Q.1:- Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans:- Black Diamond Valet, Inc. is a corporation that provides parking services throughout Southern California and is centrally located in Corona, California. At Black Diamond Valet, our core values are honesty, integrity, efficiency, and safety while providing great customer service. Black Diamond Valet is involved in many local charities and activities in various communities, such as: St. Jude’s, Boys and Girls Club, Let It Be Foundation, and Angel Wings. We are members of various chambers of commerce throughout Southern California. We incorporate new technology (TEZ) to ensure the best services to our clients and their customers.
Customer service and safety has been and will remain our priority.
Q.2:- Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans :- My name is Jose Contreras and I am the president of Black Diamond Valet, Inc. I am a young entrepreneur, family oriented, and involved in various non-profit organizations. I have been involved in the detailing industry for over 10 years. I furthered my studies at Cal Poly Pomona.
I took a leap of faith when I started this business. I left the comfort of earning a steady paycheck. Learning from my mistakes has been one of the main reasons we have been able to grow black diamond into a key role player in the region.
Q.3:- What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans :- I had work for a valet company for about 1 year, I was laid off because the company lost the contract of the location. Instead of looking for a new job I decided to start my own business. We mainly marketed on craigslist, Hindsight being 20/20 I wasn’t attracting the best customers lol. We have since changed our marketing techniques.
Q.4:- What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs? Make sure you love the type of business you are in.
Ans :- Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and doing better than you in life. Work Hard every day!
Q.5:- What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans :- People Skills, Good Selling Skills, Project Management skills
Q.6:- How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans :- My phone is always ringing, on average I will say about 12 hours including travel time.
Q.7:- To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans :- Being persistent and not giving up!
Q.8:- How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans :- We use a wide range of marketing techniques but our most successful have been Yelp and Hiring a SEO Company has been our best form of marketing
Q.9:- Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans :- All of our capital has been internal, meaning it has been generated through sales. We reinvest the majority of our revenue in growing the company.
Q.10:- What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans :- Staying focused and never thinking that have you achieved the ultimate sucess
Q.11:- Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans :- We want to expand the number of locations we have. Including locations in Nevada and Arizona. As for myself I want to be the best version of myself.
Q.12:- Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans :- Microsoft because they were pioneers in the software industry and they reinvented themselves after becoming stagnant.
Recommended Questions –
Q.13:- How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans :- Without good employees no business is able to thrive, All of our success is due to the hard work of all our employees.
Q.14:- How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans :- About 3 cycles, each cycle consists of improving the idea, getting feedback, and creating a marketing plan
Q.15:- What motivates you?
Ans :- Providing a better life for my family and freedom of choice to do.
Q.16:- What are your ideals?
Ans :- Treat everyone with respect regardless of income ,race or social status.
Q.17:- How do you generate new ideas?
Ans :- Most of my ideas come from when I drive. When driving I brainstorm and run scenarios. I enjoy my alone time, that is were most of my thinking happens.
Q.18:- How do you define success?
Ans :- Success in my opinion is doing what ever you want at any given time.
Q.19:- How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans :- By understanding the customers’ needs and providing a product or service that meets and exceeds there expectations.
Q.20:- What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans :- Creating jobs that allows people to provide for their family.
Q.21:- What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans :- Working alongside Fortune 500 companies.
Q.22:- What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans :- There tolerance for risk and their willingness to be outside their comfort level.
Q.23:- In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans :- Memorable
Optional Questions –
Q.24:- If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans :- Surround myself with other entrepreneurs sooner.
Q.25:- How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans :- Its hard finding a balance with work and family time, not everyone can understand the lifestyle of an entrepreneur. How have to find friends who are very understanding, Finding a significant other is not easy lol. You will miss a lot of family time and holiday get togethers
Q.26:- What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans :- My biggest fear is that this country will move to more socialist ideas!!!
Q.27:- How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans :- By doing research and planning , lots of planning, If you do make a mistake own up to it and see how you can fix it.
Q.28:- What are your hobbies?
Ans :- My hobbies include playing poker, shooting pool, going to the firing range, and going for a drive in my Polaris Slingshot. I also enjoy watching baseball.
Q.29:- What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans :- Watch shark tank and other shows on Netflix, Spend time with the family
Q.30:- What makes you happy?
Ans :- Seeing others happy is what makes me happy. Starting a project from scratch and seeing that everything came out as you have envisioned it.
Q.31:- What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans :- Not taking a paycheck occasionally Missing out on holidays and family time Cold Calling and Knocking
Company Name :- BLACK DIAMOND VALET, INC
Address :- 5198 ARLINGTON AVENUE #240, Riverside, CA, 92504, USA
Website Url :- http://bdvalet.com/