Thu, March 28, 2024

Local entrepreneur sells two companies, opens a new one!

Michael Hinson previously owned two CSRA businesses, and after selling those, he decided to use his interest in electronics to jump into the growing Bluetooth speaker business.

In October, Hinson launched Big Dog Speakers, an online business that sells high-quality speakers that are much less expensive than those of his competitors. He said the waterproof, 40-watt speakers can reach a maximum volume of 105 decibels but still produce a clear, crisp sound. They can be connected to other devices, such as TVs and gaming systems, and used to charge cell phones, among other features, including lighting and a mounting strap.

“You can pair two together for stereo sound,” Hinson said. “For you to get a comparable speaker, you would spend close to $200 to $300.”

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But Big Dog speakers currently sell for $99 each, and that’s not the only thing that makes them unique.

“They bark when you turn them on and whine like a dog when you turn them off,” he said.

Hinson also prides himself on providing excellent customer service. For example, a local customer contacted him about a minor issue with one of his speakers, so he went to the customer’s job site to bring him a new one.

“We’re extremely responsive, and people appreciate that,” Hinson said. “I truly think customer service is a thing of the past for many companies.”

He also guarantees 24-hour shipping for local customers by having his two teenagers deliver them.

Michael sold his two previous companies to Riverside Refreshments.

Prior to launching Big Dog Speakers, he owned Global Vending Solutions and Brew Avenue Refreshment Services, which developed and sold his own line of coffee. Hinson sold Global to Riverside Refreshments in Augusta.

“I wanted to give back to the community that supported my other two businesses,” he said.

Hinson donates 5 percent of his proceeds to Hope House, a local non-profit organization that serves women battling substance abuse problems. He chose that charity because his sister-in-law successfully completed the program and now works for the organization.

Wier/Stewart helped to design the business’s logo and the speakers’ packaging, which tells Hope House’s story.

While most of his customers are local, Hinson has shipped speakers to various parts of the U.S., such as California, Hawaii, and New York. He wouldn’t tell how many units he has sold so far, but he said business is going very well.

While Hinson is an experienced entrepreneur, the speaker business is much different from the other businesses he owned. Hinson spent months comparing competitors’ products, researching features, and creating sketches of his products, which were designed locally and manufactured in China. He also researched consumer interest in Bluetooth speakers.

“I was very intrigued by the business and the growth potential over the next two to three years,” Hinson said.

For more information or to place an order, visit bigdogspeakers.com/.

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