There's My Last Week 15 Reading Reflection

Something that really surprised me was that the group of locals were so evil. I can't believe that this group tried to bribe this man's business. It is also crazy then they then spread lies about this and made people think it was a sine to use their company. I think that really reveals what a flawed system it is. I also was surprised that women or more likely to invest money than men are.
The only part I found confusing was what SKS is. I would like to ask the author to explain that a little more. I would also ask why they thugs wanted them let in the country and why they weren't allowed in the first place. I'm also confused on why this financial company was able to allow SKS into India. There is noting I disagree with in this article. I think he backed up all of his philosophies with good examples. I found it very interesting that microfinance has worked so well with poverty internationally, but I still have doubts on how well it would work in the US.

There's My Final Reflection

There are a lot of memories that come to mid when I think about all of the blog posts I have written this semester. I remember the first one and coming up with my big plan. I remembered I called it "there's everything" because I was going to write about different things to eat, craft, do, and go. I guess I didn't understand that I would be given topics to write about (lol). But I had also already had the idea for Sweet Caroline's in the back of my brain, so it was fun to get to flirt with the idea more and watch my goals formulate. Another funny memory I have is getting my friends and family to record themselves for the "Secret Sauce" post. They all took the videos very seriously and they took multiple tries to get their spiels out.

I definitely have more of an entrepreneurial mindset by the end of this semester. Honestly something I'm proud of is that I can spell 'entrepreneur' now without the help of spell check. But on a larger scale, I think I have really learned more of what goes into being an entrepreneur. I have also dug into the concept of what is different between a business owner and an entrepreneur.

My advice to students about to take this course would be to have fun with it. This class is a lot more relaxed and creative than most classes. I enjoyed taking a break from studying marketing or statistics to write a blog post. Also it is awkward to interview random people but sometimes you just have to go for it. Another piece of advice is to watch out for the Sunday deadlines. Those always crept up on me so maybe set a weekly reminder to get them done ahead of time!

This is how I'm feeling right now that one more class is over! Even though it was a fun one :)

There's My Elevator Pitch No. 4

I had received a lot of feedback with mixed opinions about eye contact with the camera. My original goal was to act like the camera wasn't there and just speak to an audience. That made some people feel like I was unfocused and nervous. I had also gotten feedback that I made too much eye contact so I tried to find a good balance with it for this fourth time. I also had comments that I looked intense so I tried to appear more relaxed and didn't wear a button up this time. I think doing this assignment four times has really nailed down the idea of an elevator pitch and I understand the importance of an elevator pitch. 

My Venture Concept No. 2

One day I dream of being the owner of a shop named “Sweet Caroline’s”. This store will be filled with my favorite things and will be a fun getaway for girly girls everywhere. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur or a business owner, but I’m beginning to see how this dream could easily come to life. It might take a lot of motivation, a good amount of money, and a little sweat and tears, but I really believe it can happen.

I believe that there is an opportunity to fulfill creative gaps in the shopping experience. There is a large market of customers that want an experience when they shop. Back in the day when our grandparents were young, going to the store was a big deal. Department stores employed sales associates who cared and knew their customers. They waited on them with care, not rushing them to make a sale. Most of the time I wish this is how we shopped too. I think the change in this is due to the faster paced lives we live. Everything is on the go and most things are off the rack, the same for every person around the country. I want to change this new stereotype.  

I want to provide a feminine shopping experience for women with engaging sales associates. These sales associates will also not be pushy and will not work on commission. Most customers are looking for an inviting dressing room, with honest advice. I have worked in a clothing store for two years and I have noticed a considerable difference when a sales associate is truthful with the customer. The customer respects the opinion of the employee and building this relationship is much better in the long run than making one poor sale.

Our store will sell to women of all ages. These women will be people who like a shopping experience and like to be doted on. We will not be a cookie cutter store and hope to provide unique items and service. I envision this the perfect spot for mothers and daughters to shop together. Our demographic will consistent of mainly locals. The store will be in the town of Windermere right outside of Orlando. This area is very family oriented and tends to attract a higher clientele. This store concept is being satisfied by places like Park Ave and other small sectors of town that have a nice walkable boutique strip. This experience is still very different however, and Park Ave is at least forty minutes from Windermere. The only other thing that is similar to my idea is Oxford Exchange in Tampa. Sweet Caroline’s will be more of a clothing based store and will much less attractive to men and business people. Even though my opportunity is larger, I really think there is a market craving this idea. I would intend on employing

            The difference between a small business owner and an entrepreneur is not very big. Every small business owner has had to start from scratch and learn his or her own way, which to me, describes and entrepreneur. Innovation is also a key part of being an entrepreneur. What separates my store from being a typical store is that we will have:

·      In trend clothing

·      A floral department

·      A tea room

·      High end and drug store makeup counters

·      Upscale dressing rooms

Our clothes will be moderately priced. Most dresses will be under $80 and most shirts will be under $55. Besides department stores, there are not any boutiques that also have makeup counters with the clothing. These make up counters will be similar to Ulta or Sephora’s. Not the type with a brand representative. The floral section of our store will also be a very unique aspect. We will have a florist in-house and will be able to do custom orders and bouquets. It is very rare to have a floral section in a store with clothing as well. The other unusual aspect of the store will be the tearoom. Women will be able to shop and have tea in the same location. We will have a small tearoom seating roughly fifty at time. This room will also be able to be rented out for private events.

      My venture concept will reverse time, and take shoppers back to a slow and relaxed place to shop. It will be creative and unique and unlike any stores people find today. I want to change the way people see stores. I understand that this store is not for everyone. Not everyone wants a shopping experience, but rather wants to get what they are looking for and be on their way. But for the people who love fashion and for girly girls everywhere, this will fulfill a never addressed need.

      On a more logistical note, we plan on having three people in the store during normal hours, a florist, and staff for the tearoom. I plan on hiring a total of nine people to begin with. The store will be open Monday-Saturday 10-7 on weekdays and 11-6 on Friday and Saturday. I will remain the owner and buyer for the store. My mom, Mary Beth, will be the backbone and manager of the store. She is my “secret sauce” and my “unfair advantage”. She is the most hardworking and creative person I know and she happens to be just as excited for Sweet Caroline’s as I am! We don’t know what is next for us in this business adventure. We may look at waiting to open up the tearoom once the store is successful. If the store is successful then we might look at opening up a second location across town. We look at this business concept as an adventure, and I can’t wait to take it on with her.

      My mom was the one who originally dreamed up this concept with me. She doesn’t want to be the primary owner, but is confident that I would do a good job. I’ve learned there is nothing better than having someone support you and believe in you when dreaming about being an entrepreneur.

I received some questions that I made sure to address in this revised business concept. The first was how many people do I plan to hire and I decided on nine. The other question I received was what my store hours would be which I also answered. 

I got a lot of positive feedback. People really liked the name of the store and thought the idea was unique and fun. People also liked how my family is involved in the idea too. One concern I received was that there might not be enough of a market for this venture, but that is a risk I am willing to take because I believe in this idea.

I included this picture of the Oxford Exchange because it is the only place I know of that has a similar idea to Sweet Caroline's. There is a huge market for this place and people travel just to visit it. My dream for my venture is that it might become as successful as Oxford Exchange.

There's My Google Gold

I honestly didn't utilize search engine optimization that much. I see how it is extremely important for most businesses to utilize. I know that I mostly pick the first site from google that comes up. Since this blog was for a class though, I didn't want it to get all that much traffic though. I might use this idea for the blog at another time and not base it off of a business venture but off of a creative ideas. One thing I did use those was key words. Almost all of my blog titles start with "There's My". This consistency helps my blog get more traffic. It also helps my blog to aesthetically look better and it gives it more of a touch of creativity.
I did not use social media to promote my blog, but I do see how it would be very effective. I follow a lot go bloggers and you tubers and to keep up with their new posts I follow them on Instagram and SnapChat to get updates about their new posts and videos. I know that social media would help promote my blog if I really wanted to get it out there. The best part about it is that it is free advertising that starts with your friends, and then expands outward to people you don't even know.
My most popular posts both had nineteen views and five comments which I think is a ton! They were "The Twenty Percent" and "Elevator Pitch No. 2". My "Interviewing Customers No. 2" had eighteen views and six comments which is also a lot. I honestly have no idea why these posts had more traffic than others but I'm glad they did. Despite my excitement over my views, I did not make it on the first page of Google, and actually I couldn't even find myself so I guess I need to utilize SEO more!

At first I was happy when I saw how many views I had, then I was sad when I realized I couldn't be found on Google.

There's My Week 14 Reading Reflection

The concept of corporate entrepreneurship was a surprise to me. I tend to think of entrepreneurship on a small scale. Maybe just one person or a small group working on a startup. I never think about a corporate company working on a entrepreneurial project but it makes sense.
I thought the quote from researchers Charles Baden-Fuller and Henk Volberda was confusing. I don't really see how a company that is chaotic ca even survive in the short term. Also I felt like they just used uppidy words to sound more professional and it only made their point more ambiguous.
I would want to ask the author ore about the Proctor and Gamble section. I think it is interesting how they lay out their company into 80 different brands. I would ask why so many brands and I would ask if they plan on creating more brands, or just creating more products for the existing brands.
There is nothing I really disagree about in these chapters. I think for the most part they are pretty self explanatory and I think the author is right on about most of it.

There's My Very Short Interview, Part 2

The person I chose to interview is a close family friend who started his own law firm about fifteen years ago. He left a large firm to be his own boss and to make his own rules. He has now expanded the firm with three other partners. I was not able to record the interview this time because this person lives in my home town but this is the general idea if the conversation:

Q: If this new law firm didn't work out, would you have sensed an element of failure?
A: Yes and no. Yes because whenever you do something that doesn't work out, you feel like you've failed. But no because I would know that I had tried to do everything I could to make something work and I went out on a limb which is also a success.

Q: What was the deciding factor that made you want to step out on your own?
A: I saw the chain of command of where I was heading, and knew I would never be in charge one day and that there was only so much higher to go. I liked the idea of planning my own schedule and working with the people I wanted to work with. It was really about freedom.

Q: What has been the most satisfying part of m=being an entrepreneur?
A: The best part is that I can arrange time-off whenever I need. I don't have to travel and leave my family, and I'll never have to miss one of my kids' sporting events for work. I like bringing work home with me and I like doing it on my time.

I look back on my first interview and think that a lot has stayed the same. I still lean towards the same type of questions and I'm still nervous about the same things. But I feel a lot more encouraged about the idea of failing. I am more excited about the idea of being an entrepreneur than ever.

I definitely feel more confident talking about entrepreneurship! I didn't even hesitate to come up with questions. I was less anxious to interview this person and I feel like I have really learned a lot. I'm thankful that I have realized some tools that I already have that will make me a good entrepreneur and I'm thankful for the things I've learned so far in this class!

Week 13 Reading Reflection

The concept of "rollup" was a surprise to me. This is a term I have never heard of before but I learned that it is a technique that investors use to merge companies together and into the same market. The purpose of this is to escape the "growth pains" that new companies experience.
The term, "due diligence" was confusing to me. The book describes the term as, "a thorough analysis of every facet of the existing business". i still don't know what exact things would be included in this. This is also one of the questions I would ask the author. The second question would be how often he preforms all of the tasks related in the performance outline.
The only thing I disagree with is how long the due diligence task list is. I don't think that it is reasonable to have that long of a process.

Celebrating Failure

Failure is a scaring thing. I've feel that I've failed multiple times this semester in not submitting assignments on time. I've never been the one to forget to submit something, but since this class has so many assignment due at random times, I missed a few. I tend to forget the projects due on Sunday night. I try to avoid homework on Sundays, so if I don't do the assignments ahead of time , I forget to submit them. I now set reminders to make sure that they are finished in time. The worst is when I half start an assignment and then forget to submit it.
I don't like the feeling of failing, especially when it's something I could have avoided like just submitting an assignment. I get more bummed out when I failure something that was completely in my control. If I try my best and it doesn't work out I don't get too upset. I don't think this class has changed my opinion on failure because everything has been on a small scale. When I actually do put my concept into action, I will be nervous about failing.

PS this is how I feel when I forget to turn something in.

There's My Week 12 Reflection

The entrepreneurial matrix strategy stood out to me in this chapter. I thought it was interesting how there is such an exact model for starting a new business or innovation. Once I read the matrix it made logical sense and I could see how it could be helpful.
I low key disagreed with the way the book described risk. They define it as "the probability of major financial loss". I think that risk (even in business) can go beyond finances. You could risk your family and stability by going on a limb or your reputation.
The concept of strategic positioning was confusing to me. I don't think I quite understand what the idea really is. I grasp that it is another way to get new people in the market and to attract new consumers, but I'm confused as to how you actually do that.
I would want to ask the author what stage of venture development is the most difficult for the entrepreneur. And not just financially but emotionally as well. For example, is the growth stage hard because you have so many new things to figure out and so few resources, or is the decline stage hardest because the venture is dying?

There's My What's Next Plan

Existing Market:
I think that the floral section of the store is what is next for my venture. It will attract the same market and will set my store apart from the other boutiques.

Q: What are some things I could do to make our floral department more successful?
A: You should be prepared to spend more capital around holidays such as Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.

New Market:
I think that the tea room would attract a different market. This room could be rented out for little girls' birthday parties or could be a gathering place for daughters, mothers, and granddaughters. People will come for the tea, not the clothing.

Q: How do you think the tea room will expand our product mix?
A: The tea room has the potential to bring in a lot more capital and possibly a more diverse crowd.

Reflection:
Most of my assumptions were correct. I had already planned on including a floral section and tea room in conjunction with the clothing store. I think this will attract different groups of people. People who come for tea might want to leave with flowers and people who come for clothes might leave with flowers.
I think these idea will separate my store from the traditional boutique. Both of these elements provide extra value to the consumer because we are a one-stop shop.

PS I had conducted two audio interviews that are unable to load because they are not the right type of file. I'm not a techie and was unable to convert them but I typed them out....I promise I did them!!!!

There's My Venture Concept No. 1

One day I dream of being the owner of a shop named “Sweet Caroline’s”. This store will be filled with my favorite things and will be a fun getaway for girly girls everywhere. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur or a business owner, but I’m beginning to see how this dream could easily come to life. It might take a lot of motivation, a good amount of money, and a little sweat and tears, but I really believe it can happen.

I believe that there is an opportunity to fulfill creative gaps in the shopping experience. There is a large market of customers that want an experience when they shop. Back in the day when our grandparents were young, going to the store was a big deal. Department stores employed sales associates who cared and knew their customers. They waited on them with care, not rushing them to make a sale. Most of the time I wish this is how we shopped too. I think the change in this is due to the faster paced lives we live. Everything is on the go and most things are off the rack, the same for every person around the country. I want to change this new stereotype.  

I want to provide a feminine shopping experience for women with engaging sales associates. These sales associates will also not be pushy and will not work on commission. Most customers are looking for an inviting dressing room, with honest advice. I have worked in a clothing store for two years and I have noticed a considerable difference when a sales associate is truthful with the customer. The customer respects the opinion of the employee and building this relationship is much better in the long run than making one poor sale.

Our store will sell to women of all ages. These women will be people who like a shopping experience and like to be doted on. We will not be a cookie cutter store and hope to provide unique items and service. I envision this the perfect spot for mothers and daughters to shop together. Our demographic will consistent of mainly locals. The store will be in the town of Windermere right outside of Orlando. This area is very family oriented and tends to attract a higher clientele. This store concept is being satisfied by places like Park Ave and other small sectors of town that have a nice walkable boutique strip. This experience is still very different however, and Park Ave is at least forty minutes from Windermere. The only other thing that is similar to my idea is Oxford Exchange in Tampa. Sweet Caroline’s will be more of a clothing based store and will much less attractive to men and business people. Even though my opportunity is small, I really think there is a market craving this idea.

            The difference between a small business owner and an entrepreneur is not very big. Every small business owner has had to start from scratch and learn his or her own way, which to me, describes and entrepreneur. Innovation is also a key part of being an entrepreneur. What separates my store from being a typical store is that we will have:

• ·      In trend clothing
• ·      A floral department
• ·      A tea room
• ·      High end and drug store makeup counters
• ·      Upscale dressing rooms 

Our clothes will be moderately priced. Most dresses will be under $80 and most shirts will be under $55. Besides department stores, there are not any boutiques that also have makeup counters with the clothing. These make up counters will be similar to Ulta or Sephora’s. Not the type with a brand representative. The floral section of our store will also be a very unique aspect. We will have a florist in-house and will be able to do custom orders and bouquets. It is very rare to have a floral section in a store with clothing as well. The other unusual aspect of the store will be the tearoom. Women will be able to shop and have tea in the same location. We will have a small tearoom seating roughly fifty at time. This room will also be able to be rented out for private events.

      My venture concept will reverse time, and take shoppers back to a slow and relaxed place to shop. It will be creative and unique and unlike any stores people find today. I want to change the way people see stores. I understand that this store is not for everyone. Not everyone wants a shopping experience, but rather wants to get what they are looking for and be on their way. But for the people who love fashion and for girly girls everywhere, this will fulfill a never addressed need.

      On a more logistical note, we plan on having three people in the store during normal hours, a florist, and staff for the tearoom. I will remain the owner and buyer for the store. My mom, Mary Beth, will be the backbone and manager of the store. She is my “secret sauce” and my “unfair advantage”. She is the most hardworking and creative person I know and she happens to be just as excited for Sweet Caroline’s as I am! We don’t know what is next for us in this business adventure. We may look at waiting to open up the tearoom once the store is successful. If the store is successful then we might look at opening up a second location across town. We look at this business concept as an adventure, and I can’t wait to take it on with her.

      My mom was the one who originally dreamed up this concept for me. She doesn’t want to be the primary owner, but is confident that I would do a good job. I’ve learned there is nothing better than having someone support you and believe in you when dreaming about being an entrepreneur.

Week 11 Reading Reflection

1. I was surprised that the author said that the best way to preserve bargaining power is through innovation. Typically writers do not outright say the best and worst ways to do something and I appreciate that he did.
2. The Innovation Landscape Gap was a little bit confusing to me. After going through it and digesting it a little bit more, I understand his main points and I see how they correlate.
3. I would love to ask the author what strategies have worked best for him in the best. I would also like to ask what has been the worst strategy he has attempted to use.
4. I disagreed when the article said you can only create value for a potential customer by saving them money or by helping a cause. I think that through innovation you can save the customer time and energy and I think that is just as important if not more than money.

There's the Amazon Whisperer

My majority of our revenue drivers are going to be store purchases. We will also receive some revenue from the tea room. That can be normal tea room services, as well as when our room is rented out for special events.
We believe that the next thing our customers will want, is a floral section of the store. We plan on having a florist in-house who can make custom arrangements. This is very unusual to find in a typical boutique. This "next thing" will enhance our services because it goes above and beyond what a normal store provides. It also shows that we care about creativity and operational excellence. This also fosters customer loyalty, because we can be their one stop shop for all things pretty and feminine.
We found on Amazon a bouquet that roughly follows what we want to sell. This is a very ordinary arrangement and we want to provide very elaborate and custom flowers. 

The customer reviews are mixed, but most of them say that their flowers arrived wilted and were not as full as the picture indicates. We would make this product more elaborate and very full and only use the freshest of flowers. This would provide the customer with the best product they can get. This floral service would also separate us from the competition of normal boutique clothing stores.

There's My Unfair Advantage

1. Creativity is valuable because I want this store to be an experience and have a creative atmosphere. This is a semi-rare trait. Not everyone is creative and I like to think I have a unique taste and idea for this store. Creativity is not imitable because creativity is synonymous with originality and therefore is a brand new idea and not replicated. Creativity is not really a substitutable resource. In order to have a unique and visually appealing store, you need creativity.
2. Style is valuable because I will be buying the clothes that we wish to sell and will need to have an established style that I want the store to maintain. I believe that everyone has style, but some is better than others. So in some ways it is rare and substitutable but in some ways it is not. Style is definitely imitable, but you can only imitate what you see, so if other stores try to copy what I do, they will be behind.
3. Investors are very valuable. I already have a few people lined up who are willing to invest. These people are rare to have at this early in the idea stage. I guess you could replace and substitute these investors, but I already have established trust with them so to me, they are irreplaceable.
4.  My Mom is a resource to me because she is my greatest support. She is super creative and loves my idea of this store and is beyond willing to help me in any way I need. She is rare because unfortunately most girls don't have a mom who is also their best friend. I am so blessed to have her. She also isn't imitable because we are the same person. Before I even tell her my thoughts she already knows what they will be, and odds are she feels the same way. You can't substitute her because she already knows what I need before I say it. You can hire someone, but they would never be as great as my mom.
5. Organization is a valuable resource to me. I am very organized and I think that will translate into great business quality. I believe that organization is rare. Most twenty-year olds would not classify themselves as organized and clean. This is imitable though because you can be taught to organize, it just won't come as naturally. Also it is substitutable because you could always hire and assistant to organize things for you.
6. Integrity is a valuable resource for me. I make decisions based on my worldview and morals first and then what would be best for me. I think that this trait is also rare for people in their twenties. This trait is immutable though because people can decide to have integrity. It is not substitutable however because if you don't do things with integrity, then you just don't.
7. Work Ethic is another strong value of mine. I am a hard worker, but I don't think that this trait is rare. I think that people are hard workers, especially when they are doing something they love. This trait is very imitable. People see someone working hard and it inspires them to work hard too. Because of this, it is also substitutable because you can always hire more people to work.
8. Instinct is a valuable trait in business. I know that I have good instincts when it comes to style and trends, but since I have never owned a business I'm not exactly sure how strong my business instincts will be. So because of this lack of experience I think this feeling is very common and imitable and substitutable.
9. Knowledge of area is a good value. I have great knowledge of the physical location and market of where I want to locate my store. I think it is rare that people start a business knowing exactly where they want it to be located. This will save us a lot of time and money when it comes to opening the store. This knowledge is imitable for anyone coming from the same area as me, but not imitable for anyone coming from out of town. This trait is non-substitutional because it is an instinct of mine.
10. My UF Degree is extremely valuable. It shows that I know at least a little bit of what I am getting into. It is also very appealing to investors. This is not rare however because over 40% of Americans have some variation of a college education. This is imitable because anyone can get a degree (however not just anyone can get one from UF, Go Gators!!!) and copy the same minor and major path as me. This is non-subsituable though because without a college degree, there is not alternative to this level of education.

Reflection: My best resource is my mom. She is the most valuable resource, she is so rare and can never be imitated and is completely non-substitutional. She will be of greatest help to me when I make this dream become a reality. She really rocks.

Growing My Social Capital

Domain Expert:
I have established goodwill with a family friend who owns store in various hotels. They understand how to own and grow a store, what to sell, and how to sell it. They have been in this business for almost ten years and the managers and owners. Since we are such good family friends, there really is no exchange for them giving me advice. They were excited to hear about my idea and thought it was a really good one! They know a lot of people in this field and have very good relationships with different clothing distributers.
Market Expert:
For this slot a chose someone who has raised girls, shops a lot, and has various experience in different businesses. She understands this market on a personal and professional level. I have known this woman for a few years and she is very willing to provide me with the information I will be looking for. This lady knows many shoppers and future clients that I would like to have. She is very influential and if she likes my idea, then her opinion can help drive the success of it.
Supplier Expert:
Because I wish to sell name brand items, establishing contact was the most difficult aspect of this assignment. I chose someone who communicates with suppliers on a daily basis. This person also owns her own store and has shown me how she went about establishing contact with different distributors and companies. When I do open my store and want to sell brands like Free People, Tarte, and Splendid, I will know how to go about business with them and how to get my foot in the door.
Reflection:
This experience opened my eyes up to all of the different facets of starting a business and of being an entrepreneur. A lot of people have said that opening a store does not mean you're an entrepreneur and I disagree. For one thing, I plan on opening a store with a product mix I haven't found anywhere before. I also think that whenever you have so many moving parts and you reinvent the wheel, you are an entrepreneur. I am excited for this journey and glad that I have these contacts to learn more about this idea.

There's My Week 10 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise to me in the reading was the financial glossary. I did not realize that there were so many technical words that all sound similar but mean very different things. Finances are not my strongest subject and I still found this concept of income statements and balance sheets to be confusing. Honestly most of this chapter was confusing since I have such little background in finance classes.
I would love the author to go more in depth in how to compile a balance sheet. If he could explain more of how you know something is a liability versus a credit I think that would also be very helpful.
There was nothing that I think the author was wrong about. Since I have such little current knowledge of finance and accounting, I wouldn't know enough to argue a point against the author. For the most part, I agree with everything he said and just wish he went into a little more detail.

There's My Elevator Pitch No. 3

Most of the feedback I received on my second pitch was very positive. One thing I was told ( and did in this third pitch) was to make more eye contact with the camera. My original thought was to not look at the camera and act like I was just talking to a bunch of people beyond the sense, but now I see how that could be confusing and come across as unprofessional. Another criticism I got was that I said "they" when referring to my business venture, so I was conscious to say "I" and "we". The last thing was to use less filler words which I also tried to do.

There's my My Secret Sauce

Here are a few things that make me me:
1) I am very introspective and I read in between the lines
2) I am very emotional and feel deeply for others
3) I love all things girly and pretty, even if they don't have a purpose
4) I love to make lists and organize
5) I am very methodical and rarely do anything without looking at the situation from all sides

My sister said that I am organized and loyal. She is too sweet and said that these qualities will make me a great businesswoman. 

My friend said I was a hard worker. She also said that I was a good risk taker. 

This friend said that I was very likable because I was thoughtful. She thinks that this will be a good attribute because it makes co-workers and clients drawn to me.

My mom (who is also my best friend) said super kind things bout me. She actually touched on most of the things already said about organization, thoughtfulness, and loyalty.

My bestie said that I am intentional. She thinks this will be a good trait in the business world because I will think through whatever decisions I make.

My first thought after each of these videos is that I have very kind and sweet friends and I am very thankful for them! Some of the things they said about me are the same that I said about myself, for instance that I'm organized, introspective/intentional, and thoughtful. I agree that these attributes will also help me in the business world. One thing my sister said that I did not think about was that I am very loyal. I think this would be a good trait because I will be very loyal to my clients or to the company I may work for one day. I think it's hard to list out your positive traits and relate them to your human capital. It is easier for someone who is a step away to say really positive things. I still wouldn't make any corrections to my list though because I think it is a pretty general idea of things that make me unique. 

There's my Week 9 Reading Reflection

Week 9's reading surprised me when it displayed a chart on page 313. I did not know that there were so many different types of interview styles and I was unaware that people respond so differently to different types of surveys.
The section on qualitative vs quantitative research was a little bit confusing to me. I understood it more after I read about it, but at first I didn't see a difference between the types of information.
I would ask the author how much social media marketing has changed over the years. I would also ask what was the main way to reach people in a similar style before social media. It's hard for me to imagine life without social media, and I'm not sure how people got the word out to their target markets before it.
There really wasn't anything I disagreed with in this chapter. The majority of it made sense and I agreed with the different forms of philosophy and research.

There's My Idea Napkin No. 2

I am creative, witty, and particular. I love adventures, even if that just means going to Walmart at 2:00am or singing to Ben Rector in the car with my friends. I love things that are precious and thought provoking. Meaningful conversations are my favorite. Reading a Southern Living magazine with coffee in hand is simply the best. I love things that are beautiful, even if they don't have much of a purpose. I also love brownies and swing dancing. I love twirling in the kitchen, and the feeling you get when you catch someone's gaze on you. It really doesn't take much y'all. All that being said, I want to create a store (and mostly an environment) that encompasses these things, at least indirectly. I want people to feel welcomed and girly while shopping at Sweet Caroline's. I want them to find things they love and things that are beautiful, even if it doesn't have much of a purpose. This store has the potential to house all the things I love. I want to invest a lot of time, creativity, and energy into it. I am very passionate about this endeavor, and I am very willing to put in the effort to make this dream a reality. 

I want customers to love to shop here. A fun, engaging store in hard to come by, and I think it is because ambiance and customer service don't always equal profit. But I don't care. I want my shoppers to get the feeling they get when reading their favorite magazine when they walk through my door. Just as if they were transported to their favorite place. This is an unmet need to shoppers. Shopping can often be draining and frustrating when you can't find what you want and things don't fit. I want to leave everyone better off after leaving the store than when they came in. What will set Sweet Caroline's apart from other stores will be the makeup counters combined with clothing and potentially a tea room and floral department. This will for sure differentiate us from the competition. 

My customers will be people just like me. They will be 14-45ish year old women who are looking for beautiful things and who want an experience while shopping. They will also be a little bit more price conscious than the average boutique shopper.

Customers are going to love this store because it is a completely untapped group and idea combination. A few stores offer a few of the things we will to a similar group, but none of them do it all. We will combine the boutique style of store, with lower prices, a very uncommon concept. We will also sell make-up, clothes, seasonal items, accessories, and home items which is also an uncommon array of products in a boutique. It is rare that makeup is sold in clothing stores, but it is something that our buyers will love, and will therefore purchase more because of convenience. Something else that will set our store apart and will benefit our customers will be our customer service. I plan to work in the shop most days, as well as my mother (who is extremely excited about this idea as well).

I feel that my store will be a success because I am the customer. I have found this lack in the market, and I know what I want. People like me are our target market, so who better to cater to you than you right? Most stores for women are run by men, so how can they know exactly what we want? I am also a member of the community I want to put my store in, so I know what this community is needing.

I believe that these elements fit together perfectly. Sweet Caroline's plays to my strengths and the things that I find joy from. I believe that this passion will help the success of the store. I know what people want and I have the drive to make this dream happen.

One of the main points I received was that people apperceived my passion about the store. I tried to convey that more in my first couple of points. One thing I received concern on the differentiability between my store and other boutiques. To make the difference clear I included information about our customer service, different product options, tea room option, and floral section option. These are five things I changed to answer all of the concern or compliments in my original napkin idea.

There's the Twenty Percent

I interviewed a person who started his own clothing store. The stores sells name bran items like Southern Proper, Lilly Pulitzer, and Vineyard Vines. His clientele ranges from 13 year olds to 60 year old men and women who typically fall into the upper middle class. The store is located in a trendy and walkable side of town in a very nice area. The shop owners goal is to provide names brands in a sector of town that does not have a lot of clothing options.

The customers I interviewed pretty much lined up with what the shop owner described. They were all from a nice side of town and fit into the age groups suggested. They preferred to shop in the boutiques because it offered something different than the mall.

There's my Half-way Reflection

First off, I highly recommend taking this class! It has been the most beneficial class I have taken so far, and I have learned tangible skills. One skill that has growth throughout this course, is time management skills. There have been a few moments when I forgot that an assignment was due. This class has lots of projects that are due at weird times and a lot are unfortunately due on a Sunday. Because of this, I have needed to improve on writing things down in my planner, and planing ahead so that they projects would be completed  on time.
There was one day when I had to take my best friend to the ER because she sliced her hand opened. She was told to see a hand surgeon because the cut was so deep and she could have sliced a tendon. This of course happened on a Sunday and I had not completed my assignments and was not able to submit them. I felt like giving up and was very frustrated that I was not allowed an extended period of time because of my emergency. But there is extra credit and this situation inspired me to work ahead in the class so that I would be prepared for another emergency or adventure that would come along when I needed to submit assignments.
So some tips to leave with you about a tenacious skills are:
1) write down assignments times
2) set reminders for big due dates
3)work ahead as much as possible
Some more tips about a tenacious attitude are:
1) keep going and do the extra credit
2) don't be afraid to approach people in the video assignments
3) bring a friend along because it make it more fun and they can help you film while you talk

Enjoy the course!

PS Here is a picture of one of my friends happily helping me in the rain!

There's a Reading Reflection Week 8

I was really surprised by the number of banks that operate out of the US. The book says that there were 7,000 banks in 2008 and that there will only be 4,000 by the end of the decade. This is mainly due to the economic downturn, but these still really surprised me.
I was only surprised that the author said that it is a necessity for all new ventures to be debt financed. I really disagree and I am very against debt, especially when it can be avoided. I understand that most new ventures need it, but I would like to have my family as investors so that I would be able to avoid the type of debt.
The concept of "factoring" confused me. I didn't fully understand this concept and I would like to ask the author more about it. I would also like to ask him how this process originated, especially since it only applies to certain industries.

Free Money

In an effort the give away five $1 bills, I am going to walk up to people outside my apartment building. I live on a street where a lot of students walk by, so I know I will have many opportunities to talk to people. I will try to approach people that look really nice. I have also noticed that I’m more likely to approach women then men, probably because I’m less intimidated by women. To get people’s attention, I will probably just say, “ Excuse me. Can I give you a $1?”. I’m sure this will stop people. I am pretty sure I will be able to give away at least four of the five.

This exercise was very uncomfortable for me and to be honest, I really didn’t like it. I don’t like doing things while recording people, because I know if someone tried to record me I wouldn’t be a big fan of it. I also didn’t like that I almost had to lie to the people to complete this project.

Most people responded how I expected which was that they were caught off guard and thought I was weird. But in the end four people took the dollar which is what I thought.

I ended up giving away some dollars in a friends house to her roommates who also were very confused. I would be very confused if some girl I didn’t know tried to give me money.