We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bob a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Bob, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I started ICRealtime because I kept running into the same problem as a dealer. The video systems available at the time just did not work the way we needed. Most were PC based, low quality, or missing key features and nothing delivered reliable real time video to a mobile device, something our customers were starting to ask for. I saw a gap in the market and a real opportunity to build something better, a robust integrated platform designed with dealers in mind, one that worked seamlessly, offered true reliability, and finally gave dealers and their customers a solution they could count on.
Bob, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I got into the security business because I grew up around entrepreneurship. My dad was a serial entrepreneur in contracting, window manufacturing, restaurants, and clubs, and I was always inspired by the way he built and ran businesses. I noticed that all of these businesses needed security, but the industry at the time did not feel well represented. I started out selling alarm systems and doing some access control, but cameras were expensive and out of reach for most homes and small businesses. When we started ICRealtime, our goal was to bring professional, reliable video systems to everyday homes and businesses, making security more accessible without compromising quality.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The first day we officially opened ICRealtime, after a year of planning and building our equipment, Hurricane Wilma hit South Florida and completely destroyed the business. Everything we had worked toward was gone, and we were not even properly insured for such an event. It was a huge setback, but with patience and perseverance, we spent the next three months rebuilding what was lost and started the journey all over again. That experience taught us resilience and shaped the way we approach every challenge at ICRealtime.
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Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I believe the best strategy for growing our client base is to treat them like partners. Too often in business, customers are treated as a one-way street, where every interaction is about making a profit. But like a marriage, a true partnership means sharing wins and losses and always helping each other, even when it doesn’t immediately impact the bottom line. If you take care of your clients, they will take care of you. Focusing only on the pennies means you’ll never earn the dimes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Icrealtime.com
- Instagram: icrealtime
- Linkedin: robert odierna
