Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Srdjan Popovic, CMO of Crossrope, located in Raleigh, NC, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

At Crossrope, we're on a mission to inspire millions of people to discover a fun and different way to get fit. Nobody deserves boring cardio. That's why we created a unique weighted jump rope system and fitness app that offers a quick and effective full-body cardio workout wherever you go. Whether you're looking to shake up your fitness routine or you're just getting started, Crossrope is a great way to take your cardio to the next level.

Tell us about yourself

Our founder and CEO, Dave Hunt, is a former Navy pilot, and he came up with the idea while deployed overseas. He struggled to find a weighted jump rope that wouldn't break, so he decided to create his own. I joined Crossrope in the very early stages of the business to run the marketing department and have been part of the journey ever since. Fitness has always been an important part of my life, and I feel fortunate that it's something I can help others pursue through Crossrope. I love the challenge the opportunity to inspire others through my work.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Having joined Crossrope in the very early stages as a Chief Marketing Officer it's given me the opportunity to see what it takes to build a great business. Our biggest accomplishment is the team we've built and the growth we've been able to achieve together.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The most challenging thing is dealing with uncertainty. You do your best to forecast demand and plan accordingly, but you never really know what's around the corner. You're always on your toes, trying to anticipate and be ready for what's next.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Know your customer really well. Take the time to identify them, speak with them, and understand their pain points. Know what motivates them and drives them. Doing so will help you build a better product, dial in on the right messaging, and know what problem you're truly helping them solve.
  2. Focus on fewer channels. Often I see new founders trying to get traction on every possible marketing channel. A better path is to find one or two channels that you can really master and build an audience through those. From there, it's much easier to expand into other channels than to try to take them on all at once.
  3. Collect first-party data from day one. Make sure you're collecting first-party data through your website, so you have an owned platform to communicate with your community.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.crossrope.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Crossrope
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossropejumpropes/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossrope
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srdjanpopovic/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.