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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Johnny Hebda directs BYU Theatre Dept. Fundraiser
Johnny Hebda named Entrepreneur of the Year at BYU
Johnny Hebda Named Entrepreneur of the Year at Brigham Young University
In the annual Brigham Young University's College Entrepreneur Organization Competition, Johnny Hebda was named one of three Student Entrepreneurs of the Year for his business Pointe Pest Control
Orem, UT (PRWEB) February 13, 2012
Each year dozens of students compete in Brigham Young University's annual Entrepreneur of the Year Competition sponsored by the College Entrepreneur Organization, commonly referred to as the " CEO Club". Students go through lengthy rounds of judging and emerge to three finalists that are selected upon successful completion of the various rounds. During the final round of the competition, students present their businesses to a panel of investors and venture capitalists that select the winners based on a detailed evaluation of each business and their presentation to the student body of their business.
Utah is home to many start up businesses each year and Brigham Young University regularly produces some of the top notch talent.
Listed on the Marriott School's Web site is the last ranking for student entrepreneurs at BYU by Entrepreneurs magazine, and BYU was voted as No. 12 in the nation.
Faculty entrepreneur mentor, Gary Rhoads, said that BYU produces one of the highest percentages of students who run their own companies in the nation.
"We try to have students develop their ideas and concepts fully so the minute they graduate they can start their business. But most can't wait," Rhoads said.
This year's winners included: Johnny Hebda of Pointe Pest Control, Ethan Heintzelman, founder of Elite Express, and Bo Porter, founder of Fox Websites. Each of these students won $10,000 in cash prizes as well as additional awards in in kind services.
Hebda has also been invited to the Global Entrepreneurs' Organization competition where he will compete against student entrepreneurs from colleges throughout the US and Canada.
Johnny Hebda, owner of Pointe Pest Control, shared his feelings about putting work as first priority, which is not typical of most college students trying to juggle a full load of classes, social activities, and dating. Hebda explained that it is a constant balancing act for him, but finds it easy to put business first because he considers himself to be a workaholic.
"People are dependent on me, and I depend on the business because it's my source of income," Hebda said.
He also said students should not wait to start their own business because they do not think they have the time.
"Just know your opportune time and take advantage of it," Hebda said.
Derek Pando, President of the BYU Chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization, pointed out that now, while in college, is the best time to start planning a business.
"Never will a person be in a better position where they have so many free resources and ideas, BYU tries to create an environment for entrepreneurs," Pando said. "There is the entrepreneurship club, faculty who mentor for free and great networking opportunities."
Networking is the buzz-word among these entrepreneurs. All spoke of how they met their partners and investors through occupations, classes and school organizations. Hebda said he is constantly meeting new people because he is not stuck behind a desk. While Alder's company was able to network with investors through an online speed-pitching competition. Networking was also pointed out as the second most important skill in running one's business while in college, the first being time management.
While having a successful business in school can be rewarding itself, BYU Marriott School provides competitions such as The Business Plan Competition (BPC) and Student Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY), where students can earn large cash awards.
SEOY was organized by the BYU Chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization, and was impressed by many of the entries, which according to the organization's President Pando had revenues in the millions, employees near the forties, and room for growth.
Johnny Hebda grossed annual revenues well over $3 million dollars in his Salt Lake City and Denver locations. An impressive model for any business, but especially for a 25 year old undergrad.
"I feel that running my own business while going to school has provided a more hands on approach to learning. The BYU faculty and advisors have been extremely helpful in providing advice and direction during the process. I truly feel that I will graduate with the best education available in entrepreneurship, business and leadership available. I have learned so much during this process and running a business while attending classes has been the perfect synthesis for a well rounded education," Hebda says.
Upon graduation, Hebda plans to expand his business ventures before going on to get an MBA. Hebda employs hundreds of college students each summer to offer his services through door-to-door marketing, as well as technicians to service residents homes for common household pests, such as spiders, ants and mice.
"This has certainly been a huge sacrifice in many ways, but I feel that the skills that I have learned and financial security that this has provided me at such a young age will catapult me years ahead," Hebda says.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Entrepreneur Johnny Hebda Answers the Question: Do Door-to-door Sales Work in 2012?
Johnny Hebda discusses a viable marketing strategy for getting products and home services out to consumers through door-to-door sales.
Lehi, UT (PRWEB) March 06, 2012
Door-to-door soliciting is often thought of as something of the past: peddlers or solicitors are typically regarded as an archaic sales tactic that has long been outdated. With the Internet and easy access to a wide variety of products and services, the idea of buying a product or service through someone knocking on your door uninvited can’t possibly work in 2012 or can it?
According to Johnny Hebda, young entrepreneur that has built his entire career and business exclusively through door-to-door sales, states that this sales technique is well and alive today more than ever.
Johnny Hebda has run companies and developed door-to-door sales teams for the past 7 years. He has trained sales teams and personnel to sell everything from pest control contracts to Internet and cable services, and currently he trains and develops teams to sell home security and automation services.
“I have found that consumers often prefer to purchase home services when someone comes to their home and can customize a service at a great rate that would be difficult for them to receive over the phone or online. Consumers appreciate the personalized touch they get when one of our trained sales team members is able to offer a free inspection of their home and suggest a tailored package or service that will fit their needs in a specific way,” according to Johnny Hebda.
Hebda began running a small sales team while an undergrad at Brigham Young University. He sold pest control contracts to residents for Orkin Pest Control in the southeast US to pay for his schooling. Since then he has built a huge network of sales teams nationally. He recruits primarily college students needing summer jobs and has found this to be his target market for gaining sales personnel.
“With the down economy and struggling job market, door-to-door sales can provide a great alternative to students needing a way to pay for their college education without taking out huge loans or graduating with large amounts of debt. It also provides great training and skills that will benefit students for the rest of their life and strengthen their resume,” says Johnny Hebda.
On average students can make over $20,000 during the 3-4 month summer break they have between semesters through commission on sales that they make. Hebda has tailored a training program that helps hard working and driven salesmen to master the door-to-door sales technique very quickly.
Johnny Hebda was also one of three winners in the 2008 Brigham Young University's Annual Entrepreneur of the Year Competition for his business Pointe Pest Control, which at that time had annual revenues in excess of $3 million (http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/66895).
“Two industries in particular stand out as particularly receptive to door-to-door sales: Pest Control and Home Security Systems. In 2010, Incite Marketing, which I founded, sent out more than 500 sales representatives between May and August and generated more than 35,000 new customers, generating more than $16 million in new gross sales revenue during those 4 months,” says Hebda.
According Pest Control Magazine’s (PCT) Top 100 List (which ranks the largest pest control companies based on annual revenues each year-http://www.pctonline.com/PCT0511_top100list.aspx), more than one third of the top 100 companies utilize door-to-door sales teams as part of their annual sales, including both Terminix and Orkin.
Home security system sales is even a larger industry for door-to-door sales and is a multi-billion dollar industry in the US alone. Hebda currently works as a Regional Sales Manager for AMP Security (http://www.workatamp.com) which markets for Vector Security, that ranks as the 7th largest home security company in the US according to the SDM List. AMP Security which Hebda works for, projects to produce $40-$50 million dollars of new sales revenue this year alone for Vector Security. Looking at the 2011 SDM List, which ranks the largest home security companies in the US (http://www.sdmmag.com/articles/86558-2011-sdm-100-the-list), more than half of the top 20 home security monitoring companies utilize door-to-door sales teams as a major part of their sales growth each year. Several of the companies listed in the top ten, attribute more than 90% of their sales growth to door-to-door sales teams.
Johnny Hebda is often sought after as a consultant for businesses looking to implement door-to-door sales to aid in its sales growth. Hebda believes that many other services and home products could successfully implement door-to-door sales teams to bolster its sales, particularly with a down economy.
“There is no reason to sit back and wait for consumers to call your business or to cross your fingers that your latest commercial, online ad or coupon is going to bring new customers through your doors. If you have a good product or service, get out there and take it to the consumers yourself,” says Hebda.
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