One of the most important developments of the last decade has been the democratization of many tools and resources that were once only available to those who could afford to pay a high price. The cultural growth of the internet has been driven by the creativity of countless people – creativity unlocked by easy access to what they need to create art and content.
I recently spoke to Shawn Ruble, the founder and CEO of Vecteezy, which provides easy and affordable access to photo and video resources for designers and other creatives looking to create their own stuff on a modest budget. In our interview, he talks about Vecteezy’s unexpected growth and the satisfaction that comes with following your passion and doing a good job.
Top view of designer using graphics tablet and working with computer while sitting at his workplace … [+]
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Mary Juetten: What is your company name and where are you based?
Shawn Ruble: My company Vecteezy is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. About 60% of our team is remote, and team members are spread across the country (and a handful internationally). I grew up and after graduating from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, I made my way to Bowling Green where I had friends. Bowling Green was a great community for Vecteezy with the local Western Kentucky University (WKU) as a wonderful partner of ours. The WKU has an enormous photojournalism program that has brought significant creative talent to this community.
Juetten: When did you start?
Ruble: I’ve always been passionate about design and digital creative work. I studied fine arts at the university and after graduating I got into graphic design and marketing. I discovered the startup bug along the way and was intrigued by ecommerce.
From my own experience as a designer, I quickly realized that there was a tremendous opportunity to provide affordable (and free) graphic resources. Photos and vectors, for example, were expensive wherever I looked. Like many designers, I worked on a tight budget. I’ve also spoken to contributors who work with the giants of the stock creative industry and they struggled to get fair compensation for their designs.
I wanted to solve both problems. I felt there had to be a way to democratize creative resources and better support the creative community that created the content.
So I quit my marketing job and started a website that offered free Photoshop brushes. It has gained traction, and I’ve made a commitment to expand into more content like pictures.
Vecteezy started in 2007 and specifically focused on free vector graphics. Today we are one of the largest creative marketplaces in the world with millions of photos, vectors and videos that are free and safe to use for personal or commercial use. Last year we exceeded 100 million user sessions on the Vecteezy platform – something I would never have expected from my part almost 15 years ago.
Juetten: What problem are you solving?
Ruble: Vecteezy helps overcome the hurdles of modern creators, marketers and businesses by providing photos, videos and vectors at the best price. We are passionate about providing beautiful, professional-quality creative assets that are completely free for everyone. Plus, our content comes with solid licensing and legal guarantees. In this regard, we stand out from our competition and offer the creative and design communities added value.
We’re pretty proud of the global reach we’ve accumulated. Currently, users and contributors in 180 countries and eight different languages turn to Vecteezy. For some of our contributors, the content they create for Vecteezy is their only source of income. That is why it is so important that we as an industry treat and pay our contributors fairly.
Juetten: Who are your customers and how do you find them?
Ruble: Anyone in need of photos, vectors, and 4k videos can be a Vecteezy customer. That’s part of the beauty of our platform. We are now seeing particular interest from marketers, professionals, and small businesses as budgets tighten in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
We also have a global network of the world’s most talented creators who bring in the photos, videos and digital illustrations that make up our platform.
As we’ve grown we’ve focused on making this content accessible by offering the best value on the market. Because of this, many customers come to us from other platforms after looking for a better option in terms of price and quality themselves.
Juetten: Who is on your team?
Ruble: The Vecteezy team is largely remote, spanning two continents and all four corners of the United States. We doubled as a company in 2020 and this year we are particularly focusing on improving our content and technical know-how.
As our team grows, we have the opportunity to build a real community around those who have high quality photos, videos, and vectors to share. Because as we grow, so too can our network of contributors seeking income from their creative skills.
Juetten: Did you collect any money?
Ruble: We thought about it but didn’t have to. We are a private company, bootstrap and profitable. Vecteezy has grown and prospered over the years because we meet the market’s need for professional quality content that is beautiful, simple, and affordable.
Juetten: Startups are an adventure – what’s your favorite startup story?
Ruble: Every startup has a great story! Starting a business is hard work.
One story that particularly appeals to me is AirBnB. The founders were shabby and innovative. They struggled to pay their own rent and rented air mattresses on their floors. They realized that the idea actually solved two main problems: a universal need for additional income and an unmet demand for affordable, unique accommodations. AirBnB has changed the way people think about and experience travel. A new industry was created around individual ingenuity.
Juetten: How do you measure success and what is your favorite success story?
Ruble: We measure success by what we do to help marketers, small businesses, and the creative community. Our goal is to bring beautiful content to designers, developers, and entrepreneurs that is completely free. We want to make the content of talented creators accessible to those who really need it. As technology advances, everyone has the opportunity to make a profit in the field and we believe Vecteezy is the perfect way to make income easy for those who really need it.
In all honesty, I think my favorite measure of success is the rapid growth of our contribution network. Over the past year, our community of contributors has grown by 400%. The more visitors visit our website and download files, the more money our contributors make. It feels good to create a supportive community with measurable impact while delivering on the promise we make to our customers.
Juetten: Are there any tips for early stage founders or CEOs in growth mode?
Ruble: Use your passions and strengths to strike a balance between your work and a rewarding personal life.
Vecteezy started as my side project and I left everything else by the wayside when I saw its potential. I love design and creativity which pointed me to an opportunity that I loved to work on. If you don’t like what you are building, it will never reach its full potential, and neither will you.
As an entrepreneur, it’s also easy to get distracted because we don’t lack ideas. My advice is to pick an idea that you are passionate about, not get distracted, and focus on it relentlessly. It’s all about focus.
Juetten: And of course to share any IP challenges or horror stories?
Ruble: When I first started Vecteezy, there wasn’t really any other company that gave away free vectors. Very early in my process of building the company, I got a call out of the blue from one of the largest companies in the equity industry. He accused me of taking pictures of them and posting them on my website, and threatened legal action. It wasn’t even close to the truth, so I invited him to give examples. Of course he couldn’t. I contacted them again after the call and I never heard from them. I think it was an effort to intimidate me.
It was at this time that I realized how disruptive my idea was. I didn’t even really make any money or be a huge influence, but the idea threatened an industry leader. I knew I was on to something.
Juetten: What is the long-term vision for your company?
Ruble: Vecteezy is well on its way to becoming the largest stock creator on the internet. While 2020 was a difficult year in many ways, it has been a phenomenal year for us and the growth of our company. Our team uses the parts to scale our corporate offering and global reach. We also seek to strengthen our community of contributors by providing more support as we grow. We’re not slowing down; We build on supporting designers by sharing their work with millions of people who are making great use of it.
Thank you Shawn for sharing his insights and story especially for the advice on what to like. The entire business world is better able to provide free quality resources without worrying about IP challenges. # upwards.
