Everyone can be a ten! A brief story of our hummingbird
Spoten started in 2016, when Ivan broke his knee, underwent surgery, and had to stay home for more than a month. During that time, he realized that many of his clients faced the same challenge; to operate insightfully. How might the use of technology support them to manage their businesses seamlessly and smartly?
Our founder then had an idea. To make his clients be a ten! Thus, our name started with a combination of the words "SPOT" representing the physical retail spaces, and "TEN" a synonym of perfection. "SPOT+TEN" was a dream that every retailer could "be a ten" regardless of the size and nature of their operation.
As Ivan recovered and returned to work, he shared the startup plans with his cousin Danilo, owner of five dental clinics in the city of João Pessoa. Not surprisingly, Danilo was facing similar challenges and volunteered to support the development of the company. One fact that connected the two cousins was the loss of their grandmother, Vovó Terezinha, a very beloved and inspirational woman for the family.
Coincidentally (or not), as the cousins formed the company, they began receiving visits from a hummingbird, Vovo's favorite. More than a blessing from their gramma, it was a sign for inspiration and determination to bring the idea forward! The hummingbird is a fantastic creature, and it's ability to hover and adapt its flight as it deemed necessary, perfectly resonated with the company. It is said in Native American culture that hummingbirds bring good luck and joy to those who spot them.
It was very symbolic how the bird came every morning to taste the sugar water in Danilo's bird feeder and how its presence gave them daily creativity and the push to keep moving forward. Currently, the hummingbird is perched on the top right corner of the Spoten logo, honoring our Vovó Terezinha. While different logos and versions of our original Spoten bird were developed, it was the final version that embodied our dream. For us, the hummingbird is a symbol of prosperity and giving back to society. The Spoten Humminbird brings new beginnings, and a source of inspiration to achieve serenity and abundance.
At Spoten, we are a set of unique individuals with the capacity to adapt as situations deem necessary. As the pandemic rocks our world, we have proven that we can hover and change our flight in accordance with what is needed from us at that moment. Further, our bird is more than a logo; it symbolizes our company in its complete nature. We are passionate, dedicated people who are determined to help others through our work. We want to be the messengers of hope and joy for those who need it.
When we think of Spoten and what we have created, we always go back to those hummingbird visits. What we envision is not far from the analogous reality of these creatures. We see our business partners as the owners of the house, who place the sugar in the water (sweet benefits, discounts, perks, and rewards) so that birds (their clients) can stay loyal and coming back consistently. Finally, our garden is community overall, and as the birds and individuals enjoy happiness, we hope to do so with our business and our clients. Additionally, our mission is to share gratitude and support others, aiming to create connections within our society, which is why our deed also conveys others' endorsing. As hummingbirds help spread joy and growth in flowers, Spoten will be engaged to help students bloom by using part of our profits to create fellowships to relieve the financial stress from studying abroad in pandemic times.
Just like our hummingbird, Spoten hopes to inspire our partners and clients to go beyond! Fly high and be part of this revolution!
PS: This article was written with the support of our amazing teammates Antonella Frieri, Suzana Ortiz and Leonardo Kim. Thank you guys!