Assignment 5

Identifying Local Opportunities

Opportunity 1:
"Tropical Storm Humberto Expected to form and skirt by Florida, forecasters say"

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ne-tropical-storm-humberto-florida-weekend-20190912-yt6l5xllzzfsdjyoho4gmvml4e-story.html

Description: According to the article, Humberto, another big storm, is supposed to bring heavy winds and a fair amount of rain to the east coast of Florida.

Problem: The tropical storm is expected to hit the east coast of Florida with 50 mph, possibly causing closed schools and establishments. This scare may be good and or bad for gas stations, students, and other businesses that are located along the coast. 

Who has the Problem?
Schools have the problem because bus will be unable to function because of how strong the winds will be. This causes a problem in the transportation of student to learning institutions. Gas will be in high demand if the storm tries to linger for a few days. This will cause gas stations to be busy. Businesses along the coast might have to shutdown their operation because of potential damage the storm may cause to their business.

Opportunity 2: 
"Cavender's Western Outfitter to sell boots and hats at first Florida store in Orlando"

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-cavenders-western-outfitter-20190913-5sv2qy5erjf5zc6rki5s4bgj4m-story.html

Description: Cavendor's Western Outfitter is expanding their locations to Florida for the first time.

Problem: This will be Cavender's first store in Florida and they will not know the depth of the customer base that they will have in the Orlando area. It will definitely be a high risk.

Who has the Problem?
The business has the problem of not knowing the potential customer base in Orlando. The business is taking the risk in thinking that Orlando would be the best place to place a 'western' type of store.

Opportunity 3:
"The Everglades Burmese Python might finally meet its match, if this agency gets its way"

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article234964692.html

Description: The South Florida Water Management District is proposing to increase the amount of  hunters going after the Burmese Python in the Everglades.

Problem: The Burmese Python is an invasive species that invades the Everglades, and is growing in numbers. The Burmese Python has been a problem for years because of the increasing demand to have them as pets. When they get to almost its full size, they are usually let go into the environment where they destroy our native species. 

Who has the Problem?
Homeowners that live close or in the Everglades of Florida have the biggest problem with these snakes. These snakes may eat livestock, dogs, or cats and can even attack people. West Palm Beach is also affected because the proposal would cost $750,000 to accomplish.

Opportunity 4:
"Christopher Columbus student suspended after music video with school threats goes viral"

 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article235044977.html

Description: A student from Christopher Columbus made a Tik-Tok that went viral and depicted the student making gun gestures towards Stoneman Douglas High and two rival schools.

Problem: Schools take things like this very seriously. It may have been a 'flex' over the other schools in the student's eyes, but the school sees this as a possible threat to other schools and the students that go there. With the growing number of school shootings, this school was trying to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its neighboring schools.

Who has the Problem?
The student has the problem because he now can't get an education till his suspension is over with. The Christopher Columbus school is affected because this builds a reputation for future students who were planning on going to the school. The schools that the student made threats to have the problem that the Columbus student may actually go and shoot up one of their schools. Tik-Tok may get some flack for allowing someone to make these kind of threats on their app.

Opportunity 5: 
"Fort Lauderdale water treatment plant could fail in major storm, cutting water hundreds of thousands of customers"

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-ne-new-water-plant-needed-20190913-3on2ilkoirhgbn4lt477jvt35i-story.html

Description: Fort Lauderdale's Fiveash Water Treatment Plant is in very bad shape and would not be able to survive a major hurricane until it gets the needed repairs. Currently the plant supplies more than 200,000 resident with water, but wouldn't be able to accomplish such a task for a few days if it were to get hit by a major hurricane in its current state. This notice occurred because of the most recent hurricane that just missed Florida, Dorian.

Problem: The problem is that the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant is not updated to survive a major hurricane. With its location in a major hurricane state, the plant would need necessary repairs to ensure that it is fortified for years to come. If this plant were to get hit by a major hurricane in its current state, more than 200,000 people would not have water for days.

Who has the Problem?
The resident who rely on the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant have the risk of potentially not having running water after a major hurricane hits Fort Lauderdale. Tax payers who pay for utility fees for running water also have a problem where they may have to pay a little more for either repairs or a whole new water treatment plant to replace the older one. The City of Fort Lauderdale has the problem that they don't possess the needed funds to build a new water treatment plant. Fort Lauderdale would need a private company to build a new plant and the city lease it back.

Assignment 4: Forming an Opportunity Belief

Belief and Description

My belief is that there are a shortage of healthy and natural snacks available for gym goers, health nuts, people who work outside, and college students. There are many snacks out that claim to be healthy and all natural; however, these products contain ingredients that may not be considered "healthy" such as fructose corn syrup. Plus, most of these products are packaged with only small servings. Most healthy snack bars come either single or in a package of five. This opportunity is definitely a small market, but it's a market that I wish to go into. This is a new unmet need that I've recently noticed over the summer. Currently, people are purchasing snacks by the single bar or a package of the bars. I've also seen products tailored to single needs such as protein bars, fiber bars, and low calorie bars. I believe that I can make a snack that tailors to all needs. I am 75% sure that this problem exists. 

 Prototype Customer 1: Gym Goers

Gym goers will most likely be the main people who have the the problem with these healthy options for snacks. In my experience, I've talked to many people in the gym because I'm almost always in the gym for about two and a half hours of the day. Most of the feedback I get is that I get from more of the low weight gym goers who are trying to gain weight and muscle mass claim that there isn't a tasty and healthy option for a snack that helps them achieve their fitness goals in the gym. For those who are already at the mass they desire also need a snack that they can consume to maintain their size.Many of these gym goers have a full schedule to deal with and don't have the time to consume the needed calories to promote muscle growth and mass gain. To gain mass, gym goers tend to lean towards mass gainer shakes; however, these shakes tend to be distasteful and too thick. They normally experience the need through the weekdays due to school, work, gym, and errand running. In Gainesville, I would also say studying because I normally go to Southwest which is mostly college students. They first came aware of this need when they weren't seeing progress or were losing gains based on their current diet.

Prototype Customer 2: Those who work outside

People who work outside have the need to consume a lot of calories because of the amount of calories they burn in the blistering heat of Florida. I've contacted friends and family that are part of my dad's auto body shop about their thoughts on the available health bars. I've been told that they need to consume a lot of calories because they burn calories just working the heat. Like the gym goers, they acquire the need for nutrient rich and healthy snacks during the weekdays when they have to work on cars. Although I haven't talked to those with other outdoors jobs such as construction workers, I believe that they acquire the need during the weekdays as well. When asked when they first required the need for more calories and healthy snacks, they replied that a few days after they acquired the job. Currently, most of the workers at the shop walk to one of the nearby fast food places located around the shop. These places include Wendy's, Checkers, and a gas station. Therefore, the workers are not necessarily consuming healthy options but rather options that promote unfavorable calories. The workers were not satisfied with the options available around them and none seemed to go with any bar options available at grocery stores.

Prototype Customer 3: College Students

College students are not necessarily a big market but they are definitely a marketable customer for healthy snacks on a day-to-day basis. As a student myself who goes to campus quite often, I was able to interview many people on their thoughts on the existing selection of healthy snacks available. A lot of the people I talked to told me that they usually shop for healthy snacks whenever they go grocery shopping, which is about once every week. The students I talked to indicated that the need for a healthy snack happened daily when they had to attend a class or lecture. Many said that they started to notice the need a few weeks into their first semester where they were often too busy to worry about consuming healthy snacks. Currently, the students are solving their need by spending money on regular meals at places on campus such as Chik-Fil-A, Panda Express, and Pollo Tropical where the average meal costs about $6-$8. Other students said that they would purchase snacks while they were at Publix. However, these students indicated that would run out of the snack within about three to four days. Some were satisfied and others weren't. The satisfaction rate with the available options is about a 50/50 split.

Reflection

When it comes to the everyday gym goer, I learned that my opportunity is definitely there. Most of the people I talked to were really interested in a possible healthy snack solution to help them get the gains that they wish to develop. Knowing many people in the gym, I already knew most of what their answers to my questions were going to be; therefore, I didn't really learn too much from this group. As for the people who have outside jobs, I've learned a few things. I learned that in substitution for healthy snacks you can buy at the grocery store, these individuals would rather purchase food from fast food places to satisfy their calorie deficit from working outside. They also need to consume more calories than the normal person because they are burning calories at an accelerated rate due to the Florida weather. The college students were similar to the outside workers where they would rather get something from a fast food place in place of a healthy snack. I understand the struggle and I would normally do the same thing. What I found surprising is that the biggest factor that prevented most of the people I interviewed from consuming healthy snacks was time. Many didn't have the time to consume healthier options. More so the outside workers and gym goers than the college students. In contrast, college students suffered more from lack of extra cash to spend on optional healthy snacks at the store. Most students have the food plan which allows them access to some food items at the food court in the Reitz and various locations on campus.

Summation

How much of your original opportunity is still there?

I honestly don't think a lot of my opportunity is still available. I believe that many people will not see this topic on the availability of healthy snacks being a big opportunity. I mostly chose my belief on this topic because I'm trying to sell a product that is related to the belief I provided in this assignment. I do believe some of it is still available, but not a very big amount now that I think about it.

Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started?

I believe that my new opportunity is more vague than when I started because I came to the realization that it's not necessarily a definable opportunity. The more I think about it, the more I feel like the opportunity isn't really there. I feel like I'm trying to solve a problem that I have, and in the process trying to force it into an opportunity. 

How much do you think entrepreneurs should 'adapt' their opportunities based on customer feedback?

I do feel like at a certain point there is a trade-off between adapting and staying firm. Customer feedback helps you find how customers feel about the problem you're trying to solve. Straying too far from your belief will cause you to think of another problem. If entrepreneurs got in the habit of doing this, they would be in an endless loop of thinking of opportunities and they'll get lost. Entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities, but should be careful not to let their opportunity go for what may seem to be a better opportunity. Sometimes opportunities are gilded with possibilities when in reality they are worse than the opportunity you originally had.

Assignment 3: My Entrepreneurship Story

My Entrepreneurship Story

Throughout my life I have experienced many entrepreneurs. Two of the main entrepreneurs in my life are one of my best friends (who is also my boss) and my father. My first experience with an entrepreneur is my father who owns an auto collision shop in south Florida. The name of my father's shop is Precision Auto Body. I grew up learning about cars, the collision business, and the internal working of being the owner of the shop. This experience sparked an interest in starting my own business in the future. The other experience I've had was in the supplement business that a buddy of mine owns. I started working for him about 4 or 5 years ago as a part-time worker in his warehouse in Delray Beach. My experience working for my buddy sparked an interest in a more specialized kind of business that would sell products geared more towards fitness products rather than providing a service by repairing cars.

I enrolled in ENT3003 for two reasons: I needed the credit and I am interested in making my own business. I'm currently working on developing a business marketed towards athletes, gym goers, and the everyday person who is unable to escape the workplace to find some kind of healthy food source. What I'm trying to sell is a snack I like to call Bulk Bites. Bulk Bites are an excellent source of good fats, natural sugar, protein, and fiber. I'm planning on selling them by batch of 25-30 at a price around $25. Right now, I'm selling them independently to friends and family to see how popular they are and to test the average consumption rate before people might decide to buy another batch. I currently make them all by hand and I look forward to continue making them for the source of extra cash for college.

Assignment 2: Bug List

Bug List

1. Merging into lane without blinker.

    Why: Their blinker isn’t working because it’s expensive to fix.

2. People chewing with their mouth open.

    Why: People either acquired or just grew up with the habit.

3. Teachers not supplying practice exams (previous exams) to prepare for      exams.

    Why: Teachers supply practice problems in place of previous exams.

4. People who don’t wash their hands after bathroom.

    Why: People are in a hurry or often just forget to wash their hands.

5. People using squat rack to bench.

    Why: The squat rack can function the same way as a bench.

6. People who give advice on a subject they know nothing about.

   Why: Some people just want to try and help others in situations, even without prior knowledge.

7. Cars doing 50 in the left lane on the highway.

   Why: Gives people more time to react going at a slower speed.

8. Too much traffic on I-95 at 5:00pm.

   Why: People are coming back from a long day at work which is usually a 9 to 5.

9. The amount of hate from UF towards UCF.

    Why: People feel as though you can only support one Florida team.

10. My doctor telling me that I was going to be 6ft (I’m 5’7”).

      Why: Based on my parent’s height, he assumed that I would be about 6 feet tall.

11. Too much lag when playing video games on school wifi.

      Why: There are a lot of people using the school’s wifi.

12. The high number of people who dislike country music.

      Why: People feel like the music sounds the same. Others may say that they talk about the same thing in every song.

13. Girls saying, they only date 6ft guys when they’re under 5’5” and not hot enough to making these requirements.

      Why: People have their standards and they like what they like.

14. Cars cutting in front of me and driving slower than what I was driving at.

      Why: The car that was in front of me before was slowing down, or the passer’s turn was coming up.

15. The high number of people in the US that want to take our guns away.

      Why: There are an increasing number of shootings happening as a result of having guns.

16. Someone not picking up the phone after they just texted you.

      Why: They may be in an environment that would possibly make it rude to talk on the phone. Maybe that person is in a group setting.

17. People calling you a nerd for wearing glasses.

      Why: It’s stereotypical that a nerd wears glasses.

18. Fat people blaming their obesity on genetics.

      Why: They assume that because their parents are fat that they need to be fat.

19. Jobs telling you that you need prior experience but that’s what you’re there for.

      Why: It takes less time to train someone who already knows what they’re doing.

20. When someone tells you to do something when you were already planning/doing it already.

      Why: You have either had the habit of doing it after being told multiple times, or you don’t normally do the task.

Reflection

I found this list to be quite difficult because I’m not used to picking these things out. I normally try to live my life without thinking about the things that necessarily bug me almost every day.  In my head, if you were to think about all the things that bug you like this, you would be a miserable person. I have the habit of putting these “parasites” in the back of my head and only bring them up when I’m thinking about nothing else. But overall, it was interesting to find what really bugs me. Some of the things I jokingly say that it bugs me because it just happens on a day-to-day basis.

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