Following is an Interview between The Business Fame Magazine and Robert M. Bruski, Co-founder & CFO, who shares his journey and contribution through Ctrl V.
Q. Give a detailed description of the Founder/CEO/Management’s contribution to the company and the industry.?
Ctrl V is a very unique brand. Not only does it play in a new and emerging market, Virtual Reality, but it is also played in an industry that has been around for decades, if not centuries – location-based entertainment. As an emerging brand, Ctrl V is very fortunate to have the management and C-level team made up of founders as well. As a result the management and founding team was involved in the development of the company right from the beginning. Everything from doing the market research, to designing the concept, procuring the vendor relationships, all the way to building out the franchising infrastructure. The founding team was also instrumental in bringing on staff for the corporate office, the franchise business, and the franchise partners.
All that being said, Ctrl V was also the first virtual reality arcade of its kind in North America (and quite possibly the world given the fact that the facilities in Asia were more like theme parks rather than arcades). With this pioneering position, the founding team was also responsible for shaping the industry. This was accomplished by setting up a VR arcade business model, the standards for great service, sanitary equipment, and focusing on the appropriate customer demographic. This was, and is, critical to the business and the industry. Setting up ethical anti-piracy practices and structuring unit level economics that gets everyone gets paid was a key industry milestone of Ctrl V’s. Ctrl V ultimately showed the location based entertainment community that a virtual reality arcade business was possible and could be sustainable if done correctly with the right mission and core values in mind.
Q. Could you please share your noted milestones, accomplishments throughout your journey so far along with company highlights and achievements under your leadership.
Ctrl V has achieved a number of industry milestones. Being the first arcade of its kind in the world is obviously the most notable one. However, helping entrepreneurs and virtual reality enthusiasts achieve their dreams of owning their own business (through franchising) is also quite the accomplishment. Ctrl V has expanded to three countries with over 20 locations in a short span of 3 years. Ctrl V locations all over have achieved Reader’s Choice recognition in a number of different categories including one location that had swept all 6 categories for 2 consecutive years. Ctrl V has been listed in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for 3 consecutive years as well as achieved Entrepreneur Magazines Top New Franchises for 3 consecutive years. Ctrl V was ranked in the Franserve Fran-tastic 500. Most notably, as presented by the International Franchise Association, Ctrl V achieved the distinction of being names a winner in the NextGen in Franchising Competition as well as a returning competitor for their AllStar round. Finally, most recently, The Franchise Universe has listed Ctrl V has one of the top 10 franchise systems in the year 2021.
Q. Please tell us about the Franchise model you follow and the services you provide that makes the brand unique in the mid of cutthroat competition.
Ctrl V is a fairly standard brick-and-mortar franchise model. However there are a number of things that set as aside from the competition. On a B2B basis, Ctrl V has a proprietary internal operational suite of software that provides for an excellent employee experience but also helps the franchisee reduce labor costs by 75% in comparison to the competition, without compromising the customer experience. Furthermore, Ctrl V has independent relationships with its vendors, leading to CoGS 3x lower than the competition, and ultimately a gross profit margin (after franchise charges) of approximately 80%. Finally, a unique marketing and real estate strategy helps some of Ctrl V’s locations achieve a 40% return customer rate.
On a B2C basis Ctrl V offers the highest number of VR stations as well as the largest VR stations, premium technology at the most affordable prices, and an unparalleled level customer service. Ctrl V allows the customers to be in control of their own experience with minimal interference from staff. Ctrl V has truly full game sessions without reduction for ingress and egress, intelligent hardware sanitization, the highest quality and content that goes through a rigorous screening program and is ethically licensed, all while providing a wide variety of experiences that will suit anyone.
Q. Please share the most memorable and remarkable moment of your life.
The most memorable, and remarkable moment of my life is when I met my brand new nephew for the first time. I knew that I had to build a legacy for him.
Q. Where do you see yourself and the company in future? Or, what is your goal to mark the uniqueness in future?
Ctrl V’s mission is to make immersive technology accessible to everyone. So although, right now, as an emerging franchisor Ctrl V is targeting the most likely and recognizable market, Ctrl V will eventually be a global brand. Although it’s initiatives may change away from virtual reality to concepts that are more technologically and generationally appropriate, Ctrl V will still be bringing immersion to the world for many years to come.
Q. Advice for the entrepreneur who is trying to embark in the franchise field.
Franchising isn’t as easy as you think. It isn’t a step-and-repeat process. There are many new and different facets to franchising that you won’t know exist until you stumble upon them. You ultimately leave the business you’re in when you become a franchisor, and enter the business of people relations. So the number one piece of advice when starting to franchise is to get yourself a reputable, and current advisor (not someone who was franchising 20 years ago). They will be a life saver and help you avoid a number of costly mistakes.
Q. What is the one thing that is acting as your motivational tool? Or, who is your role model and how the person inspires and motivates you?
Every person should have 3 types of mentors in everything that the way want to achieve success with.
The first type of mentor is someone who is at the exact same spot in their journey as you. You’re able to share your trials and tribulations, brainstorm solutions and innovations, and leverage each other through the times when it is the most necessary.
The second type of mentor is someone who is further along in the journey than you are. Someone who has been there and done that. Someone who has made all of the mistakes and can guide you away from them. This may also be someone who can see the industry and world from a broader and more experienced mindset. They will be your Yoda.
Finally, the third type of mentor is someone that is inaccessible. Someone who has public notoriety and is a celebrity, for lack of a better word, as a result of their achievements. This the “dream person you’d like to have dinner with.” You can read their biography, study their journey, and learn from their business experience.
