Idea Napkin No. 1

1) You. Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life?

My name is Nikki Shuman and I am a third year Business Administration major at the University of Florida. Currently, I work as a marketing intern for Smokin’ Notes and a Community Assistant for 2^nd Avenue Centre- a property of American Campus Communities. I believe my experiences in different clubs and events have given me skills working with people and leading groups. My aspirations are to obtain a corporate management position for an interesting and creative company. I believe a business project like this would give me experience leading a project, building something from the ground up (literally), and solving problems as obstacles deter me.

2) What are you offering to customers? Describe the product or service (in other words, how you'll solve customers' unmet needs). 

I am not only offering a library that would be extremely useful to the University Students, but an embellishment of the campus that symbolizes University of Florida’s growth. A new library would solve the current needs faced by the students of a lack of space, and in the same way it would modernize the campus and attract prospective students when they tour and apply.

3) Who are you offering it to? Describe, in as much detail as possible, the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your customers. Think especially of this question: what do your customers all have in common?

This product is being offered to both the students and the University itself. The demographic is young adults, specifically educated individuals ages 18-22+, both male and female with a wide variety of backgrounds. Due to the reputation of the University, it is apparent that many of the people in this demographic are extremely ambitious and focused on their academics. This is clear because the University has a high ranking and success rate.

4) Why do they care? Your solution is only valuable insofar as customers believe its valuable to them. Here, explain why customers will actually pay you money to use your product or service. 

These future customers care because they are currently facing an unmet need, and that need is a proper environment that will help them study and finish their work so that they can excel during their time as a university student. I especially believe customers will pay for the creation of this new building because the expansion of UF’s population is increasing the need for space.

5) What are your core competencies? What sets you apart from everyone else? Also: what do you have that nobody else has? 

One thing that sets this idea apart from everyone else is that there is currently nothing being done to solve this issue. It is a problem that has been around for many years and it continues to get worse as the time passes. Also, as the University of Florida improves and increases in the rankings, there becomes an additional need for the campus to grow and improve.

In addition to these five elements, please spend a paragraph evaluating whether you believe these elements fit together or whether there are aspects of your business concept that are weaker / out-of-joint with the others. 

While I am not quite certain if enough revenue and support can be generated to actually build an entirely new building, I do believe that the potential customers and users of the idea would support its success. In most instances, people agree that an unmet need regarding space on campus exists- whether it is parking space, gym space, or library space- even if the need is not directly impacting the individual. In this way, a new building for students would serve as a great solution to the problem if enough of the budget can be allocated to allow for it to occur.