! But we’ve welcomed talented individuals who elevate our company and will help us go through this plateau. With our plans and roadmap aligned, resource scarcity remains a constant, but our passion fuels progress. Great to have Camila Salcedo and Huseyn Hasanov on our team
Active involvement in operations reignites the thrill of getting hands dirty. Transforming ideas into action requires daily choices, meticulous scheduling, and unwavering focus on team activities. Thanks Pieter Jan Troost - Persuasive design // CPO at iBuyFlowers for your help!
Looking back, I cherish the whirlwind of travel, sleepless nights, and occasional frustration tears, (thanks Vincent B. for your support) and a very helpful appointment with Kim Kleine Staarman (yes you did!) also helped me. Excitedly, I keep on working with full energy on disrupting the US flower industry with Wilfred de Wit, proud to serve as Co-CEO. I look forward to even more scale up adventure!