Gabriel Shaoolian, Founder and CEO of Blue Fountain Media

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Gabriel Shaoolian

New York, NY

Founder and CEO of Blue Fountain Media

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1. My business and how I got started:

I started Blue Fountain Media, a website design and online marketing company, out of a studio apartment in the west village, NYC area. I literally walked up and down the street, walking into businesses of all sizes and telling them that they needed an effective web presence that would drive more sales, and maintain customer loyalty. I faced a lot of rejection, but I was persistent. Business began with a trickle, but as I built a stable of very satisfied clients, the word of mouth led to more and more business.

Today, just seven years later, we have more than 80 employees and serve a wide range of clients that include start ups to Fortune 500 companies including The National Football League, Procter & Gamble, The United States Mint, Oppenheimer Funds and The United Nations.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

Every website project we work on is based on the idea of improving our client’s business; getting them more business through the web, increasing their sales, clientele base, and building their brand online. We treat our client’s website business as our own, and produce tangible and measurable results for them. This is how we’ve maintained our client relationships and have grown with their success.

3. A typical day for me:

Insanity. Starts with two cups of coffee and ends with a shot (preferably vodka). From the moment I wake up until I finally leave my office: there are new ideas to hear, new clients to pitch, current clients to work with, articles to write and, on top of all of that, the duties involved in managing the finances and personnel of an 80+ person company. I’ll say one thing… it’s never boring.

4. What I love most about my business:

The satisfaction of seeing my clients succeed and the pride in seeing how far my employees have grown professionally. This we don’t joke about.

5. I’m cool because:

If you answer this question… you aren’t!

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

I’d like to think “succeed or die trying.”

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

Mary Poppins, only kidding.  I can’t think of any non-cheesy titles, but how about “High Anxiety 2.0” (any takers?)

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

Typical bachelor fridge. If you have to ask, don’t!

Want to connect with Gabriel? Find him on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook!