Son rules roost at SmugMug
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- John Higham knew something was different about the SmugMug photo site when he sent an e-mail to tech support and got a zippy reply from CEO Don MacAskill.
"I learned real quickly that it was a real mom and pop operation," Higham says.
Not exactly. SmugMug is actually a "son and pop" shop. Don, 30, is founder and CEO, and dad Chris, 54, the president who reports to Don. Also answering to the eldest son: Mom, two brothers, a sister, an aunt and various in-laws.
"We're not aware of other companies like this," MacAskill says. "But it's worked really well for us."
Founded in 2002, SmugMug has grown into a $12 million-a-year operation with 100,000 subscribers who pay from $39.95 to $149.95 yearly. The company says sales have doubled each year for the last two years.
"They are one of the big winners in the online photo space," says Chris Chute, an analyst at researcher IDC. "They've always known what they wanted to be, and never aspired to be more than that. They serve their niche and make money."
SmugMug customers display their pictures on big and bright pages without ads or promotional offers. And they get unlimited photo storage as well.
The company says it became profitable in the first year, after it reached 10,000 subscribers.
"We always knew Don was bright, but to have pulled this off is such an accomplishment," says his proud dad. "He's done this in the face of enormous competition, without any venture capital backing, and no debt."
Flickr is by far the most popular of the three sites, but it operates more as a social network for viewing photos from around the world. Phanfare, which has 11,000 subscribers, and SmugMug are designed to share photos among families and photo communities. SmugMug also helps professional photographers resell their prints online.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live