Our Investment Strategy: Why We’re Selling Our Genesis Theme Store
Again in 2011, Chris Cree had the concept of launching a inventory theme retailer. I denied his request the primary two occasions he introduced it up, however on try three I used to be purchased in. For the following 4 months Chris and I labored with our crew to launch a Genesis primarily based theme retailer.

We began with 4 themes and ultimately made our approach as much as properly over thirty themes. In doing so, we turned the most important supply of Genesis baby themes exterior of StudioPress. I used to be pleased with that declare as a result of I knew your complete firm had labored laborious to get there.

The Start of My Child

The shop formally launched in 2012 and since that day, the theme retailer has been my child. Or the person themes I ought to say.

We gave life to every theme with as a lot love and care as we may handle. I named themes after all of the folks I beloved and cared for in my present and previous life. From the Grandmother who raised me and my youngsters to my WordPress BFF Carrie Dils, the themes have been private and their names mirrored this emotional tie for me.

The theme retailer was very profitable for a few years and it turned chunk of our income. I eagerly would discuss it at WordCamps and on podcasts, as a result of I actually wished others to study from my expertise in launching a worthwhile product providing for WordPress.

The Development of Our Firm

As Internet Savvy grew and our customized growth work matured, our purchasers trended in the direction of extra mid-market and enterprise degree firms. When this occurred, the theme retailer took a again seat and new themes simply couldn’t be produced. We merely didn’t have the employees accessible to help these bigger builds and nonetheless produce new inventory themes.

After which final summer season, Chris Cree adopted his coronary heart and moved abroad to launch his bible college. Whereas I used to be completely thrilled for Chris, I knew this is able to be a blow to the theme retailer and our potential to take care of it. His departure meant much less assets to help the shop.

For the reason that retailer was so expensive to me, I knew I wanted to determine deliver new life to it. I wished Chris’ imaginative and prescient to dwell on and I wished all my infants to proceed to flourish and discover their method to web sites around the globe. I used to be at a crossroads and I didn’t know what to do.

I wanted to ensure the corporate had a strong long-term technique, however I additionally wanted to guard our loyal theme prospects. 5 years of gross sales meant we had plenty of current patrons who wanted ongoing help.

Discovering New Life Via Friendship

Within the final yr I had the chance to spend high quality time with Jon Brown and his beautiful spouse Elena. Karim Marucchi, an in depth good friend to us each, instructed that we must always get to know one another higher. He was proper and Jon and I we’re on the spot associates. We’ve very comparable views on enterprise, friendships, and ethics. I favored him instantly and I knew I wished to spend extra private and professional time with him.

And we grew nearer, we began chatting about my struggles with the theme retailer and his long-term enterprise targets. Earlier than I knew it, he wished to accumulate the theme retailer and I wished to provide it to him.

I knew, in my coronary heart, that he wouldn’t solely maintain all by infants alive, he would nurture them and convey the shop again to the day once we have been “the” place for Genesis baby themes. This thrilled me on so many ranges.

As Cory Miller typically states, “If you wish to go quick, go alone. If you wish to go far, go collectively.”

Investing within the Way forward for Internet Savvy, 9seeds, & Our Loyal Theme Prospects
Our firm and our work has all the time been very private to me. I’ve taken satisfaction in what we’ve constructed and I put my coronary heart and soul into doing good for our prospects. Realizing I had an incredible answer with Jon was really a win for all events concerned. I might see our retailer survive and develop, Jon would be capable to transfer into merchandise, and our current prospects would proceed to have nice help and new merchandise to make use of.

With this transfer I’m investing in the way forward for Internet Savvy Advertising and 9seeds. Our crew is ready to give attention to these bigger builds and my search engine marketing consulting, whereas 9seeds takes the theme retailer to the following degree.

This transition is already within the works and theme prospects will discover the 9seeds crew in our help discussion board answering questions. We’ll be transitioning all the things from WSM to 9seeds over the following month. Present prospects will obtain future notification from the 9seeds crew within the coming weeks.

Within the meantime, Jon and his employees have already got new themes in growth. I’ll be hovering – like a helicopter mother or father does – serving to with these new launches and with the transition as an entire.

Thank You!

On a ultimate word, I wish to thank all of our theme prospects to your loyalty, love, and help these final 5 years. I’ve been past blessed by the generosity of your feedback and reward.

I’ve loved serving you and serving to you create 1000’s of internet sites and blogs. I’ve loved assembly you at WordCamps, taking selfies collectively, and studying extra about you and your work.

The shop introduced me additional into the WordPress neighborhood and it’s a really particular place.

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