Meet Robin Moss | top frog

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin Moss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, how do you think about risk?
Risk is an inherent part of life. Managing risk, making risk work for you, is how you get ahead in life. I’ve always been a risk-taker. While I have always been in “marketing,” I switched from semiconductors to animal healthcare to software to digital marketing.

I must admit that starting ribit is one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. In 1994, when I started ribit, there were not a lot of companies designing corporate websites. There were even fewer creating interactive CD-ROM presentations/kiosks. By jumping into the industry in 1994, I was able to be a part of the start of the industry. Those were fun times. Our clients were Fortune 500 companies, mostly focused in telecom and high tech.

With great risk comes great reward. And when the risk doesn’t come with great reward, you learn to pivot. I have been through two recessions. Trust me on the pivot advice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started ribit in 1994 as a full-service digital marketing agency. We did it all, from designing trade show booths, interactive multimedia kiosks, interactive CD-ROMs, websites, marketing strategy, advertising, public relations, you name it, we did.

I loved being on the cutting edge of technology. Cold-calling customers, assuring them that all computers would soon come with a CD-ROM drive as standard equipment and that the internet was not a fad!

We were among the first to start developing database-driven websites long before WordPress was a CMS (content management system). We started designing mobile-first websites before it was cool. We were the first company to create a “furnisher” using Flash that let you furnish an apartment on a website by dragging and dropping standard-sized furniture on apartment floorplans.

I work closely with our clients to be sure that we create products that reflect their brand. We also assure that their branding is reflected across all platforms, be it social media, web, print, etc.

The last twenty-eight years have been a fun ride. ribit has lived through 2 (three if you count COVID-19) recessions, that required me to pivot and adjust to the economy. It hasn’t always been easy, but for the most part, it sure has been fun.

On a closing note, we no longer provide interactive CD-ROM production as a service. While I was right that CD-ROM drives became ubiquitous, they also became obsolete.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh wow! There are so many great places to go in Dallas. I would start with the Dallas Arts District. You can spend a day (okay more than a day) hanging out at the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Crow Museum and don’t forget how close you are to the Klyde Warren Park!

We would have to spend a day checking out the Bishop Arts District and all the fun shops. There are so many fabulous restaurants to pick from, we would have to decide on the fly. We absolutely could not leave without picking up some Dude, Sweet Chocolate to go. It will make the ride home just that much sweeter.

And we can’t leave out Highland Park Village. They have amazing shopping – something for everyone and restaurants to die for. And for dinner, I would insist on going to Lounge 31. If you love sushi, you will love this place.

I would always suggest the Arboretum. It is a wonderful way to spend a day. A great way to be with nature, stroll through their 66 acres (talk about a workout) and every inch of it is ready for selfies! If we are lucky, they might have an event like their Food and Wine Festival going on!

I think we should spend at least one day at NorthPark Center and check out Eataly. The Market is amazing, and if we walk the whole market, we can work off all the calories from eating at one of the three restaurants – Terra, La Pizza & Pa Pasta, or Il Pastaio Di Eataly. I also suggest we take one of their classes, who doesn’t want to learn to make Tiramisu.

And last, but not least, I think we should do a wine tour in Grapevine. They have some fabulous wineries in Grapevine and a wine tour is the best way to see several of them at once and check out all they have to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Starting a company is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, my parents instilled a strong work ethic in their children. I wasn’t afraid of hard work or long hours. If I didn’t know how to do it, I learned how to do it. I surrounded myself with amazingly talented people and much more knowledgeable than I in their respected fields.

I am also grateful for all the guidance from my friends and associates in the Young Entrepreneur Organization. They provided a well-spring of information when I most needed it. I also met some wonderful people at networking groups and Meetups that have continued to be a bright light in my life.

Website: https://ribit.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ribit1/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ribit/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobinatRibit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ribitdotcom

Image Credits
Scott Peek Photography