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: Hollywog, founded in 2009, is based in Chattanooga, TN.
We are designers, developers, and producers of high quality medical devices that are clinically effective and provide an unmatched usability experience.
Our technology reaches into doctors’ offices, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics and end-user homes.
We work hard and invest greatly in designing products that make lives better.
We are proud our technology is recognized by medical professionals and global leaders in consumer health.
We are honored to have Partnerships with the medical community, medical distributors, and with Global Consumer brands with their vast consumer reach and brand trust. This is a big win for all, especially the pain sufferers
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: Chuck Thomas, lives in Chattanooga, TN with his wife Holley and has 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters.
A.S. in Computer Science with continued Studies in Sociology – Organizational Behavior.
Had several roles throughout his career, beginning with computer programming, to Vice President of International Sales and Marketing of a large multi-national medical company before Hollywog.
Tennis and time with family and friends are all of special interest.
member of the Tennessee District Export Council and appointed to the International Advisor Panel for Governor of Tennessee.
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: Hollywog was founded in 2009 in Chattanooga, TN, by my wife Holley. (One of my favorite photos is of her sitting in our study at home with the Hollywog logo she had created.) We had discussed the concept of evolving current medical devices/technology, with emphasis on the User/Patient.. The ideas were really at the forefront of “Wearables” at that time. Some original product ideas are still yet to be developed, but incredibly remain viable future projects for Hollywog. At the same time, I was exiting my role as VP of International Sales and Marketing for a large multinational medical device company and I created Champfive, a business consulting company that specialized in helping small medical device companies bring their products to the international markets. Hollywog was a “client” of Champfive. As both companies began to grow we were very fortunate to hire an incredible talented staff with All the experience needed to make Hollywog a Very Smart Start. As Hollywog became the larger and main focus, I officially assumed the leadership role of Hollywog and we phased out most of the consulting business activities of Champfive.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Keep and honest open mind about your decisions.
Surround yourself with knowledgeable staff…..you cannot afford time for training (that will come later as your company grows).
Understand completely your cash flow.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: This really depends on the focus of the entrepreneur and the business they are starting. Integrity probably tops the list, although I’m not sure if that’s a “skill”.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 4– 24. Depends on the day.
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Perseverance
100% support and commitment from key staff
Good ideas!
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: We do not market our business. However , we do market each product (brand) and certain Intellectual Property to a specific audience.
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: The first couple of years it was funded by my wife Holley and I personally. Plus, we had the income coming from the Champfive consulting business.
We then “offered” for a couple of key staff to invest. It was a risk for them at the time, a bit too much actually, so I created a personal guarantee for them to help soften the risk.
Our first round of outside funding came from a strategic investor. It was one of our clients from Champfive and they loved the first product to be released from Hollywog and wanted it in their product portfolio.
Our second round of funding came from a personal contact that’s a high wealth individual with an outstanding performance of growing/nurturing business.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Think, Plan, and Act Long-Term. Easier to say than actually execute. However, If you’re chasing a number each month to “survive”, I understand that, but if your chasing a number each month/quarter and giving up long-term potential, then you’ve just created another rat-race where you’re not really in control of your business.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Very Alive!! I love what I’m doing and hope to enjoy this for many more years. For Hollywog, I see the “Hollywog Inside” technology (like the Bayer Aleve Direct Therapy unit) in many products in the future along with growing the number of our own range of branded products like WiTouch and ModPod.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Tesla. I admire the philosophy of taking existing products and making them better.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: No question. It’s a must have!
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: Give up?? Every idea is not good, but if an idea has proper credibility/possibilities, it should be vetted till a Yes or No decision is made. A “no” is not giving up, it’s just a good decision.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: Family
Q 16. What are your ideals?
Ans: Have I clearly communicated the task/direction.
Have I provided the proper resources to accomplish the task/direction.
Has Everyone involved been treated with complete respect.
Q 17. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I would love to say all ideas come from me (that’s a little joke in our office), but that’s not true. Ideas come from several sources, but I think I’m best as knowing very quickly if an idea has potential.
Q 18. How do you define success?
Ans: Happiness.
Q 19. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Honesty and programs that create long-term positive outcomes for all involved.
Q 20. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Flexibility to move quickly.
Q 21. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: Several, but one that sticks out the most is when seeing our first product, WiTouch, come off the production line for the first time.
Q 22. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Nothing and Everything. I’ve done both, and think I’m the same person.
Q 23. 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: Open, Caring, Accountable.
Q 24. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Thankful
Company Detail
Company : Hollywog
Contact : Chris Lawyer
Address : 2830 Amnicola Hwy
City : Chattanooga
State : TN
Zip : 37406
Phone : 423-305-7778
Fax : 423-305-7867
Email : info@hollywog.com
Office Hours : 8.30 AM to 5:00 PM