Amazing Finish to One Spark! Three FSBDC Client Winners! Congratulations!

We had 60 clients in this years One Spark crowd sourcing event. Congratulations to all of them as they made a great deal of progress vetting their idea and branding their concepts in front of 250,000 attendees. 

Congratulations to One Spark client winners Theatre on a Mission, Snyder Memorial Restoration and Aqua Jax for their first place finishes!. We also had checks presented to the St. Augustine Aquarium effort as well as the folks from Catty Shack Ranch!

But the work is just starting, and these winners as well as most of the other clients we assisted during One Spark will start digging in an planning their next steps after One Spark. Our team of experts is excited to be part of this process. We will keep this blog open longer to track the progress of these clients going forward!

The victorious Theatre on a Mission crew!

Snyder Memorial Restoration aka Amplify!

A big Jacksonville win by the Aqua Jax team!

One Spark Client Interview: Grease for Fuel #20146

Creator Charles Payne with FSBDC staff Marge Cirillo and Paul Arrington

Yup, there was Charles Payne out on the Riverwalk by the Landing talking up his creator idea, Grease for Fuel. Here is what he had to say:

Tell us about your idea…
Grease for Fuel helps save the environment, household pipes and the nation’s nations sewers, soil, water systems and landfills by providing a convenient, residence-based way to collect used cooking greases and recycle them into renewable fuel and other products.

Why did not decide to do One Spark?
I wanted the project to be shown to be a valid and viable.

How has One Spark been for you so far?
Good.  My One Spark experience has allowed me to present the project and generate interest.

What is next for you after One Spark?
Follow up with the contacts I’ve made!

Location: Riverwalk # 20146

The Booth Truth - 7 Tips for One Spark Booths

Scrambling for what to do with your One Spark booth?  We've got some suggestions for stellar booths, and would love to hear your ideas too.

1. Interactive is King

Remember going to the zoo as a kid?  The best part of the trip was always feeding and petting the animals.  Your parents had to pull you away kicking and screaming to get ice cream afterwards.  All these years later, little has changed.  If you want to form a line to view your creation, this is a sure fire way to get that attention.

2. Eye Level

After walking around all day looking at projects, the last display anyone wants to see is one at waist level.  Just thinking about bending down to view your creation can cause terror in the backs of the masses.  You get a pass on this requirement if your target audience is kids.

3. Show Your Number

Let's face it, as a people our patience level is growing thin.  If I have to wait on a website to load for 5 seconds one more time I think I'm going to lose it!  And if I can't find your number easily, you're not getting my vote.

4. Have a Prize for Your Voters

Who doesn't like to win?  Reward your voters with a little something to show your appreciation.  Think flashy company stickers, a raffle, or candy.

5. Bring Back Up

Tired after a full day of shopping or working on your feet?  Try 5 days for around 12 hours each day.  One Spark can feel like running a marathon on your legs at times.  Plan to have some friends and family entertain booth visitors at key times during the week so you can give your feet a rest.  Take some of this time to visit other creators, see pitches and speeches, and even grab a nap.

6. Don't Get Stuck

You just met the visitor of your dreams!  They've got the money, connections, experience, and _____ (add your greatest need here) to take your dream to the next level.  The only problem is that you've been talking with this person for 45 minutes while ignoring everyone else.  Come prepared for this situation with business cards and an email list for people to join on the spot.  Let these VIPs know that you will definitely be in touch.  And if you have others helping you with your booth, you should take the conversation off to the side to avoid distractions.

7. Invite Your Target Audience

Don't expect the people you want to meet to accidentally stumble upon your booth.  With over 500 creators at this year's One Spark, you don't want to be just another face in the crowd.  Find out who you would like to visit your booth before the festivities begin, and send those people an email or tweet with an personal invitation to your creation.  This is your weekend, flex your networking muscles to make the most of it.