Virtual Reality Lounge
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Interview with Max Patel, Owner of Virtual World Lounge in Austin, Texas
Q: Hi Max, thanks for speaking with me today. Can you tell me a little bit about how you got started in the Virtual Reality business?
A: Of course! I’ve always been a GAMER. Growing up, I was constantly playing video games and it got me thinking about how virtual reality could take gaming to the next level. When I graduated from the University of Texas, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and decided to explore the world of virtual reality. I started experimenting with VR headsets and soon found myself hooked.
Q: What were some of the challenges that you faced when starting your business?
A: One of the biggest challenges was finding a location that would allow us to showcase the technology. VR is a concept that is hard to explain to customers unless they can actually experience it themselves, so it was important for us to have a physical location where people can come in and try it out for themselves. Another challenge was finding a way to make VR affordable for everyone. Equipment can be quite expensive, so we had to find ways to keep the prices down without compromising quality.
Q: You mentioned finding ways to keep prices down. Does this mean you have an online store?
A: Yes, we do have an online store. We use Shopify to sell VR equipment and experiences. Shopify has been instrumental in helping us reach a larger market and making our products more accessible to people who might not be able to make it to our physical location.
Q: That’s great to hear. Speaking of success, can you tell me about a moment when you realized that your business was really taking off?
A: One moment that stands out to me was when we hosted our first VR gaming tournament. We had dozens of people show up to compete, and it was incredible to see how passionate people were about VR gaming. That’s when I knew we had something special.
Q: How has your business changed since that first tournament?
A: We’ve definitely grown a lot since that first tournament. We now have a wide range of VR experiences available, from gaming to educational programs. We’ve also expanded our physical location to include event space, so we can host larger tournaments and other events.
Q: It sounds like you’ve come a long way since you first started your business. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in the VR industry?
A: My biggest piece of advice would be to stay focused on the customer experience. VR is new and can be intimidating for people, so it’s important to make the experience as fun and accessible as possible. And, of course, find a platform like Shopify that can help you reach a larger market and make it easy for people to buy from you.
Q: Excellent advice. Thank you for your time today, Max. It was great talking to you.
A: Thank you, it was my pleasure.
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