Group Collaboration

My group came up with some ideas for an international business. One idea was to combine our ideas from our individual research reports. Our businesses were a dessert restaurant, a spa, and a coffee shop/cafe. We thought of starting a business targeted towards the young adult female population, which could be a spa with a dessert/cafe-type restaurant. We wanted to locate our business on one of the islands in the Carribean. One issue we faced was competition. There are probably numerous spas located on the islands because of the tourists and the locals. Therefore, we may to have to differentiate our business.

Advertising for the Cafe

I did an analysis of the most effective advertising methods for the cafe at the Cinema Center. It is very important that the advertising is effective because the coffee shop and cafe business is growing rapidly. Moreover, the Cinema Center is not well-known to young adults, therefore it is important that the advertising reaches to them. Another important factor considered was the cost, which needs to be within the budget. One type of media that was considered was the radio, which would be the most effective method of advertising in Fort Wayne because most young adults listen to it in their cars. Another media was the television. This would be the most effective advertising method, but it is too expensive for a new business. Some of the places to advertise would be places where a vast majority of young adults attend, such as in the local colleges and shopping centers. Also, the popular Fort Wayne radio stations would be another effective area to reach a young adult audience.

Trendy Cafe- Max's Kansas City

I mentioned in my previous post about designing my cafe after Max's Kansas City. I want to give a more detailed history of this popular hangout. Max's was a historic restaurant/bar located in New York City. It was one of the most popular spots for artists, writers, and musicians during the late sixties and early seventies. Everyone from Andy Warhol to Truman Capote and Jim Morrison, enjoyed the "outrageous" and "chic" atmosphere of this bar. Max's was known as a "safe haven" in which everybody could be themselves and express ideas. There were three rooms, the Front Room, the Back Room, and Upstairs. The Front Room included paintings and sculptures. The Back Room consisted of large round tables where people, such as Warhol, socialized. Upstairs was the place for musical performances. The Velvet Underground with Nico and the New York Dolls were some of the bands that entertained ("Max's Kansas City")

Questionnaire for Business Research Report

Some of the questions I asked young adults was about their preferences of cafes or coffee shops. These questions included whether they enjoyed hearing musical performances when their were at cafes and if they preferred to listen to people express themselves through artisitic performances, other than music. Also, I asked them if they preferred a calm atmosphere when sipping a cup of coffee or whether they preferred an exciting atmosphere when sipping a cup of coffee. The questions I asked regarding the trendy interior of a cafe was if they preferred the neutral decor of coffee shops or if they preferred the bold/retro decor of coffee shops. A relevant question asked was if they felt that Fort Wayne needed something new for young adults to socialize. The locations in which the interviews took place was at St. Francis University, IPFW, and IVY Tech. The ages of these young adults were 18 to 35.

Trendy Cafes

For my research proposal, the purpose is to attract a young adult audience at the Cinema Center in order to "generate more sales" (even though the Cinema Center is a non-for-profit organization). In order to attract a wider young adult audience, I proposed an expansion with a cafe. I would want this cafe to differentiate itself from the millions of other cafe shops in the country. In other words, this cafe should be more trendy or stylish than any other cafe. One idea for researching cafes would be to reference famous cafes from the past, such as popular cafes in New York City or Hollywood. These cafes did more than serve coffee, they entertained artists and musicians. It was a place where people could escape and it had a creative atmosphere to it. One cafe/restaurant/bar in particular would be Max's Kansas City in New York. I think a trendy cafe should offer a creative atmosphere. It should be able to accommodate numerous activities, such as musical performances. It should be a place were people can socialize and then go watch a movie in the theatre. I think this would differentiate my cafe from all other cafes.

Project Proposal

I am trying to put together a project proposal for my business plan. Instead of independently establishing my own business, which was to bring movies, music, and socializing together, I thought it would be more practical to work alongside with another business. I would not have to invest high amounts of money if I already have a business who is willing to help me out, and in turn, my plan would hopefully generate more business for them. I thought it would be interesting to use the Fort Wayne Cinema Center as an example for my business proposal. The Cinema Center plays all different sorts of movies, both current and classics, which usually do not get played in the large theatres. Therefore, it would already provide the cinema aspect to my business plan. The small one-theatre building has a welcoming, more personal atmosphere to it. Also, it has plenty of room to add of "cafe" type area. I think the "expansion of the Cinema Center" would be a perfect and feasible project proposal.

Things I Enjoy

I enjoy watching movies, looking at magazines, and reading books. Also, I enjoy listening to music while drinking jones sodas or hot chocolate. Furthermore, I like the old downtown atmosphere, such as the cinema center and the old brick buildings. I want to propose a business where one could enjoy all these things at the same time (not literally). Fort Wayne has the Downtown Cinema Center, Barnes and Noble, the downtown library, and local coffee shops with live music. I want to start a business where one could combine all those places into one. I want to create a warm atmosphere were people can get together and feel welcomed. The ideal setting for this business would be in an old, open two-story building. There would be a projector screen on one side, where movies would be showcased at selected times. Moveover, the open area would be ideal for live music. We can have bands that have little exposure and give them a meduim to get their music heard.