Assignment 5A: Identifying Local Opportunites

For this post, students have been assigned the task of finding five opportunites in a local newspaper. I am going to examine the Gainesville Sun, and see what I can find.

Opportunity # 1.) Point-In-Time survey tallies Alachua County’s Homeless

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169AC974AAF87918?p=WORLDNEWS

-          This article discusses homelessness statistics in Alachua county and surrounding areas. It includes interviews of homeless people, and quotes from those who are working to stop homelessness.

-          The problem being presented is that the Alachua county area does not have enough funding to provide housing for the homeless.

-          This problem could affect homeless people, real estate developers, and people launching fundraising campaigns.

Opportunity # 2.) Are Hatchbacks better than Crossovers?

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169AC974DE61C178?p=WORLDNEWS

-          This article details statistics about American’s vehicle purchasing patterns.

-          The problem that is stated centers around the capabilities and details of different vehicles that are currently on the market.

-          This problem effects automotive companies at all levels.

Opportunity # 3.) City sees Spike in Senior Housing Plans

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169AC974A395E0E8?p=WORLDNEWS

-          This article is about some new real estate developments in the Gainesville area that are geared towards senior living.

-          The problem highlighted in this article is that as baby boomers get older, their ability to care for themselves diminishes.

-          This problem could affect real estate developers, as well as any families with baby boomers who don’t have the means to care for them.

Opportunity # 4.) LEEP Program Accepting applications

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169AC97485DA36F8?p=WORLDNEWS

-          This article discusses a new way for low-income households to make their homes more energy efficient at a low cost.

-          The problem pointed out in this article is that sometimes homes with lower quality infrastructure can cause utility bills to be expensive.  

-          This problem can affect both low income households, and utilities companies.

Opportunity # 5.) County Health Officials offer flu tips

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169AC974E9696CD8?p=WORLDNEWS

-          This article shares some practical tips to help Gainesville citizens stay healthy during flu season.

-          The problem behind this article is that people are getting sick.

-          This problem can affect literally anyone. People, medical professionals, employers, etc.

Assignment 4A: Forming An Opportunity Belief

              For this post, students have been asked to identify an opportunity that they believe exists in the world today. Once the opportunity has been identified, students were asked to interview some prototypical customers to further evaluate the viability of the opportunity. My belief is that there is an opportunity to open a coffee shop at the resort where my family owns a condo.

              Laketown Wharf is a large resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. Laketown features 4 pools, 3 restaurants, and a small market for residents and guests. All these amenities make for a great stay for almost any traveler, which is easily reflected in the occupancy rates at Laketown. However, there is currently an unmet need for occupants looking to get a cup of coffee on the property grounds. This need is felt by anyone who has stayed at Laketown that is a coffee drinker.  Currently, Laketown occupants must travel to one of the “big box,” coffee shops (Starbucks, etc.) in Panama City Beach to get a cup of coffee.

              I interviewed three of my family members using the questions in the assignment to see what they thought about the issue of not having a coffee shop on Laketown’s campus. Here is what they had to say:

Mom -

1.)    More people drink coffee now than ever before, thanks to trendy coffee shops like Starbucks. It’s a great jump start to your morning, afternoon low pick me up, or a late-night study session. A 750-room resort without a coffee shop is an excellent opportunity waiting to happen. Not only are there permanent residents, there are thousands of visitors and a staff of 150+.

      2.)    Coffee is not just for breakfast anymore. People enjoy coffee at all times of day and night.

      3.)    Most coffee drinkers are teenage and older; however, decaffeinated specialty coffees can be enjoyed by all ages. With two colleges nearby, a coffee shop would be a favorite of college students as well as tourists and residents.

      4.)    There is currently nothing available for coffee lovers at Laketown. While there is a market, a seafood buffet, and a candy shop on the property, they are only open during peak times and seasons. The many residents, guests, and staff must leave the resort to search for the coffee they crave. A coffee shop on site would be an instant favorite.

Dad -

1.)    Residents and visitors will enjoy drinking coffee in the quaint environment provided by Laketown. People enjoy drinking coffee for the taste, as well as the socialization factors.

2.)    The primary time for coffee drinking is in the morning. The rest of the day, customers will be steady, with the biggest rush coming before noon.

3.)    People have been drinking coffee forever. Most people are coffee drinkers, beginning in their late teens and continuing throughout their life. Coffee shops have proven to be in demand all over the country.

4.)    Currently, there is no coffee shop on the premises. There is no coffee shop in the immediate vicinity in the walkable community. People must get in their cars if they want to purchase coffee or any type of breakfast. This means that there is zero competition for a very viable service.

Tori (my sister) -

1.)    There should be a coffee shop at Laketown because there isn’t one in at least a 10-mile radius.

2.)    People become aware of their need to drink coffee first thing in the morning.

3.)    People have been drinking coffee for hundreds of years. Most people start drinking coffee in early adulthood.

4.)    People are currently getting their coffee at either Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, both of which require driving.

After hearing what they had to say, I still feel confident that this could be a great opportunity. Their responses really reaffirmed my original thoughts on the no-coffee issue. I don’t think entrepreneurs should put too much stock into what potential customers are saying. “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster 

Assignment 3A: Your Entrepreneurship Story

For this post, students have been asked to tell about an experience that they have had with entrepreneurship, as well as why they have enrolled in this course. I have been fortunate enough to meet several student entrepreneurs during my time here at UF. This has been a wonderful experience for me on multiple different levels. In this post, I’ll give the 30,000-foot view on that experience, and how that ties on to me enrolling in ENT3003.

   Late during the fall 2016 semester, I was lucky enough to be selected as a member of the inaugural management staff of the Reitz Union Gator Retail Hatchery. My role was operations, which mainly consisted of staffing the store, and making sure that everything went smoothly during business hours. This was a hands-on chance for me to see what it takes to run a business without having to put up any capital or work crazy hours. Talk about the mecca of all internships for someone who is entrepreneurially minded!

The Hatchery's Original Flyer Ad

              “But wait, what is the Reitz Union Gator Retail Hatchery?” I’m glad you asked. The Reitz Union Gator Retail Hatchery is a retail space on campus for students who have a product to sell. It is really an incredible opportunity for students because the Hatchery only takes a percentage of profit, meaning that if a student does not make any sales, they don’t lose any money. Being that it is such an attractive venture, it did not take long for the Hatchery to gain some momentum.

Over the course of the past year, I have gotten to hear the story of hundreds of entrepreneurs, some students, some professionals. This has shaped me and helped me grow to get to where I am today, undoubtedly. Which is working on the third assignment for my entrepreneurship class, by the way. I am in this class so that I can gain perspectives, and sharpen my skill set in the field of entrepreneurship. It is my goal to work for myself for most of my professional life. I hope that I will look back on this course as one of the many stepping stones that I took towards a path of business success. 

Assignment 2A: Bug List

              For this post, students have been tasked to come up with a “bug list,” which is literally a list of things that bug them. Underneath each “bug,” students have been asked to list their reasoning for why each bug exists. When working on my list, I quickly realized that a good number of things really do bug me, which is counterintuitive to the laid-back mantra that I generally try to portray. I will reflect more on that at the end of the post. Without further ado, lets jump right into my list:

(no particular order)

1.)    That we have not made the medical advancements necessary to save everyone that is sick, especially children.

Why: This bug can be constituted to a general lack of funds, time, and awareness for the challenges that are faced by the medical field.

2.)    That homelessness is still a thing in America.

Why: This bug is a result of bad luck or decision making by the homeless, as well as a lack of funding and compassion from those that are more fortunate.

3.)    Racism

Why: Racism is a result of people being taught to hate others by someone that they look(ed) up to at an impressionable age.

4.)    Bullying

Why: Bullying exists because some people are so insecure about something within themselves that they must attack other people’s insecurities, making sure that their own insecurities are safe on the inside.

5.)    Crime

Why: This bug cannot be narrowed to just one reason for it’s existence, however greed and circumstances are some common causes for someone to turn to crime.

6.)    Loud people

Why: Some people were never taught by an adult what the appropriate volume to speak at is. Others may have been taught, they are just inconsiderate or unaware of the fact that they are being loud.

7.)    Mean people

Why: Mean people, like bullies, are mean because it reflects how they feel about themselves.

8.)    Unfit parents

Why: Parenting is hard work, many people are incapable of taking care of children at the stage of their lives’ that they chose to have children.

9.)    Unfit pet owners

Why: People do not consider the amount of time and responsibility that goes into taking care of a pet.

10.)  Chickfila being closed on Sundays

Why: It is a great branding ploy for a restaurant chain primarily in the bible belt that may or may not align with corporate values.

11.)  Traffic

Why: This bug is one of the few that is probably unavoidable, it’s existence most likely stems from a huge unforeseen population boom in the U.S. after WW2.

12.)  People who are overly passionate about politics

Why: They most likely do not have a hobby.

13.)  The cost of education

Why: There is a high demand for education, and as I learned in my economics classes for the low cost of approximately $1,000, demand drives price.

14.)  Common social media narratives

Why: It is easy to be negative while you are sitting, staring at a screen, doing nothing.

15.)  Pollution

Why: This bug is probably somewhat of a necessary evil until sustainable, renewable energy source is found and harvested efficiently. However, pollution probably came about to feed the hungry mouth that is consumerism.

16.)  The phrase “Don’t shop, adopt.”

Why: This phrase is based off two assumptions: The first is that adopting pets is a good thing (I agree), the second is that nothing bad happens to pets that don’t get bought.

17.)  iPhone Screen Durability

Why: The screen shattering after the first drop has yet to stop the world from buying iPhones.

18.)  Poor parking (crooked, in two spaces, not pulled in far enough)

Why: This bug is one of those that could be from a multitude of factors. Either the person parking is inconsiderate, or just genuinely is not very skilled at operating a motor vehicle.

19.)  Cold weather (anything below 70)

Why: Cold weather most likely stems from the earth’s distance from the sun at any given moment, or it could be that giant hole in the ozone layer. (not to get political)

20.)  Assignment heavy courses (those with 29 or more)

Why: There is more than one method to learn and master material. Assignment based courses place an emphasis on developing skills, whereas other courses may focus more in other areas.

Upon completion of this post, I realized just how many simple things really did bug me. Maybe that says more about me than it does about the world around me, or maybe it goes to show how far we still have to go as a people. I hope that you found some enjoyment in reading my “bug list,” I know I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the class came up with!

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