Assignment 5A – Identifying Local Opportunities

Identifying Local Opportunities

"Student loan debt doubles, is progressive call for forgiveness best option?"

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200110/student-loan-debt-doubles-is-progressive-call-for-forgiveness-best-option/1

This article talks about the problem of student loan debt. Many Americans have a staggering amount of student debt. Student loan debt in this country totals $1.6 trillion. One of the many people suffering from this large amount of student loan debt is Melanie Kover, a Palm Beach County resident. She is currently only able to make interest payments on her $60,000 worth of student loan debt. The amount of students taking out loans to finance their education has continued to grow, even during the Great Recession. Some candidates from the Democratic Party want to forgive part or all of this student debt through various means, but others think this is not feasible. 

The problem in this article is the huge amount of student loan debt that many Americans have accumulated. The people with the debt, including Melanie Kover, are the ones with the problem. Their family members could also be affected by this problem. 

"3 maternity clothing chains could be heading toward bankruptcy"

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20191021/3-maternity-clothing-chains-could-be-heading-toward-bankruptcy

This article is about the fact that Destination Motherhood, which operates the stores Motherhood Maternity, Pea in the Pod, and Destination Maternity, may be forced to file for bankruptcy. It is likely that they will try to find a buyer once they have filed for bankruptcy, but if that fails, all 458 stores could close for good. That would mean that more than 3,000 employees could be without jobs.

The problem in this article is the likely bankruptcy of Destination Motherhood and their three store brands. The people affected by this problem are the employees of Destination Motherhood and their families. Also, anyone who shops at these stores will be affected by this problem.

"Promoting a good night’s sleep: Employers are targeting sleep to improve workers’ health and lower medical costs"

https://www.gainesville.com/lifestyle/20200116/promoting-good-nights-sleep-employers-are-targeting-sleep-to-improve-workers-health-and-lower-medical-costs

This article talks about how poor sleep can lead to other serious health issues, and how employers are taking the initiative to help their employees to get better sleep. At Southern Co., an Atlanta based utility company, they had 4,000 employees screened for sleep apnea, and 1,500 of those have been treated for the condition. The company says that this has saved them money in healthcare costs, including about $1.2 million in 2018. Many other companies are also trying to save healthcare cost by helping their employees get better quality sleep.

The problem in this article is the poor sleep that many people get and how that affects their health and leads to serious health issues. The people affected by this problem are those who get the poor sleep, their families, and their employers.

"Gaming arcades have 30-day deadline to vacate Nassau County after commission vote"

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200128/gaming-arcades-have-30-day-deadline-to-vacate-nassau-county-after-commission-vote

This article discusses the increased crime rates associated with adult gaming parlors. These facilities have to vacate within 30 days due to a vote by lawmakers in Nassau County. As these facilities increased in number in the county, so did crime, including a large increase in violent crimes, drug crimes, burglary, and more. 

The problem in this article is crime that is associated with adult gaming parlors. The people who are affected by this problem are the residents of the county, the workers and patrons of the parlors, and police officers.

"UN agency declares global emergency over virus from China"

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200130/un-agency-declares-global-emergency-over-virus-from-china

This article talks about the virus that is spreading throughout China and many other countries in the world. The virus originated in the Wuhan region of China and has been reported in more than a dozen other countries. It is a cousin of the SARS virus that was a worldwide epidemic back in 2002-2003. This new virus seems to be spreading from human to human and health officials are racing to isolate those who have been infected. Travel and trade has been greatly affected, and there are reports of food shortages within the Wuhan region of China. Online shopping and home delivery services have been a big help in getting goods to those who are isolated in their homes. 

The problem listed in this article is the spread of a virus and the lack of food in the affected region of China. The people of the Wuhan region of China, and anyone who has recently traveled there are the main people with the problem. There could potentially be many more people facing a problem if the virus continues to spread. It could even become a problem here in Florida.

Assignment 4A - Forming An Opportunity Belief

Forming an Opportunity Belief

The problem I'm addressing is that there is nowhere in my town (Lake Butler) to get good coffee quickly. The majority of adults in this country drink coffee, and the small town of Lake Butler is no different. There are many people who are affected by this problem, including parents, teachers, police officers, high school students, and pretty much all working adults. This need has existed for many years, at least the last 10 years that I have resided in Lake Butler. The need is most prevalent in the morning before people go to their jobs or school. The only current alternative to having a coffee shop is to make your own by using coffee makers at home or a coffee machine at your place of business, or getting a cup of coffee at the local gas station. These alternatives meet the need for coffee, but they both take more time and may not taste as good as coffee from a good coffee shop. Coffee shops also offer more variety when it comes to coffee drinks. I am 100% sure that this need exists.

The typical customer would be working adults and high school students. Adults and teenagers with drivers licenses residing in the Lake Butler area and anyone who comes into Lake Butler for work or school would be the typical customers. These typical customers who be of all races, genders, and income levels.

Prototypical Customer #1 - Lori, female, age 57, works part-time:
Lori says she has felt a need for a coffee shop here in town for many years. Having lived in other places with coffee shops, she misses them now that she lives in Lake Butler. She is most aware of this need when meeting up with friends or colleagues. She would use the coffee shop more for a place to get together with friends to chat or catch up. She first became aware of this need once moving to Lake Butler and realizing there was nowhere to meet up or get a good cup of coffee. She currently manages the need by meeting up with friends at her house or their houses and making her own coffee. This doesn't satisfy her need or desire for having a coffee shop in town. 

Prototypical Customer #2 - Kevin, male, age 32, works full-time:
Kevin says that he needs his coffee for energy each day. He typically drinks coffee in the morning before work but sometimes doesn't have time to make himself a cup in the morning. He has had the need ever since becoming an adult and joining the workforce. He became aware of the need once his life got busier and he had less time to make his own coffee in the morning. He doesn't mind making his own coffee when he has time, but would love to have a place to go when he's running out the door in the morning. He doesn't want to run into the gas station to get his coffee, so he is not satisfied with current alternatives.

Prototypical Customer #3 - Megan, female, age 30, works full-time:
Megan likes to have coffee when she feels tired and needs the extra energy. She is a mom so she feels tired often. She also works full-time and would like to have a place to go grab coffee after dropping her kids off at school and before going to work. She says she is usually running late and rarely has the time to make herself a good cup of coffee before leaving the house. She would love the convenience of a coffee shop with a drive-thru window. She is most aware of the need in the morning, but would also like a place to go in the evening and when she's off work to sit and relax. She would also love to have a place that offered sweets or desserts, and she likes the variety of coffee drinks that a coffee shop provides. She first came aware of this need after moving from Gainesville to Lake Butler. She doesn't like the coffee offered at the gas station and says that it is not a good option for her. She is not satisfied with current alternatives.

After these interviews, I learned that an opportunity definitely exists for this need. I discovered that people want more than a quick cup of coffee. Two of my prototypical customers mentioned that they would like a place to go to sit and spend time with friends and relax. I concluded that there is a need for a coffee shop that offers sweets, like doughnuts, cookies, etc. 

I think my idea evolved from a quick place to grab a cup of coffee to more of a coffee shop, still with a drive-thru window, but also with seating and a comfortable space to hangout. It would still meet the original need for coffee, but also offer a place for adults and teens to go to hangout with friends. That seems to be more of what the customers want. I believe that adapting to customer feedback is important to meet the real needs of the customers. I would do more interviews and get more feedback before developing a business plan.

Assignment 3A - Your Entrepreneurship Story

My Entrepreneurship Story

I have had some experience with entrepreneurship in my life. Right out of high school, I had the opportunity to work in the office of a small business who leased farm equipment. That was my first taste of the business world, and my first experience with someone who owned their own business. I worked there for a few months and witnessed some of the successes and challenges that they faced. About five years ago, my dad had grown tired of working for others and decided to open his own auto repair business. I have helped him with some of the administrative and financial parts of his business for the past few years. I have seen how his business has grown in those years, but I have also witnessed how hard he has to work in order to be successful. My husband also has his own computer repair business that he does part-time as a side job. Personally, due to my experiences, I am not someone who would ever want to run my own business. It takes so much time and effort and would only be worth it if I was super passionate about what my business was doing. Entrepreneurship is definitely not for those who want an easy or low-stress life.

I am enrolled in ENT3003 because it is a requirement for my business degree, but I hope to learn some things that will benefit me and my family members who run their own businesses. 

Assignment 2A - Bug List

20 Things That Bug Me...

• Not being able to carry my purse into my kid's school because there is a clear bag policy. I then have to carry my ID and phone in my pocket, which is uncomfortable, or keep it in my hands if I don't have pockets.
• Why does it exist? For security reasons, they no longer allow people to carry purses into the school.

• Not having enough healthy/organic fast food options available in my area.
• Why does it exist? Typically, fast food restaurants try to lower costs by ordering cheaper ingredients, and the typical fast food customer probably doesn't care about eating healthy/organic food.

• Not being able to find items in my purse when I need them.
• Why does it exist? I'm a mom so it comes with the territory that I have to carry 50,000 items in my purse at all times. 

• My dishwasher never completely dries the dishes. This has always been an issue since it was purchased.
• Why does it exist? I'm not sure if all dishwashers are this way, so it may not be a problem for others, but it really irritates me. It's a good brand, and I've tried additives to help with drying, but it still doesn't get the job done. I'm not certain why it exists or I would fix it. Maybe I need to purchase a higher quality dishwasher.

• School buses in my county lack supervision. With the bus driver being the only adult on the bus, and being preoccupied by driving, the children on the bus lack supervision. Therefore, they frequently get into trouble. This is one reason my children do not ride the school bus
• Why does it exist? It exists because the school district lacks the funds to employ extra adults to ride the school bus with the children.

• People cutting in the car pickup line at the elementary school. Everyday, several cars skip the line and decide they should get to go before parents who have been waiting 30+ minutes.
• Why does it exist? The elementary car pickup line is disorganized and there is no one there to supervise and make sure cars are following car pickup etiquette. There are also more parents picking up their children from school this year. It probably goes back to the lack of supervision on the school bus problem.

• Filling out the same medical forms over and over at the doctor and dentist offices where my four children and I go.
• Why does it exist? There isn't currently a shared database or source of information that can be accessed by different medical offices, but I think that would be a great idea.

• People throwing trash on the ground. This is one of the things that bug me most. 
• Why does it exist? Maybe it's just laziness? It's possible that if there were more trash cans available, there would be less littering.

• Not enough recycling options in my town. I try to reduce my waste, but it's hard when my local waste collection center only recycles cardboard.
• Why does it exist? Maybe the city only has the funds to offer the one recycling option. Maybe more people need to complain and show a need before they will add more options.

• Lack of variety of extra curricular activities for my children in our town. I wish our town offered soccer, swimming, gymnastics, etc.
• Why does it exist? There probably isn't enough demand for these activities in my town. People could be happy with the current available options. It's possible that there is demand, but no one is taking advantage of it yet.

• Lack of after school activities for children in my community. I feel like when children have fun, wholesome activities to do after school, they are less likely to get into trouble.
• Why does it exist? It's a small town with limited places for kids to go after school. I'm sure people in my community would love to see more options for after school activities. There may even be places that are out there, but they are not advertising very well. I'm certain that this is an area of unmet demand in my community and that it could be utilized by the right person.

• Having to walk inside to pay cash for my gas because I can’t trust the security of the card reader at the gas pump. Yes, I've had my card information stolen at the gas pump before, and I know several others who have had there card information stolen as well.
• Why does it exist? There is a lack of secure technology to process payments. Criminals are developing theft technology as fast as the credit card companies are coming out with more secure tech to process payments. I think gas stations are a target because there is a lack of security outside by the card readers.

• Movie ticket prices are too high. I love going to the movies, but I hate paying the high prices! Although, the added comfort of the recliner chairs that have been added to many theaters in recent years have made me feel comfortable paying a little more for my ticket.
• Why does it exist? It's probably because there is a lack of competition in the market. Regal pretty much has a monopoly on the movie theater business in our area. People are also willing to pay the high prices for the movie theater experience, rather than waiting for movies to be be released and watching them at home.

• No restroom available near the car pickup line. Back to car pickup line problems. This is a real issue sometimes when I have my four-year-old with me and he has to go. It's nearly impossible to get out of the line once you're in it, and we are not allowed on school property until the gates are unlocked.
• Why does it exist? Maybe no one has thought about this as an issue other than parents waiting in line with little ones. Even if the school knew it was an issue, I doubt there would be funds available to construct a restroom. Maybe they could afford a port-a-potty, but then there would be a host of other issues involved with that. 

• Lack of healthy/organic food options at my local grocery store. 
• Why does it exist? I'm sure this is simply a lack of demand. My husband and I normally go to Gainesville to get our groceries for this reason.

• Inconsistent clothing sizes at different stores. This is especially an issue when shopping online. For example, size 6 pants will fit perfectly at one store and are too tight at another store.
• Why does it exist? Possibly, there isn't any regulation when it comes to sizing clothing. It is probably becoming more of an issue now that many consumers do the majority of their shopping online.

• Having to pay shipping to send clothing back when shopping online. I hate this. Sometimes I end up keeping an item I cannot wear simply due to the fact that I will lose some much money trying to mail it back. I'll usually just cut my loses and give it to someone or donate it instead.
• Why does it exist? Online shopping is growing in popularity and not all stores can offer free shipping and returns and still make enough money to stay in business. I do believe it hurts the business in the end from the loss of sales. Now, I mostly shop at stores that offer free shipping and returns.

• Getting unsolicited telemarketing phone calls. I'm sure this is a "bug" for almost every person with a phone.
• Why does it exist? Companies sell our information and it gets into the hands of these unsolicited callers. There is a "Do Not Call" list that you can add your name to that supposedly stops some of the calls.

• Washing my face at night when I’m tired. When I'm tired it feels like such a giant task to wash my makeup off my face before getting into bed. (Side note: I always brush and floss. :))
• Why does it exist? You probably have to be a girl, or at least someone who wears makeup to understand this one. It exists because it takes time to wash ones makeup off and, if you're like me, by the time you go to bed at night you are exhausted! 

• Workout pants that won’t stay up. Last but not least. It drives me nuts when I have to keep pulling up my pants as I'm working out.
• Why does it exist? Not all elastic is created equal? Companies need to do more aggressive testing before selling workout pants to make sure they stay in place.

I found it very difficult to come up with the twenty things on this list, because I am not used to focusing on the things that bug me. I have never thought about why these things exist. It was a little easier to think about it over several days and to make a note of it when something annoyed me. This is definitely a new way of thinking for me and I can see how this could lead to finding opportunities for new business ideas.

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