PPP2: Who Are we?

Our Business

A shop with on-site cafe(/bar?) which may doubles as a gallery space. The shop specialises in the sale of illustrative goods, such as prints.

Our Resources

Financial Resources Initially we would seek a start-up business loan to secure premises, equipment and furnishing. We would later attempt to attract informal investment.
Physical Resources  Small on-site printing facility situated in the basement/additional room. Marketing/website administration may be maintained off-site to remove the need for internet bills.
The cafe-space is essentially a sandwich bar with comfortable seating.
Human Resources Initially we would rely on our own skill sets to run the shop. By involving other practitioners we would be able to expand our stock variety significantly.
Intangible Resources  We would hope to gain a good reputation with our reasonably low prices, and ability to facilitate local artists.
Our Costs 
.By using low-cost methods of production such as a risograph machine and small screen-printing facilities, we would be able to sustain low prices. We would offer a respectable cut to practitioners who wish to sell their own designs.
.The primary cost would obviously be the premises. Central heating could be substituted with halogen heaters, or even a fireplace, if such things are still included in stores (potentially repurpose a closed-down pub).
.Sustainable wages, divided equally as the enterprise is essentially a cooperative of four people.
.The prices of food and drink may be reduced by sourcing from local markets
.Water bills

Additional Costs
.Potentially secure a premises with no central heating to save heating bills
.WiFi may not be necessary initially, as the website can be maintained anywhere
.If the building includes a fireplace we would obviously have to purchase fuel and be subject to emissions taxation
.Electricity bills
.The price of maintaining ink and paint levels

Our Prices

.Attempt to maintain reasonable prices, without scaring away potential practitioners who desire to sell their work
.Seasonal sales and offers to entice gift-buyers

Promoting Ourselves-


.Attending events such as ThoughBubble
.The distribution of posters, leaflets and flyers
.Branded bags
.Business cards
.Visits to universities and colleges

Monitoring Success-


.Annual turnover to justify existence
.Monitoring social media reactions will suggest areas of interest and potentially successful products

The Master Plan
 
Business name Brenda's Cafe / The Art Bar / Bar of Art / Fruity Art Bar /Illustrative Wares


Business activity Retailer of art, food. Facilitator of local talent

Mission Statement

.We aim to sell enough in order to be sustainable, as well as being a highly accessible location where practitioners may sell their wares

The Important Details

Business objectives


Intended sales/income for first 12 months- £7000
Products/services to be introduced in first two years Workshops and clubs to be hosted on premises
The long term goal (5 years and on)- Employ additional staff to alleviate our duties, eventually branch out by establishing a second store in a southern location

What is the structure of your business?

who are the people in the business- Four partners with an equal share
How many people are employed- Four
what are their roles- All four are capable of running the store (at least two staff members should be on site during opening hours). All four staff members have administration privileges to document and promote the store. We would seek to attain the licence to prepare and sell food for public consumption.

Legal Status

What's status? Equal Partnership
Why have you chosen this? This option allows for more capitol investment and reduces the financial strain as we are all responsible for losses and profit.

Your Resources

Products Service

Locally/individually sourced illustrative artwork, representing a range of aesthetics. Initially with a limitation on palette and scale to reduce printing costs.
Printing facilities to be opened to practitioners at a later date.

The Range-

.Artwork/ illustrated ephemera: prints, postcards, small books,
.Food: Initially simple cold meals, once turnover appears sustainable we would consider introducing generic greasy spoon food
.Framing service
.Gallery space provider

Percentage turnover each will provide;

Artwork/ illustrated ephemera- 60%
Food & Drink- 30%
Framing Service- 5%
Gallery space provider- 5%

What Resources do we require?

Shop space, kitchen, cafe area which may double as gallery space and small printing room.

Equipment needed?

.Small screen printing facility
.Digital Printer
.Risograph printer

Your Customers

Proof of existing audience

http://www.onthewall.co.uk
http://www.awesomemerchandise.com
http://www.colours-may-vary.com
http://artprints.leeds.gov.uk
http://www.nobrow.net/nbhq

Popularity of product/service shown in existing businesses-


Seemingly more demand for such services now that the economy has apparently stabilised. 

Any room for Originality?


Many of the businesses seem to value the process of production as the basis of the product appeal. Why not exploit processes to make more products at a cheeper price?

Is there an increasing demand for your product?

Who's the audience/ market- 

Gift buyers, art enthusiasts, specific fan groups, practitioners/artists

What are the facts, figures, statistics about your market?

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/leeds-stores-joy-over-new-year-sales-surge-1-6364467
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21877655
.Post Trinity, sales have increased across LeedsWhy would they buy from you rather than anyone else?

.Competitive prices
.Locality
.Collaborative with other businesses

SWOT of business-


What are our strengths?
Low prices, involvement with local practitioners and businesses. Approachability for post-graduates and students who wish to sell their work and promote themselves

What are our weaknesses?
When starting a new business there is the danger of being disregarded by potential customers due to unfamiliarity

What opportunities have we taken?
The situation of the shop in a city-central location. By using on-site printing facilities we reduce to the costs of printing externally

What threats do we face?
Competition from established companies of a similar nature

Average customer spending per visit- £10


Average spending per customer in a year -£40


Loyal customers may simply return for a cheap lunch, but may be enticed to buy illustrative wares.

Possible external factors that will effect sales-

.Sales will most likely improve during the christmas period
.The majority of Birthdays take place between July and September
.Having worked in a shop, I have noticed that there are distinctly less shoppers when it is raining
.The majority of shoppers at mid day appear to be the elderly, as most others are at their place of employment/education

How will they Know? How will we advertise our products/ services?

Marketing methods-

.Secure the involvement of local businesses, such as bakeries in order to reduce food expenses.
.Pop-up shops at events such as ThoughBubble
.Maintenance of social media
.Interaction with online customers

PPP2: Workshop Session

During this session we discussed our analytical responses. Having established the commonalities of these responses we applied the same method of analysis to our own fictional pitch.