Assignment 24A – Venture Concept No. 1

Assignment 24A – Venture Concept No. 1

·      Opportunity:

o   There is currently unused space in Midtown at University of Florida. There is an empty building where the bar Cantina and the frozen yogurt shop Mochi use to be. Midtown is overcrowded and the lines are long, causing students to wait long amounts of time when they go out.

o   The forces that create this opportunity is a lack of options in midtown, a large number of UF students who enjoy going out, and the size limit of people allowed inside of each bar/restaurant. There is a large window of opportunity that will be open until these three forces in the environment are solved.

o   Geographically, this market is specific to Gainesville, FL, where University of Florida is. Other colleges certainly have similar issues, but for my business market it is local. Demographically, I am mainly targeting any UF college student who is between 21-25 years old. However, during the day when the business is primarily a restaurant, it will be targeting all UF students, of any age. As well as Gainesville residents or people visiting the area.

o   Currently, customers satisfy this need by either not going out at all, going downtown, or going to Midtown dealing with the long lines and crowding. These options are not ideal when students are looking to go out to Midtown. They are not loyal to these options, because they are hoping for a night out at Mid and it is being disturbed.

o   Potential Customers: UF students, Gainesville residents, and visiting families/potential students who are looking for somewhere to eat or go out at in Midtown.

·      Innovation:

o   What it is: This is a business that is a restaurant during the day and a bar at night that is located in Midtown in Gainesville, Florida. It will offer unique food options, drink specials, and themed nights throughout the week.

o   What it does: This offers UF students and Gainesville residents a new option in Midtown. People get tired of going to the same places over and over and this will offer a fresh, unique choice. It will decrease the overcrowding in Midtown, as well as the long lines.

o   How it works: This will be a bar/restaurant that allows anyone in during the day and only those 21+ in at night. There will be a bouncer at night who checks ID’s. On popular nights, only students will be allowed in through proof of a school ID. Food will be served for the entire day and at night. There will be TV’s, tables, and numerous bars throughout the bar/restaurant. At nighttime, the upstairs will turn into the club/bar scene with a DJ and dance floor. The downstairs will remain the dining area, which will be a more relaxed environment.

o   Potential Profits: This business will be profitable when students choose to come here, instead of going to the other options in Midtown. There will be many costs, including alcohol, food, necessary dining pieces, live music, and many other things. Profit will come from people buying food and drinks and paying cover on busy days.

·      Venture Concept:

o   Solution: My innovation will address the above concerns, of overcrowding, long lines, and lack of options, by creating a new choice for people to go to. By adding a new business, it will automatically improve on lines and overcrowding because it is a new option for people to turn to when going out to eat or going out.

o   Why will customers buy: UF students enjoy going out in Midtown and people like going to Midtown for food. Providing both of these options in a new environment will bring people to my business.

o   Switch: Some students are committed to certain bars when they go out. However, when a new place opens, everyone is curious what it will be like and will go at least once. I hope to have designed my business well enough to gain customer loyalty.

o   Competitors: My competitors will be any bar or restaurant located in Midtown. Their possible weaknesses are that most of them have been around for a long time and they are doing the same things. People may be getting tired of going to them.

o   Packaging: This is not a concern of my business. Packaging of drinks will be done by the local businesses that we buy them from.

o   Price Points: This is important. Because we are in a college town, food and drinks cannot be too expensive. Students are looking for cheap options. Promotions throughout the week will help with this. However, it cannot be too cheap or else we will not profit.

o   Distribution: This is not a concern for my business. We may eventually sell clothing for our business, and we would consider this then.

o   Customer support: Customer service will be important. It is important people enjoy coming to our business, so they will keep coming back. Employees will be trained for this.

o   Customer experience/business location: Both are very important for my business. Location is already decided, so I need to focus on experience. People go to restaurants and bars for the experience. It needs to be an appropriate atmosphere for Midtown, but different enough people choose to come here over other places.

o   Employees: I am thinking of having around 20 employees to start with. This will include management, wait staff, bouncers, and potentially a marketing team.

·      Unfair Advantage: The excitement of a new bar opening in Midtown is my unfair advantage. This is something other bars cannot replicate and there is a limited window of opportunity to take advantage of this.

·      What’s next: Find investors for this business proposal and provide Gainesville with a fun, unique restaurant and bar!

·      For me: Separate from this idea, I hope to eventually be able to work directly with people to improve their lives, specifically with their financial decisions. I would potentially like to open my own business giving financial advice.