This will be a three part project to help you become familiar with Small Business Management.
Part 1: Select a local small business. I want you to interview the manager of the business and also look around the business itself to see topics discussed in class. A few ideas of things to think about or look at: use of social media/internet, customer relation management, importance of location, store set-up. (This is not the only things I want you to look for, but it is a start.) I want a written discussion on your observations and interview. This should be at least 5 page double spaced document. Please include in your write up the manager’s name, contact information and store address. Also, I want 3 visual aids showing/supporting the observations made.
Part 2: You are a fairly new business (sports apparel) and are looking to get your name and your products/services out into the public. You have a modest budget of $10,000 for creating your marketing plan. Please understand that marketing is more than just advertising. I want you to develop a marketing plan for your business. You have a minimal amount of funds. I want a write-up of your marketing plan and then a breakdown of cost for your plan. You need to tell me why you choose to do what you did as it relates to marketing and what sort of impact you believe it will have on your business. You don’t want to spend $10,000 and not see a return on your investment.
Part 3: Select a small business that is purely online. It does not have a brick-and-mortar location. I want you to look at how this business operates and services its customers. How do they compete with stores with physical location? How do they market themselves? What challenges does this business face? (2 pages, double spaced)
All three parts must be typed with 1 inch margins. Any outside resources must be given credit. If given a page limit requirement, then they must be completed to the length given for full credit. These are the minimum requirements and I strongly encourage you to go beyond the minimum requirements given. Correct spelling and grammar is required.
