Business Plan

Section 1 -

Executive Summary

Business Summary-

The name of the business is "Sweet Rosie's". The business is a chain of baking stands/cafés. The business will sell cakes and pastries. The type of business is a limited company.

Business Aims-

The aims of my business is to grow and develop. The short term goals are to make a fair profit and the long time goals of my business is to build a reputable brand status such as similar competitors ( Heidi's, Baskin Robins, Millies cookies). Eventually I would like the business to go global.

Financial Summary-

In order to start the business I will contribute my own money along with a loan from the bank. This money will cover the costs of equipment, company van, ingredients, marketing, shop rental and employment. In the first year of business, the aim is to keep the business open and running. There is no aim for profit in the first year. The first year should raise awareness and popularity and work on keeping the business running.

Elevator Pitch

Business name-

I chose the business name "Sweet Rosie's" because it is relevant to the type of business (cakes and pastries). By adding a name to the business it gives a friendly and homemaking feel. This is similar to the business "Auntie Anne's pretzels" which is a very successful global business and the name adds a friendly feel.

Strap line- 

The strap line of the business is "Fresh 'n' Friendly" a short snappy and memorably strap line which is well acossiated with the style of the business.

Section 2 - Owners Background 

Section 3- Products & Services 

My business is going to sell a product. The products sold will be cakes and pastries. There will be different types of products for example flavours, sizes and designs. A full range of products will be sold from the opening of the business, this is in order to entice new customers with the full range. 

Section 4- The market 

The customers of my business will be individuals. The customers will broadly be middle aged citizens of all ages. The products will be affordable. Typical customers are based in the UK although eventually customers will be based worldwide. Factors which help customers decide which business to buy from are: a good brand status, experience, price and quality of product. No products have been sold yet. 

Section 5- Market Research 

The market is very big. For example, the total annual revenue of bakeries in the USA is $3 billion. Sales in the market are continuing to rise. Although the market is not seasonal, the sales tend to decrease in January. Hot drinks and pastries sales tend to rise in the winter season. 

Similar business's to mine are Baskin Robins, Millie's Cookies, and Dream Cupcakes. All three of these business's are very successful. They have built up big brand status'. 

Section 6- Marketing Strategy

The best marketing strategies for my business are:

Word of mouth

This is an important strategy as it will often include recommendations. This is a free strategy and word of mouth will also increase with social networking. 

Social Media

This is a very effective way of marketing a business. It's free, and allows direct communication with customers. A Facebook and twitter page will be set up. It will allow customers to write reviews and check In. It also spreads awareness of the new business and word of mouth will increase potential customers. 

Website 

A website will allow customers to find their nearest bakery and browse the range of products. The website design will be free for the first year when made with www.one.com. This will allow time for the business to grow before allowing a budget for website design and maintenance. 

Section 7- Competitor Analysis 

Competitors:

Heidi's bakery 

Heidi's are a chain of bakeries/Cafés.

The bakeries are located across the UK.

They sell fresh pasties, sandwiches and cakes.

The prices at Heidi's are reasonable and the average cake costs £1.

The company is big across the UK and holds a good brand status.

The strength of Heidi's is that it is a reputable brand and the weakness is that the cafe is a traditional and has a regular set of customers, it isn't likely to attract new young customers with the style of cafe.

Dream Cupcakes

Dream cupcakes is a small individual cupcake store.

The bakery is located in West Quay shopping centre.

They sell a wide range of cupcakes.

The prices start at £1.75 for a classic cupcake.

The strength of the business is that the cupcakes are well presented and packaged nicely. This makes the customers feel that they have purchased something special. 

The weakness is that the business is yet to expand. 

Millie's Cookies 

Millie's cookies is a cookie and cupcake store.

They have various locations all across the UK.

They sell a wide range of cookies and cupcakes including giant personalised cookies.

The prices are various ranging from a few pounds to £14.99 for a giant personalised cookie.

The strength of the business is that there are options to personalise the cookies making them great gifts. This is a good USP.

The weaknesses is that the prices are more than other competitors like Heidi's. 

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is a wide range donut store.

They are located in USA and the UK.

They sell a wide range of world famous donuts.

They sell for £2 per donut and multi packs for around £10.

The strength of the business is that it is a well known famous brand. It also makes good gifts as gift boxes are available. They are also well presented. 

The weakness of Krispy Kreme is that it is yet to expand into Europe and Australia. The prices also cannot compete with supermarkets.

Section 8- Operations & Logistics 

It will take roughly 10 minutes to make the products depending on the detail of the specific product. Wholesale ingredients will be purchased. There is no minimum order. 

There will be no delivery system for customers. However, they can order their products online and collect in the local store. This is free of charge. 

Payments will be monthly via cheque. This is free of charge and will be the best payment method for a new business. When ordering online customers will pay a deposit via paypal, this is to ensure no working hours are wasted. Other than that, all payments will take place in store. 

Books will be calculated monthly by a fully trained accountant employee. 

The main supplier of ingredients is bookers wholesale. There will be no contract or monthly plan. For example, ingredients can be purchased in bulk for a cheap price. There will be no chance of the wholesaler letting the business down as it is a walk in shop. This is the only supplier.

There will be a company van, which will require a driving licence which I already have. 

The cost of the van will be approximately - £700

And the cost of running the van will be approximately - £100PM

Tax on the van will cost an estimate of- £200 per annum.

Equipment needed will be purchased from Currys- 

For example , a large oven, a dish washer, an electronic mixer, a fridge, and baking equipment.

All quotes were found from the currys website:

LG GB3133PVGW Fridge Freezer- Silver X2 £477.97 each 

Essentials CID60W12 Full size intergrated Dishwasher X2 £189.99 each

Stoves Richmond 1000GT Gas Range Cooker- Black £1,220.00

(This contains 3 ovens which is enough to maintain stock as they sell)

Kenwood Premier Chef KMC510 Kitchen Machine- White - £229.99

(All electronics are an energy rating of A) 

Baking Essentials Kit - £59.99 Amazon 

The business will be run from small individual shops. The premises will be rented on a 12 monthly contacted basis. The facilities contain lots of space out back for cooking equipment as well as good electrical circuit system to maintain all electronics. The first shop will be opened in West Quay shopping centre. This is convenient to customers and will drive more business. The stand style shop will be a small stand with space outback for other facilities. 

A legal requirement is registering with the council as I deal with food. I would need a trading licence. I would go to a lawyer firm and advisor for legal advice before opening my business.

Insurance will be required for the following:

Public liability

Protection to stock & equipment

Protection or goods in transit

I will run my own business however will employ the following members of staff:

Sales assistant (in order to serve customers)

Sales assistant (to assist the serving to customers as well as cleaning out back)

Assistant baker (to assist my baking tasks)

Finance accountant (to work out the books and turnover etc)

As the business grows, so will the number of employees.

Section 9- Costs & Pricing Strategy 

Section 10 - Financial Forecasts 

Section 11- Back Up Plan

Section 12- Business Plans Explained 

Bibliography:

http://www.one.com/en/?gclid=CjgKEAjw1fKaBRCJ8qTHyM35_kgSJACZQLzirt7gYd9RDljU3nPJZhNJxQhNqKlzCVYwkkf4gyYNg_D_BwE

https://www.milliescookies.com/product/home-sweet-home/

http://www.dreamcupcakes.co.uk/pages/Classic_Cupcakes

Social Enterprise Logo/Moodboard

Mood Board

Logo

Social Enterprise Report

Social Enterprise Report

introduction: 
Social enterprise is an alternative business option, when society profits. They trade and tackle social problems, improve communities and life chances. This report is linked to a live project. Social Enterprise is an up and coming thriving scheme allowing people to start their own business with funding available. Society has to profit in these businesses. Some Social Enterprises are more well known than others, one of the most well known Social Enterprise in the UK is The Big Issue Magazine. 

What makes a company a social enterprise?
 A social enterprise has a clear social/environmental mission set out in their governing documents.They have to generate more than 50% through their own trading activities. It is not a charity. Profits have to be generated. Social Enterprise is an alternative business option which allows the local community and society to benefit. Social Enterprises have a clear mission and sometimes environmental for example the eden project.

The rise in popularity of Social Enterprise
Social enterprise has had a rise in popularity and now the UK is home to 68,000 social enterprises. The Guardian newspaper states that although 3/4 of the public support social enterprises, only 20 percent know what they are. In order to raise the popularity further, firstly awareness needs to be raised. 

What is required legally
CIC (community interest companies) is required legally. It is a limited company, created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community/ society benefits. 

Funding available
The government-backed bank has an initial 600 million and will lend to social enterprises. This is just one of the fundings available. There are also ways to get funding without relying on government funds, for example: Kickstart.

Kickstart is a new programme run by experienced entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs which invests up to £30,000 to help fund early stage business - including sustainable social enterprises. There are many ways of funding similar to 'kickstart' for example here are some which I have researched: 

• www.kickstartinvestment.com
• www.unltd.org.uk
• www.startupbritain.org
• www.sicamp.org
• www.theemergelab.org

Case studies:

Who Made Your Pants:
This is a social enterprise located and formed originally in Southampton. It is a campaigning lingerie brand. All profits in the business go back into the business. They believe their pants can change the world. The costs go towards training, support & advice. Who Made Your Pants was inspired by human rights and was developed solely from this. The idea that started the social enterprise was that the founder stopped and thought about who made their pants and where they came from. Who made my pants is a social enterprise developed to empower human rights and prevent sweat shops. 

Hilsea Lido For The People: (HLPP)
The Hilsea Lido has been redeveloped and the splash pool has been reconstructed and given a new look as funded by the government. However, the Hilsea lido could not get the funding to re-open the swimming pool. Profits made in the social club area of the Blue Lagoon go into re-opening to pool. It is a developing social enterprise funding itself for the community of Portsmouth in order to re-open the pool. Hilsea Lido currently holds fundraising. They hold fundraising events, encourage donations, have the help of the community involvement, and seek business partners. Strong ties with the business community to access commercial expertise, fundraising support and donations is essential for the running of a commercially successful venue. The pizza house restaurant have hosted 2 highly successful fundraising events. The Hilsea Lido website states that: 'The Community Payback Team have worked long and hard to make sure that the site is clean and presentable.  They are continuing their support by preparing and painting the ladies toilets, clearing huge areas of overgrown shrubbery and unwanted trees from around the perimeter of the lido and digging out drainage holes and pipes that have been blocked up for years.' 
The Hilsea Lido now has office space at Enterprise House in the centre of Portsmouth. The team at the Lido are working hard to re-open the pool in order to profit local people and allow a safe place to swim and play. They are currently looking for lifeguards and are hoping to have the pool up and running by next summer. 

Yellow Kite Southsea Castle:
Yellow Kite is a social enterprise based in Southsea Castle. Yellow Kite is an organisation that hosts and makes lunches. The lunches they make are designed to help needy people. They sell for only £2.00. The website states: 'Yellow Kite, Pompey’s favourite social enterprise will be serving up a really decent meal for less than the price of a well-known burger. And guess what. It will be nutritious and tasty too. Well that’s what our very own masterchef Danny says.' Love lunch is a community project where all you need to do is turn up with proof of Portsmouth post code and £2.00 for a tasty and nutritious lunch. Yellow Kite is the most popular social enterprise in Portsmouth with its slogan 'food on a mission'. Yellow Kite has developed a range of support packages available now to all community cafes in the city where they can access guidance, grants and an opportunity for improving their current menu offer. They have just launched a' Meatball Monday' scheme where they teach folk young and old across the city how to make a wholesome meal for just £1, we started with meatballs but have much more planned. Their aim is for sustainability well into the future, giving a long-term legacy to all that healthy Pompey has achieved.


Conclusion:
I have found that Social Enterprise Schemes have been some what successful. The rise in popularity is only going to help improve success rates and help young people in the economy. A social enterprise is an effective way to set up a business as there is financial help available and the community and society will profit. It is a good alternative option to take when setting up a young business and with greater awareness of the scheme comes a greater number of social enterprise schemes in the community. 

Recommendation: 
Big field productions (a developing social enterprise) could use techniques in order to attract a young audience. The general audience will be attracted to the area if there is a USP linked to it that other places do not supply for them. For example, cheaper tickets to events than Vue cinemas or commercial businesses.
As it is in Petersfield it could attract the local audience by focusing on local events, for example it could link with the local football club (Petersfield or Liss) and hold events for the games and attract the young team members and friends to attend before/after the game. It could even develop into holding awards evenings for the teams and hold live music and quiz etc. It is these USP's that will attract a local audience and eventually word of mouth will spread the talk about Big Field Productions. This is another way to help profit society.


BIBLIOGRAPHY:

http://www.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-network/2013/jan/08/social-enterprise-popular-confusing-study

http://knowhownonprofit.org/how-to/how-to-get-funding-for-a-social-enterprise

http://www.whomadeyourpants.co.uk/pages/about-us

http://www.hilsea-lido.org.uk

http://www.yellowkite.org.uk/southsea-castle/

Social Enterprise

Notes:


An alternative business option-Social enterprises- when they profit society profits. They trade and tackle social problems, improve communities and peoples life chances.

Have a clear social/environmental mission set out in their governing documents.

They generate the majority of their income through trade. Social enterprises are controlled in the interest of the social mission. They are accountable and transparent.

They have to generate more than 50% through their own trading activities. It is not a charity. Profits have to be generated.

The UK is home to 68,000 social enterprises.

Ownership and control are essential questions in social enterprise and we believe that that it should be owned and controlled by the interest of the social mission.

The government-backed bank has an initial 600 million and will lend to social enterprises.