Our own Jonathan Morello interviewed for Entrepreneur Exchange for Kickitdigital

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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This week in Entrepreneur Exchange I was lucky enough to talk to Jonathan Morello, Director of Corporate Development, President and Founder of Backstage Commerce inc. Backstage Commerce is an importer and manufacturer of hair beauty goods. Jonathan had some really interesting things to say that anyone considering the importation business — or entrepreneurship — should know about.

He talked about how being an importer requires an in-depth knowledge of world politics and economics. To get this kind of knowledge, Jonathan suggests that experience and real-life involvement is the way to go. He’s learnt about world affairs by being in the business, and if I were interested in jumping into importing, I would seek out a mentor very much like him.

The bulk of the interview wasn’t about importing, though. We talked about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. I often ask interviewees what advice they’d have for someone who’s just starting out, and I can say unreservedly that Jonathan’s advice has been some of the best so far. It rings true — the struggle, the risk, the thrill of it, and the (false) glory. If you’re an entrepreneur,read this advice.

What do you do?

Our purpose in the marketplace is to sell products with value propositions. What we sell is either state-of-the-art or a better deal than what our competitors are selling, and that’s why we have an edge.

How did Backstage Commerce start out?

In July 2010, I started it out of the ashes of a previous company I had been a part of in university. I’d been working at a boutique importer for four years so I knew the business. By owning my own company I was able to do things in the way I felt would be most profitable; for example, I made it easier to set up recurring business. In October we had our first sale, and we’re now celebrating our 3rd anniversary of that event and are on route to exceeding 10M in sales for our next term.

When I jumped into the importation/distribution business, it was something that I was familiar with. There was good will there between the buyers and I. Experience is priceless when you’re entering a new venture.

What difficulties do you run into in importing?

Whether you’re importing from Asia, Europe, South America or anywhere else, the goods are subject to various tariffs and import/export laws. For goods coming into Canada, it’s important to match the compliances and find out if they’re electronically approved or if they comply with government electrical standards such as CETL or CSA.

It’s also important to understand whether you’re going to be able to establish a trade relationship based on the economic stability of a foreign country. There’s a certain level of risk that comes with international relationships. For instance, a foreign government could make a trade overnight that would cause the economy to collapse, meaning no work for the local people and no products for you. Knowing about politics in this case isn’t academic. You just have to be in the business and be subject to these forces to really know about them.

What’s fulfilling about working in the hair beauty industry?

In order to be successful we have to be ahead of the market and willing to say what will be the next big thing. It’s all about the salon being happy, and it’s fulfilling to know that the product wouldn’t be there without our work. Seeing the whole process take place — everything from our initial product research to seeing that product in salons — is what makes it all worthwhile.

What advice would you have for an entrepreneur who’s just starting out?

The onus is on you when you own a business. It’s a part of the mindset, and usually entrepreneurs are young with no dependents and not much to lose. It’s a luxury to be able to take part in this risky choice, and you have to go into it with confidence.

My advice to entrepreneurs would be to start out by being extremely lean. This is different from being cheap. Start out with the quick and dirty version of your final product. Have a strategy and build up from there. When you’re just starting out, every dollar that you spend on business — in finance, marketing, sales and product development — needs to contribute in an extremely valuable way to growth. The nice things that come from success, like having a nice office or a receptionist, will come later.

There’s a fast food identity that’s become associated with being a serial entrepreneur, and a culture that fosters entrepreneurship. In reality, entrepreneurs are a rare breed. Owning a business is not for everyone. There’s prestige in being able to say “I’m an entrepreneur” and there’s a lot of money that’s being thrown around in the name of this prestige, but the ideal is a lot different from what it’s like being in the trenches. Most entrepreneurs would want to throw up on hearing the phrase “start up” because it’s not a glamorous process. There’s a lot of sacrifice and stress.

Why would someone become an entrepreneur, then?

For fiscal reasons, perhaps. There is potential to earn more revenue while on your own. You have to be keen on getting it done, though, and to see money as more of a byproduct of your hard work. The main reason, though, is that you’re able to say to yourself “I want to be working here.” You can’t over-think it. The first step is having a good idea. The rest is execution, and enjoying the intellectual challenge of this is important.

Entrepreneurship has a lot to do with fear. A part of the cognitive process of being an entrepreneur is having so much confidence that fear becomes eclipsed and overcome. Through confidence, entrepreneurs become blissfully oblivious to the amount of risk that start-ups take. The person who studies risk focuses on playing it safe — after all, this is the rational choice to make. An entrepreneur, on the other hand, will use his or her confidence to face risks and succeed even when, to the non-entrepreneur, the chances seems overwhelmingly slim.

View Interview at www.kickitdigital.com

Leaders 2015: Backstage Commerce (BSC)

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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Backstage Commerce Inc. Ranks No. 26 on the 2015 PROFIT 500 Canadian Business and PROFIT unveils the 27th annual PROFIT 500 ranking of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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Backstage Commerce – De beaux cheveux, c’est payant

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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You can read the original interview by clicking here

Backstage Commerce Inc. Ranks No. 20 on the 2013 PROFIT HOT 50

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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— PROFIT Magazine unveils 14th annual list of Canada’s Top New Growth Companies —

Montreal (September 4, 2013) PROFIT Magazine today ranked Backstage Commerce Inc. No. 20 on its 14th annual PROFIT HOT 50, the definitive ranking of Canada’s Top New Growth Companies. Published in the October issue of PROFIT Magazine and online at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT HOT 50 ranks young firms by two-year revenue growth.

Backstage Commerce Inc., importer and manufacturer of professional beauty products, made the PROFIT HOT 50 list with two-year revenue growth of 894%.

“This year’s PROFIT HOT 50 companies embody the entrepreneurial spirit,” says Ian Portsmouth, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of PROFIT Magazine. “They have grown exceptionally fast in a challenging economy,

thanks to the ingenuity and determination of the entrepreneurs behind them.”

Social Media

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Follow twitter.com/BackstageComm

About PROFIT Magazine

PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada’s preeminent publication dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing small and mid-sized businesses. For 31 years, Canadian entrepreneurs and senior managers across a vast array of economic sectors have remained loyal to PROFIT because it’s a timely and reliable source of actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and social change. Visit PROFIT online at www.PROFITguide.com.

Backstage Commerce Inc. is a Canadian based importer and manufacturer of professional hair beauty products, operating in global markets. Always striving to be first to market with differentiating innovative solutions, BSC sources the most cutting edge answers from suppliers ahead of the curve. Reaching out to over a million stylists in North America alone through a network of established distributers, BSC’s team boasts collectively over 65 years of experience in the professional beauty industry, thus appreciating the creativity and artistry of their end user, the stylist, to better serve them and their needs.

Media Contact
Marie Nakhleh
Backstage Commerce Inc.
mnakhleh@backstagecommerce.ca
514-381-5555

MODERN SALON MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE – BACKSTAGE COMMERCE EXPANDS!

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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Jonathan Morello, CEO and founder of BSC, Inc., manufacturers and importers of professional hair care products, tools and treatments, has announced recent partnerships that will increase visibility and access to their Anti-Breakage System.

BSC, Inc. is partnering with

Backstage Commerce INC, leading providers of state-of-the-art, professional hair beauty products announces Langton Communications Inc. as Canadian Agency of Record

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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TORONTO, CANADA (May, 2015) – Backstage Commerce is pleased to announce Langton Communications Inc. as its new public relations firm to assist in bringing awareness to its leading and highly respected range of professional hair beauty products.

“We are very excited to partner with Langton Communications,” announced Jonathan Morello , CEO, President and Founder of Backstage Commerce. “Aligning ourselves with one of Toronto’s top beauty firms as we grow is key – and we are positive they will effectively communicate the quality, effectiveness and innovation of our state-of-the-art products.”

In this new partnership, Langton Communications will provide Backstage Commerce INC. (BSC) with ongoing consulting in all areas of communications including strategic planning, ambassador programming, product launches, event planning, public relations, and sponsorship-related activities. They will proudly serve as the primary Canadian media contact for Backstage Commerce.

BSC is proud to be a top Canadian-based importer and manufacturer of professional hair beauty products, operating in global markets. Always striving to be first to market with distinctive, innovative solutions, the team works to source the most cutting-edge options from ahead-of-the-curve suppliers. BSC collectively boasts over 65 years of experience in the professional beauty industry and reaches out to over a million stylists in North America alone through a network of established distributers. This insider perspective gives them an appreciation of the creativity and artistry of the stylist and consumer allowing BSC to better serve their needs.

The ambition to grow and the flexibility to adapt to an ever-changing market is what enticed Jonathan Morello to create the award-winning business that both manufactures and imports professional hair-care beauty products, coveted styling tools, products and reparative treatments. The company is proud to create solutions that are truly innovative and on the forefront of change – including the Bondex Anti-Breakage-System (A.B.S) that is quickly becoming a must-have in the world of chemical treatments everywhere – posing the question, #DoesYourHairHaveABS?

Backstage Commerce products are available exclusively through select distributors nationwide. For further information please visit: http://backstagecommerce.ca

Jonathan Morello Interview on Business Elite Canada

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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You can read rest of the interview by clicking here

BSC, INC. TO HEADLINE JMSB SPEAKER SERIES

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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Jonathan Morello, the CEO, President and Founder of BSC, Inc. has been invited to be a part of the Co-op Speaker Series.

BSC, Inc. will be headlining this event titled SPEAKER SERIES: CO-OP CAREERS IN MARKETING AND BUSINESS and it also features companies such as Booking.com, Eat It Up Media and more

Event Details
When: Sep 10, 2014, 05:30PM to 07:00PM
Where:GM 450

Agenda
The event will feature a 60 minute panel discussion followed by a 30 minute Q&A where the topics of how start-up companies got to where they are today, their day-to-day work challenges, and job trends and job search will be discussed.

Meet Canada’s Fastest-Growing Manufacturers – 90 thriving companies that demonstrate what it takes to succeed in a troubled sectorThe Top 10:

Posted on Jul 13, 2016

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PROFIT staff