How would you like to be personally mentored by Ralph Lauren? I sat down with Silvia & Jorge Camps and talked about the launch of their Miami-based startup, StowSimple - a great concept that acts like a spare closet on demand.  They pick up all your unused stuff, store it at their modern storage center, and return it on demand when you need it.  They already have big traction from Miami folks living in hi-rise apartments, snowbirds, and frequent back-and-forth Miami travelers, including Dylan Lauren (daughter of Ralph).

We had a great chat and talked about how Silvia got the idea for StowSimple after a breakup with a boyfriend.  Jorge talked about a key lesson he learned during his leadership roles at The Container Store and how he’s using it to bring joy to their Miami customers.  Not only is StowSimple a great business idea that I’m sure all of us can see ourselves using, but there are some excellent entrepreneurial lessons for anyone launching or growing a startup or business of their own - especially those focused on Miami!

 

Highlights

Entrepreneurial story

2:30 - How Silvia landed a job working for Ralph Lauren right out of Duke University

4:00 - How the idea for StowSimple came to be after Silvia broke up with a boyfriend

6:15 - How they validated the idea for Stow Simple

9:30 - What the entrepreneurial life is like for them

 

Business overview

10:20 - Customers who are raving about the product

11:15 - How Silvia feels a special kinship for her “boyfriend breakup” customers 

12:30 - How Dylan Lauren uses StowSimple when she comes into Miami

13:00 - Frequent back-and-forth travelers to Miami using the service

14:30 - How they charge for the service

 

Business deep dive

16:00 - Their most important metric

17:20 - Their intimate relationship with customers and how it’s helping grow their business

18:20 - Reasons why top VCs might not invest

 

Closing questions

23:00 - Pros and Cons of doing business in Miami

24:00 - Help they’ve received from the local Miami community 

24:30 - What Silvia learned being mentored by Ralph Lauren and the best advice he gave her

25:50 - Jorge’s thoughts on how making people feel great is helping their business

26:30 - Books they’d recommend

27:20 - Their “only in Miami” moments

28:40 - What they’d do with $500 if they were brand new to Miami and needed to start a business

 

Mentioned in this episode

Brand Simple

Pour Your Heart Into It

Delivering Happiness

Stow Simple