Gregory_Seare_MugShotPlain-01

If you've ever seen the show "Shark Tank," you'll know what we mean when we say that Greg's our "shark." Not that he's toothy -- he's the nicest guy you'll ever meet -- but that he's put hundreds of businesses under the harsh light of reality. He's the founder of Seare Marriott & Co., and he's in the business of buying and selling businesses.

Known as an "investment banker," Greg finds good businesses and good buyers and puts them together. Along the way, he sometimes ends up buying stakes in businesses for himself.

One might wonder: how do you get into the business of buying and selling companies? Greg started with a high-power Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the College of William and Mary. From there, he was recruited into the private equity market where he's seen it all and done it all.

With all of that experience, know how and back-east education, let's cut him loose on our contestants and see how they fare.

Gregory Seare 1st Prediction

First of Three Predictions about Island Adventure Fitness

Here is what I think about the Island Adventure Fitness business:

Steve needs to ice it for 6 months. He needs to lose about 30 pounds himself before he's going to be able to sell to anyone on fitness. His demographic is very discerning, considering what's been said about Lana'i and they'll notice the little things. I would also guess that high season is around Sept to March. He's launching when occupancy is going down and it seems counterintuitive to me. Alternatively, these six months could be a good time to get into shape and work out kinks.

The only way I see the marketing going is to work out a revenue share with the Four Seasons or other hotels. In today’s economy, no one is going to find him out-of-the-blue, book a ticket to Lanai and do the island adventure.

The only way I see him successfully marketing is to get people who are already on Lana'i to sign up.

Bottom line: I predict that Steve will only generate new clients before May 15th, 2010 if he works out a deal with the local hotels to send him referrals.

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Gregory Seare 2nd Prediction

Second of Three Predictions about Island Adventure Fitness

I went to the Four Seasons website – they have people surfing, mountain biking etc. I think he needs to offer a package that probably lasts 4 to 12 hours, depending on the schedule of activities. The Four Seasons already has the demographic he's targeting.

If you are on the island, you know you are going to spend money, but you have to find Island Adventure. Get into the materials that are sitting in the rooms and that are on display at the concierge desk.

Steve may need to give away some free trips to get buy-in from the hotels. He talked about local “talent." I'm guessing women and men that are in great shape from their mid twenties to mid thirties. I think he better employ them.

Bottom line: I predict that Steve, before the six months are out, will start marketing through the local hotels.

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Gregory Seare 3rd Prediction

Third of Three Predictions about Island Adventure Fitness

I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but I think that Steve needs to take whatever money he has – get into shape himself, do revenue share with the hotel and maybe crank out some marketing materials. He needs to get into the hotels – go where the money and the people already are waiting.

Unless he figures the hotel connection out, I think he'll fail by May 5th or sooner and that means there's no chance he'll make it to August 15th. Unless he pairs with an existing "node" of cusomter flow, I don't think he'll find anyone who pays to get there.

After all, Four Seasons has a ton of fat guys like me, who need something like that.

Bottom line: I predict that unless Steve figures out a hotel marketing connection, he'll fail to hit $10,000 in profits before August 15th, 2010.

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Gregory Seare 1st Prediction

Gregory Seare 2nd Prediction

Gregory Seare 3rd Prediction

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