Business Plan on "Business Plan Concept History Marketing Plan Legal"

Business Plan 10 pages (2547 words) Sources: 0

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Business Plan

Concept History

Marketing Plan

Legal Requirements

Form of Ownership

Organization, Management & Staffing

Special Considerations

Industry Analysis

Cornerstone Books and Gifts is a retail store selling music, books and gifts. The idea came about because I noticed a need for this type of store in town that was not being met. The store not only will be profitable but will provide employment and education opportunities for the community's youth and contribute to the revitalization of downtown.

The marketing plan will be based on having a diverse product line that brings in a wide range of clientele. Prices will be fair. The store will be located in a high-traffic, high-visibility location. The location, product selection and service offering will be the key promotional components, but for the launch there will also be advertising in the local newspaper and participation in community events.

The business will be organized as a single-owner LLC, which gives the business the legal protections of a corporation will enabling the tax benefits of a partnership. This type of organization is ideal for this type of business. The store will have 5-6 part time employees with me as the only manager. Over time, however, an assistant manager will emerge from the staff and that person will be given greater responsibilities.

The business has strong potential because there is limited competition in our market. The big box competitors are too far away and surveys have indicated most locals would switch to a local store if one existed. There is some threat from online retailers but we feel our service and convenience will win out, especially given our contingency plan of local deliveries. We also have some degree of flexibility with respect to product offerings and have not ruled out a coffee shop component to help drive traffic. Overall, it is expected that Cornerstone will make around $10,000 profit on $60,000 revenues.

Concept & History

The business concept is simple -- a book, music and gift store. The genesis of this project is an age-old truism in business. I saw a need in the marketplace and now I would like to fill that need. As with most good ideas, this came with an epiphany. I was having a discussion with a friend over coffee and we both stopped because we liked the music that we heard on the shop's radio. We asked what it was, found out, but then we could not do anything about it. We realized -- there is no place in town to buy music. I realized that the same thing had happened to me before, only with books. The idea for Cornerstone Books and Gifts began to form in my head.

I took my idea to a few of my friends and it turned out that each of that had similar experiences. The town's library is small, and the selection is limited. Moreover, we realized that the young people of the town had limited access to books that they might be interested in. The highest form of literature available was the Wall Street Journal at the supermarket. I knew that the market was ready.

I began to look around town for storefronts I could use, ones that met strict criteria. The store needs to be in a high traffic, high visibility area. It needs to have ample parking. Ideally, it would be in a heritage building, to lend it some character. Furthermore, rent needed to be at a reasonable level. I was able to identify three sites that met my needs. It was at this point I realized that not only was there a need in the market but that I was capable of meeting that need. I then set about gathering information, entering into discussions and preparing the business plan. Cornerstore Books & Gifts is going to be the culmination of that dream and a valuable resource for the community.

Goals & Objectives

There are a couple of major goals for Cornerstone Books & Gifts -- to make a profit, to provide education and opportunity for the town's youth, and to contribute to the revitalization of the town's downtown core.

The first objective of any business is to turn a profit, for without profit none of the other goals will ever be achieved. To this end, Cornerstone will have a wide variety of products for sale, to bring people into the store. We will meet dual market needs. We shall stock mind-expanding, high end books and music as part of our differentiation strategy but we will also provide ample mass market product as well, to drive sales and spur stronger customer relationships. It is the long-term relationships we built that will be key to establishing a sustainable, profitable business. We believe we will make, on average, about $10,000 in profit from around $60,000 in revenue each year.

Our product mix will reflect our desire to exposure the community, in particular the youth, to fine music and literature. These products are also in demand among the older contingent, as many of my friends have corroborated. We want to have a positive impact on the community. We will also be providing jobs for the youth. There are very few positive opportunities for youth in our community. Cornerstone will provide employment for 5-6 people besides me, mostly on a part-time basis.

The third objective is to contribute to the revitalization of downtown. The area is a central part of our heritage, and is in danger from nearby development that could possibly bring box stores. There are several great new businesses going into the area, which we feel will benefit from our presence and vice versa. We see the area improving month by month and we wish to be a part of this process.

Marketing Plan

The key to a solid marketing plan is the four Ps -- price, promotion, place and product. With respect to price, we will price fairly. We cannot compete with discount stores on the basis of price, nor do we intend to. Our value will be in our convenience and service. Our prices will be higher than our nearest competitors -- but the cost of getting to those competitors makes up for that.

Place will be one of Cornerstone's biggest advantages. The location is essential. We need high visibility, not only to attract customers from the area, but to attract those passing through as well. The prospective site for Cornerstone has been narrowed down three sites, each of which has high visibility, ample parking and reasonable rent. The final component in our decision will be the details of the lease and the types of stores in the immediate vicinity. We understand that a block with an anchor, such as a popular restaurant, will be better for business.

There are two key product elements. The first is the physical product -- books, music and gifts. The former will be comprised of a mix of high-end and mainstream selections, to bring in all elements of the local market. The latter will include local handicrafts and souvenirs, plus a few gift items that will appeal to the local market. We expect there will be strong seasonal themes to the gifts.

With respect to promotion, we will utilize our visible location primarily, and rely on word-of-mouth. The community is small enough that word-of-mouth can spread quickly. However, we must get that word out in the first place, and that means promoting the store for several months upon opening. To that end, we will advertise in the local newspaper, announcing our arrival in the community. We will also do some light sponsorship in the first year, such as church activities, to ensure that our commitment to the community is well-established.

Legal Requirements

There are few legal requirements that will affect our business. The legalities of business organization will be discussed later. The main areas of legal interest then are with respect to hiring and insurance/liability. With respect to the former, Cornerstone will undertake hiring within the legal guidelines set out in state and federal statutes. There will be a code of conduct, code of ethics and most importantly a clear code with respect to disciplinary issues. It is important that employees are treated within the bounds of the law, in order to avoid costly legal judgment.

Insurance and liability are also critical legal issues that must be dealt with. The store must be protected against fire, vandalism and other damaging events, in order to secure continued operations and income streams. The possibility of some liability insurance will also be explored. We wish to protect ourselves and our customers from unforeseen circumstances and such insurance could help avoid costly legal disputes. This is especially important because there will be times when I must leave the store in the hands of the part-time staff.

Forms of Ownership

There are five main forms of ownership that can be used to set up Cornerstone Books & Gifts. These are sole proprietorship, partnership (general or limited, LLC and corporation. The best choice… READ MORE

How to Reference "Business Plan Concept History Marketing Plan Legal" Business Plan in a Bibliography

Related Business Plans:

Business Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Business Plan

Business Plan

This business plan pertains to a new Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic, to be located in Koreatown, Los Angeles. The clinic will primarily target the area's sizeable Korean… read more

Business Plan 8 pages (2364 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Business / Corporations / E-commerce

---

Business Plan Outline: (for a Make Believe Business Plan

Business Plan Outline: (For a make believe product I evented called, VIVID)

The Company is into manufacturing and marketing of the wonder cream VIVID which has proven abilities to iron… read more

Business Plan 5 pages (1900 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Fashion / Designers / Beauty

---

Legal Nurse Consultant Term Paper

Legal Nurse Consultant Business Plan

First form a good plan, Franklin, (1868 (1996) stresses. Then, for an individual to help ensure his/her businesses' success, according to Franklin, (1868 (1996), he/she… read more

Term Paper 20 pages (5420 words) Sources: 60 Style: APA Topic: Business / Corporations / E-commerce

---

Marketing Plan for Miller Inc. Marketing Management Term Paper

MARKETING PLAN for MILLER INC.

Marketing Management

Product or Service Idea: Bread

Is your product or service offered by:

__X__an existing company?

____a new company imagined for the assignment?

Explanation:… read more

Term Paper 20 pages (6075 words) Sources: 10 Topic: Business / Corporations / E-commerce

---

Marketing Plan for a Company Marketing Plan

Marketing Plan

This marketing plan is for Starbucks, to guide the company to its revenue and growth objectives. The plan focuses on the cash cow market on the United States… read more

Marketing Plan 15 pages (4494 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Advertising / Marketing / Sales

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>