Q. 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: We are Xpress Custom Print located in the Dallas Design District. We love helping people bring their ideas to life through print. Xpress has every machine available for printing purposes with no minimums and fast turnaround time.
Q. 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 Rich Mendoza. I have been a entrepreneur since I was about 24 years old. I love starting a business from nothing and growing it. Xpress is my baby and something I have put more time and effort into than anything I have done my whole life. We have learned so much about design and how to use machines. It has been one fun ride so far and we will continue to learn new processes and techniques to help our customers.
Q. 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: Its kind of crazy how this business started. I owned a cross fit gym and we were always ordering shirts and not happy with the quality. One day my cousin was like why don’t we just buy the machine and make them ourselves. This was 4 years ago and I became addicted to learning about the new machines and techniques. I flew to China and spent a couple weeks learning about machines and then I bought them to use here in the USA.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Take Chances, 100% Commit to your idea, and learn everything you can about your craft.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Determination, The ability to learn and accept when your wrong, Take advice from people who have been successful in your field.
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 10
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: That I will not except to just be average
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: SEO, Pay per Clicks, Word of Mouth, Customer Referral
Q. 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: I have never taken on any investors. We have bought machines one at a time and I used my own money to do so.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Help People
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: The plan is to build many brands from inside this factory. Having online stores that our selling thousands of shirts weekly.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Marketing Companies
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: It’s the most important part. You can not do everything by yourself no matter how talented you are.
Q. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: 2 years
Q. What motivates you?
Ans: Financial Freedom
Q. What are your ideals? C
Ans: Customer Service, Quality, Being on Time.
Q. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: My brain never stops with ideas. I am always thinking of new and clever ways to make money.
Q. How do you define success?
Ans: Being able to spend time where and when you want.
Q. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Honesty, Quality, and making sure they are happy.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Building
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: Opening the factory in the design district and branding it completely to my liking.
Q. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: We take chances, predict our own future, & do not have someone telling us when we can go to lunch.
Q. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: Hard Work & Fun. I want my employees to enjoy being at work. It makes a better environment here at the factory.
Q. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Determined
Q. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: Lots of things. I have wasted money on so many things trying to do it myself instead of hiring or bringing a professional on board to help me.
Q. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: I have been away for a lot of time. I haven’t seen my family as much as I should. I am working very hard to make it where I have all the time in the world though.
Q. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: Failing at my business
Q. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: I wanted to be in the Design District around many creative people.