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This post originally was published on Forbes China in Chinese. I am publishing here the English version I made (and then had translated to Chinese) for those English readers and listeners interested.Finding the Right Chinese Business Partners Help Sam Marks Sell His Company for Over 100 Million Us Dollars
Welcome everyone to episode 4 of the Forbes China Entrepreneur show – hope everyone is enjoying the spring weather, it’s been warming up here in the South of China.
This week we are in for a treat – we have Sam Marks, a founder of SkyCig e-cigarette company that sold his business for £60 million in the UK share with us the story. And what makes this really awesome for those in China, both westerners and chinese, is that he credits a lot of his success to finding the right Chinese partner. I won’t spoil the juice, but let’s listen in – here we go:
Topics Covered in this Episode
- What did you do prior to SKYCIG?
- What are the most important skills you developed early as an entrepreneur?
- How was SKYCIG started?
- Discuss the challenges of taking an online business to retail?
- What challenges were there in scaling the SKYCIG?
- What are some major factors you contribute to your successful exit?
- What was your plan for taking profits vs. reinvesting earnings into growth?
- What is your mindset in bringing on equity partners to a startup?
- What were some of the advantages in being boots on the ground in China?
- How did you find your manufacturer in China?
- How were you able to form your manufacturing joint venture in China?
- What advantages did your joint venture in China give your brand in Europe?
- What was your exit strategy?
- How did investment bankers help support your exit?
- What have you been up to since the last exit, what new ventures?
People / Companies / Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Episode Length: 40:02
Thanks Sam for coming on the show – and yes – he is full steam ahead on his newest venture he mentioned which is a Smart Mat and he had an amazing showing at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year.
Hope everyone enjoyed – I am working on having one interview a month, focusing on quality like Sam here and stories relating to China. Discussing with a few more people for the upcoming interviews – so keep subscribed here and keep motivated – hope you can be the next SkyCig!
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