When was the last time you had fun learning about the US Constitution? A study in 2011 revealed that fewer than half of Americans could answer basic questions about the Constitution, a document critical to our country’s history and present. Two teachers from California, David and Pamela Barret, identified this need in the market and used their years of experience in the education field to create an engaging and effective way of filling that need.
www.constitutionquest.com
Temecula
CA
United States
My Successes
David and Pamela spent many months brainstorming, researching and outlining questions on Post-it notes that lined their bedroom wall before the board game became a reality. They chose to manufacture the game within the U.S. despite the higher production costs. It was an important marketing decision that has paid off. In just 3 months of production, they sold 600 games. Pamela commented, “We are just thrilled. I would love to get it in as many hands as possible. Our goal is constitutional literacy.”
The Barrets originally identified their target market as homeschool families looking to incorporate civics into their lessons. But they’ve also noticed demand coming from other groups including classrooms, grandparents, chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and individuals preparing to take their citizenship exam.
What's Great About My Mentor?
The couple spoke of their SCORE mentor saying, “Bob Godlasky has connected with other experts at SCORE to ensure that we are on track toward success. We know that we can shoot an email to Bob to get advice on answering those burning questions that keep us up at night.”
How SCORE Helped
The Barrets say, “We have built our small business with tons of blood, sweat and tears! It’s been nice to have listening ears and a guiding hand along the way. SCORE of Orange County has encouraged us and suggested trainings that have proven to be very helpful in terms of advertising, social media, financing and writing a business plan.”
It was a passion for tea, rather than a firm vision for a business, that led Shauneen McElroy to her business concept and eventually to entrepreneurial success. She had been creating herbal tea blends for five years and thought that starting a tea shop would be a natural next step. After careful planning and consideration, Shauneen and her SCORE mentor, Karen Grellas, landed on the Far Out Flying Saucer teas concept instead.
www.faroutflyingsaucerteas.com
Santa Cruz
CA
United States
My Successes
Far Out Flying Saucer Teas, founded in 2010, is a purveyor of USDA organic fine herbs and teas. The business started out selling retail online and has now expanded to a variety of retail outlets across California. According to an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dario Dickinson, general manager of the Food Bin, said, “We’ve done many orders and re-orders. That is unusual for something brand new. Real connoisseurs of organic tea are recognizing it’s the highest quality.” Other stores have reported that customers are “crazy for this tea” and visit the store especially for it.
How SCORE Helped
SCORE mentor Karen Grellas helped Shauneen discover what form her business concept should take. Together they worked on business plans for her tea room concept including full pro forma income statement projections. This planning helped Shauneen realize the large initial investment required for a retail location. Together they evaluated several options and ultimately ended up choosing a wholesale tea business which could be started from her home instead.
Published Dec. 10, 2012
A comprehensive document covering business plans, marketing plans, chash flow and much more.
When her employer was considering a significant downsizing, Megan Burns decided to pursue her dream of running a management consulting firm. She certainly had the necessary credentials, background and industrial experience; with BS Mech. Eng. and MBA degrees, and more than a dozen years in technical and management-level positions with several manufacturing firms, but did not have a clear idea of how to convert those skills into starting, operating and growing an entrepreneurial business. Based on a friend’s recommendation, she contacted SCORE, and was connected with two SCORE Counselors who had extensive consulting experience in similar industries.
www.TheOSCedge.com
522 Stirrup Dr.
Greensburg
PA
15601
United States
My Successes
Since launching in 2006, Operations Strategy Consulting has grown and expanded, project by project. Word of her successful projects, with documented savings, profitability and improved operations, spread, and the business grew into a larger regional firm. Operations Strategy has grown from just Megan delivering all the work, to now a team of three, and our client size has increased to include mid-size manufacturers. The company now offers not only services in Lean Manufacturing, but has expanded to include Six Sigma, quality methodologies, supply chain management and ISO and TS compliance training and consulting. Based on the company’s success, Megan has been featured as a speaker at industry conferences, and has had articles published in regional and national publications. Megan has recently been selected as an Instructor in the Indiana University of PA’s Department of Management, and has previously been a guest lecturer for Penn State University, Duquesne University, and Westmoreland Community College.
What's Great About My Mentor?
Mentors Harry Albert and Bill McGarrity helped Megan understand the tools and framework she needed to start and grow a successful firm. Their experience and understanding of both the manufacturing and consulting industries equipped Megan with the knowledge and confidence to actually launch her firm.
How SCORE Helped
Before meeting with the mentors, they recommended Megan attend the workshop “How to Successfully Start a Small Business” so that she could understand the basics and be ready to talk about specifics when she sat down with her mentors. When Megan finally met with Harry and Bill, they went through the details of whom Operations Strategy would target, the services it would offer, and even how to structure it’s contracts. Initially, Megan met with her mentors once a week until she launched her firm in August 2006, and then met once a month for a few months afterwards.
Published Dec. 7, 2012
Running my commercial printing business is more than a full-time job, and I often feel like I’m out of touch with what’s happening outside the business. How can I keep current on business- and industry-related developments in an efficient manner? Read more.....
Published Dec. 6, 2012
SCORE ExpertAnswers
Whether you're starting up or running an established company, an up-to-date business plan is critical for planning and reaching your goals. In this issue of SCORE ExpertAnswers, SCORE Mentor Mark Lowenstein provides expert advice on mastering this essential business tool.
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Q: |
Why is the process of developing a business plan as valuable as the plan itself?
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About the Author
Following more than 30 years as a sales and marketing executive for many leading technology companies, Mark Lowenstein turned his attention to sharing his experience with others. He served on the business faculties of Newberry College and College of St. Joseph, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in management, marketing, international business, strategy, and entrepreneurship.
More recently, he became a mentor with SCORE’s Cape Cod, Mass., chapter, helping new and experienced entrepreneurs tackle the challenges of building small businesses, with special emphasis on one of the most fundamental aspects—the business plan.
The competition for photography jobs has always been tough. Being deaf has always made it harder for Kevin Haggenjos to get hired. With the economic down turn the competition for those jobs has gotten even harder to land. Tenacious, creative and entrepreneurial, Haggenjos decided to launch Haggenjos Photography.
Working with Michiana SCORE, Haggenjos identified a market niche and has turned what many call a disability to strategic advantage.
Related Topics
Published Dec. 5, 2012
This document walks you through a series of questions to help you decide if your idea can work for you. Your answers may lead may lead to more homework.
Early points for consideration
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Is there a market for my product/services?
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How much competition is already present?
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Can I sell the products/services at a competitive price?
If initial evaluation looks favorable:
Listen to SCORE client - Susan Tabor Kleiman discuss her tips for entrepreneurs.
Related Topics
Here are 10 common mistakes that small businesses make with their websites, and how to fix them.
In this age of social media and digital everything, you can’t afford to be a website weakling. If your competition has a killer online presence, and you don’t, you lose. Today’s consumers look online more than ever before. Even business owners who think they don’t really need a “best in class” website are missing more than they think.
About the Author
Daniel Kehrer, Founder & Managing Director of BizBest Media Corp., is a nationally-known, award-winning expert on small and local business, start-ups, content marketing, entrepreneurship and social media, with an MBA from UCLA/Anderson. Read more of Daniel's tips at
www.BizBest.com, follow him at
www.twitter.com/140Main and connect on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/in/danielkehrer.
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