Business News Today! WalMart Stocks Higher Consumers Confident Housing Market Hot

1. Today’s Schedule (7/5/05)1. What’s going on in the world of business?2. Supply & Demand3. Ways to Start a Business4. Legal Forms of Ownership5. Find a Niche and Developing a USP (unique selling proposition)

2. Business News Today!WalMartStocks HigherConsumers ConfidentHousing Market Hot

3. Companies borrow, hire more workers, expand operations. Inventories at their lowest. Fed Lowers rates to “energize” sluggish economy. Inventories at their lowest. Production in full swing. Workers making high incomes. Inventories of finished goods still lag demand. TOO FEW DOLLARS CHASING TOO MANY GOODS. UNEMPLOYMENT HIGH, INFLATION LOW. TOO MANY DOLLARS CHASING TOO FEW GOODS. UNEMPLOYMENT LOW. INFLATION HIGH. Layoffs and fears of an economic slowdown cause workers to spend less. Inventories still high. Fed raises rates to “cool” overheating economy. Companies cease expansion and borrowing. Layoffs of workers begin. Inventories reach highest levels. The Business Cycle, InflationAnd the Actions of “The Fed”

4. Supply & Demand

5. Demand & Supply Curves Demand Supply Price Equilibrium Point Quantity

6. Demand & Supply Curves Price Quantity As demand increases, price goes up.

7. Demand & Supply Curves Price Quantity As supply increases, price goes down.

8. Rent Control Price Shortage Quantity

9. Rent Control Price Quantity

10. Demand & Supply Curves Demand Supply Price Equilibrium Point Quantity

11. Demand & Supply Curves Demand Supply How can we increase or decrease demand? Price Equilibrium Point Quantity

12. Ways to Start a Business

13. Ways to Start a Business 1. Start from Scratch Disadvantages May be a bad idea No plan in place Advantages Do it your way Easiest Cheapest

14. Ways to Start a Business 2. Buy Existing Business Disadvantages May be a bad idea May no longer be a good idea Bad plan in place Poor reputation Purchase price Advantages Plan in place Customers Track Record Location exists

15. Ways to Start a Business 3. Buy A Franchise Disadvantages Can’t do it your way Purchase price Monthly Fees No Protection Advantages Plan in place Customers Track Record Location exists Training & Support

16. Legal Forms of Ownership

17. Legal Forms of Ownership 1. Sole Proprietorship Disadvantages May be a bad idea No plan in place Personal Liability May be hard to borrow Can’t pass on to kids Advantages Do it your way Easiest to set up Cheapest You keep profits Tax benefits

18. Legal Forms of Ownership 2. Partnership Disadvantages Personal Liability Can’t sell easily Incompatible Advantages Two heads Easy to set up Sources of capital You keep profits Tax benefits

19. Legal Forms of Ownership 3. Corporation Disadvantages Hard to set up Personal Liability Double Taxation Advantages Limited Liability Can go public to raise funds

20. Legal Forms of Ownership 4. Limited Liability Company Disadvantages Personal Liability Expense to set up Advantages Limited Liability Easier to maintain than corporation.

21. Legal Forms of Ownership More information

22. Finding a NicheandDeveloping aUnique Selling Proposition

23. Murray was beginning to wonder if Frozen Asparagus Desserts! really was the next big thing.

24. “Most small-business owners dive into their niches because they love the product or service they provide. The annals of small business are filled with the tales of founders who cared so deeply about their product or service that they subsequently decided to make it their life’s work so they could enjoy getting up in the morning again.” - Small Business for Dummies

25. What is a Niche? In biological terms, a “niche” is defined as a small ecological space in which an animal can find ample resources to survive, with few predators or competitors. A niche can also be a place that has not seen a kind of animal before. The island of Mauritius, for thousands of years, saw no humans, rats, or other kinds of ground-dwelling predators. A breed of flightless bird evolved to take advantage of the safe, food-rich niche on the ground that other birds had neglected. This bird was the dodo.

26. A Niche can be based on: • A new product or service. • A new product or service in a particular area. • A change in a particular product or service to • focus on a sub-group of customers. • An existing product or service, but in a new • area.

27. Niche examples: • Heatless soldering. • Chem-dry carpet cleaning. • A new product or service. Heatless soldering • A new product or service in a particular area. • Chem-dry carpet cleaning • A change in a particular product or service to • focus on a sub-group of customers. • Kalani Coffee • An existing product or service, but in a new • area. Espresso Stand in Houston

28. Finding a NicheValue Chain Analysis Value Chains are a visual depiction of an industry from producer to consumer. Coffee business: Farmer > Wholesaler > Roaster > Retailer > Customer So what are some possible places where we could enter the value chain?

29. Life of a Chair

30. What is aUnique Selling Proposition? It’s what makes us stand out from competitors within our niche. The search for a niche is connected to the “unique Selling Proposition” because often it is the USP that provides the feature that makes us different or unique; that lets us slip into an existing niche easier, or that helps create a whole new niche.

31. Examples of the Unique Selling Proposition • 30 minutes or less • Pay me now, or pay me later • Oil change in 20 minutes. • 60 minute tune up. • 7 – 11 • 24 hour fitness • 90 days same as cash • Rent to own • Organic • Unfinished furniture.

32. Spanish Language Qwest SiteSecond hand StoresStartUp Journal IdeasEntrepreneur.comJoin A Group!How to Create A USPWhat is A USP?

33. Group Work on Ideas Without speaking, organize yourselvesaround the room in order of birthday.Group in fours based on the above, and find seating for your group.Discuss possible business ideasfor 25 minutes.List your top three ideas, and be ready to report to the class (choose a spokesperson).