Throwback Thursday: Millennials May Need Their Parents For This One

Stan Krozel and his partner Kevin Ullery founded the business after the real estate downturn stopped their careers dead in its tracks. Instead of capitulating, they looked at reinventing themselves by making an old idea new again.

Good Morning Folks,

Today's photos have been supplied by retired Frager Creative copywriter Elizabeth Cutler who is the real-life inspiration for the character known as Elaine on Seinfeld. Yes she wrote the J. Peterman catalog and also wrote great advertising lines like BMW: The Ultimate Driving Machine and also Archer Management Services: We're Not Business As Usual.

Incredible. Some of these I had not thought about in years. What a trip back in time!!!

The Juke box, Toni hair products, Lepages glue (a k-12 essential), Sealtest ice cream, Crayola and Brunswick Gummed Reinforcements!. The mimeograph machine. The rotary dial phone where the "digits" were a name and digits like "Bigelow 2-3479 and you'd talk to a real live operator for long distance (which could be $39 for a 3 minute call) so some kept 3-minute sand timers by the phone to keep them on budget. 

And who could forget the librarian or the hand-written store receipts with carbon copy for the customer! Or the gas station attendant whop pumped your gas, checked your oil and washed your windows all for 40 cents a gallon while you bought a green coke bottle from the machine for a nickel.

I know I am losing Millennials on this. But for our ALA friends :).... Interesting that what is old is new again. Especially when you can combine hospitality, fun and a personal touch. This recent presentation on Shark Tank is case in point that there are other million dollar ideas on right here on this page... all you have to do is put your (re) IMAGINATION caps on.

Fun Time Express is a unique and memorable trackless train ride that is sure to delight the entire family.

The Shark Tank example: Trackless train-ride provider Fun Time Express on Friday night became the second Chicago-based company this season to come away with six-figure funding from ABC's "Shark Tank" television program. The idea was inspired by the guys seeing an old film where kids were kept busy on coin operated horses and merry-go-rounds when parents shopped at strip malls. Seeds planted in their heads as the above photos could plant in yours.

Fun Time Express received a $125,000 investment from "Shark Tank" investors Lori Grenier and Kevin O’Leary, who will receive a combined 20 percent equity in the company.

Stan Krozel, left, and his partner
Kevin Ullery founded the
business after the real estate
downturn stopped their careers
dead in its tracks. Instead of
capitulating, they looked at
reinventing themselves
by making an old idea new again.

Fun Time Express founders Stan Krozel and Kevin Ullery appeared on the program, taped in September, and asked for $125,000. Just when it seemed like the sharks were losing interest, O’Leary took note of Fun Time Express’ impressive margins — up to 30 percent on 2013’s revenues, which topped $300,000, according to Krozel.

“If we did absolutely nothing [different] next year, that’s $150,000 in net profit,” said Krozel, the majority owner. “That’s passive income.”

Yet O'Leary said he didn't see big enough money in the company. He declared himself out of the running as an investor, leaving Grenier as the only shark not to drop out.

Grenier, a Chicagoan, said she would put up half the asking price and asked O'Leary to put up the other half.

Krozel amended his deal to get O’Leary on board. Instead of a straight exchange for equity, Krozel offered to use 100 percent of profits to pay back the $125,000. The investors then would receive 10 percent equity each.

Fun Time Express operates eight trains in five malls across the U.S. On the show, Ullery said the trains could be used in other arenas, such as at private parties. O'Leary said he had ideas for tweaking the business to gain even better returns.

Be great and (re)IMAGINE!

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

ABOUT FSO:

• The fastest growing and most successful national onsite outsourcing in the U.S. focused on 1) improving services, 2) reducing costs, and 3) giving employees  an opportunity to grow.
• We outsource functions like: Mail, Copy, Reception, Switchboard, Office Services, Records, Messenger, IT, Concierge, Front & Back Office and much more.
• 1600+ employees, operating in 60+ cities, 225+ operational sites, 98% employee retention & 100% client retention.
• We (re)imagine the ways businesses are run.

ABOUT FSO CEO & FOUNDER – MITCH WEINER:

• Pioneer of the onsite outsourcing business model.
• 20+ years of industry experience.
•  Previous owner of Archer, which he sold to Canon.

VIDEO:
Brief "corporate portrait" video shows who we are and what we can do for you HERE