Name of your website?Mixingbowl
Your name?
Ali Ajami
Your Location (city, etc)
Arlington
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Mixingbowl is dedicated to connecting the food service industry by bringing buyers and sellers of restaurant equipment together. Additionally we strive to provide valuable links and articles written by leading restaurant consultants.
Mixingbowl allows users to posts free ads when they want to restaurant equipment as well as browse for equipment in their local market or on a national scale. Additionally, users can read a number of articles that will assist them in their food service endeavor.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
A frustration with the lack of pricing transparency in the used restaurant equipment market. I couldn't find equipment I needed at the right price. Also, as a food service provider, I felt like I needed additional information that was not readily available.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
May 2005
How did you decide on a name for your website?
My business partner and I brainstormed for a few hours and eventually decided that Mixingbowl captured the nature of our site and, as a bonus, related directly to the food service industry.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
The category specific nature differentiates us from EBay, Craiglist, and other generalized web classified sites. Also, the ability for users to browse by locality or nationally provides a unique experience. Food service equipment can be quite specialized and a user may need to search nationally to find it. On the other hand, dealing locally is such a bonus, and works well for larger, harder to ship, items.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To provide a value added website for the food service industry. If it makes money that is always a bonus.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Like any start-up, there has been a lot more time and money invested than revenue returned.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
There are always development improvements to make, but the key for us still involves effective marketing.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Absolutely. We already have a growth plan that encompasses posibility.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
None really. The headaches are there in any start-up in any industry. You just have to be aware of the reality and build in additional time and money.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Balancing the need to devote time to Mixingbowl while still earning a living ( in the start-up phase).
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
pay-per-click and word of mouth.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
We thought you put up a website, and people would come. The realization that people don't automatically find your site was an eye opener.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
The site has been up since May 2005 and will continue to run until we lose our passion or vision.
What is your website address?
Mixingbowl
