Ahoy Happy Crewsers! Today we are thrilled to have special content lined up for you, an interview with none other than Jerry, the man behind Happy Crewsing. Fact is Jerry likes to go by his first name around the company, so for the interview we'll keep the tradition going.
How did you get started in the boating industry?
Jerry: My earliest childhood memories are of me and my Dad on a sailboat. The sea has always been a natural environment for me. Being on the water is almost more natural to me than being on solid ground. So as a teen, whenever I would picture my career I didn't see myself working in any other line of work really. I also didn't feel like going to college—I wanted to get into active life as soon as possible, which is how I started Happy Crewsing, right out of high school. Other than a pilot's license I didn't have any qualifications or much money to start with!
The Summer I launched Happy Crewsing, our approach with Mikey was really amateur, but it picked up fairly quickly because we had a good reputation as sailors and in the community. We started with an offering of day-trips, with my family's boat. That's it! But after the first month we had made enough money to buy a second boat and that's how things escalated, gradually.
What would be your best advice to start a business?
Jerry: I would say to invest in equipment first. Don't go big on staff until you have enough to secure a steady revenue for everyone. I think it's really a clever move to invest the first money you make in upgrading what you have, equipment wise. In the end, it's what determines the quality of what you offer, be it in the boating industry or anything else really. In our case it was investing in a bigger boat and starting a fleet. We didn't use the money to earn a salary until we had got our second boat. A sacrifice which really paid off. Of course the fact that we were still teenagers, living with our parents, gave us more flexibility to embark on this adventure I suppose. So having a safety net is also a good idea, whether it's starting young or surrounding yourself with a group of supportive friends and family, regardless of your age!
You have two sons working with you in the company, is it a relief to know that Happy Crewsing will stay in the family?
Jerry: Definitely, I know that I can leave anytime now and that the company will be in good hands. It's the certainty that my vision will live on, but with the vision of a new generation. It's very important that I trust my boys to make new decisions for the company as well! What's for sure is that Happy Crewsing is not going to be for sale any time soon, and that's comforting. I believe that being a family business is part of the reason why our clients appreciate our business, because year after year they build relationships with us at the headquarters and our crew members. Overall, we have a very low staff turnover rate, which we see as a positive sign for our strategy, it shows that not only our clients but also our employees are happy with Happy Crewsing!
A favorite quote?
Jerry: It's been on my desk since day one, it's by Franklin D. Roosevelt, "“To reach a port we must set sail".
*this is demo content