episode 0032- how neven eyewear went from near failure to 8-figure success with ceo and founder jon strauss

Jon knew he had something when he created Neven Eyewear. He didn't know much about sunglasses, but he knew the frustration he felt when he lost an expensive pair immediately after the purchase, and was offered 10% off another pair to compensate for the loss. This was a problem he knew he could fix.

The only problem: he launched to crickets. For months, he struggled to get a sale. Finally, he decided to run a "buy one, get two free" sale just to get rid of inventory and wash his hands of this business for good. Except that the sale seemed to prove the concept, and he decided to order more inventory. With annual revenues now in the 8-figures, Jon sat down with us to tell us how he built this company into the success it is today, the struggles he faced in the early days, and his problem-solving mindset that propels him forward.

Show Highlights:
1- How did you get the idea initially, and what were your first steps to get the ball rolling? (6:30)
2- What were you doing for work at the time? (8:30)
3- What was it like initially working with a manufacturer to figure out what sunglasses you would offer? (13:40)
4- Exploring sales options until finally getting some order traction. (19:10)
5- Jon gives us some sales numbers and discusses some of the challenges of running such a large company. (30:55)
6- Jon talks about the team he has built at Neven. (33:20)
7- How much did you actually need to know about sunglasses to make this venture a success? (36:35)
8- What’s next, and what’s the long term play for Neven? (38:50)
9- Why the name “Neven”? (44:55)
10- Listener question: What is your advice for someone starting a business that might need to accept insurance and interact with insurance companies? (47:35)
11- Where can we find more about Neven or buy a pair? (50:10)
12- Jon gives his parting advice to new or aspiring entrepreneurs. (51:05)

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Follow Neven on Instagram: @neveneyewearofficial

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