Expo Cart: Disrupting the Market
Before the wonderful ExpoCart left Collective to join the outside world, we caught up with them to learn more about their business model, what they’ve learnt, and maybe to hear some flattering comments about our coworking spaces.
When people talk about ‘disruptive startups’ they are referring to business models like Expo Cart. The idea behind this business has morphed over time — perhaps more drastically than your average — and what’s been created is a venture that has shaken up traditional channels and made way for a new approach.
When Ryan and Jasmine first arrived at Collective, they came with the (apparently aptly named) ‘Massive Problem’ — a property business that, they tell us, never really got off the ground.
The pair decided to enter the world of exhibition hire with just one product — a 360 degree digital showcasing display.
J: We did loads of email marketing campaigns, drumming up support before we spent the £10k on the product. Once it arrived, we had 12 hours to unbox it, figure out how to work it, transport it to an exhibition across London and act like we knew how it all worked.
Yep, sounds exhausting.
Soon, customers were looking for other stock which the pair hadn’t purchased. They decided to outsource to other companies — and so, Expo Cart was born. They were disrupting the traditional supply chains by undercutting others in the market. It was only a matter of time before Expo Cart attracted investor attention — and it means that they now have a team of six who are available as a full-time resource.
And what did they make of the Collective coworking spaces where their business first flourished?
Carlow House
R: I liked the quiet, professional environment of Carlow House.
J: You could just lock yourself in a meeting room for an hour and brainstorm.
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R: We could always do the most creative work when we were there. I liked being able to come and go at any time.
J: Flexibility has always been so key in Collective coworking spaces.
Feast
J: This was where our business took off. We could focus, we had the telephone, and we could grow the business.
Lessons Learnt
R: It’s not about creating something that you think people want, but something that people actually need, in a market that’s big enough and that has enough opportunity. We’ve now had orders from 35 countries across the world. It’s pretty cool.
J: Perfecting the business plan is so important. People focus on their pretty website before they have a revenue model.
R: It’s all about creating a revenue stream. We don’t even have business cards yet because it’s not about that. It’s about creative the revenue stream first, making sure it’s a viable business and then going and developing it.
J: Our whole life is in this business now. We have big opportunities coming up, we’re going all out. Our whole life has changed. But it wouldn’t have started if we hadn’t come to Collective.
We wish them all the luck in the world! Thanks, Expo Cart!
