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RoselleSafran
CityAthletes (www.CityAthletes.com) | roselle@cityathletes.com | Founder | 01/12/2003 | Small Business Owner
Roselle Safran is the Founder of CityAthletes##comma## the San Francisco Bay Area##aps##s Online Athletic Community.
What kind of training or education did you acquire before your venture?
I started the business as a side project in my spare time two years ago. I decided to work on it full-time about six months ago so it##aps##s still very much in the start-up phase.
What services or products does your organization offer?
Located in San Francisco##comma## CityAthletes (www.CityAthletes.com) is a local sports web portal designed to bring the Bay Area athletic community on line. Visitors to the site will find all the information they need for their sport – local clubs and leagues##comma## workout partners##comma## upcoming events##comma## facilities##comma## etc.
What type of business or organization do you operate?
How many employees do you currently have?
It##aps##s a one woman biz for now
How did you originally discover the idea for your organization?
I came up with the idea after looking for such website myself and not finding one.
How did you originally fund your organization?
Are you the founder of your organization?
Yes
Do you believe there is any distinct culture within your organization? If so, please describe it.
What obstacles or challenges have you faced in your organization?
I have worked with alot of people that turned out to be unreliable or incompetent or both. That has cost the company a considerable amount of time and money. So now I am very careful about who I work with.
Did you accept any advice along the way? Do you believe new organizations should be open to such advice?
It##aps##s probably incredibly helpful. I don##aps##t have an advisor and I think many of the mistakes I made could have been avoid if I had one.
Did you receive any help along the way from other businesses or organizations? If so, how and from whom?
SBA
What have been the keys to success in your business? What do you believe are the keys to success?
Hard work and determination
What kind of relationship do you establish with your customers or clients?
What types of marketing do you employ?
Do you employ any web or online marketing?
It##aps##s a dot-com so technology is essential for the business.
What role does trust play in business or in your organization?
I didn##aps##t write a business plan right away. The people I chose to work with were unreliable and/or incompetent. And several others…
Did you struggle with starting your own organization or venture? Why did you decide to begin on your own?
Developed over time
What books or resources would you recommend for individuals starting off now?
How to Form Your Own California Corporation by Mancuso.
Do you notice any trends in the marketplace? If so, what are they?
Do you believe networking and contacts are important? If so, how?
Very important
What do you think about contracts and other legal obligations? Are they important in your business?
Only trust yourself
If there is one thing that would sum up your advice to new entrepreneurs, what would it be?
What, if any, final advice do you have for new entrepreneurs?
