It’s About the Journey: Looking Forward with the ActionGlow Entrepreneurs
After launching their ActionGlow business in 2013, an eye-opening LED lighting system for skis and snowboards and other outside sports, brothers Garret and Dakota Porter depleted their inventory in 48 hours.
And they haven’t looked back.
“We were all sold,” says Laura Galbraith, President of Venture North, a primary source of capital for the Action Glow business. “They were young Eagle Scouts, full of ideas and dreams. The business engaged the entire family, from mom to grandma. Their growth is inspiring and they are turning up the trajectory through delegation, cost management and target marketing. Being part of the ActionGlow extended family is an honor and just plain fun!”
“For over a decade ActionGlow has led us on crazy worldwide journey,” said Garret Porter, now age 26. “We have traveled to France, South Africa and we can’t wait to kick off our U.S. Bus Tour, beginning next month to market our products to small-to-medium action sports businesses and to learn from other entrepreneurs and potential customers.”
And, of course, their determined journey with Shark Tank. Their collaboration with Shark Robert Herjavec and his team continues to play big in catapulting ActionGlow’s growth – running at a year over year sales increase of 250%.
Garret and Dakota Porter, co-owners of ActionGlow - Their custom van ready for their west-coast marketing tour - A great moment captured on Shark Tank
“We’re heading to Tampa for the annual Shark Tank Reunion where Shark Tank-supported companies gather to learn and soak up stories and lessons of fellow entrepreneurs,” said Dakota. Our Shark Tank partnership is an amazing reservoir of help for our growth goals.”
“First and foremost, we’ve learned how to enjoy the journey, said Garret. “While it often requires long days seven days a week, we’re all about enjoying the ride and having fun with most everything we do,”
“The work of the Porters is like a textbook on how to succeed as an entrepreneur,” said Galbraith. “They take time to listen, learn and filter out what makes the most sense for them and their business.”
“This is our year of delegation,” says Dakota. “We can’t grow and do all the work ourselves. We need to accept the loss of some control.”
“We’ve outsourced manufacturing in a way that’s lowered unit cost while continuing to upgrade quality and durability of our products,” said Garret. “We also partner with a great distribution fulfillment center that provides first-rate customer service that features shipping options with the lowest cost and highest reliability. We also outsource much of our marketing and social media work. We all learn from one another. It’s a great team that excels in their work.”
“We’re seeking more brand appeal, more sales and customers, high order fulfillment and more markets, especially small to medium retail,” said Dakota.
“We seem to have less and less time as we get older to do the things we love,” says Garret. “But, in our case, being outside and soaking up all that northern Michigan has to offer continues to ground us and spark our creative fires. Being outside has stimulated the type of imagination and creativity that has laid the foundation for ActionGlow and an LED lighting system for sporting equipment that we are truly proud of. The response has surpassed our wildest expectations.”
“We’re glad that northern Michigan is a fulfilling anchor for ActionGlow’s next generation,” said Galbraith. “We can’t wait to see more dramatic success and old-fashioned fun – driven by our friends – the ActionGlow Boys!”
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Contact: Tim Ervin - Ph: 231-794-0089 - Email: timervinassoc@gmail.com
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