Business Profile: Export Clever
Name: John Magee
Company: Export Clever
Email: info@exportclever.com
Telephone: 028 8288 8114
Can you describe your business?
Export Clever is an online platform that helps companies to investigate export markets by linking them with graduates in the target market.
Why did you start your own business?
After working in international consultancy for 20 years it is clear that businesses want to know what people in overseas markets think of their product or service. Graduates need practical experience and a source of income. Export Clever helps both.
What are the best things about running your own business?
While every day is different, each day has a common link – I am doing something that I love.
What are the main challenges facing the business?
For any online business a key challenge is online security and ensuring that your systems are as protected as they possibly can be.
Another challenge is finding the programming skills that we need locally. Coding should be taught in schools at an early age but it must be done in a way which is fun and relevant.
What advice would you give to someone starting a business?
Only do something that you absolutely love because the business becomes your life. I also would strongly recommend that you do not fly solo. In my experience a successful business needs a range of skills that no one person will have. Trying to do everything will mean that something is probably being done badly or even not at all and you will put yourself under a lot of pressure. My last piece of advice is to get a good accountant from day one and to make sure that agreements setting out responsibilities and rules are drafted and agreed at the very beginning.
Can you describe your experience of running a business in three words or less?
Roller-coaster.
