9 Questions For...Optizio

"9 Questions For…" is an interview series in which I ask soloists, founders and leaders working in the Shopify ecosystem, ecommerce, and adjacent industries to share their experiences of doing "their thing, their way". The questions might be the same but the insights certainly aren't! If you fit the bill and would like to share your learnings please get in touch.

In this edition of 9 Questions For…, we hear from co-founders Dave Spanton & Sammy Isseyegh of Optiz.io.

Sammy & Dave — Sammy (left) and Dave (right)

Q: Are you a founder, co-founder, solo entrepreneur, consultant or something else?

We are co-founders of Optiz.io.

Q: What type of business do you run?

We're a Shopify app business primarily focused on our public apps Discount Kit, Stackable, and Code Bulk. We also do a small amount of consulting around apps and Shopify functions. We generally like to work closely with Shopify agencies and Plus merchants.

Q: Why did you start your business?

Sammy and another David started the business about four and half to five years ago with the aim of creating a "bundle bot" app along the lines of something we had worked on at Pizza Hut.

Discoutn Kit for Shopify — Discount Kit by Optizio

Further research revealed a gap in the discount stacking space, so this then pivoted into the first version of Stackable. Dave was then persuaded to join a few months later.

Q: What's the biggest challenge you are facing in your business?

Keeping pace with Shopify's technical progress. They're constantly releasing new updates, and it can be challenging to incorporate them while managing everything else in the business.

Q: What's going well in your business?

We have a strong team and have been able to leverage new Shopify functionality as it's coming out. Discount functions are a good example. Discount Kit being one of the first apps to use this was a big advantage.

Q: What skill do you excel at, and which one do you want to get better at?

We've got the technical chops pretty well sorted. One area we'd like to get better in this year would be partnerships.

Q: What will be different about your business this time next year?

Hopefully, we'll continue to grow! We'd also love to have an app more focused on Shopify POS (Point of Sale).

Q: What's the one thing you wish you'd known before starting your entrepreneurial adventure?

Things can take a lot longer than you think, and that there's nobody to tell you what to do next.

Q: Where do you live, and what do you love about your city?

Dave: Reigate in Surrey. It's a nice town close to the countryside, but also has good access to London. Sammy: The Best West part of London!