Episode 006 - Paul Altieri — The WOW Factor Podcast

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Paul Altieri is on the show today. Paul is the founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches, one of the world’s foremost authorities on Rolex watches, from vintage to modern. Well-known online through Bob’s Watches and Rolex forums, Paul and his team have been providing quality used and new Rolex watches for true fair market value for over 20 years.

In 1999 the Internet was booming and eBay was slowly making a name for itself in e-commerce. Paul saw this and wanted a piece of the online business world. So, in 1999 he bought “Bob’s Watches” and turned it into an online e-commerce powerhouse, that also currently has a storefront in Newport Beach, Ca. Paul credits his success to being honest, customer-driven and following his 18 Philosophies, which are business and life rules to live by.

In this episode…

Brad and Paul discuss what it’s like building a business with integrity and seeing a gap in the marketplace and capitalizing on it. They also touch on the history of Rolex and the importance of investing in good employee’s who fit your culture and that are willing to follow your vision.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Building a more user-friendly experience than eBay
The huge demand for new and used Rolex watches
Being mistaken for “Bob”
The Rule of 18
Stating a business without any venture capital
Learning about SEO and running online Ad’s
The importance of listening to your customers
Putting high-res photos on the internet, in the early days
“Invest in good people”
Finding out that Rolex is a non-profit
“Be the good guys, be honest and straight up, it’ll come back in spades”
“Constantly be on the lookout to hire good people who will help you with your vision”
“Technology is always changing, you have to stay on top of it”