Don’t try to do everything yourself. Empower the excellent people you have around you even more.
Alex Missry founded Stor-All Solutions as a division of Misco Home and Garden. An entrepreneur at heart, Alex graduated from, Rutgers University. Alex Co-Founded Digiview Entertainment, a leading distributor of budget home entertainment, prior to joining Misco Home and Garden. For over a decade, Alex studied verticals where businesses like Misco could see significant growth; understanding this, he decided to introduce Misco to the housewares market knowing that they were already doing business with some of today’s leading resellers. Creating Stor-All Solutions is both a passion and a pleasure for Alex, especially when he hears how customers are using his products. Married with children and an avid traveller, Alex loves to play ice hockey, baseball, and football.
Where did the idea for Stor-All Solutions come from?
Misco, our company, has been in business for over three decades.
Many of our products are seasonal, so I looked at the housewares vertical and decided that we needed a year-round product to add to our already successful lines of business. Housewares have tremendous growth, and we were already in a complimentary vertical, so it made sense. I knew we could offer better made products than were on the shelves already, for a mid-range price.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My day has to be organized to get everything accomplished. I start my day going through my e-mail correspondence that came in overnight from overseas suppliers and clients. I then meet with our product development and design teams, work with our marketing group to discuss strategic ideas, and sit with our operations team to discuss any challenges that have to be solved. Organization is the key to making it all come together!
How do you bring ideas to life?
This is probably my favorite part of my job. When I come up with a new idea, I put it down on paper. Then I meet with our product design team to make renderings we can share and evaluate internally. When finalized, our renderings are then sent to the factories we work with for CAD drawings and a price quote. Once we agree on the pricing, a mold and prototype are made, and then we get to be creative with color and packaging. It is very fulfilling to see a product we designed on the shelf in a store!
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Technology and how we use it in different ways than ever before. Because of the design obligations with our products, technology really helps us display and convey our ideas more strongly, and resonate better. It is much easier to put an idea on paper and make it come to life.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Emailing my team when they least expect it! Smart phones have their down side, but they allow you to stay on top of the business and communicate from anywhere. It really allows me to function as an entrepreneur, and be more productive by being mobile where we need to be.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t try to do everything yourself. Empower the excellent people you have around you even more. They are there for a reason!
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
I have yet to lose a game of Stratego.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I really listen to my employees and my customers. I hear what they are looking for and try to give them an innovative solution.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Hire the right people. Empower them to work from a position of personal strength. Focusing on strengths empowers employees to feel even more invested in what they are doing…not that they don’t already.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
When I started in this business, I didn’t know enough about manufacturing and the manufacturing process. I overcame it by learning about it, visiting the factories, gaining experience, and working with a mentor.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Invent a car that can truly parallel park…wheels turn and you pull in.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
A surprise date night with my wife.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
It is really a tie between Excel and Outlook. Both help me manage what we are doing across departments and communicate with my teams, across the globe, in real time.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Tuesdays With Morrie. This book reminds us to live each day to the fullest.
What is your favorite quote?
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
Contact:
Alex Missry on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alex-e-missry-7694235
Stor-All Solutions on Facebook:
Stor-All Solutions on Twitter: @StorAllSolution
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.