Idea Napkin No. 1
Who you are:
As an older student I have had many years to culminate experience and skillsets to start a new business concept. I transferred to UF after achieving my AA in Business Administration at a local community college, with plans to continue with a Master’s degree. For the past 25 years I have worked in financial and management positions including sitting on the board of a local organization. If I were to start this business concept it would definitely have a fulfilling impact on my life and that of my daughter. Her special needs and our journey is what brought this problem to the forefront. I feel strongly about the issues surrounding families that support those with disabilities. I would love to include my daughter and give her something she could be a part of that is helping her and helping others.
What are you offering to customers?
I am offering a service to individuals and families with disabilities that will provide therapies, life skill classes and extra-curricular activities in one location. This will address the unmet need of reducing driving and missed opportunities of participation in activities for those families. The service will also provide an outlet for those with disabilities to interact with the community whether working with service organizations or as individual entrepreneurs given the opportunity to sell creations they make while in classes. Additional opportunities could be to offer summer camp classes and a cafe to provide refreshments while the families are at the facility.
Who are you offering it to?
The service will be offered to three main groups. Individuals, families, and service organizations working with disabilities in the Hillsborough County, Florida vicinity.
• The individuals are the adult special needs population who are able to provide their own transportation and will utilize the classes to supplement their current living situation. These individuals would be of any gender, race over the age of 18 who are self-sufficient. They would be the target market that would benefit from the option to create items they could sell or work at the facility.
• The families would include anyone accompanying the disabled individual, ranging in age, race and gender. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins would all have the opportunity to participate alongside.
• Service organizations would be able to volunteer at the facility to earn hours and use the facility to encourage forming friendships and model community involvement.
Why do they care?
I believe customers will pay me for the service to gain more free time, create more valuable memories and to give the disabled member additional skills. The service fits the needs of multiple members of the family and provides a valuable addition to the community.
What are your core competencies?
To my knowledge there is not another service that supports this niche. There are individual therapy centers and activity specific services, however there is not a mix that caters specifically to the special needs community. The YMCA would be similar, however it caters to the general population with limited adaptive options. I believe providing a service that focuses on the special needs community allowing the general population to participate places the focus on those who typically do not have many options.
After evaluation I believe all five elements fit together. Ensuring that the marketing is focused in the proper locations to reach the target customers would be key to attracting customers.
As an older student I have had many years to culminate experience and skillsets to start a new business concept. I transferred to UF after achieving my AA in Business Administration at a local community college, with plans to continue with a Master’s degree. For the past 25 years I have worked in financial and management positions including sitting on the board of a local organization. If I were to start this business concept it would definitely have a fulfilling impact on my life and that of my daughter. Her special needs and our journey is what brought this problem to the forefront. I feel strongly about the issues surrounding families that support those with disabilities. I would love to include my daughter and give her something she could be a part of that is helping her and helping others.
What are you offering to customers?
I am offering a service to individuals and families with disabilities that will provide therapies, life skill classes and extra-curricular activities in one location. This will address the unmet need of reducing driving and missed opportunities of participation in activities for those families. The service will also provide an outlet for those with disabilities to interact with the community whether working with service organizations or as individual entrepreneurs given the opportunity to sell creations they make while in classes. Additional opportunities could be to offer summer camp classes and a cafe to provide refreshments while the families are at the facility.
Who are you offering it to?
The service will be offered to three main groups. Individuals, families, and service organizations working with disabilities in the Hillsborough County, Florida vicinity.
• The individuals are the adult special needs population who are able to provide their own transportation and will utilize the classes to supplement their current living situation. These individuals would be of any gender, race over the age of 18 who are self-sufficient. They would be the target market that would benefit from the option to create items they could sell or work at the facility.
• The families would include anyone accompanying the disabled individual, ranging in age, race and gender. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins would all have the opportunity to participate alongside.
• Service organizations would be able to volunteer at the facility to earn hours and use the facility to encourage forming friendships and model community involvement.
Why do they care?
I believe customers will pay me for the service to gain more free time, create more valuable memories and to give the disabled member additional skills. The service fits the needs of multiple members of the family and provides a valuable addition to the community.
What are your core competencies?
To my knowledge there is not another service that supports this niche. There are individual therapy centers and activity specific services, however there is not a mix that caters specifically to the special needs community. The YMCA would be similar, however it caters to the general population with limited adaptive options. I believe providing a service that focuses on the special needs community allowing the general population to participate places the focus on those who typically do not have many options.
After evaluation I believe all five elements fit together. Ensuring that the marketing is focused in the proper locations to reach the target customers would be key to attracting customers.
Hello Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI think your idea of combining all of these services into one location for individuals with special needs is a good one. You answered all of the areas well for the assignment but I am a bit confused on some of what you are offering. Why is it only self-sufficient adult special needs individuals who could work or attend classes? I feel like if they were truly as you say “self-sufficient” they wouldn’t need the help of your program.