Emily's Entrepreneurial Journey

1.  Throughout this course, I have turned a simple idea into a grand and achievable vision that I could see becoming a reality in the near future.  Stacked is a concept in which I have developed that will serve as a customizable fast-food restaurant in which customers build their own breakfast platters.  When pondering on different problems in my life, I thought about the lack of good breakfast food that is open late at night and does not require you to sit down for a full meal in which you have to tip a server.               In the Gainesville area, I recognize that there is a great need for a breakfast place that is open extended hours into the night and early parts of the morning.  There are no places like Stacked Downtown and people are constantly looking for new foods to try after going out.  College students are always seeking out cheap new foods and Stacked will have many affordable options since breakfast foods are not...

1) Read through your posts from this semester. Recall all of the experiences you've had a long the way -- the highs, the lows -- the fun moments, and the moments of drudgery, and even the moments of dread. I can't believe this is one of my last posts for this course.  This semester seemed to fly by and so much has changed since the first few classes.  Throughout these past few months, I have turned a desire for late-night breakfast food into a detailed vision for a place called "Stacked."  Along this journey, I have gotten to talk to so many incredible people to hear their insight and get tips on how to better improve my idea.  While I have had many great experience, I have certainly experienced times of stress.  There have been days that I waited until the last minute to do an assignment and was frustrated that I couldn't complete the assignment to the best of my ability due to the fact that I didn't have enough time for my desired efforts. 2) What stick...

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children? I plan on expanding the business into a franchise to bring it to other college towns first in Florida and then across the country.   For example, I see Orlando as another great market due to the fact that it has the University of Central Florida with the second biggest student population in the United States as well as other places such as Tampa and Boca due to their relations with state universities.  After serving as the CEO for several decades, I will eventually pass the business along to a trusted executive and retire.  If one of my children decides to get involved in the business then I would love to pass it along to them but I want their career choices to be their own and d...

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book? I decided to read  The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users by Guy Kawaski because I am very interested in social media and the ways in which it connects us to other users more efficiently. By reading this book, I was able to gain powerful strategies and insights into what it takes to have a strong social media presence and maintain beneficial followers. 2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? This book definitely enhanced my learning in ENT 3003 because social media has become such a big part of marketing for so many businesses and I wanted to improve my knowledge on this essential tool to promote my ideas.  I am very passionate about my business "Stacked" and can think of several campaigns that I could complete on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, wha...

1) This past October, I failed to keep myself organized after visiting my hometown for my cousin's wedding and I left my laptop at home on accident.  I needed this laptop for work as well as homework assignments and a test that I had the next day.  In order to get this laptop to Gainesville as soon as possible, my mom had to ship it to me in an expensive box with insurance and the total cost far exceeded what I would have liked to pay.  While this was not a cost that I had planned for, I had to pay it because I needed my computer in order to complete my responsibilities. 2) From this experience I learned that it is important to keep track of all of your belongings and helpful to make lists when travelling with important items.  These lists make it easier to ensure that one has all of their belongings and knows exactly what they brought so that they can make it back home with everything they came with.  Additionally, I learned that it is overall important to s...

Existing Market Step 1: Talk about what you think is what's next in terms of products and services for your venture. I think that there is going to be a greater demand for trendy places to eat as people love to take pictures of their food and post them on social media.  Social media has become such an important part of people's lives, especially millennials.  When I go on apps such as snapchat, I constantly see posts of food and people out to eat because it has proven to be an aesthetic and a cool thing to display.   Step 2: Interview three customers who are already part of the market you have identified, and ask them what they believe is next for a venture like yours. Describe to them your business, and simply ask "What should we be doing that we aren't planning to do?" Next, ask them about  your  ideas of what customers might want next.  After interviewing three customers within the customizable fast food industry, I have found that peop...

              Throughout this course, I have turned a simple idea into a grand and achievable vision that I could see becoming a reality in the near future.   Stacked is a concept in which I have developed that will serve as a customizable fast-food restaurant in which customers can build their own breakfast platters.   When pondering on different problems in my life and their solutions, I thought about the lack of good breakfast food that is open late at night and does not require you to sit down for a full meal in which you have to tip a server.               In the Gainesville area, I recognize that there is a great need for a breakfast place that is open extended hours into the night and early parts of the morning.   There are no places like Stacked Downtown and people are constantly looking for new foods to try after going out.  ...

employees- A company would be nothing without its employees.  Stacked would make sure to hire college students that are passionate about food and are able to work at a variety of hours with energy.  The whole experience of building one's breakfast platter should be very exciting and it can only be made this way with the help of the passionate employees.  food-  Stacked will be known for its delicious food options and will require the freshest of ingredients as an important resource. machines- The company will need to acquire appliances that are able to cook the food in the most efficient manner. juices- It is important for Stacked to sell juices as well as unhealthy food to promote diversity and have options for everyone. furniture-  I envision Stacked to have really cool trendy furniture for people to take pictures at.  I even think that it would be awesome to have customized chairs shaped like eggs for people to sit inside and tables shaped like pan...

1) The pitch. Same as last time, 1-minute long. No Web cams. No sitting. Be dynamic! Upload the video to YouTube (as you do with all of your videos) and post the link. Pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj3GI6RV-V8 2) A reflection on the feedback you received from my last pitch: I was very grateful to receive such detailed feedback and positive comments.  One of the things that stood out to me was to stand for my pitch and dress in a more professional attire.  I agree that standing would make me seem much more confident and credible on my idea.  I was also really glad to see that people enjoyed my personal comments on late night snacks and attempts to make the post more relatable.  I made sure to continue these comments in my new pitch in order to seem knowledgeable yet engaging to my audience. 3) What I changed based on my feedback I felt much more confident giving this elevator pitch because I knew the material much better and developed a greater...

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book? In the book How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big , Scott Adams emphasizes various lessons that he has learned throughout his life that are both beneficial for personal and professional issues.  I really enjoyed reading this book because the author was very personal and made his writing seem almost conversational and informal.  His strategies for success include everything from faking it till you make it, to speaking with positivity, and even having a system to achieve your desired goals. 2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? This book exemplified much of the lessons that I have learned in ENT3003 and emphasized how anyone can be an entrepreneur if they have the right mindset.  I recognize that you do not have to be some brilliant inventor to start your own business but instead need to embody the key strategies to having an open mind and b...

I have reached out to the following three people to help grow my business:  Domain expert in the restaurant industry:  A friend of mine named Megan worked at Chipotle for several years and learned a lot about what it takes to have consistent food that is fresh and ready for customers to build their bowls.  I made sure to reach out to her and get her insight on this concept as it is very similar to chipotle and she has a lot of knowledge on their behind the scenes efforts.  She was so kind to tell me about how quickly they went through food on a daily basis and how they dealt with so many customers at popular times.   She explained to me how stressful some of the timing was to make sure that there was enough of everything to keep the line moving but said that there were often mistakes and no day was perfect.  Including her in my network could help me exploit my opportunity because she can give advice on how to maintain certain foods to keep them fres...

1)  You.- I think that one of my biggest attributes is my passion and determination to accomplish the goals that I set my mind to.  I am a very driven person and will find ways to overcome the obstacles that I face. If I were to start this business in real life, I think that I would be able to effectively draw in the skills that I learned from my classes as well as organizations such as the Florida Leadership Academy.  With that being said, I would recruit help from professionals in the industry that can help me get the business started and analyze initial analytics. 2)  What are you offering to customers?  I am offering a way for people to have customization breakfast food throughout the day and night.  The restaurant will have a fun atmosphere that people can enjoy all meals at while hanging with friends and family. 3)  Who are you offering it to?  I am offering this restaurant mainly to college students in the Gainesville area th...

For this elevator pitch, I made sure to fix my posture and have better eye contact.  I also worked harder to convey the details of my business and give my personal background this time.  I look forward to getting more comfortable with this pitch and sharing it with others. youtu.be/84XxVRY8fjA

My prototypical customer has a busy schedule and is always on the go.  She often likes to workout in the morning before classes and enjoys grabbing a quick bite to eat before hand.  She lives in a new apartment near the downtown area and likes to walk around the restaurants on the weekends.  Additionally, she tries to go out to celebrate her hard work with friends when possible.   Since she is 21 and a junior, she is able to go out to bars but often gets hungry for a snack after.  The potential customer is in need of a place to get comfort food in a relaxed environment with friends at late hours so that she is not forced to pay tip and expensive delivery fees.  When she is not going out, she often likes to study and spend time with friends watching movies or just hanging out.  The restaurant Stacked would come in handy on these nights as she gets hungry at night and is always looking for something to do.  Additionally, she is very trendy and...

1) Qualities that make me unique-  1. I am involved in a variety of organizations- I always try to put my thoughts into actions and like to get involved in things that I am passionate about.  I would say that my days here at UF are pretty busy thanks to the clubs that I am apart of and I wouldn't have it any other way. 2. I have grown up with a passion for business- My dad is very involved in Wholesale and taught me about business from a young age.  In high school, I was the president of a business club called DECA and lead over 650 members to success both professionally and personally through competitions and fun socials. 3. I am very adventurous and am not afraid to take risks-  I have always wanted to go skydiving and live life to the fullest.  I think that this trait is very important because it allows me to go out of my comfort zone and test new ideas. 4.  I am a leader and love public speaking- I am a big believer in voicing my opinions and e...

1) For this assignment I have chosen to interview three people in my sorority since they are all dedicated students and are also within the segment of college students that like to go out. 3) Based on my interviews, I found that the students chose their places to eat mainly based on location and price.  While the quality of the food is important to them, they all explained that they are on a tight budget and didn't want to waste all of their money on late-night eats.  Additionally, they described the importance of location because they do not like to have to uber to multiple places and want to save money by going somewhere that is in walking distance from the place that they are hanging out. 4)My segment explained that they are most likely to go to the restaurant in person rather than ordering a delivery service online because they did not feel that breakfast food would stay fresh and would not be as good if heated up in the microwave.  They also explained that it wou...

Some how I blinked and we are already half way through the semester.  These past few weeks have honestly flown by  and have truly kept me on my toes.  In order to keep up with this course, I have developed better time-management skills as I balance the weekly assignments, my job, extra-curricular, and mental relaxation.  I try to spread out the time that I work on each assignment so that I do not feel crammed doing them both at the same time.  Additionally, I have become a better interviewer and can r recognize greater questions to ask people when trying to learn more about a subject.  While this class has been fun, there have definitely been times when I felt really stressed and felt like not doing an assignment.  For example, I was really busy during the week of the elevator pitch and pushed off the project for too long.  I did not feel like going through all of the work to record it in the best presentable way but eventually asked a friend for ...

1) Coco Chanel What surprised you the most? When I think about Coco Chanel, I think of glamour and expensive clothing.  I was shocked to find that she grew up very poor.  I assumed that she had always been wealthy and turned her wealthy taste into a reality with her own brand.  What about the entrepreneur did you most admire? I admired that Ms. Chanel was very flexible with her work and tried out different items to sell.  For example, she tried selling hats, couture, jewelry, and perfume, slowly evolving her brand.   I understand the importance of diversifying your product mix and respect her ability to not stay stuck on one idea. What about the entrepreneur did you  least  admire? I did not admire her belief that dresses should not be shorter than a woman's knees because she thought that not all women had bodies that were good enough to pull it off.  I think that this idea is very toxic and is shocking to be coming from another ...

1) Segment- The segment of my market that I have chosen to analyze is college students, particularly those that attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and like to go out. 2) Interviewees- I decided to interview two females and one male for the purpose of this project.  All three of them are college sophomores and explained that they like to go out with friends frequently during the evening. 3-5)  I learned that the latest that would be necessary for the restaurant to be opened would most likely be until 3 AM because after this hour people usually return to their homes.  Additionally, there are some nights where this concept would seem more desirable than others such as Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  On nights such as Sundays and Mondays, this concept would not seem as appealing during the late hours and it may be desirable to make shorter hours during these time periods to save money on paying staff.  Additionally, my interviewees emphasiz...

1) You- As a sophomore studying business management and minoring in mass communications, I feel that I have strong skills in leadership and public relations.  I like to use my sense of creativity to think outside of the box and come up with new ways to market something.  I have had a lot of experience in business ever high school where I became involved in a business organization called DECA.  Additionally, I am currently working at a place called The Selling Factory as a business development intern and am learning new skills every day.  Through this experience, I have been able to see various types of companies grow and have a greater understanding of what it takes to make an idea into something successful.  If I were to open my restaurant Stacked, I would probably do it right after I graduate college since I will already be in Gainesville and can start initiating major leads during my senior year.  I see this business as being a major part of my life an...

We live in an age of customization and instant gratification.  We go to places like Chipotle and Blaze where we can build our own order and get exactly what we want within minutes.  We have plenty of lunch and dinner options but are lacking a breakfast place, especially one that goes beyond the typical breakfast hours.  Stacked is a concept that I have developed for a customizable restaurant in which you pick your bases, toppings, and sauces for various breakfast dishes and ultimately build your own platter.   This restaurant would be located in Gainesville, preferably downtown so that it is a trendy setting for brunch and a cool place to hangout after going to local bars or clubs.  Stacked will be open 24 hours and which will be especially convenient to those that need a quick bite before class, or a late snack after studying or hanging with friends.The restaurant will go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations through healthy alternatives such as...

After interviewing five new UF students, I was able to organize the following findings based on their explanations: Who:  While most of the people were interested in the business concept, one of the girls explained that she would probably fall outside the boundary because she doesn't really eat breakfast and would rather spend her money on other types of food such as pizza and Mexican food.  For her, this type of food was not a priority and she was not thrilled by the proposal. Additionally, another boy that I interviewed told me that he would not eat at this restaurant because he feels that breakfast food is typically unhealthy and would not want to get caught up in all of the add-ons. What:  The need I identified is different than other needs because there are already places that are open late at night, but none that are desirable at all hours of the day.  This restaurant concept is very versatile and can attract business in so many different ways. Why: ...

1. Opportunity There is currently no place in Gainesville that provides people with the opportunity to get breakfast food in a customizable, fast-food set up and is open 24 hours.  After going out, many people seek comfort foods such as pancakes, waffles, eggs etc but there is not a place that is open really late and is in the areas that people go out at.  Also, there is an increasing trend with places that are set up like Chipotle, Grill Fresh, Bolay and other places that allow the customers to customize their meals with a variety of options. 2.  Background Info The who:  College students/ Millenials The what: There is a lack of convenient breakfast places that are open 24 hours and are in a fast-food, customization set-up The why:  Restaurants may not have the start-up capital and resources to open up a place that is open during late hours and has fresh foods. 3. Tests Testing the who:  I believe that there are others who have this need besides c...

 I would like to open up a breakfast restaurant called "Stacked" that is comparable to the set-up of places such as Grill Fresh and Chipotle and is open 24 hours in Gainesville.  This concept would allow people to have breakfast food at any time in a more efficient way and would let them get exactly what they want at the time that they want.  Ideally, this restaurant would open Downtown so that it can be a trendy place during the day and a place that people go to after a night out during the late hours.  A rough idea of how pricing would work can be set up based on the following categories: Bases: Pancakes Waffles French Toast Biscuit Regular Toast Omelette (customizable) Topping: Eggs any style sausage bacon turkey bacon Sauces: Flavored syrups whipped cream peanut butter sauce nutella butter cream cheese jelly Depending on how much of each category people want, there will be different pricing sets.  Additionally,  I would like to ...

Title of the article- Residents face costs of bigger seawalls Link to the article-  https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASFLB%21Sun%2BSentinel%2B%2528Fort%2BLauderdale%252C%2BFL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0911%21September%2B11&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E5E4DDF4FE9AC8   Description of the story-  In an ever-changing environment, it is important for officials to be aware of the changing sea levels and address ways on how to prevent potentially dangerous storm surge.  According to a recent study by the US Army Corp of Engineers, sea levels are expected to rise about 2 feet within the next 50 years and storm surge could raise a minimum of 1 foot.  Due to this research, the Army corps is suggesting that seawall heights be required to be 4 feet by 2035 andapproximately 5 feet by 2050.  These new heights will also help with annual tidal flooding which can cause a financia...