By FRED KRONER
Craig Bliss found the perfect time to become a startup business owner.
He picked the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.
His ability to almost immediately find clientele was based on the nature of his new business, illini360 °.
“Starting a virtual tour business in the middle of a pandemic turned out to be successful,” Bliss said. “Virtual tours gave realtors a way to host ‘Virtual Open houses’ and allowed retail stores to sell products within their virtual tour when everything was shut down.”
For his efforts, Bliss and illini360 ° were honored by the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday (Feb. 4) as the Startup Business of the Year.
All of the honorees were recognized at a virtual ceremony.
As shutdown plans were put in place throughout the country, in March, 2020, because of COVID-19, Bliss soon had clients interested in what he was offering.
“I create virtual experiences of attractions, businesses and houses,” he said. “Virtual tours allow viewers to feel a space without physically being there.”
Still, there were obstacles to overcome.
“There were challenges in meeting people, but like everyone else, I adapted and was able to work through it,” Bliss said.
“Right after moving to Mahomet, I joined a virtual networking group, the Chamber of Commerce, and started to volunteer in every safe way possible, to meet new people.
“Not only that, when the lockdown started, people started searching for virtual solutions, so the timing was right.”
Illini360 ° started operations in April, 2020, shortly after Bliss and his partner Cain, relocated from Scottsdale, Ariz., where they had lived for two years, to Mahomet.
“We love Arizona, but hate the desert heat,” Bliss said. “When we decided we wanted to move back to Illinois, we knew we wanted to move to a small town with an active growing community, so Mahomet was a natural fit.”
They had grown up in Central Illinois and were able to hit the ground running on their return. The concept behind illini360 ° helped Bliss make a break from his previous career.
He had worked in the trucking industry for more than a decade, “most recently as a logistics consultant helping trucking companies start transportation brokerage divisions.
“For a long time, I focused solely on my trucking career and needed a change,” Bliss continued. “When I moved back to Illinois, I made that change.
“Because I was starting a virtual tour business during a lockdown, I felt confident I would succeed because I provided a service any industry could benefit from.”
He didn’t possess a strong background with a camera from his youth, adding that as a child, “I didn’t have interest in virtual tours or photography.”
Though his illini360 ° business was new, by now Bliss was no longer a rookie behind the camera.
“I started taking 360 -degree spherical images about five years ago as a hobby,” he said.
A few years later, he met a photographer who shared his own expertise and, Bliss said, showed him “how to create virtual tours of businesses like you see on Google Maps/Street View and of houses like you see on Zillow.
“That’s when my hobby turned into a business.”
In Mahomet, he started locally, but is gradually expanding the area that he works.
“I recently started creating business and commercial virtual tours in Bloomington,” Bliss said. “I also started a ‘Virtual Tours for Charity’ program where we donate our time, service and technology to organizations promoting positive change in the community.”
Bliss said the time needed for the photo shoots varies because “every space is different.”
On average, he added, “standard homes take about 1-2 hours to shoot and are delivered to agents within 24 hours. A retail location takes about 20 minutes and is delivered within 48 hours.
“Monticello High School took me about 10 hours on site and I delivered that within two days.”
Bliss didn’t need to hear the Chamber results to know how he felt about being considered.
“I’m truly honored my business was nominated,” he said. “There are a lot of great businesses in Mahomet, so being nominated already feels like I won.”
Bliss and his partner, Cain, also own an online stationery company, PrintPression, which is based in Mahomet.
They are joined at home by three cats.
For more information about illini360 °, visit illini360.com or Facebook at illini360.
Other finalists for Startup Business of the Year were A.J.’s Wine and Spirits, and Feldkamp West.
—
Mahomet Area
Chamber of Commerce
Annual Recognition Awards
Overall Business of the Year – Greg Collins, Mahomet Car Connection
Small Business of the Year – Bran Waibel, Waibel Farmland Services
Food Service of the Year – Satesha Patel and Paul Patel, Subway (two locations)
Startup Business of the Year – Craig Bliss, illini360
Health and Wellness Business of the Year – Kathleen El Koury, Insight Therapy
Volunteer of the Year – Mike McDermith
Community Servant of the Year – Jackie Butler, It Takes A Village
NOTE: Each business or individual will be profiled separately within the next week.
