Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Ogg.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We started with the idea of doing something to assist students K-12 with making good lifestyle decisions.
That was in 1997. Since then we’ve had Columbine, and other school tragedies, so our premise was very accurate. They need us.
I started the business in 1997, my wife and a partner joined me in 1999. We now have over 1, 00,000 students nationwide and many Department of Defense students around the globe.
We produce, publish and distribute a collection of interactive day planners that have a research-based character education component in the form of games and puzzles each week and each month. We produce 4 age-appropriate versions. They keep track of their homework assignment, they play the game and solve the puzzles.
In independent research students using our books versus the control group who did not, survey as 18 times less likely to experiment with alcohol, tobacco or drugs.
In the first 6 years we ran up a huge 7 figure loss carry forward. We have recovered the loss and have taxable for the last 8 years.
We have a wonderful staff of 9 people and we all very much enjoy the work. Particularly the letters and emails we get from student about how the books have helped them with refusal skills, etc.
Has it been a smooth road?
You will never be an entrepreneur until you make payrolls that you can’t see any way you can make.
Gaining a great brand is very costly. We easily have the best reputation and brand in the market place.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Coole School – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We only market to Schools and School Districts. There are many companies who now produce student day planners. When I started there were 3. There are more than 103 now.
Our price point today is 50% less than in 1997. Our collection of interactive character education day lanners are what we are known for. We are the only research-based peer-reviewed planner in the United States
We are not proud of our accomplishments, rather we are thankful for the blessing to be able to still be here and be profitable and be helping children that desperately need assistance.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The air of entrepreneurism in Houston is so contagious and helpful when starting your own business. There are many public resources to help, but tons of others like yourself to commiserate with.
You start out as a mentee and once you are successful you strive to be a good mentor.
The traffic and some of the ludicrous political issues that are blown out of proportion are the drawbacks to Houston.
Contact Info:
- Website: cooleschool.com
- Phone: 713.552.1600
- Email: jogg@cooleschool.com
- Facebook: Coole School
