Recently I got a chance to sit down and interview
WizOf.Biz’s co-founder, Reg Charney to give everyone a little insight into the
business.
Irena Kagansky: What motivated you to start a business like
WizOf.Biz?
Reg Charney: When Peter and I started to work on this idea,
our motivation was to help businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs find the
answers they needed to succeed. Quite often, people will have brilliant
business ideas, however a lack of experience, direction and expert advice stop
them short of making them a reality. We have a platform that allows business
experts in many fields to contribute to the growth of the inventory of business
solutions for innovators and entrepreneurs. We are a safe and secure online sounding
board where business minded folks can get the insight and inspiration to enable
them to get ahead. We bring together the business expertise that is out there
and allow innovators and entrepreneurs to access this wealth of knowledge and
experience.
running WizOf.Biz?
R.C. We have gotten to know a lot of very interesting
people; including Peter Widdis who’s a professor in Business, Arts and Design
at George Brown College. This past April, Peter and our team made an appearance
on CBC’s Dragon’s Den where WizOf.Biz was a finalist. We all learned a great
deal from this once in a lifetime experience. Subsequently, we have applied
some of the lessons learned from the Dragons and are moving forward. I know
that WizOf.Biz can provide clients with the perfect recipe for success in all
areas of business.
I.K. What are/were some proven challenges in building
WizOf.Biz?
R.C. WizOf.Biz has the capability to widen the depth and
breadth of help available to solve most business issues that innovators and
entrepreneurs encounter. However, we are just starting and building our
inventory of solutions. One of our main challenges right now is establishing
the necessary level of trust with our clients. Our entire advisors clients’
interactions happen online which can sometimes mean that client confidence in
our legitimacy wavers. That is why we are working hard at cultivating their
trust in our brand, and our commitment to quality service and client
satisfaction.
I.K. In your opinion, what sets WizOf.Biz apart from the
competition? If someone disagreed with your point of view how would you
respond?
R.C. I would say that what sets WizOfBiz from our
competitors is that we genuinely care about the success of smaller businesses,
innovation and young entrepreneurs. One of our goals is to help point clients in
the right direction. We help businesses cultivate valuable professional
relationships which can lead to breakthroughs. If you consider consultants as
part of the labor market, WizOf.Biz helps them be more efficient because we
provide the back-up support for finding work and eliminate the need for
invoicing.
I.K. What is your personal philosophy about WizOf.Biz and
how it can motivate people to be the best at what they do?
R.C. As I have mentioned earlier, we are still just starting
out as a business. With WizOf.Biz there is no worrying about making the “right”
impression. Clients can sign in online and review the advisors profiles. They
can also post comments and submit materials. They have a choice of whom they’d like
to work with. This approach ensures compatibility and promotes productivity.
I.K. In five years, how do you see WizOf.Biz contributing to
the popular trend of managing businesses online?
R.C. I am confident that in the future WizOf.Biz will be the
number one online review hub for businesses consultants and entrepreneurs. I am
looking forward to continuing to expand our client base as well as the scope of
innovative solutions that we can bring to your business. This is thinking
ahead, but it would be great to potentially increase our market size. Although
WizOf.Biz is currently aimed at the GTA market, it can be scaled globally. With
a global set of business advisors, it could help other businesses go global.
