Babson Business: eGestures.com
Name of business: eGestures.com
Mission: Enabling people to experience gifts beyond the ones of materialistic nature.
Began in: 2007
Where: Founded out of Arlington, MA, USA.
Services currently available in Boston, NYC, Miami and will soon be available in other metropolitan areas across USA and Canada.
Founder: Dmitriy Peregudov
Employees: 3
Founder's Past Life/Business:
Peregudov's original profession was software engineering, which quickly transitioned into business opportunities in eCommerce. In 2002, he founded International Gift/Flower business: GoodChoiceFlowers.com – delivering flowers, gift baskets and gift certificates to many international locations around the world.
At Babson, he founded OnsiteVideos.com, a service that enables a company to feature a virtual spokesperson on its website.
With a Babson MBA ('07) under his belt, Peregudov is once again positioning his new company in upscale gift space, selling Gift Certificates for experience.
How the Idea Began: I ran out of ideas of what to send my mother for her birthday. And at 5,000 miles away, I realized a nice dinner or concert was also out of the question ! My friends—who purchased gift certificates for her -inspired me. Gift certificates open lots of opportunities for those who are running out of ideas… and don't mind spending $50 or more.
Initial Preparation to Germinate Idea: I selected the list of gift experiences I wanted to offer on my website and started calling vendors to include them in the network.
Favorite Thing about the Business:
Potential ideas for experiences are endless… imagination is a limit: we can keep going for a while.
Worst Thing about the Business:
Potential ideas for experiences are endless …imagination is a limit: no chance for early retirement!
Biggest Challenge:
Creating a credible brand, a network which every vendor will want to join.
Lesson Learned:
Make what you can sell, don't sell what you can make.