For Rob Ratin, living a normal teenage life was never in the cards.
No, not for him. He wanted to be successful, to make a difference, and to help others in the process.
Brooklyn born and raised, Rob felt he had a head for business since age 12, when he began dabbling in buying and reselling products such as shoes and clothing until about age 15. He was an average teenager for a time, going with the flow of school, higher education, then a job like the rest of his peers. It’s important to note that Rob still values an education- he says it is “an opportunity to become a more well-rounded individual and network with other like-minded people.”
When the time came for Rob to get a part-time job, instead of getting a regular job at a local store, he did some research, and decided that e-commerce was a good way to go. Eventually, he met his partner Yasha, and together they built several successful Shopify stores and brands, using the drop shipping model of e-commerce business. This has proved very lucrative, especially in the wake of a global pandemic, with more and more people shopping online and buying products from brands like Rob’s.
Soon their business gave rise to them forming Pluto Ad Agency Inc. It was a good way for them to start running ads on platforms such as Facebook and Google for their e-commerce stores. Much to their delight, Pluto morphed into a platform that has created another source of income for them – one that can benefit other budding business owners, as well.
Through the agency, they offer coaching and consulting services for both beginner and experienced e- commerce entrepreneurs. Skills such as building stores, automation, ad set-up, product research, and mentoring people on the specific systems they themselves have used to realize their own success.
Many people keep telling Rob that he needs a graduate degree in order to make any real money. But he is proving those people wrong, time and again.
So, what’s his motivation behind all of this? Rob says it’s a combination of persistence and the ability to stay the course, even though you may not see success right away. For him, this was his biggest challenge. During those first two summers, Rob worked hard on his struggling business, even losing several thousands of dollars he’d saved up from part-time jobs, much to the dismay of his friends and family. But he plugged on.
For him, the future is his inspiration.
Rob’s key to success is working both hard and smart, even in the face of adversity. He looks past his fears, and at the business climate around him. He studies other successful people in his chosen field. He is also a good problem solver.
For Rob, success means freedom. Once you adjust your mindset and are not bound by the negative things people say, you are truly able to grow as a person. Rob believes there is a reason why many successful people are also philanthropists; they are eager to reach out a helping hand, to give something back.
What does the future hold for Rob? With his partner Yasha, they are in the process of creating an in- depth education course on starting a successful drop ship business. Building and scaling stores through the Shopify platform, and growing brands through digital marketing.
His biggest obstacle has always been to never give up. And we think he’s doing pretty well at that.
To learn more about Rob and stay up-to-date with his latest content and promotions, follow him on Instagram @Rob_Ratin and @Pluto_Ad_Agency.