Innovation in advertising is the need of the hour, and the traditional in-store marketing and visual merchandising techniques are no longer enough. The emergence of technology has paved the way for innovative advertising solutions like Tokinomo. The CEO and founder of Tokinomo, Ionut Vlad, revolutionized in-store advertising using technology. In a recent Innovators Can Laugh podcast, Ionut spoke about how he conceptualized the idea and the challenges he faced while implementing it.
Ila believes that technology is not an end in itself; it is a means to achieve something. He had a background in programming, but he lacked hardware knowledge. However, he had a vision to use technology to transform in-store advertising. The first client of Tokinomo was a big beer company that had shown interest in Ila's prototype. They needed 30 prototypes in two weeks for a campaign that was to run across 30 stores. Ila and his team worked day and night to make the prototypes. They managed to install the devices in time, but the beer was too heavy for the prototype, and the mechanism got damaged. They had to improvise and used a turtle seat, rubber fit sauce, and bent aluminum bars to fix the devices. The first few days were a disaster, but they managed to repair the devices in 24 hours. The team drove around the city repairing the prototypes, and Ila's experience taught him to be prepared for the unexpected.
Ila's story is a testament to the fact that entrepreneurship is all about taking risks, being creative, and adapting to challenges. Tokinomo is a unique in-store advertising solution that uses robotic displays that come to life when they sense a person walking by. The product has already projected revenue of 2 million for 2023, and it is an excellent example of how technology can transform the advertising industry.
For entrepreneurs who are looking to bring innovation to their businesses, Ila's experience offers valuable lessons. Firstly, innovation requires risk-taking. Ila's decision to take on the big beer company's project without having a complete product was a bold move. It required him to work tirelessly to deliver the prototypes on time, but it paid off in the end.
Secondly, entrepreneurs must be creative and adaptable. When the beer proved too heavy for the prototype, Ila and his team had to think on their feet to find a solution. They improvised and used whatever they had available to make the prototypes work. This experience taught Ila the importance of being prepared for the unexpected and being able to adapt to challenges.
Lastly, entrepreneurs must embrace technology. In today's world, technology is an essential component of any successful business. Ila's story is a perfect example of how technology can be used to create innovative solutions that transform industries. Entrepreneurs must keep an eye on emerging technologies and be willing to experiment with them to create new products and services.
In conclusion, Ila's experience with Tokinomo highlights the importance of innovation, risk-taking, creativity, and adaptability for entrepreneurs. With technology rapidly changing the business landscape, entrepreneurs must be willing to embrace it and experiment with it to create unique and innovative solutions. Ila's story is an excellent example of how technology can transform industries, and entrepreneurs must keep this in mind when planning their businesses.
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