Friday, September 28, 2018
9A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2
After speaking with 5 more people, I found that not everyone wants to bring their dog to a dog cafe. I spoke to three people who did not have dogs, and two people who have very large, aggressive dogs.
Who: There were two individuals who, while they do share the same need and have a dog, do not actually have the ability to bring their dogs to a cafe like this, because they are large, aggressive, and do not get along with other dogs. They may fall out the boundary because of their dog's behavior.
What: Three of the people I interviewed do not have dogs, so they fall out of the boundary for the dog side of the cafe (even though they could still be potential customers for the cafe/beverage revenue). The other two people I interviewed would not apply because aggressive dogs are not welcome, as they disrupt other customers and create a tense air in the dog friendly space.
Why: All of the people I interviewed fall outside of the boundary for personal reasons. Those who do not own dogs have a fear of dogs, then those with aggressive dogs would be offended that other people would not welcome their dogs into the space.
Who: There were two individuals who, while they do share the same need and have a dog, do not actually have the ability to bring their dogs to a cafe like this, because they are large, aggressive, and do not get along with other dogs. They may fall out the boundary because of their dog's behavior.
What: Three of the people I interviewed do not have dogs, so they fall out of the boundary for the dog side of the cafe (even though they could still be potential customers for the cafe/beverage revenue). The other two people I interviewed would not apply because aggressive dogs are not welcome, as they disrupt other customers and create a tense air in the dog friendly space.
Why: All of the people I interviewed fall outside of the boundary for personal reasons. Those who do not own dogs have a fear of dogs, then those with aggressive dogs would be offended that other people would not welcome their dogs into the space.
Friday, September 21, 2018
8A - Solving the Problem
The main problem that I would see with this opportunity is the environment that the dogs would be in, which is very dependent on the dogs that are actually in the store at any given time. This would be very difficult to fix with a one-time thing, because there is no possibility that you will ever see the same group of dogs twice. It will also be hard to have only small dogs, or only large dogs. In order to please as many customers as possible, I think it would be smart to hire someone to watch over the dogs and dog side of the cafe, and handle things such as retail purchases or purchases of special pet items (which will be sold as retail). Also, a good solution would be to try to designate an area for small dogs, and one for large dogs. Yes, they can mingle, but respecting those locations would probably be smart for pet owners who are wary of bringing their pet to a new, unknown situation.
7A - Testing the Hypothesis
1. I see an opportunity in the pet and the cafe industry. People need a place to study and spend time with their dogs indoors, so it would be a great opportunity to have a cafe that also has a dog section, so they can play freely while owners do work/socialize.
2. People do not currently have a safe, indoor environment that facilitates dogs and their owners at the same time. A dog cafe would benefit pet owners and their pets because dogs can play inside while people can socialize, get coffee, and study/do work.
Who: Dog owners
What: People do not currently have a safe, indoor environment that facilitates dogs and their owners at the same time.
Why: A dog cafe would benefit pet owners and their pets because dogs can play inside while people can socialize, get coffee, and study/do work.
3. Who: Could also include people that do not have dogs, and it can be expanded into different pet areas as the business progresses.
What: Would all pets be allowed? Maybe - it depends what the demand is, and if people can bring other pets out in public.
Why: Some people might not want to bring their dog around with them. But that is okay - you can still be a customer of this shop.
4. I interviewed 5 people - three dog owners, and two cat owners.
a. The first person was a male in his early twenties with a dog. He thoroughly enjoyed the idea, because of the flexibility of playing with other dogs. He was concerned about very aggressive, large dogs, because he has a small dog. Also, his dog does not like cats or other animals. This would be a concern and something to consider before starting the dog cafe.
b. The second person was a female in her early twenties with a dog. She also enjoyed the idea, but was more afraid of what happens when pets do not get along - and if there is a way that it would be monitored by the cafe. It definitely would be something to consider when starting logistics.
c. The third person was a female in her late twenties with a dog. She liked the idea because she works from home, but was concerned about how loud it would get if someone were to try to study. It would be important to consider how to handle waves of commotion and business in the location. She was also concerned about cleanliness and how the dog area would smell - this would have to be mitigated prior to opening.
d. The fourth person was a male in his twenties with a cat. He wanted to know if it would only be for dogs - he walks his cat on a leash and brings it everywhere. He feels like his cat would be threatened in the dog-dominated environment. I would probably keep it limited to just dogs.
e. The last person was a female with multiple cats, and who does not like dogs. She thought the idea was cool, but has no interest in the business. She wanted to know how she could still enjoy the cafe side.
I found that though most people think it is a good idea, there are a lot of smaller logistical things to consider. I would have to think very hard about all of the possible problems that would be faced, because the market is dependent on customers This was constructive in helping consider a business model.
2. People do not currently have a safe, indoor environment that facilitates dogs and their owners at the same time. A dog cafe would benefit pet owners and their pets because dogs can play inside while people can socialize, get coffee, and study/do work.
Who: Dog owners
What: People do not currently have a safe, indoor environment that facilitates dogs and their owners at the same time.
Why: A dog cafe would benefit pet owners and their pets because dogs can play inside while people can socialize, get coffee, and study/do work.
3. Who: Could also include people that do not have dogs, and it can be expanded into different pet areas as the business progresses.
What: Would all pets be allowed? Maybe - it depends what the demand is, and if people can bring other pets out in public.
Why: Some people might not want to bring their dog around with them. But that is okay - you can still be a customer of this shop.
4. I interviewed 5 people - three dog owners, and two cat owners.
a. The first person was a male in his early twenties with a dog. He thoroughly enjoyed the idea, because of the flexibility of playing with other dogs. He was concerned about very aggressive, large dogs, because he has a small dog. Also, his dog does not like cats or other animals. This would be a concern and something to consider before starting the dog cafe.
b. The second person was a female in her early twenties with a dog. She also enjoyed the idea, but was more afraid of what happens when pets do not get along - and if there is a way that it would be monitored by the cafe. It definitely would be something to consider when starting logistics.
c. The third person was a female in her late twenties with a dog. She liked the idea because she works from home, but was concerned about how loud it would get if someone were to try to study. It would be important to consider how to handle waves of commotion and business in the location. She was also concerned about cleanliness and how the dog area would smell - this would have to be mitigated prior to opening.
d. The fourth person was a male in his twenties with a cat. He wanted to know if it would only be for dogs - he walks his cat on a leash and brings it everywhere. He feels like his cat would be threatened in the dog-dominated environment. I would probably keep it limited to just dogs.
e. The last person was a female with multiple cats, and who does not like dogs. She thought the idea was cool, but has no interest in the business. She wanted to know how she could still enjoy the cafe side.
I found that though most people think it is a good idea, there are a lot of smaller logistical things to consider. I would have to think very hard about all of the possible problems that would be faced, because the market is dependent on customers This was constructive in helping consider a business model.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends
Opportunity 1: Opportunities for growth despite uncertainties of economic downturn
a. I found this https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669
b. I believe that, despite all of the negative news, there is a positive outlook for the macroeconomy going forward. We currently have increasing GDP, which is in a normal rate. Also, we have low unemployment, which represents a healthy point in the economic cycle.
c. The prototypical customer would be a normal, middle-class American citizen.
d. The opportunity may be of moderate difficulty to exploit. Most individuals will follow the trend of the negative news, but there also might be some optimistic individuals that may see the opportunity of further economic growth in the future.
e. There are several different points of view on the future of the economy. Without being able to see into the future, all speculation is backed by estimates and assumptions. I believe there is opportunity because of the assumptions I have chosen to believe, leading me to the thought that there is still room in the economy for growth before an inevitable downturn. From certain statistics, we can see that GDP growth remains positive, and still growing. There are other factors to support this theory as well.
Opportunity 2: The Federal Reserve will continue to rise interest rates until the natural rate is reached.
a. https://blogs.wsj.com/dailyshot/2018/09/07/the-daily-shot-banks-reserve-balances-with-the-fed-lowest-since-may-2013/?guid=BL-278B-1233&mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3&dsk=y I have come to this idea of an opportunity based off of reading the Daily Shot consistently, as well as from material learned in my Fixed Income course here at the University of Florida.
b. I believe that, with the rising interest rates, the fed will continue to rise them until the natural rate has been reached. This natural rate, which has decreased significantly since the recession about a decade ago, will provide extended economic growth (not contraction) than what is normally expected of an economic life cycle.
c. The prototypical customer would be individuals purchasing homes, taking out loans, or bond investors.
d. The opportunity may be easy to exploit in the long run, but getting there (short run) is unfavored by a number of people. When individuals see rising interest rates, fear rises - causing an inadvertent increase in inflation, which leads into a snowball effect of market and inflation fear. This can be avoided by understanding, rationality, and a slow transition into the natural rate.
e. I saw the opportunity from a Professor, and his explanation of the relationship between the Solo Growth Model and the historic interest rates.
Opportunity 3: Increasing Opportunity for American Made goods in the US
a. https://www.wsj.com/articles/steel-workers-demand-higher-pay-raises-as-tariffs-lift-profits-1536668815?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3
b. With rising tariffs internationally, this is supposed to provide an opportunity to American producers to increase their national sales and production.
c. The prototypical customer would be an American citizen.
d. This opportunity, while it sounds great in theory, may prove to be difficult to exploit in actuality. Many American companies must import things like steel, oil, and raw materials to facilitate their productions, and these tariffs may make it difficult for them in the beginning. However, in the long run this could prove to be a good opportunity for smaller farmers and producers in the U.S.
e. I saw the opportunity in the news - while everyone is so against them, I am trying to be positive about the situation and see the benefits.
Opportunity 4: Spanish Speakers being able to vote
a. https://www.npr.org/2018/09/07/645753328/judge-orders-florida-officials-to-provide-sample-ballots-in-spanish
b. With the introduction of Spanish ballots in the state of Florida, more individuals are now able to vote in upcoming elections.
c. The prototypical customer would be a Spanish speaking U.S. citizen that is able to vote in the state of Florida.
d. This will provide further voting rights for American citizens. Spanish speakers will now be able to accurately discuss politics and will be able to have the opportunity to vote.
e. I saw this opportunity in the news - It is a great opportunity. I relate to this because my parents speak spanish and portuguese, and before they learned english, were not able to vote because of the language barrier.
a. I found this https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669
b. I believe that, despite all of the negative news, there is a positive outlook for the macroeconomy going forward. We currently have increasing GDP, which is in a normal rate. Also, we have low unemployment, which represents a healthy point in the economic cycle.
c. The prototypical customer would be a normal, middle-class American citizen.
d. The opportunity may be of moderate difficulty to exploit. Most individuals will follow the trend of the negative news, but there also might be some optimistic individuals that may see the opportunity of further economic growth in the future.
e. There are several different points of view on the future of the economy. Without being able to see into the future, all speculation is backed by estimates and assumptions. I believe there is opportunity because of the assumptions I have chosen to believe, leading me to the thought that there is still room in the economy for growth before an inevitable downturn. From certain statistics, we can see that GDP growth remains positive, and still growing. There are other factors to support this theory as well.
Opportunity 2: The Federal Reserve will continue to rise interest rates until the natural rate is reached.
a. https://blogs.wsj.com/dailyshot/2018/09/07/the-daily-shot-banks-reserve-balances-with-the-fed-lowest-since-may-2013/?guid=BL-278B-1233&mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3&dsk=y I have come to this idea of an opportunity based off of reading the Daily Shot consistently, as well as from material learned in my Fixed Income course here at the University of Florida.
b. I believe that, with the rising interest rates, the fed will continue to rise them until the natural rate has been reached. This natural rate, which has decreased significantly since the recession about a decade ago, will provide extended economic growth (not contraction) than what is normally expected of an economic life cycle.
c. The prototypical customer would be individuals purchasing homes, taking out loans, or bond investors.
d. The opportunity may be easy to exploit in the long run, but getting there (short run) is unfavored by a number of people. When individuals see rising interest rates, fear rises - causing an inadvertent increase in inflation, which leads into a snowball effect of market and inflation fear. This can be avoided by understanding, rationality, and a slow transition into the natural rate.
e. I saw the opportunity from a Professor, and his explanation of the relationship between the Solo Growth Model and the historic interest rates.
Opportunity 3: Increasing Opportunity for American Made goods in the US
a. https://www.wsj.com/articles/steel-workers-demand-higher-pay-raises-as-tariffs-lift-profits-1536668815?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3
b. With rising tariffs internationally, this is supposed to provide an opportunity to American producers to increase their national sales and production.
c. The prototypical customer would be an American citizen.
d. This opportunity, while it sounds great in theory, may prove to be difficult to exploit in actuality. Many American companies must import things like steel, oil, and raw materials to facilitate their productions, and these tariffs may make it difficult for them in the beginning. However, in the long run this could prove to be a good opportunity for smaller farmers and producers in the U.S.
e. I saw the opportunity in the news - while everyone is so against them, I am trying to be positive about the situation and see the benefits.
Opportunity 4: Spanish Speakers being able to vote
a. https://www.npr.org/2018/09/07/645753328/judge-orders-florida-officials-to-provide-sample-ballots-in-spanish
b. With the introduction of Spanish ballots in the state of Florida, more individuals are now able to vote in upcoming elections.
c. The prototypical customer would be a Spanish speaking U.S. citizen that is able to vote in the state of Florida.
d. This will provide further voting rights for American citizens. Spanish speakers will now be able to accurately discuss politics and will be able to have the opportunity to vote.
e. I saw this opportunity in the news - It is a great opportunity. I relate to this because my parents speak spanish and portuguese, and before they learned english, were not able to vote because of the language barrier.
Monday, September 10, 2018
5A - Identifying Local Opportunities
Opportunity 1: An effort to eliminate Red Tide
1. 17 Tons of Dead Fish Cleared from Beaches due to Red Tide
2. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/tons-dead-fish-cleared-from-beaches-due-red-tide/rzwDbdJ7Q3zeuMCsPmMbDM/
3. The article is discussing the major red tide bloom on the southwestern coast of Florida, and how it is killing millions and millions of fish. The counties have hired commercial boats to clean the dead fish, but are bringing in much more help because of the volume of dead fish.
4. There are too many dead fish, and not enough people to clean them up. Also, there is the issue of Red Tide.
5. The state of Florida is facing the issue of red tide across the southwestern coast, and the individual counties are dealing with the issues of having too many dead fish and not enough people to clean them up, and the effects it is having on their tourism revenue/business.
Opportunity 2: Body Cam Videos increase Employment Demand
1. Surge in Police Body Cameras brings Need for more Employees
2. https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/local/surge-police-body-cam-video-brings-need-for-more-employees/yROfbDWSGnCtZqN5I2G23M/
3. The article discusses how, with all police officers in Palm Beach Gardens wearing body cameras for protection, the police departments have run into an issue of needing more employees to look through footage. This has happened because more individuals request footage from police body cams as more cases and incidents come through. Police departments in south Florida hope to charge enough for the service that it covers costs. This video footage is popular with defense attorneys, and the article discusses the different ways in which each county attains this footage.
4. There is not enough working people to cover the amount of demand of work to be done.
5. The different police departments of south Florida counties
Opportunity 3: Reducing the Crowding of Palm Beach County Schools
1. Where the Crowds are: See which PBC Schools are Packed Beyond Limits, Which Sit Closer to Half Full
2. https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/local-education/where-the-crowds-are-see-which-pbc-schools-are-packed-beyond-limits-which-sit-closer-half-full/8rqrGfsPQW3LLzdkuDyg6J/
3. This article discusses the uneven distribution of students across all Palm Beach County Schools, and about a proposal to solve this issue by building 3 new schools in the upcoming years. It covers that there is space for 22,000 more students across all schools in Palm Beach County, but there are some schools (those in lower-income or poorer neighborhoods) that are way too full. They show graphics of some schools that are too full, and some that need more students. Overall, this article discusses the pros and cons of if Palm Beach County were to add more schools to the system.
4. There is an uneven distribution of students across the Palm Beach County school district.
5. The Palm Beach County School district and the students in overcrowded schools.
Opportunity 4: Issues of Hurricane Florence
1. Delta caps Fares for Flights from cities in path of Hurricane Florence
2. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/national/delta-caps-fares-for-flights-from-cities-path-hurricane-florence/O8yHb2Ywxf3G8SvAdWiMKN/
3. This article is a brief update regarding the changes in price fares for the cities that will be affected by Hurricane Florence, and the different solutions that Delta has come up with to maintain customer service. They mention capping flights at around $299 to $599 in order for people to get out of the town if they have to, and are allowing people with pre-booked flights to change their routes free of charge.
4. Hurricane Florence is negatively affecting the business of airlines like Delta, and they are trying to come up with solutions around it.
5. Airliners are facing this problem, and Delta is mentioned specifically in this article.
Opportunity 5: Increasing Spanish Ballots in Florida
1. Sample ballots in Spanish now required in 32 more Florida Counties
2. https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/09/07/sample-ballots-spanish-now-required-more-florida-counties/1224656002/
3. A judge instated a law in Florida that requires Counties to have a Spanish ballot, to cater to the large concentration of Spanish speakers in the Floridian community. This decision was made following a civil lawsuit filed by a Latino civil rights activist group. They said that it is unfair that Spanish speakers must vote off of an English ballot - considering it to be "ineffective". However, there are concerns that this may not be fully in place by the time election season is over. Many counties are included in this, one of them being Alachua county.
4. Having only English ballots inhibits a great amount of the Florida population from voting. After fixing this issue, they now have the issue of distributing Spanish ballots out before election season is over.
5. The United States District Court, Latino and Spanish speaking voters, and the Florida voting system.
Friday, September 7, 2018
4A- An Opportunity Belief
1. I believe that an opportunity exists in the beverage and cafe industry that is directed toward the pet owner (specifically dog owner) community.
2. I believe that there is an unmet need in large cities, college towns, and dog owner communities that people want to get coffee, and enjoy it indoors with their pets. This is relevant for students that wish to study with their pets, but do not want to be home all the time with them, or outdoors in the Florida (or summer) heat. This need has probably always existed, but is becoming more relevant as society heads towards a better accepting community (as a generalized statement). As of right now, people either stay home with their pets, or bring them to the outdoor area of coffeeshops where they are unable to go indoors. Also, the pets suffer as they are exposed to the elements - heat or cold - and are unable to freely enjoy themselves and mingle with other dogs indoors under the supervision of their owners. Some owners may be satisfied, but this opportunity/idea would make dog owners ecstatic.
3. The prototypical customer would be a dog owner that enjoys spending time with their dog, and is interested in introducing their dog to others. Also, a dog owner/family that would be interested in joining a dog-loving community. Or, other customers that do not have dogs that enjoy unique cafes.
3A. Taylor Clasen is a student who owns a dog. She enjoys bringing her dog everywhere, and is always with her pet.
4A. Taylor Clasen - She believes that more people are adopting dogs, and that there will be a good community of people that would see this dog-friendly coffee shop as a need and a great experience for dog owners. She personally experiences this need when she is with her parent's dog, and when she gets a puppy herself. Also, she will experience this need when she is with her pup and needs a latte. She has always had this need, but no solution. She is currently addressing this need by leaving her dogs at home, or sitting outside in the hot Florida whether with her dog, who is miserable on a short leash.
3B. Sara Eliseo is a student who also owns a dog. She enjoys bringing her dog everywhere, and is always with her pet.
4B. Sara Eliseo - She believes that, localized to Gainesville, many older students and young adults have been adopting dogs, and they need a place to prepare themselves for their careers or study while spending time with their dogs outside of their homes. She personally experiences this need because she wants to take her dog somewhere to do her med school applications, but is not able to because of the brutal heat. Sara is currently addressing this need by either leaving her dog to be alone, and going to the library, or by subjecting herself to staying home all day. She also subjects herself to enduring the inconsistent Gainesville weather. She is not satisfied with this solution.
3C. Grant Husted is a student who just got a young puppy. He enjoys bringing her everywhere and spending as much time as he can with her.
4C. Grant Husted - From being a new dog owner, he wants to spend as much time with his puppy as possible. However, with the new school year starting up, he is unable to bring her to study, leaving her by herself for hours at a time. He feels that many other students and adults may have this issue as well, and that my opportunity would be a great solution to the problem. Grant went to a dog cafe in NYC and saw that it is a great environment for both the pet owner, and the pet. He was able to do homework while his new puppy mingled with other kind dogs. In Gainesville, he is not able to do this though and sees the need even more now. He addresses the need by leaving his dog at home, and is not satisfied with it.
5. I learned that this idea is accepted well by pet owners. It was surprising how excited Taylor was to hear that this is even possible, Grant was excited as well, and Sara said that she would be an investor in this opportunity. Dog lovers are interested in providing a great environment for their pets and themselves simultaneously.
7. A huge amount of opportunity still exists after these interviews. I do believe that this opportunity is more accurate. I think that entrepreneurs should ask for feedback from individuals to gain more ideas and add to the business idea.
2. I believe that there is an unmet need in large cities, college towns, and dog owner communities that people want to get coffee, and enjoy it indoors with their pets. This is relevant for students that wish to study with their pets, but do not want to be home all the time with them, or outdoors in the Florida (or summer) heat. This need has probably always existed, but is becoming more relevant as society heads towards a better accepting community (as a generalized statement). As of right now, people either stay home with their pets, or bring them to the outdoor area of coffeeshops where they are unable to go indoors. Also, the pets suffer as they are exposed to the elements - heat or cold - and are unable to freely enjoy themselves and mingle with other dogs indoors under the supervision of their owners. Some owners may be satisfied, but this opportunity/idea would make dog owners ecstatic.
3. The prototypical customer would be a dog owner that enjoys spending time with their dog, and is interested in introducing their dog to others. Also, a dog owner/family that would be interested in joining a dog-loving community. Or, other customers that do not have dogs that enjoy unique cafes.
3A. Taylor Clasen is a student who owns a dog. She enjoys bringing her dog everywhere, and is always with her pet.
4A. Taylor Clasen - She believes that more people are adopting dogs, and that there will be a good community of people that would see this dog-friendly coffee shop as a need and a great experience for dog owners. She personally experiences this need when she is with her parent's dog, and when she gets a puppy herself. Also, she will experience this need when she is with her pup and needs a latte. She has always had this need, but no solution. She is currently addressing this need by leaving her dogs at home, or sitting outside in the hot Florida whether with her dog, who is miserable on a short leash.
3B. Sara Eliseo is a student who also owns a dog. She enjoys bringing her dog everywhere, and is always with her pet.
4B. Sara Eliseo - She believes that, localized to Gainesville, many older students and young adults have been adopting dogs, and they need a place to prepare themselves for their careers or study while spending time with their dogs outside of their homes. She personally experiences this need because she wants to take her dog somewhere to do her med school applications, but is not able to because of the brutal heat. Sara is currently addressing this need by either leaving her dog to be alone, and going to the library, or by subjecting herself to staying home all day. She also subjects herself to enduring the inconsistent Gainesville weather. She is not satisfied with this solution.
3C. Grant Husted is a student who just got a young puppy. He enjoys bringing her everywhere and spending as much time as he can with her.
4C. Grant Husted - From being a new dog owner, he wants to spend as much time with his puppy as possible. However, with the new school year starting up, he is unable to bring her to study, leaving her by herself for hours at a time. He feels that many other students and adults may have this issue as well, and that my opportunity would be a great solution to the problem. Grant went to a dog cafe in NYC and saw that it is a great environment for both the pet owner, and the pet. He was able to do homework while his new puppy mingled with other kind dogs. In Gainesville, he is not able to do this though and sees the need even more now. He addresses the need by leaving his dog at home, and is not satisfied with it.
5. I learned that this idea is accepted well by pet owners. It was surprising how excited Taylor was to hear that this is even possible, Grant was excited as well, and Sara said that she would be an investor in this opportunity. Dog lovers are interested in providing a great environment for their pets and themselves simultaneously.
7. A huge amount of opportunity still exists after these interviews. I do believe that this opportunity is more accurate. I think that entrepreneurs should ask for feedback from individuals to gain more ideas and add to the business idea.
2A - Bug List
Below, you will find my 20 Bugs. After much thought, I see myself thinking about the different things that bother me, and the different solutions that I would see them. Hope you like it!
1. A place to hang out with a dog indoors while the owner can do homework or study.
I always find myself needing a place to study, that is not my apartment, with my dog, and the only place I can do that is the outside of a Starbucks or coffee shop. This bug exists because a location like this does not exist.
2. At the Walmart on Butler road, there will be a super long line at the self check out (where there are about 8 of them), and an even longer line at the 2 registers (out of about 16) that are available.
This issue bugs me because Walmart should either make more self checkout stations, or spend the extra capital and have a few more employees to reduce the check out wait time.
3. I do not like the fact that I have to wear sneakers in the weight room at Southwest Recreation Center. Despite the safety hazard, I believe that it should be the responsibility of the individual for their own safety.
This bugs me because of the lack of personal liability the gym gives to its customers. If I want to not wear sneakers in the weight room, I should be allowed to do so.
4. When I walk my dog in Gainesville, I always find other dog poop in the grass.
This bugs me because owners should pick up their dog poop, and that Gainesville should have a regulation that either a. fines dog owners for not picking up after their pets or b. have a dog poop cleaning service for the grass owned by the city of Gainesville.
5. The inefficient traffic lights around the city of Gainesville. It appears that if you stop at one red light, you stop at all of them.
This bugs me because the stoplight system should allow for more efficient traffic flow, so it does not take an individual 30+ minutes to go around town during rush hour. Industrial engineers would be able to increase efficiency and mitigate this issue.
6. It is incredibly difficult to find a healthy, inexpensive salad in Gainesville.
This bugs me because every restaurant is focused on providing inexpensive food, but unhealthy food that does not appeal to people that are health conscious. This is also a case everywhere else, but has yet to be solved.
7. There is too much liberal media.
This happens because everyone is "entitled" to have a parade/event for every thing under the sun. Where are the conservative parades? Or the white male parades?
8. It bothers me that career opportunities are more focused on your race than your intelligence and interest.
This is because companies are required to fulfill certain "quota" for diversity. This is fine and all, but I see that many interested, non-diversity students that are just as competitive are not able to get a job because of the color of their skin or financial background.
9. The Gainesville HomeGoods/TJMaxx is under supplied and has little good merchandise.
This could be mitigated by providing better products to the store. This issue may happen because of the Gainesville demographic area - even though students from the University go to the store often.
10. The amount of commercials on Xfinity on-demand shows.
This probably occurs because Xfinity is able to put in more ads because of the demand for the shows being watched. Though it may decrease short term revenues, decreasing the amount of ads in their on-demand shows may increase customer satisfaction and long term revenues.
11. There are too many bugs in my car AC, and I cannot find a pet friendly/human friendly product to get rid of them.
This happens because there is no product available that is safe, instead of raid bug bombs (which are full of pesticides). There should be a natural, safe product available.
12. I lose earrings way to often, and it bugs me when I lose very expensive earrings.
This is because the clasps on earrings are not durable enough for my active lifestyle. There should be better clasps for earrings.
13. It is hard to find something that my dog can chew on for a long period of time that will not hurt her stomach.
This is because there is a lack of products that fulfill this need, or because they are not in Gainesville.
14. Expensive clothing stores that have poor quality merchandise.
There should be a durability standard that clothes over a certain price point are required to pass. This happens because clothing producers try to squeeze margins further, risking quality for bottom line profit.
15. Appliances often break shortly after their warranty ends.
This is because producers make the product to have a certain lifespan, and do not wish to be liable for the product. There should be longer, free warranties on expensive products like appliances.
16. I hate that plastic water bottles become moldy after a short period of usage.
This is because the bottles do not have a long durable life (which they should). There should be some sort of sealant/protective layer to reduce the amount of mold that forms.
17. I do not appreciate that it is so difficult to sell used clothing.
This is because thrift stores and places like Good-Will drive prices of used goods down so low that it is difficult to gain some return on used clothing when selling individually.
18. I hate how bugs still get through some screens (pool screens, etc).
This is because only high-quality (and higher priced) screens do this. Also, bugs always get in - regardless of the size of holes.
19. I hate that there are always dead bugs on the top of my pool, and that it takes a lot of work to clean them out.
This is because there is no automatic, robotic pool skimmer to remove topical debris in the pool.
20. The focus on removing straws from restaurants, even though bars (like J.J's Tavern) still sell drinks in plastic, disposable cups.
This is because they haven't found an efficient way to purchase reusable plastic/glass/durable cups that will actually start the revolution of green partying.
Reflection: I really enjoyed this assignment. As I started thinking about things that bothered me, I started thinking of more entrepreneurial ideas that could turn into multi-million dollar businesses one day. I hope to look back on this assignment and utilize it for a business idea in the future.
1. A place to hang out with a dog indoors while the owner can do homework or study.
I always find myself needing a place to study, that is not my apartment, with my dog, and the only place I can do that is the outside of a Starbucks or coffee shop. This bug exists because a location like this does not exist.
2. At the Walmart on Butler road, there will be a super long line at the self check out (where there are about 8 of them), and an even longer line at the 2 registers (out of about 16) that are available.
This issue bugs me because Walmart should either make more self checkout stations, or spend the extra capital and have a few more employees to reduce the check out wait time.
3. I do not like the fact that I have to wear sneakers in the weight room at Southwest Recreation Center. Despite the safety hazard, I believe that it should be the responsibility of the individual for their own safety.
This bugs me because of the lack of personal liability the gym gives to its customers. If I want to not wear sneakers in the weight room, I should be allowed to do so.
4. When I walk my dog in Gainesville, I always find other dog poop in the grass.
This bugs me because owners should pick up their dog poop, and that Gainesville should have a regulation that either a. fines dog owners for not picking up after their pets or b. have a dog poop cleaning service for the grass owned by the city of Gainesville.
5. The inefficient traffic lights around the city of Gainesville. It appears that if you stop at one red light, you stop at all of them.
This bugs me because the stoplight system should allow for more efficient traffic flow, so it does not take an individual 30+ minutes to go around town during rush hour. Industrial engineers would be able to increase efficiency and mitigate this issue.
6. It is incredibly difficult to find a healthy, inexpensive salad in Gainesville.
This bugs me because every restaurant is focused on providing inexpensive food, but unhealthy food that does not appeal to people that are health conscious. This is also a case everywhere else, but has yet to be solved.
7. There is too much liberal media.
This happens because everyone is "entitled" to have a parade/event for every thing under the sun. Where are the conservative parades? Or the white male parades?
8. It bothers me that career opportunities are more focused on your race than your intelligence and interest.
This is because companies are required to fulfill certain "quota" for diversity. This is fine and all, but I see that many interested, non-diversity students that are just as competitive are not able to get a job because of the color of their skin or financial background.
9. The Gainesville HomeGoods/TJMaxx is under supplied and has little good merchandise.
This could be mitigated by providing better products to the store. This issue may happen because of the Gainesville demographic area - even though students from the University go to the store often.
10. The amount of commercials on Xfinity on-demand shows.
This probably occurs because Xfinity is able to put in more ads because of the demand for the shows being watched. Though it may decrease short term revenues, decreasing the amount of ads in their on-demand shows may increase customer satisfaction and long term revenues.
11. There are too many bugs in my car AC, and I cannot find a pet friendly/human friendly product to get rid of them.
This happens because there is no product available that is safe, instead of raid bug bombs (which are full of pesticides). There should be a natural, safe product available.
12. I lose earrings way to often, and it bugs me when I lose very expensive earrings.
This is because the clasps on earrings are not durable enough for my active lifestyle. There should be better clasps for earrings.
13. It is hard to find something that my dog can chew on for a long period of time that will not hurt her stomach.
This is because there is a lack of products that fulfill this need, or because they are not in Gainesville.
14. Expensive clothing stores that have poor quality merchandise.
There should be a durability standard that clothes over a certain price point are required to pass. This happens because clothing producers try to squeeze margins further, risking quality for bottom line profit.
15. Appliances often break shortly after their warranty ends.
This is because producers make the product to have a certain lifespan, and do not wish to be liable for the product. There should be longer, free warranties on expensive products like appliances.
16. I hate that plastic water bottles become moldy after a short period of usage.
This is because the bottles do not have a long durable life (which they should). There should be some sort of sealant/protective layer to reduce the amount of mold that forms.
17. I do not appreciate that it is so difficult to sell used clothing.
This is because thrift stores and places like Good-Will drive prices of used goods down so low that it is difficult to gain some return on used clothing when selling individually.
18. I hate how bugs still get through some screens (pool screens, etc).
This is because only high-quality (and higher priced) screens do this. Also, bugs always get in - regardless of the size of holes.
19. I hate that there are always dead bugs on the top of my pool, and that it takes a lot of work to clean them out.
This is because there is no automatic, robotic pool skimmer to remove topical debris in the pool.
20. The focus on removing straws from restaurants, even though bars (like J.J's Tavern) still sell drinks in plastic, disposable cups.
This is because they haven't found an efficient way to purchase reusable plastic/glass/durable cups that will actually start the revolution of green partying.
Reflection: I really enjoyed this assignment. As I started thinking about things that bothered me, I started thinking of more entrepreneurial ideas that could turn into multi-million dollar businesses one day. I hope to look back on this assignment and utilize it for a business idea in the future.
My Entrepreneurship Story
Are you a dog person? Well, I can say that I am - and it led to my first entrepreneurial idea. This past summer, I ran into the issue of wanting to spend time with my brand-new puppy, Millie, while doing my homework. I did not want to bring her to the outside patio of a Starbucks, where she would be just as miserable and sweaty as I would in the middle of the summer. This led me to a new idea idea: how great would it be if there was a cafe that allowed dogs inside? After doing some research, I saw that the only one was in New York City - where I was interning for the summer. That weekend, Millie and I went to the dog cafe, and went in to talk to the owners. Their dedication and love for dogs inspired me to open one in a different location later on in my career. The owners mentioned the several legalities behind starting the dog cafe, and how it took over 2 years to get the dog cafe approved by the FDA and the city of New York! It helped me logistically consider starting something so complex later on. Meeting the two owners of Boris and Horton (the dog cafe) was a great experience, as they showed me how much dedication to an idea had paid off for them. Within a year of opening, they already have had one expansion, and are planning to further expand the space to meet demand.
I joined this class because I realized there is so much I have to learn about the business world. I plan on starting my own business one day (whether it be a dog cafe, consulting firm, or hedge fund), and hope to gain a bit of knowledge before my college experience is over.
I joined this class because I realized there is so much I have to learn about the business world. I plan on starting my own business one day (whether it be a dog cafe, consulting firm, or hedge fund), and hope to gain a bit of knowledge before my college experience is over.
The first picture shows the coffee shop side of the building, the second shows the logo (named after the owner's two dogs), and the third is of my puppy, Millie, eating one of their dog donuts on the dog side!
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