How does Bookster market itself with a small budget?

Simon introduces the episode and his guests, Robin Morris, co-founder and CEO of Bookster., and Kelly Odor, Marketing Director.

The series aims to explore running a successful SaaS company.

In the Bookster Podcast, we take you behind the scenes of Bookster, a SaaS company based in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing software solutions for the holiday rental industry. Join us as we explore the company's journey, its inner workings, and discuss strategies for growth and innovation in the rental market.

Key Points:

Introduction to Bookster (00:05 - 00:13)

Simon kicks off the podcast by welcoming the audience and introducing the company, Bookster, a SaaS holiday rental software provider based in Edinburgh.

Company Journey and Growth (00:13 - 00:17)

A quick dive into Bookster’s history, touching on their mission to help holiday rental businesses with streamlined software solutions.

CEO's Perspective on Leadership (00:24 - 00:30)

Robin shares insights about his role as CEO and co-founder, the challenges of leading a growing tech company, and his vision for the future.

Addressing Industry Challenges (00:30 - 00:36)

The discussion highlights key challenges in the holiday rental market and how Bookster's tools are tailored to address these needs efficiently.

Customer Success and Future Plans (00:36 - onwards)

How Bookster measures customer success and plans for future expansion, including upcoming features and strategies.

Closing Remarks: Simon wraps up by thanking the listeners and encouraging them to follow the journey of Bookster through future episodes.

Connect with Bookster: For more information, visit Bookster's website or follow us on social media.

• Bookster website

How did Bookster come into existence?

Simon introduces the podcast and his guest, Robin Morris, co-founder and CEO of Bookster. Overview of the series’ aim to explore running a successful SaaS company.

Key takeaways

Robin recounts the beginnings of the company as Tribalogic and the development and success of Caravan Site Finder, which was sold to Haymarket Publishing in 2007.

Post-sale, Tribalogic expanded its software capabilities to serve various clients, including event management and holiday rentals, leading to the initial steps toward what would become Bookster.

Around 2009, the company developed a booking button for holiday rental websites, marking a significant shift from custom software projects to creating a defined product.

In 2015, they reacquired Caravan SiteFinder and operated it alongside Bookster, while Bookster continued to grow into a more comprehensive property management system (PMS).

The sale of Caravan SiteFinder in February 2020 provided crucial financial stability as the pandemic hit, affecting many clients in the tourism sector and highlighting the challenges faced by the industry.

Robin explains the SaaS (Software as a Service) model, emphasizing benefits like regular updates, maintenance, and web-based accessibility, which Bookster utilizes for its clients.

Robin discusses his role transition from software developer to Managing Director, focusing on business direction and team guidance. He also highlights the contributions of co-founders Colin Guthrie and Craig Douglas.

Bookster serves a diverse, international clientele, including holiday rental providers from various regions such as the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, catering to businesses of different sizes.

The story behind the name Bookster and clarification of common misconceptions. Unlike the complex naming process for Tribalogic, Bookster was quickly agreed upon and has proven effective.

Join Simon and Robin next time as they discuss the Four Pillars of Bookster.

• www.booksterhq.com

Robin and Simon talk about Caravan Sitefinder and the four pillars on which Bookster was founded.

Welcome to the Bookster podcast hosted by Simon, talking with CEO Robin Morris.

In episode two of their podcast, Robin and Simon delve into the journey of Bookster, a software company.

Key takeaways

They reflect on the sale and repurchase of Caravan Sitefinder, highlighting decisions around business focus and economic viability.

Robin outlines Bookster’s evolution from a simple booking tool to a comprehensive platform for vacation rentals, emphasizing principles like low entry barriers, high-quality support, and broad service coverage.

They stress the importance of defining business principles and staying adaptable in the competitive landscape of software as a service (SaaS) businesses, offering insights valuable to aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Four Pillars are:

1) Low Barrier to Entry

2) Easy to use

3) High Quality Support

4) Vertical Integration

Join the next episode as Simon, Robin and Adam discuss one of Bookster's key pillars - a low barrier to entry.

• www.booksterhq.com
• www.caravansitefinder.co.uk