Great entrepreneurs don’t just wait for opportunities, they create them.
That’s exactly what Tim Swieter did.
It all started when Tim was searching for storage containers for his home workshop. He quickly realized that the Systainer market in the U.S. had a major gap. Instead of just moving on, he saw an opportunity. So, he reached out to the international owners of Systainer with a proposition - he wanted to become their U.S. distributor.
Fast-forward a few years, and what started as a side hustle turned into the largest Systainer distribution business in the country.
Then came the ultimate full-circle moment: Tim sold the business back to Systainer’s owners, walking away with a lucrative payday and a wealth of experience.
In this episode, Tim shares the inside story—how he identified an overlooked niche, built brand recognition and trust, and scaled his business. He also opens up about the challenges of selling, the unexpected hurdles he faced, and what it’s really like to stay involved as a consultant post-acquisition. According to Tim,
“If you're going to consult, you have to set boundaries and clearly outline the scope of your work. You also need to know that you really want to work with that team. If those things don't exist, you either need to really cut back on the consulting or not do it at all.”
Whether you're looking to sell your business or searching for inspiration on how to build one, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
Topics Discussed in this episode:
- From building theme park rollercoasters to running an eCommerce business (02:08)
- The challenges Tim faced launching and growing his business (10:36)
- The marketing strategies Tim used to build trust and brand recognition (13:00)
- Balancing B2B vs B2C customers (20:35)
- How Tim became the biggest Systainer supplier in the US (23:08)
- How Tim ended up selling his Systainer business (27:39)
- Calculating a valuation for the business (32:27)
- The timeline of the sale - it’s always longer than you think (38:17)
- Tim’s new post-acquisition consulting role (40:22)
- Tim’s work in the SaaS world and the opportunities he found in that industry (47:12)
Mentions:
Popular Podcasts
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.