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

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

In this episode of the Bookster podcast, Simon hosts Robin Morris, CEO and Co-founder, and Adam Aaron, Bookster's support lead.

Key takeaways

They delve into Bookster's ethos of maintaining a low barrier to entry for their holiday rental software.

This approach aims to simplify the client onboarding process, allowing users to swiftly set up and start using Bookster without traditional obstacles like setup fees or lengthy contracts.

Adam highlights the evolution of his role from managing a caravan site finder to focusing on customer support, underscoring Bookster's commitment to adaptability and client-centric service.

They discuss the challenges of this approach, such as potential mismatches with clients seeking solutions beyond property management.

Despite these, Bookster's strategy of fostering trust through accessibility and support appears pivotal in their journey.

The important bits

● [00:00] - Intro to Robin, Adam Aaron our Support Lead and the podcast

● [01:02] - What is Adam's role as a Support Lead?

● [02:50] - Providing a low Barrier to Entry

Key points covered

● How Adam moved to the Support Team

● What is a Low Barrier to Entry and some examples of these?

● What are disadvantages of having low Barriers of Entry?

● How does Bookster achieve the low Barrier of Entry for its' clients?

● Does a low Barrier to entry create a higher support burden?

● How does this build trust with clients?

● How does the size of the team impact how Bookster runs?

Next Episode

In the next episode will be looking further at how high quality support is at the heart of how Bookster provides its service.

• www.booksterhq.com
• www.booksterhq.com/features/136937-self-sign-up
• Smashing Your Holiday Rental Goals Podcast