Clicks and mortar retailer TrollAndToad.com came in at #1063 in the Inc. 5000 fastest growing private companies in America for the second year with 285% revenue growth over the last three years. TrollAndToad.com is a the world’s largest retailer of collectible games. That is the very definition of niche.
So these guys are successful retailers. They are even more successful story tellers to attract customers, press buzz and decent management talent to the company.
Their website encourages sharing across the range of social media networks their customers may like. They have dedicated themselves to getting their story out.
I’m impressed because they get it. Sadly many companies do not. So the message is
- execute the business
- tell the world to attract customers, staff and media.
Successful businesses must do both, well.
TrollAndToad.Com’s also credit their growth and success to acquiring the most talented people in the industry to oversee its growing divisions. In an effort to rapidly expand its brick-and-mortar retail endeavors, the company has brought hobby retail store veteran Marcus King on board to chart and direct the course for this initiative.
King was a Board Member of the GAMA Retail Division (GRD) for many years. He also served as Vice President of the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Board of Directors, helping to oversee all the activities of that body. “I will be working with, and in, the newly opened Richmond, Kentucky store,” King explained, “and opening more Troll And Toad Retail and Tournament Centers — first in Kentucky, then across the nation.”
So they hired an expert. Some companies try to do everything in-house especially when they are not good at it.
I knew a CEO who wanted to write every press release despite being a poor writer. I mean bad grammar, limited vocabulary and shocking spelling. He was smart, but had no talent with words. This industrial company boasted they put 20 press releases out in their best year. They needed to put 2000 releases out and engage with journalists in covering industries. Instead they worried about cost. What did it cost for the CEO to spend two hours on a press release? If he doesn’t add $400+ per hour in value, fire him.
