Opportunity: Home entry ramps for those aging in place (elderly)
-According to research done by the AARP more and more seniors are aging in place (staying home) instead of being moved to a nursing facility. 77% of these seniors find that a entrance to their home without steps is especially important as they continue to age.
WHO: Senior Citizens (Ages 65+ who are aging in place)
WHAT: Seniors deciding to stay home as they age find a entrance to their homes without steps extremely important.
WHY: Due to age continuation mobility becomes more of a challenge for senior citizens.
Testing the who: Others such as people with disabilities which hinder their mobility could also benefit from home entry ramps. This is for anyone that has issues with entering and leaving their home due to steps. However, I find that targeting senior citizens in my market area will be most beneficial for my opportunity.
Testing the what: This opportunity if for any person that relates as a senior citizen (age 65+) who has decided they are going to age in place verses going to a nursing facility. Any senior citizen who has mobility issues, this can include poor leg strength, poor balance, joint pain, muscle pain, arthritis, any any type of injury or disease that hinders them from being able to use steps on their own.
Testing the why: Senior citizens find that as they age everyday tasks become more and more difficult. When they choose to stay at home verses using a nursing facility any type of assistance is helpful. Many seniors need to leave their homes often due to doctor appointments, church, family gatherings, and basically anything that requires their presence that can not be done from the comfort of the inside of their home. It is to much of a risk to let someone who has issues with mobility to try to use steps to enter and leave their home daily. This is setting that person up for injuries due to falling. These injuries in turn can lead to hospital stays as well the overall quality of life being shortened.
Interview #1
In this interview I spoke with a senior citizen (age 74 woman) who lives at home currently. They currently suffer from dizziness and poor balance when walking and standing. They currently use a walker to help with stability and moving from one place to another. Their home has 4 stairs in order to get to the door entrance. They find it extremely hard without the help of a family member or friend to walk up these steps without feeling like they are going to fall. Also they have to pull up their walker which makes the climb that much more difficult. By speaking with them and suggesting the ramp opportunity they felt that no matter the cost this would make life so much easier when leaving and entering their home. I felt extremely happy when they let me know that it would give them peace and make leaving the house not so scary. This conversation led me to further believe that aging senior citizens need this opportunity in their lives.
Interview #2
This interview was with a senior citizen gentleman. (Age 81) He currently lives at his home by himself but has no mobility problems at the moment. He only has 3 small steps to the entrance of his home. When speaking with him he did not see a need personally for a ramp in order to enter or leave his home but did agree that if he had any type of mobility issues that he would need something like that put in place. He knew several senior citizens that had hurt themselves due to stairs. One is now in a nursing facility because she could no longer enter her home at all and could not always rely on a family member or friend to be there with her.
Interview #3
This interview was done with a caretaker(30+ years of experience) of a senior citizen who is aging at home. The caretaker informed me that the woman she looks after who is in her mid 80s has many Dr. Appts and has to leave her home quite often. The caretaker has to basically carry the woman out of the home in order to help her get in the car to leave. The home of the senior citizen has 5 steps at the entrance and they are narrow in width. She informed me that there have been times where she has gone down on both knees due to the woman putting all of her weight on her when beginning to lose her balance on the stairs. She thought that the idea of a ramp at the entrance would not only benefit the senior citizen but those taking care of the person. She has dealt with back and shoulder pain due to having to assist the senior. Her experience as well as her input only encouraged me more that this idea is not only beneficial to senior citizens but those who are taking care of them daily.
Interview #4
This interview was done with a gentleman who has just become a senior. (Age 65) I wanted to interview him because he plans on aging in place with his wife and I wanted to get the input of someone who has a spouse and if they believed as they continue to get older if they felt this would be a need. He currently has two sets of steps to reach the entrance of his home. The first set of steps leads to the pathway towards the entrance. This set has 3 steps. The actual set of steps to the entrance has 4 wide and long steps. He informed me that currently he has no issues with either set of steps but his wife suffers from knee problems and needs his help off and on when entering or leaving the house. He felt that as they continue to age there will come a time where he will no longer have the strength to help her with the steps and they will need some type of assistance. The idea of a ramp made him think that it would be easier for him and her to handle their steps.
Interview #5
This interview was conducted with a senior citizen woman. (Age 78) She actually has a wooden ramp that she uses daily to enter and leave her home so I felt it was really important to get her insight on this opportunity. She informed me that before she had the ramp installed that she had fallen down her steps 5 times. 2 of those times resulted in her having to go to the hospital. She said that it made her get to the point where she was frightened to use the steps. She currently uses a wheelchair now to get around and besides her falls had no other choice but to have a ramp put in. Since having the ramp she is able to use her wheelchair at all times when entering and leaving and has regained her confidence. She does not plan on going to a nursing facility and felt that anyone, not just seniors suffering from mobility issues should have a ramp put in place. She said it was a little pricey but that since being installed has paid for itself in peace of mind. She loved the idea and supported it 100%.
Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you did not know before?
-The interviews gave me a great perspective on how many senior citizens feel about entering and leaving their homes. I was surprised to find that even seniors that are healthy and do not find the need for a ramp at the moment did not discredit it or feel that they would not need one in the future. Out of all of my interviews I enjoyed speaking with the caretaker the most. She was able to give me insight on what it is like to take care of a senior citizen daily and how a ramp would be beneficial. I was shocked how open senior citizens were to this idea. I felt when I first started interviewing some that they would be resistant to the idea or feel like I was putting them in a box due to their age. Not a single one tried to hide their abilities and were more than honest how scary it can be when you feel immobile. The support I received from each person I interviewed made me feel that this opportunity could really take off. I also found myself not only feeling good about the opportunity but for how much it would be helping out people. To hear how much peace of mind meant to these people really helped me realize you cannot put a price on that. I hope to interview more seniors as I move forward with this opportunity and see if I continue to receive such positive feedback.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Assignment 6A-Economic & Regulatory Trends
Regulatory Trends
-Boeing Model 787 Series Airplanes; Seats with Inertia Locking Devices
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2019-0236-0001
-Opportunity for Boeing and the overall flight experience for passengers. Safety feature in the case of a emergency landing or crash.
-Prototypical customers will be passengers who fly airlines that use the Boeing 787 Series in their fleet of planes.
-This opportunity seems easy to uphold. It makes sense to have this feature because it will help stop the seat from making a lunge forward in a emergency landing or crash.
-I saw this opportunity due to the regulation website and with Boeing being such a large company it drew me to the regulation. Also with all of the news as of late surrounding Boeing I wanted to research this regulation further.
Safety Zone for Fireworks Display; Upper Potomac River, Washington, DC
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCG-2019-0221-0001
-Opportunity to make sure that all attendees of the event are kept safe during the 4th of July firework display.
-Prototypical customer is anyone that is attending the event either by vessel or land.
-The opportunity seems easy to uphold because it is all around good for the general public. Safety should always be the primary concern whenever a event of this magnitude is taking place.
-I saw this opportunity due to the regulation website and the title caught my attention. I knew firework displays in Washington, DC are extremely large and a massive event so I wanted to look into this topic more.
Economic Trends
-China's Economy Weakened in May, Early Data Shows
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-28/china-s-economy-weakened-in-may-amid-trade-woe-early-data-show?srnd=economics-vp
-Opportunity comes for those willing to invest in Iron Ore or as it has become stronger though the overall Chinese economy is weaker.
-Prototypical customer is anyone interested in international economies and investing in certain aspects that may have grown stronger through the economy's downfall.
-This opportunity is tough because of the war in tariffs between the US and China. This has hurt not only China but the US as well. I hope that this will actually not be upheld and continued as it will only continue to cause loss of money and jobs.
-I knew that Bloomberg is primarily a financial website and they would have a lot of information about Economic trends taking place currently. Due to all of the news regarding China and the US I felt that this article in particular would show was opportunities existed and what was no longer available in the current economic climate.
Bank of Canada Optimistic About Rebound Even as It Stays Neutral
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-29/bank-of-canada-optimistic-about-rebound-even-as-it-stays-neutral?srnd=economics-vp
-Opportunity for consumers that are wanting to try to take advantage of low rates as of right now. This is not a good opportunity for investors as the rates stay low with a possible hike in rates in 2020.
-Prototypical customer is someone that can use these low rates to their advantage. This could be a very large advantage for first time homebuyers.
-The opportunity here is very shaky. We are dealing with a country whose currency rate is low due to the low interest rates. Of course Canada will want the interest rates to hike so their currency value increases and investors become optimistic again. Right now it looks as if things may not start improving until 2020.
-I saw this opportunity through using Bloomberg's website. The title as many of the other topics I chose caught my attention. With Canada bordering the US I wanted to see what was taking place in their economy and if their was any opportunity there. After reading the article it seems Canada is hurting and is trying to rebound at a rate that is much slower than expected.
-Boeing Model 787 Series Airplanes; Seats with Inertia Locking Devices
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2019-0236-0001
-Opportunity for Boeing and the overall flight experience for passengers. Safety feature in the case of a emergency landing or crash.
-Prototypical customers will be passengers who fly airlines that use the Boeing 787 Series in their fleet of planes.
-This opportunity seems easy to uphold. It makes sense to have this feature because it will help stop the seat from making a lunge forward in a emergency landing or crash.
-I saw this opportunity due to the regulation website and with Boeing being such a large company it drew me to the regulation. Also with all of the news as of late surrounding Boeing I wanted to research this regulation further.
Safety Zone for Fireworks Display; Upper Potomac River, Washington, DC
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCG-2019-0221-0001
-Opportunity to make sure that all attendees of the event are kept safe during the 4th of July firework display.
-Prototypical customer is anyone that is attending the event either by vessel or land.
-The opportunity seems easy to uphold because it is all around good for the general public. Safety should always be the primary concern whenever a event of this magnitude is taking place.
-I saw this opportunity due to the regulation website and the title caught my attention. I knew firework displays in Washington, DC are extremely large and a massive event so I wanted to look into this topic more.
Economic Trends
-China's Economy Weakened in May, Early Data Shows
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-28/china-s-economy-weakened-in-may-amid-trade-woe-early-data-show?srnd=economics-vp
-Opportunity comes for those willing to invest in Iron Ore or as it has become stronger though the overall Chinese economy is weaker.
-Prototypical customer is anyone interested in international economies and investing in certain aspects that may have grown stronger through the economy's downfall.
-This opportunity is tough because of the war in tariffs between the US and China. This has hurt not only China but the US as well. I hope that this will actually not be upheld and continued as it will only continue to cause loss of money and jobs.
-I knew that Bloomberg is primarily a financial website and they would have a lot of information about Economic trends taking place currently. Due to all of the news regarding China and the US I felt that this article in particular would show was opportunities existed and what was no longer available in the current economic climate.
Bank of Canada Optimistic About Rebound Even as It Stays Neutral
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-29/bank-of-canada-optimistic-about-rebound-even-as-it-stays-neutral?srnd=economics-vp
-Opportunity for consumers that are wanting to try to take advantage of low rates as of right now. This is not a good opportunity for investors as the rates stay low with a possible hike in rates in 2020.
-Prototypical customer is someone that can use these low rates to their advantage. This could be a very large advantage for first time homebuyers.
-The opportunity here is very shaky. We are dealing with a country whose currency rate is low due to the low interest rates. Of course Canada will want the interest rates to hike so their currency value increases and investors become optimistic again. Right now it looks as if things may not start improving until 2020.
-I saw this opportunity through using Bloomberg's website. The title as many of the other topics I chose caught my attention. With Canada bordering the US I wanted to see what was taking place in their economy and if their was any opportunity there. After reading the article it seems Canada is hurting and is trying to rebound at a rate that is much slower than expected.
Monday, May 27, 2019
Assignment 5A-Local Opportunities
1. One quarter of Duval's third graders at risk of repeating third grade
https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20190527/one-quarter-of-duvals-third-graders-at-risk-of-repeating-third-grade
-Third graders in Duval County from lower grade schools are suffering when it comes to moving on to the next grade level. These children are from schools that are located in poorer areas of town and the students from these schools are consistently not meeting the certain levels required to move on.
-The problem in this story is that though the school district says there is a turnaround plan in place for these schools to help get their test scores up which ultimately would help the school have a overall higher grade. However, these schools are the same each year which leaves you wondering why nothing seems to be working and though a turnaround plan is in place how is it benefiting these children.
-There are two sources that have this problem. One is Duval County Public Schools and the other is the children of these schools. The county suffers because it has certain schools under performing which makes the county look bad and then you have the children who are obviously not receiving the same type of education as those from nicer areas of town.
2. Fresh flowers at home can reduce pain and anxiety, research finds
https://www.jacksonville.com/zz/entertainmentlife/20190527/fresh-flowers-at-home-can-reduce-pain-and-anxiety-research-finds
-Researchers are finding that putting flowers in rooms of patients who are recovering from surgery helps them with pain and anxiety. They feel more at ease and the benefits of lower stress, blood pressure, and healing are obvious.
-The problem in this story is one that some may not see just from reading a bit of it but stood out to me. If this is so beneficial to patients recovering at home then why is it not being made available or explained to them. I would think even if a person did not have surgery done that they could benefit from lower stress levels and anxiety. This should not just be something done almost as a experiment and then left to see what happens. Hospitals make enough money to send patients home with a fresh set of flowers.
-The source that has this problem is the patient. There are many patients in local hospitals that are unaware of these benefits. I know it may sound silly but if researchers are discovering all of these positive effects from flowers why would you not make this a mandatory feature. Patients would feel better and it would make their overall healing experience better.
3. Property condemned, court case in flux delays Roost
https://residentnews.net/2019/05/01/property-condemned-court-case-in-flux-delays-roost/
-A building that has been condemned for years is being held up from becoming a restaurant due to neighbors living close to the building. This has been a ongoing issue for 4 years now and has allowed the building to become worse in condition and revitalization to be stalled.
-The problem in this story is the fight between the neighbors and the developers who want to turn this building into a restaurant. The building is in a historic district so the neighbors want to make sure the integrity of the building is kept up. They also do not want a restaurant in what they feel is a residential area. The developers want to move forward and believe a revitalization will take place if they are able to move forward with the development. The back and forth has tied this up in court and has halted a economic opportunity.
-There are two sources that have a problem in this story. One is the developers and the other is the neighbors. The neighbors do not want a restaurant by their homes and have done everything in their power to keep this from happening. The developers have a problem because for 4 years they have wanted to make this restaurant a reality and it continues to get held up in court. It has halted their progress as well as potential financial gain.
4. Ortega residents seek to prevent lot subdivisions to preserve neighborhood fabric
https://residentnews.net/2019/05/01/ortega-residents-seek-to-prevent-lot-subdivisions-to-preserve-neighborhood-fabric/
-A older historic neighborhood in Jacksonville has neighbors worried that the historic fabric is going to be ripped away. They are worried that larger lots that could support new homes being built will ruin the origional feel of the neighborhood. This has been a issue that has been taken to city council.
-The problem in this story is that neighbors in this specific neighborhood are not wanting change. They want to keep the neighborhood as original as possible and do not want developers and builders coming in and changing this. They are worried that it will take away what they have worked hard on to restore and keep as original as possible within the housing.
-The source with this problem is the neighbors and truthfully the neighborhood in general. Due to the neighbors concern about change it does not allow for new development to take place. It is understandable to want to keep a historic area original but at the same time you do not want to stop what could help the neighborhood as well as the city financially.
5. Failing selection by JEA, Balanky considers Plan B for his Kings Avenue property
https://residentnews.net/2019/05/01/failing-selection-by-jea-balanky-considers-plan-b-for-his-kings-avenue-property/
- A owner of a large property here in Jacksonville spent large amounts of money in anticipation his property was going to be selected for the new home of JEA. (Jacksonville Electric Authority) After a long process JEA decided to go with a different property which has left the owner looking for ways he will use this space.
-The problem is not so much about the money he invested in hopes of having JEA use his property but what to do with it now that they have chosen not to move forward with him. He is left in a stagnant mode as he waits for someone else to want to come in and turn this property into something that can be profitable. He has many ideas on what the property could be used for but it will take someone moving forward in wanting to make one of those become a reality.
-The source of the problem is really JEA choosing a different location. They had the right to choose to develop their new headquarters anywhere they wanted in Jacksonville but I do feel as if they led this property owner on. It is as if they gave him the impression things were going to be good to go and then decided to change their minds. Due to this it leaves him looking for other ways to put his property to use. In Jacksonville that can be fairly hard as many properties sit for years before they are ever developed into something.
https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20190527/one-quarter-of-duvals-third-graders-at-risk-of-repeating-third-grade
-Third graders in Duval County from lower grade schools are suffering when it comes to moving on to the next grade level. These children are from schools that are located in poorer areas of town and the students from these schools are consistently not meeting the certain levels required to move on.
-The problem in this story is that though the school district says there is a turnaround plan in place for these schools to help get their test scores up which ultimately would help the school have a overall higher grade. However, these schools are the same each year which leaves you wondering why nothing seems to be working and though a turnaround plan is in place how is it benefiting these children.
-There are two sources that have this problem. One is Duval County Public Schools and the other is the children of these schools. The county suffers because it has certain schools under performing which makes the county look bad and then you have the children who are obviously not receiving the same type of education as those from nicer areas of town.
2. Fresh flowers at home can reduce pain and anxiety, research finds
https://www.jacksonville.com/zz/entertainmentlife/20190527/fresh-flowers-at-home-can-reduce-pain-and-anxiety-research-finds
-Researchers are finding that putting flowers in rooms of patients who are recovering from surgery helps them with pain and anxiety. They feel more at ease and the benefits of lower stress, blood pressure, and healing are obvious.
-The problem in this story is one that some may not see just from reading a bit of it but stood out to me. If this is so beneficial to patients recovering at home then why is it not being made available or explained to them. I would think even if a person did not have surgery done that they could benefit from lower stress levels and anxiety. This should not just be something done almost as a experiment and then left to see what happens. Hospitals make enough money to send patients home with a fresh set of flowers.
-The source that has this problem is the patient. There are many patients in local hospitals that are unaware of these benefits. I know it may sound silly but if researchers are discovering all of these positive effects from flowers why would you not make this a mandatory feature. Patients would feel better and it would make their overall healing experience better.
3. Property condemned, court case in flux delays Roost
https://residentnews.net/2019/05/01/property-condemned-court-case-in-flux-delays-roost/
-A building that has been condemned for years is being held up from becoming a restaurant due to neighbors living close to the building. This has been a ongoing issue for 4 years now and has allowed the building to become worse in condition and revitalization to be stalled.
-The problem in this story is the fight between the neighbors and the developers who want to turn this building into a restaurant. The building is in a historic district so the neighbors want to make sure the integrity of the building is kept up. They also do not want a restaurant in what they feel is a residential area. The developers want to move forward and believe a revitalization will take place if they are able to move forward with the development. The back and forth has tied this up in court and has halted a economic opportunity.
-There are two sources that have a problem in this story. One is the developers and the other is the neighbors. The neighbors do not want a restaurant by their homes and have done everything in their power to keep this from happening. The developers have a problem because for 4 years they have wanted to make this restaurant a reality and it continues to get held up in court. It has halted their progress as well as potential financial gain.
4. Ortega residents seek to prevent lot subdivisions to preserve neighborhood fabric
https://residentnews.net/2019/05/01/ortega-residents-seek-to-prevent-lot-subdivisions-to-preserve-neighborhood-fabric/
-A older historic neighborhood in Jacksonville has neighbors worried that the historic fabric is going to be ripped away. They are worried that larger lots that could support new homes being built will ruin the origional feel of the neighborhood. This has been a issue that has been taken to city council.
-The problem in this story is that neighbors in this specific neighborhood are not wanting change. They want to keep the neighborhood as original as possible and do not want developers and builders coming in and changing this. They are worried that it will take away what they have worked hard on to restore and keep as original as possible within the housing.
-The source with this problem is the neighbors and truthfully the neighborhood in general. Due to the neighbors concern about change it does not allow for new development to take place. It is understandable to want to keep a historic area original but at the same time you do not want to stop what could help the neighborhood as well as the city financially.
5. Failing selection by JEA, Balanky considers Plan B for his Kings Avenue property
https://residentnews.net/2019/05/01/failing-selection-by-jea-balanky-considers-plan-b-for-his-kings-avenue-property/
- A owner of a large property here in Jacksonville spent large amounts of money in anticipation his property was going to be selected for the new home of JEA. (Jacksonville Electric Authority) After a long process JEA decided to go with a different property which has left the owner looking for ways he will use this space.
-The problem is not so much about the money he invested in hopes of having JEA use his property but what to do with it now that they have chosen not to move forward with him. He is left in a stagnant mode as he waits for someone else to want to come in and turn this property into something that can be profitable. He has many ideas on what the property could be used for but it will take someone moving forward in wanting to make one of those become a reality.
-The source of the problem is really JEA choosing a different location. They had the right to choose to develop their new headquarters anywhere they wanted in Jacksonville but I do feel as if they led this property owner on. It is as if they gave him the impression things were going to be good to go and then decided to change their minds. Due to this it leaves him looking for other ways to put his property to use. In Jacksonville that can be fairly hard as many properties sit for years before they are ever developed into something.
Monday, May 20, 2019
Assignment 4A-Forming an Opportunity Belief
Living in Jacksonville, Fl is literally being surrounded by water everywhere you turn. From the river, beaches, creeks you can find something to do with water. Jacksonville is also a breakout city in the Craft Beer scene here in Florida. Craft breweries are popping up in certain areas of town but most of them do not offer a good selection of food if any at all. Many people such as myself enjoy going to these breweries to sit down and have a beer but then you have to leave and find a place to eat. This is not always convenient and leaves you wishing that you could almost have a one stop shop for your craft beer and meal needs. The problem with Jacksonville is that it is so large in land mass that to get from one area of town to the other can take you 30 minutes if not longer depending on traffic. Most craft breweries in Jacksonville have chosen locations fairly close to one another and this leaves the market wide open for other parts of town. I live in a area called Ortega and it is surrounded by people that love the water, a good time, and a nice place to eat. The closest brewery from this area would take you about 25 minutes to get to and there is no food served at this location. My idea would be to open a craft brewery that also serves as a seafood restaurant. Not only would this put a restaurant right by the river that serves seafood (makes sense) it would also serve as a local craft brewery. I'm 80% sure that this opportunity exists for this specific area and would be a success.
Prototypical Customer Interactions:
Male in early 40's (from Ortega area)
Do you enjoy craft beer?
-"Yes, my wife and I go to Intuition a lot downtown. The only thing that we dislike is the parking and traffic situation to get there."
Have you ever wished this area had a brewery that also served food?
-"It is something that has crossed my mind. I know there is a lot of untapped potential on this side of town and I feel that both young and older residents could enjoy something like that."
What if the restaurant served seafood as it's primary choice?
"I think seafood would be a good choice being that we are by the water. I'm not sure how well certain beers would pair with seafood but it could be good."
All in all if this brewery/seafood restaurant were to open would you be a customer?
"Absolutely, I know other people in this area that have talked about there not being much seafood choices around here and adding craft beer to the equation sounds like a win-win for the community."
REFLECTION:
I believe that with this male being in his early 40's played a part in his decision making. He drinks beer which is a plus and he also likes seafood. He would be the type of customer I would want and need to attract in order to keep things up and running.
Male in mid 60's (from Ortega area)
Do you enjoy craft beer?
"To be honest it is not something I have ever really cared about. It seems like it is alcohol for the younger age. I prefer liquor to beer anyway."
Have you ever wished this area had a brewery that also served food?
" I don't care so much about the brewery part but I am always hoping they will bring in more options for food."
What if the restaurant served seafood as it's primary choice?
-"I know that would draw in some crowds.It is hard for me to think of anyone here in Florida that does not like seafood. I imagine the restaurant would do quite well."
All in all if this brewery/seafood restaurant were to open would you be a customer?
"I would come for the seafood but not the beer. Also the atmosphere would play a big part in my decision as well. If this place was filled with a bunch of loud young adults I may go somewhere else."
REFLECTION:
I think due to this male being in his mid 60's and not having any interest in beer sort of shows me that there will be that challenge of drawing in non beer drinkers. It did give me hope though when he said that he would come for the food part. I am hoping that I could keep the atmosphere professional enough so that it can draw not only a young crowd but older as well.
Female in late 20's (from Ortega area)
Do you enjoy craft beer?
-"For sure, my girlfriends and I go into Riverside a lot to Bold City and some of the other local spots."
Have you ever wished this area had a brewery that also served food?
-"I have never really thought about it. If it were to happen it would save me a trip and I probably could just walk there which would be a added feature."
What if the restaurant served seafood as it's primary choice?
-"I wouldn't care. I most likely would only be there for the beer and a good time. If it were late and I needed a place to eat then I would grab a bite."
All in all if this brewery/seafood restaurant were to open would you be a customer?
-"No doubt. There are so many young professionals that live back in this area that I think it would have a ton of customers. This area needs to start catering to more young adults and try to get rid of the stigma that it is all older people living here."
REFLECTION:
This female would also be the type of customer I would hope to attract. She did shed light on the fact that she did not care about the food which could hurt the business if more customers adopted that philosophy. It would be great to have a customer like this come in for the beer but I would also like them to think of it as more than just a late night food stop.
SUMMARY:
I believe that this opportunity is there. I think that my thought process has changed a bit only because I know that I would have to add in the cost for food as well as beer. If the business takes a turn towards being more profitable on the beer side then I would have to make sure that I wasn't going to eat costs on the food side. The same would be if the restaurant was doing better then the beer. I truly though think that putting both of these together in a solid location could be a very successful venture. I don't think I would need to change to much from my original opportunity but I would have to talk with more people to get their opinions. I think customer feedback is huge when making a business decision. These are going to be the people helping pay your bills and if they aren't interested in what you are selling then most likely the chance of success is going to be minimal.
Prototypical Customer Interactions:
Male in early 40's (from Ortega area)
Do you enjoy craft beer?
-"Yes, my wife and I go to Intuition a lot downtown. The only thing that we dislike is the parking and traffic situation to get there."
Have you ever wished this area had a brewery that also served food?
-"It is something that has crossed my mind. I know there is a lot of untapped potential on this side of town and I feel that both young and older residents could enjoy something like that."
What if the restaurant served seafood as it's primary choice?
"I think seafood would be a good choice being that we are by the water. I'm not sure how well certain beers would pair with seafood but it could be good."
All in all if this brewery/seafood restaurant were to open would you be a customer?
"Absolutely, I know other people in this area that have talked about there not being much seafood choices around here and adding craft beer to the equation sounds like a win-win for the community."
REFLECTION:
I believe that with this male being in his early 40's played a part in his decision making. He drinks beer which is a plus and he also likes seafood. He would be the type of customer I would want and need to attract in order to keep things up and running.
Male in mid 60's (from Ortega area)
Do you enjoy craft beer?
"To be honest it is not something I have ever really cared about. It seems like it is alcohol for the younger age. I prefer liquor to beer anyway."
Have you ever wished this area had a brewery that also served food?
" I don't care so much about the brewery part but I am always hoping they will bring in more options for food."
What if the restaurant served seafood as it's primary choice?
-"I know that would draw in some crowds.It is hard for me to think of anyone here in Florida that does not like seafood. I imagine the restaurant would do quite well."
All in all if this brewery/seafood restaurant were to open would you be a customer?
"I would come for the seafood but not the beer. Also the atmosphere would play a big part in my decision as well. If this place was filled with a bunch of loud young adults I may go somewhere else."
REFLECTION:
I think due to this male being in his mid 60's and not having any interest in beer sort of shows me that there will be that challenge of drawing in non beer drinkers. It did give me hope though when he said that he would come for the food part. I am hoping that I could keep the atmosphere professional enough so that it can draw not only a young crowd but older as well.
Female in late 20's (from Ortega area)
Do you enjoy craft beer?
-"For sure, my girlfriends and I go into Riverside a lot to Bold City and some of the other local spots."
Have you ever wished this area had a brewery that also served food?
-"I have never really thought about it. If it were to happen it would save me a trip and I probably could just walk there which would be a added feature."
What if the restaurant served seafood as it's primary choice?
-"I wouldn't care. I most likely would only be there for the beer and a good time. If it were late and I needed a place to eat then I would grab a bite."
All in all if this brewery/seafood restaurant were to open would you be a customer?
-"No doubt. There are so many young professionals that live back in this area that I think it would have a ton of customers. This area needs to start catering to more young adults and try to get rid of the stigma that it is all older people living here."
REFLECTION:
This female would also be the type of customer I would hope to attract. She did shed light on the fact that she did not care about the food which could hurt the business if more customers adopted that philosophy. It would be great to have a customer like this come in for the beer but I would also like them to think of it as more than just a late night food stop.
SUMMARY:
I believe that this opportunity is there. I think that my thought process has changed a bit only because I know that I would have to add in the cost for food as well as beer. If the business takes a turn towards being more profitable on the beer side then I would have to make sure that I wasn't going to eat costs on the food side. The same would be if the restaurant was doing better then the beer. I truly though think that putting both of these together in a solid location could be a very successful venture. I don't think I would need to change to much from my original opportunity but I would have to talk with more people to get their opinions. I think customer feedback is huge when making a business decision. These are going to be the people helping pay your bills and if they aren't interested in what you are selling then most likely the chance of success is going to be minimal.
Assignment 3A-Entrepreneurship Story
For over 5 years I was in finance and fortunate enough to meet many business owners and entrepreneurs. One that stuck out to me the most was this guy who was probably in his mid 30's at the time and he was just beginning his new venture. Previous to him starting his own business he worked in a grocery store and was able to move up the ranks but it never gave him the satisfaction he was looking for. I remember him talking about how after work he would legally paint murals for people but in a graffiti type style and that he loved doing this. After taking some time to think about how he could take his love of graffiti and make it profitable he came up with the idea of screen printing t-shirts and basically any article of clothing. He let me know that he had bought all of the equipment and was able to lease out a small building where he would be able to work. As I got to know him better he would bring in pictures of his work and show me designs that he was working on for clients. He had businesses, athletic organizations, and so on wanting him to screen print shirts for them. Many of his clients liked his graffiti type style and wanted that incorporated into their overall design. He wasn't making large amounts of money but you could look in his eyes and tell that he was so happy and passionate about what he was doing. He even let me know that if down the road I wasn't happy in a career that I should leave it and follow my passion. I ended up moving from that city but a few months back I was there visiting my wife's family and while driving down the street looked over and saw a nice size building with the company name of the screen printer. I pulled in and went inside and was astounded by how much the business had grown. He was now working out of a large warehouse and was able to sell items right on site. If you came in there with a idea he could make it on the spot for you. His business was really flourishing and I could see how excited he was that he ended up making the decision to follow his dream. That experience has always stuck with me because of his die-hard attitude and overall positive outlook no matter what the situation looked like. This man was truly a inspiration and someone that I was happy I was able to meet.
My major at UF is Telecommunication Media & Society which brings me to why I decided to take ENT3003. I took some business courses while getting my Associate Degree and was told that I would need to have a outside concentration. I knew right away that it would be business because I have always been interested in this field of study and my wife majored in business administration while in college. It wasn't hard to pick this class though because my wife and I have always had the spirit of entrepreneurs. From wanting to start my own craft brewery, to taking a old abandoned building and turning it into a museum the drive to start something new has always been in my blood. I hope to learn content that can help me grow and learn techniques that I can utilize in my own life. I know it is not easy to branch out on your own but that is why by the end of this course I have a better road map to follow.
My major at UF is Telecommunication Media & Society which brings me to why I decided to take ENT3003. I took some business courses while getting my Associate Degree and was told that I would need to have a outside concentration. I knew right away that it would be business because I have always been interested in this field of study and my wife majored in business administration while in college. It wasn't hard to pick this class though because my wife and I have always had the spirit of entrepreneurs. From wanting to start my own craft brewery, to taking a old abandoned building and turning it into a museum the drive to start something new has always been in my blood. I hope to learn content that can help me grow and learn techniques that I can utilize in my own life. I know it is not easy to branch out on your own but that is why by the end of this course I have a better road map to follow.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Assignment 2A-Bug List
Bug List
1.The drive thru line always being busy at the Chik Fil A on Roosevelt Blvd.
WHY: The location is very central and close to largely populated residential areas. Due to this many people come to this location for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which make it constantly busy.
2.People that drive slow in the fast lane.
WHY: The person may not be aware that they are driving at a slow rate. Also the person may be distracted or trying to be overly cautious which is causing them to go slow.
3. The sound of someone chewing on ice.
WHY: The person may have started this habit when they were young and continue to do it. They also may have some type of health deficiency which causes them to chew on ice.
4. Being late to work or any event.
WHY: Something unexpected may have taken place which has thrown off the schedule and caused time to get pushed back.
5. Next door neighbors being loud after 11:00pm
WHY: They may not realize the time and that they are being loud. They may find their behavior to be normal and that they are not doing anything out of the ordinary.
6. Going to a restaurant and having to wait in line because the restroom is only made for one person.
WHY: When the building was constructed the builder may have thought that the space only allowed for a one person restroom.
7. Rude or poor customer service at any type of business establishment.
WHY: The employee may be having a bad day and therefore it has made them act unprofessional. They may not enjoy what they are doing for a living and that rubs off on how they treat clients.
8. When someone says they will pick you up at a certain time and show up 15+ mins late.
WHY: They may have had car trouble or a incident may have occurred before they left to pick you up which has caused them to run behind.
9. When my dog tears up a piece of clothing or household item.
WHY: He is left home while I am at work during the day. Due to this he may become bored and tearing something up helps with that or relieves any stress he may be experiencing.
10. Having a long conversation through text messaging.
WHY: The other person may be in a place where they cannot speak on the phone. The other person may be more shy on the phone and prefers to text.
11. Receiving large amounts of junk mail . Credit card offers, lawn care, financing, etc.
WHY: As a business these different places have to advertise by sending out cards in the mail asking for you business. It makes there name known and gives you options as a consumer.
12.Talking to someone and they will not make eye contact.
WHY: They may be shy or feel intimidated. Some people are neither and are just bad at making eye contact when speaking.
13. Having to play middle man with insurance companies over mis-quoted health costs.
WHY: The provider may have quoted you at a different cost than what your insurance will actually cover so it could fall on the Dr. office and therefore not just be the insurance's fault.
14. Watching the Jaguars continue to have losing seasons.
WHY: This is due to poor upper management and other staff not making the correct decisions that will correct the bad on field play.
15. Radio stations playing the same song over and over again.
WHY: The stations play songs that are considered popular at the time. Also the songs are set on a rotation so the song you heard one hour may be playing again within the next hour because of the rotation.
16. Phone freezes or runs slow.
WHY: To much data has possibly been used which is causing the phone to lag. Correcting this issue would make the phone run smoother most likely.
17. Constantly getting robo calls to my cellphone.
WHY: Whether it is your cell phone provider or a outside source these businesses receive cell phone numbers and call them until they hope someone picks up.
18. Co-workers making excuse for sloppy or late work.
WHY: The worker may be having a off day and that is why the work is sloppy. A emergency may have come up and that is why the work is late.
19. Getting a DVD out of Redbox that is scratched.
WHY: Someone previous to you renting the movie took bad care of the DVD and therefore it caused it to become scratched.
20. Making a appointment and then once arriving having to wait 45+ mins to be seen.
WHY: The person before you may have been having larger issues which caused their appointment to run longer than what was expected.
Reflection:
I found this assignment to be a bit difficult at first. I knew that there are plenty of things that bug me but once I had to sit down and try to actually think of them it became hard. I was drawing blanks until I really started playing day to day situations and that is when the ideas started to flow. I realized after looking at my list that most of the things that bug me are very minor in the big scheme of things. Also thinking about why these things are taking place verses why they bug me helped me come up with reasons that would make legitimate sense. It makes you feel more empathy towards that situation and helps you think that maybe some of these certain issues should not bother you as much as they do.
1.The drive thru line always being busy at the Chik Fil A on Roosevelt Blvd.
WHY: The location is very central and close to largely populated residential areas. Due to this many people come to this location for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which make it constantly busy.
2.People that drive slow in the fast lane.
WHY: The person may not be aware that they are driving at a slow rate. Also the person may be distracted or trying to be overly cautious which is causing them to go slow.
3. The sound of someone chewing on ice.
WHY: The person may have started this habit when they were young and continue to do it. They also may have some type of health deficiency which causes them to chew on ice.
4. Being late to work or any event.
WHY: Something unexpected may have taken place which has thrown off the schedule and caused time to get pushed back.
5. Next door neighbors being loud after 11:00pm
WHY: They may not realize the time and that they are being loud. They may find their behavior to be normal and that they are not doing anything out of the ordinary.
6. Going to a restaurant and having to wait in line because the restroom is only made for one person.
WHY: When the building was constructed the builder may have thought that the space only allowed for a one person restroom.
7. Rude or poor customer service at any type of business establishment.
WHY: The employee may be having a bad day and therefore it has made them act unprofessional. They may not enjoy what they are doing for a living and that rubs off on how they treat clients.
8. When someone says they will pick you up at a certain time and show up 15+ mins late.
WHY: They may have had car trouble or a incident may have occurred before they left to pick you up which has caused them to run behind.
9. When my dog tears up a piece of clothing or household item.
WHY: He is left home while I am at work during the day. Due to this he may become bored and tearing something up helps with that or relieves any stress he may be experiencing.
10. Having a long conversation through text messaging.
WHY: The other person may be in a place where they cannot speak on the phone. The other person may be more shy on the phone and prefers to text.
11. Receiving large amounts of junk mail . Credit card offers, lawn care, financing, etc.
WHY: As a business these different places have to advertise by sending out cards in the mail asking for you business. It makes there name known and gives you options as a consumer.
12.Talking to someone and they will not make eye contact.
WHY: They may be shy or feel intimidated. Some people are neither and are just bad at making eye contact when speaking.
13. Having to play middle man with insurance companies over mis-quoted health costs.
WHY: The provider may have quoted you at a different cost than what your insurance will actually cover so it could fall on the Dr. office and therefore not just be the insurance's fault.
14. Watching the Jaguars continue to have losing seasons.
WHY: This is due to poor upper management and other staff not making the correct decisions that will correct the bad on field play.
15. Radio stations playing the same song over and over again.
WHY: The stations play songs that are considered popular at the time. Also the songs are set on a rotation so the song you heard one hour may be playing again within the next hour because of the rotation.
16. Phone freezes or runs slow.
WHY: To much data has possibly been used which is causing the phone to lag. Correcting this issue would make the phone run smoother most likely.
17. Constantly getting robo calls to my cellphone.
WHY: Whether it is your cell phone provider or a outside source these businesses receive cell phone numbers and call them until they hope someone picks up.
18. Co-workers making excuse for sloppy or late work.
WHY: The worker may be having a off day and that is why the work is sloppy. A emergency may have come up and that is why the work is late.
19. Getting a DVD out of Redbox that is scratched.
WHY: Someone previous to you renting the movie took bad care of the DVD and therefore it caused it to become scratched.
20. Making a appointment and then once arriving having to wait 45+ mins to be seen.
WHY: The person before you may have been having larger issues which caused their appointment to run longer than what was expected.
Reflection:
I found this assignment to be a bit difficult at first. I knew that there are plenty of things that bug me but once I had to sit down and try to actually think of them it became hard. I was drawing blanks until I really started playing day to day situations and that is when the ideas started to flow. I realized after looking at my list that most of the things that bug me are very minor in the big scheme of things. Also thinking about why these things are taking place verses why they bug me helped me come up with reasons that would make legitimate sense. It makes you feel more empathy towards that situation and helps you think that maybe some of these certain issues should not bother you as much as they do.
Monday, May 13, 2019
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