Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Fisher.
Hi Greg, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born and raised outside Detroit, MI, I moved down to Destin, FL when I was 17 as my family seeked a Florida lifestyle. After working a few jobs, I found myself naturally interested in Tourism, where I decided to take that passion to the University of Central Florida to get my bachelor’s in hospitality management. While in college, I also found an interest in internet marketing. I started an online dining guide while a junior in college, which helped me develop my diverse skill set as an entrepreneur. I moved back to Destin, FL shortly after college, sold my dining guide and embarked on a long journey as a serial entrepreneur starting with my company, TripShock.com. Tripshock is an online marketplace that helps travelers find exciting things to do while on vacation. We employ 90 individuals from all over the world and offer over 1,500 tours mainly in the Southern USA. Some of our largest destinations include Key West, Miami, Panama City Beach, Destin, New Orleans, and Gulf Shores. This year we’ll have crossed the $20 million mark in revenue.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been easy. TripShock has been around for 13 years, and almost every three years, we’ve had a major disaster to deal with that has affected our operations severely. Within a few months of launching our website, the BP oil spill put us at a standstill for several months. Then we dealt with countless hurricanes and environmental issues such as red tide and bacteria outbreaks that had significant impacts. However, by far, the pandemic has changed everything I know about running a business and helped me understand what really matters both personally and professionally.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
TripShock is an online marketplace for travelers to book experiences while they’re on vacation. I’m the founder and CEO of TripShock. Our company receives a small commission for every tour or ticket we sell for our suppliers, which spans across several destinations across Florida and beyond. I specialize mostly in digital marketing and overall strategy, but I love to meet with our partners and work through partnerships with other brands. What sets TripShock apart from others is that we have a hands on approach. We bring a human component to a vertical that is moving in the opposite direction. We are pioneers in the travel space with a focus on customer service, innovation, and integrity. I’m most proud of the perseverance of our team due to the constant challenges we’ve faced from covid-19 and our technical hurdles. For example, we implemented a feature called “TripFlex” during the pandemic to help travelers feel more comfortable about making reservations. I’m also proud that our team came out strong in 2021 and we doubled our sales from 2019 and 2020!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If you’re looking to create a startup, I recommend a few things.
1) Work in the field for as long as you can in order to gain the necessary experience. Spend nights and weekends learning skillsets that you’ll need.
2) Understand that the best growth is slow growth. Building a foundation first will help you weather the storms (so to speak).
3) Your team needs to feel included and motivated. Host parties and video conferences where everyone can participate. Build great culture and no one will ever want to leave.
4) Be frugal, but not cheap. Even when you see your company generating healthy profits, it’s important to watch everything closely.
5) Setup a few different KPI’s and track everything. Start a journal to help you jot down your thoughts.
Contact Info:
- Email: gfisher@tripshock.com
- Website: www.tripshock.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hospitalityweb
Image Credits
Photography by Alexander Rea www.alexanderreaphoto.com He was responsible for the headshots and portraits.
