Nuts and Bolts of the Toilet Paper Society
Founders
Michael Gottfried (tech/development), Mark Kaufman (tech/development), Justin Palmer (Biz Dev, Marketing), Will Watts (Operations, Fullfillment)
# of Employees
4
Funding?
Bootstrapped
Founded
May 1, 2013
What is Toilet Paper Society?
+We have created a subscription service for toilet paper delivery, straight to your home. Customers can sign up for 4, 8 or 16 rolls per month.
+We are currently focused on improving our web application and bringing value to customers with a referral program to earn free toilet paper, as well as lower TP prices.
What do you know now that you wish you would have known when you started Toilet Paper Society?
+Test, test, test your product. If someone comes to use your site and has a problem, we assume they will never come back. Everything needs to be airtight before going to market.
+I also wish we would have known what a pain shipping can be. It’s killing our margins and hasn’t allowed us to launch with the prices we originally intended.
What’s a hypothesis that you’ve had that has failed? And how did you respond?
We presumed that since we believed in the concept that everyone would and the product would spread like wildfire. It doesn’t. People don’t immediately jump on board. It takes time for people to recognize your brand and product and to show them the need.
What’s your favorite startup in Atlanta? (Besides your own!)
Big fan of Insight Pool. I love what they are doing to create business value on Twitter.
What’s your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
I love that I get to work with people I enjoy. What you do is important, but who you do it with can speak volumes about happiness. I am grateful that I get to do with I love with some of my closest friends, every day.
What’s your favorite local sports team?
N/A. Born and raised in DC and too loyal to switch.
If your company were an animal, what would it be and why?
Right now, we are a puppy in potty-training. We poop in the house sometimes but we know we will grow into a lovable dog some day.
This Q & A was produced by Started.in, who profiles startups on all kinds.
[Photo Credit: https://tp-society-herokuapp-com.global.ssl.fastly.net/assets/home-hero4.jpg]
