30A – Final Reflection

1. The most fun moment was doing the extra credit and actually making a business. I torched people's driveways with a weed torch and made $120. The sessions was really fun too.
2. Same answer here. The extra credit really opened my eyes to how simple yet complex true entrepreneurship is. Prof. Pryor taking a dump on people's ideas (mine included) was a real learning experience. 
3. I think I'm much closer. I now know the true definition of an opportunity compared to what I thought an opportunity was at first.
4. I recommend all students do the extra credit. It's a huge boon to the grade and absolutely eye opening.

Venture Concept No. 2

The opportunity here is comic fans in the North Orlando/Oviedo area who have no store to go to. The lack of something is not necessarily an opportunity. But in my experience, being a part of that group, large swaths of people in the area are raring for a store that isn't immensely far away.

The nature of the need is one that the people feel at least weekly, if not more often. This opportunity is created by a need for a comic store where there is none. The market is defined demographically and geographically by mostly middle aged permanent residents and younger aged transient college students. They are currently satisfying their needs by pirating comics, driving further distances, or purchasing digital. They are not loyal to these because most comic fans would rather pay for hard copies of comics at stores close to them. This opportunity is not huge, to say the least. This window of opportunity will be open until a store opens.

I will be selling comics and comic related merchandise from a brick and mortar store in an easy to access location. In the grand scheme, this is nothing new, but there isn't one close to the area where there are many willing/potential customers. I will sell comics for regular retail price, as well as figures, t shirts, posters, and more, for their usual retail price. For rarer collectibles, I will price higher, so as to make a profit.

Customers will switch to this because most customers like having a store that's close by with reasonable prices, compared to digital or piracy. It will be easy to get them to switch once they hear about the store, which will be easy to do in the day of social media. The competitors may be regular book stores, which sell certain comics, but not to the extent that an actual store does. There would only be a few regular employees needed. As the owner, I would also work in the store. The most important part of this is inventory and location. Having a wide selection of products as well as having an easy to access location in a friendly area are the driving forces for success.

My most important resource is my location and friendliness. I need to get people who will come back in the door just once to start building a repertoire with them.

Next for the venture would be physically doing it. The first part is the most expensive- getting a building and starting inventory.

In the future, I want to have a steady customer base that pays for the shop and then some. I know I won't get rich off this, but the area is relatively cheap to live, so I think I could make a living off of it.


I received feedback encouraging specific location choice and building customer relationships.

I did not change anything. I had already included that I wanted a specific location and that the focus of my business would be great customer service.

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

1. The final book I read was Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. The thing that surprised me most was how much he was in debt while trying to get his companies off the ground. I admired that he admitted he was not smart, strategic, or coy, as most people would assume entrepreneurs are. He traveled his own path rather than the one society often expects from business starters. I did not notice anything in particular that I actively did not admire. We're not perfectly alike or anything, I just did not find anything wrong with what he wrote. Likely, he left out any truly bad stuff, since it's an autobiography.
2. His primary competency was his drive and tenacity. He kept persevering despite huge amounts of debt and constant setbacks. He kept trying his ideas in different ways until they finally worked, and the rest is history. 
3. Nothing in this book confused me.
4. I would ask him:
1. What inspired you to do things the way you did? I'm sure many have followed, or tried to follow, in Phil Knight's footsteps, so whose was he trying to follow in, if anyone?
2. Is there anything you would change about the business, knowing what you know now?
5. Knight was probably the hardest worker of the three books I read. The others, Ray Kroc and Scott Adams, did put in the time and money to get where they wanted to get, but Phil Knight had to actively suffer to persevere.

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1. I plan on running the store for a few years. If it's profitable, keep it open. If it's not profitable, I'd just close it. So I suppose my exit strategy is to run it until it no longer is viable to run, then shut it down. It would be a sad day for me and my customers but if it's no longer making money, then there's nothing I can do. 
2. I've selected this because this venture is more of a passion project for me than a hugely profitable money making store. Obviously I want to make a living and have money, but this idea is more of something I'm passionate about.
3. It's probably influenced how much I'm willing to risk for this venture. It's not something I NEED to do, so I'm less willing to risk a lot for something I ultimately only see as a fun dream rather than a reality I want to happen.

26A – Celebrating Failure

1. Earlier this semester, I was planning for a friend's birthday. I messed up the plans and the whole group of us who were going to go out for an activity on his birthday had to turn around after driving for 40 minutes and go home. It was pretty embarrassing. I had tried to get everyone together for dinner before we went, but one person was late (and I knew they'd be late, but didn't think it would matter). We were supposed to go without that person but I tried to accommodate everyone, and it ended up meaning we couldn't do the thing we got tickets for.
2. I learned to just stick to the thing you know will work, instead of trying to please everyone. 
3. Failure is certainly embarrassing, especially when your failure directly negatively affects people you care about. But seeing how much people fail, and reading how much time and money is wasted on failure, and that most people don't make it, I think I'm less likely to take a risk now than I was before the class. Probably not the answer they were looking for, but that's how I feel. 

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

The opportunity here is comic fans in the North Orlando/Oviedo area who have no store to go to. The lack of something is not necessarily an opportunity. But in my experience, being a part of that group, large swaths of people in the area are raring for a store that isn't immensely far away.

The nature of the need is one that the people feel at least weekly, if not more often. This opportunity is created by a need for a comic store where there is none. The market is defined demographically and geographically by mostly middle aged permanent residents and younger aged transient college students. They are currently satisfying their needs by pirating comics, driving further distances, or purchasing digital. They are not loyal to these because most comic fans would rather pay for hard copies of comics at stores close to them. This opportunity is not huge, to say the least. This window of opportunity will be open until a store opens.

I will be selling comics and comic related merchandise from a brick and mortar store in an easy to access location. In the grand scheme, this is nothing new, but there isn't one close to the area where there are many willing/potential customers. I will sell comics for regular retail price, as well as figures, t shirts, posters, and more, for their usual retail price. For rarer collectibles, I will price higher, so as to make a profit.

Customers will switch to this because most customers like having a store that's close by with reasonable prices, compared to digital or piracy. It will be easy to get them to switch once they hear about the store, which will be easy to do in the day of social media. The competitors may be regular book stores, which sell certain comics, but not to the extent that an actual store does. There would only be a few regular employees needed. As the owner, I would also work in the store. The most important part of this is inventory and location. Having a wide selection of products as well as having an easy to access location in a friendly area are the driving forces for success.

My most important resource is my location and friendliness. I need to get people who will come back in the door just once to start building a repertoire with them.

Next for the venture would be physically doing it. The first part is the most expensive- getting a building and starting inventory.

In the future, I want to have a steady customer base that pays for the shop and then some. I know I won't get rich off this, but the area is relatively cheap to live, so I think I could make a living off of it.

25A – What’s Next?

Existing Market

1. The next thing for products and services in my venture would be, I think, combined digital and print comic services. I think if you could go to shop, buy a comic, and get a digital comic, even more people would go into brick and mortar comic shops.
2. I spoke to members of the Gator Comics club here at UF. They all wanted to make sure we had more than just comics. Stuff like figures, t shirts, posters, and other merch. 

I think it's important to make sure the experience at my comic shop is very personable. We need to carry a wide variety of items for any level of comic interest. We would have deep cuts and obscure comics for the lifelong collector, but also the surface level, popular stuff for new readers or movie fans.
Additional to having all types of comics, we must have other things for people to buy, too. Some figures, posters, and other merch can get incredibly expensive. Most people who are into the hobby get REALLY into it. But we can't just have $100+ stuff. We also have to have cheaper, but still good quality, stuff for people to buy. Fun t shirts, fun collectibles, and other comic-related merchandise is the key. I need a store with diverse products.

New Market

1. My market is currently B2C. I could try to sell B2B. Business to business sales would be acting as a middle man between comic distributors and some other market. Maybe other independent book stores that aren't necessarily comic stores?
2. My venture would create value in this new market by allowing those businesses to have a new market. This might undermine my first, business, though. I would go in with the idea of getting stores to buy comics from me to resell.
3. The people I talked to didn't seem to think this was a real possibility. Mostly, if someone wants comics, they'll buy them from the company itself. A possibility is selling comics that are no longer in print to these shops.
4. The second market is not as attractive as the first market. It is not as lucrative, and not as much of an opportunity. I kind of assumed this would be the case here, so I am not surprised. 

23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

1. A wide support system of family with resources
1. Very valuable
2. Somewhat rare, many people have this but many people don't
3. Not unique
4. It is non-substitute.
2. My college, business-related education
1. Very valuable. About $80k by the end of it, according to the state of Florida.
2. About 33% of Americans 25 and up have a college degree, so rare
3. It is imitable, anyone can get a degree
4. No other resource can provide the exact benefits of a college education
3. Full college scholarship, no debt, and good credit
1. Very valuable. Also about $80k by the end of four years worth of tuition (not counting paying for classes and rent and stuff)
2. Very rare to graduate with no debt at all
3. Very hard to copy
4. Almost no other resource at this stage of my life could have provided this
4. A vast knowledge of the industry I want to break into due to years of involvement
1. Very valuable
2. Not rare at all
3. Not hard to copy
4. The internet could provide the same benefits, but it's better to have it in my head
5. Some very minor contacts in the industry
1. Very valuable to be able to contact creators
2. Not so rare, usually people know at least a couple other people
3. Not hard to copy, just make friends
4. It is non substitutable

21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

For the second reading, I chose How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams.

1. The general theme of the book is that a person's failures lead them to success. Adams gave many personal examples of how he'd failed during his life, but which led to him becoming the successful creator of Dilbert.
2. I liked that he spoke about his personal failures. Being the entire theme of the book, failure was always on my mind while reading this book. Similarly, I failed at my first business idea. When I went in to the lecture and told Dr. Pryor my idea, he took a dump all over it- and rightly so, it sucked. Now I have a better idea of how to make money, and what I was doing wrong before. That failure led to my success.
3. I would try to get people from the idea of a goal to the idea of a system. I liked how Adams wrote about making systems instead of setting goals. I would want the class to state goals they have, and change that into a system that would lead to that goal. So instead of aiming for an A in a tough class, the student would study, attend lectures, and do practice homework instead of just aiming for an A arbitrarily.

4. My biggest surprise was how many times Adams failed before making it big. I guess it really opened my eyes. It reminds me of the old saying, "the master has failed more times than the student has even tried."

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

https://youtu.be/N37Tm4DyvwQ

I think what was most important was combining the facts that matter with dynamic information that investors would want to hear. In the first pitch, I had too many facts and not enough pizzazz. In the second, it got better, based on my feedback. In the third, I tried to perfect things based off the feedback. I used the second video as a springboard.

I mostly improved the facts. Some were not as relevant as I thought (certain demographics numbers). I also tried to be more animated and dynamic. 

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

1. I am still just a student. I'm not a business student, but I am a telecommunication student with a business management specialization. Much of what I have learned makes my degree, essentially, a hybrid one. Although I have not taken very many business classes yet (this has been my second), by the time I graduate, I will have taken more. I have taken consumer analytics class, and I think that knowledge transfers well to this situation. If I were to go forward with my store idea, it would likely be the center-point of my professional life. The more I think about it, the less I actually want to do that, but here we are.
2. Right now, the customers are comic inclined fans in the north Orlando area. The unmet need is lack of a local store. People have to drive a larger distance or not at all for something they would otherwise greatly enjoy. The lack of something is not necessarily an unmet need, but in my case, I have spoken to many local fans that would actively use a local shop (or so they say).
3. All my customers have in common location and preferred entertainment. Location is the north Orlando/UCF/Oviedo area. Preferred entertainment is comics or comic related things. Age is 18-49. Sex is most often going to be male. The main things I'm looking for is location and entertainment. The age and sex are less important to the store, but important for marketing.
4. Customers can get comics online. They can pirate them, or they can order them delivered to their house. Why do they care about a brick and mortar shop? Comic culture is all about going to the shop, making friends with the owner, and just spending time there. Even outside of that, supporting local shops is important to many in the comic fandom, and right now, in the Oviedo area, there's no easy way for fans to do that. A store in the area solves all of these problems. 
5. I honestly don't know what I have that no one else has. A University of Florida education? A college education isn't exactly rare these days, and mine isn't even really in business. 

My first four points fit together pretty well. I have some education, I know who my customer base is, what they want, and why they'd choose me over another source. However, I need to find a personal niche to fill. I have to have studied harder, done more, or otherwise been successful in a way that others weren't. 

I only had a little feedback, but it recommended me to not focus on college towns since vintage comics can be pricey. While that is true, 99% of comics are $2 or less, and one of the main draws of a comic shop is coming in weekly, as needed, to get the newest comics as they come out (industry standard is Wednesdays). 

17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2

• All the feedback I received on my last pitch involved me either not getting to the point of the product, or me being too stiff. I definitely saw what they meant by the first point. I got too wrapped up in the numbers and data and didn't focus on the idea itself. As for the second point, I totally agree and I knew it when I filmed it. It's harder to film standing with a camera compared to behind a podium or even face to face with someone.
• I changed my pitch almost completely. I wanted to blend the idea and the data behind the idea more elegantly. I also tried to have more dynamic body language, which I'm absolutely sure looked awkward. Please roast me. Last time I was too stiff, so this time I tried different gestures and gesticulations, which I don't think look great. By pitch 3 I'll have it down. 

18A – Create a Customer Avatar

• The main hobby my customer has is comic books.
• They likely drive an older car, in average condition.
• They watch fantasy, superhero, and action television and movies.
• They likely don't have children, or have very young children.
• Their favorite books are picture books, aka comic books. 
• They likely prefer democrat politicians.
• They are either between 20-30 or 50+ (new comic readers or old ones).
• The old ones want to feel younger, which is why they pursue a hobby from when they were young.

• I have in common with the customer:
• Obviously, the comic hobby.
• My car is 12 years old and in average condition for the make and model of that year.
• I don't actually watching fantasy or superhero television, I prefer comedies. But perhaps my customers do too. 
• I don't have children.
• I do like reading actual books, in addition to comics. 
• Politics.
• I am 20.
• I do not think my age factors into my hobby. Mostly the older generation of comic readers think about their age. 

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

1. I have a weird set of skills. I'm not good at that much stuff. I have interests that are out of the societal norm. Sometimes I am shy and don't want to talk to people and sometimes I am very outgoing. Usually it depends on how much alcohol I've ingested. Just kidding :). Seriously though, my skills range from Photoshop to DJ experience to badminton to comic knowledge to writing defense papers. I am good at arguing. Some have told me I should be a lawyer, but that seems like a very competitive field, and I'd rather apply my skills elsewhere. That being said, I love formulating arguments and executing them. 
2. .
1. Interview 1 is with my girlfriend. She says that I have unique skills and abilities based on what I've learned in the past. Emotionally, she says I have emotions that are sometimes not evident.
2. Interview 2 is with my father. He says that I see things as black and white, and that I have impressive self taught skills. 
3. Interview 3 is with my mother. She also says that I see things as black and white, but that I can absorb knowledge and articulate it clearly.
4. Interview 4 is with one of my best friends. He says that I have a lot of random knowledge that no one really knows, but he doesn't know what skills or abilities I have, other than musical instruments. 
5. Interview 5 is with one of my other best friends. He also states that I have a lot of knowledge, and he says that I am very efficient when it comes to problem solving.
3. I did think that I have powerful information absorption skills, but I did not call myself out on seeing things too black and white. For some situations, like a class assignment or out in the world, it can be a good thing, but for my relationships, sometimes it makes arguments worse. I think my interviewees are correct about me. I would consider myself to be efficient. They've known me anywhere from five to 20 years of my life, so I think they have a pretty good grasp on what makes me, me. 

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

1. Male 20
1. The interviewee picks based on the atmosphere of the shop, as well as proximity. However, they're most likely to still just pirate comics online to read them. If they are in a shop, they are usually there for a specific reason, like a special issue or other merchandise. They think good purchases are ones that they had pre-planned for, and they are satisfied with purchases that they could get a comparable price online for.
2. Male 25
1. The interviewee picks based on the closest shop to them, whether they are in Gainesville or in their hometown. This person regularly reads comics, and buys in person. They only pirate comics online when they can't get a specific comic in person or from an online store legitimately. They go to their local shop every Wednesday to pick up their regular issues, because they have subscription deals with their favored shops. They also get commemorative issues and figurines. They are satisfied with most things they buy at their favored shops because of the repertoire they have built up with the employees.
3. Female, 22
1. The interviewee picks based on the closest shop to them. This person regularly reads comics. They mix their purchases with online reading on their tablet. They have a subscription to an online service, so they don't often go into shops. Sometimes they go in just to see if there are interesting things to buy. They are satisfied with the (not frequent) purchases they make in shops based on whether they can find it online for an equal price, and whether the thing they found is rare.
4. Summarize
1. I think I need to intensely target people who lack a space close by, and who want the experience of going in. It seems like piraters and legitimate e-readers are a lost market. I could possibly attract them to come into the shop and buy other things, but it does not seem like they would be regular purchasers. I can further segment my segment by diving comic readers into legitimate, paperback comic readers with no location nearby.

14A – Halfway Reflection

1. I just make it a habit to keep up with the assignments, lectures, readings, and announcements. It's not too hard when Canvas organizes everything for you. In terms of the business opportunity itself, I just think about it a lot, and it makes doing the related assignments easier. 
2. I've never really been the kind of person to give up, but that's because I only take on things that I know I can handle. I would say this course, so far, has made me think a bit more about going beyond my comfort zone, and taking on things I'm not sure I can handle. Sometimes, that can be a good thing. Having to think through my elevator pitch, and finding details and statistics to flesh out why my opportunity will be a success, has made me realize that maybe I can handle a little bit more. 
3. Keep up with everything on Canvas, the information is all beneficial to you. Go out of your comfort zone in a way that is still safe for you. Don't be afraid to do, say, or write something embarrassing (recording the elevator pitch), because these people want to help, and you'll probably never see them again anyway.

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

I read Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s, by Ray Kroc.

1. .
1. I did not know that McDonald's was not even really made by the McDonald brothers. The original store was, but Ray Kroc kind of took the brand from them and made it huge.
2. Ray Kroc never knew when to quit. He knew what he wanted and he got it, no matter what adversity stood in his way. Even though it took him until his 50s to make it big, he never stopped trying.
3. Kroc did not treat the original McDonald brothers very well, I don't think. He kind of bullied them into franchising and selling their name and brand. 
4. Kroc did encounter a lot of adversity and failure. He worked during the depression, and worked a lot of jobs that didn't really get him anywhere, before hitting McDonald's.
2. Ray Kroc knew how to sell - anything. He knew how to sell things and how to grow a business, no matter what the decade was, or economic climate. He made his company profitable even during one of the worst economic downturns in the country.
3. Much of the Chicago-specific nomenclature and references were lost on me, but I figure someone who has lived in Chicago would know what those mean. It did not detract from my overall understanding of the book or the entrepreneurial story.
4. I would ask Kroc what he thought of McDonald's competition which has majorly sprung up since his death. I would also ask him what other modern business he sees a bright future for.
5. Kroc's whole shtick was hard work. He worked hard from the age of 15 all the way up until his death. I usually think working smarter is better than working hard, because you can be the hardest worker on something that isn't valuable, and your hard work is wasted.

12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

1. My market segment would be comic readers. This is fairly explicit and obvious, in my case.
2. Interviewed three people from the Gator Comics club.
1. Male, 21
1. Where they're from does not have a local comic shop. The closest one is half an hour away. This mirrors my town's problem. They wish they had a comic store they could go to when they're in their hometown. They visit comic stores in Gainesville when they're at school, but when they're at home, they have to read online. Even though it's cheaper and easier to read online, this person would still rather go to a store at least once a week because he enjoys the experience. When he first started attending UF, he simply used Google Maps to find where the comic shops were.
2. Female, 18
1. Her hometown has a comic shop, but it is apparently not very good. This does not line up exactly with my opportunity, but I think it's close enough to warrant discussion. She would go to a comic shop for big releases and for other events, but she doesn't have the regular income to buy weekly comics. She says she wants to start buying them, but as a broke college student, pirating online is the way to go for her right now. 
3. Male, 25
1. He goes to the comic shops in Gainesville, but doesn't buy things regularly. He does not have a comic shop in his hometown. He likes to make friends with the people working in the shop, and hang out in the shop. He does not regularly buy comics, but he often buys snacks, drinks, or less frequently, other merchandise. He also buys important or big event issues. He generally googles comic shops when he moves to a new place.
3. This segment feels their need often, if they're in a place without a comic shop. At least once per week. The information search is very basic, because most people would just google for a store in their area. Furthermore, most comic fans would already know about a store in their area. The main issue would be getting word out that it exists now. I would attempt to partner with some of the tabletop game shops in the area, as the segments for comic shops and tabletop game shops are adjacent, and share many people.

11A – Idea Napkin No. 1

1. I am a Telecommunication - Management major. I've learned about how to run a different type of business, not a storefront, but I think many of those skills are transferable. I would see this business as my main venture, at least for the first few years. I think I would dedicate most of my time to hands-on running the store.
2. I'm offering customers a) comic books and comic merchandise, as well as other "nerd related" things to purchase, and b) the experience of being in a comic shop with like-minded individuals and employees they can become friendly with.
3. I am offering this to comic book readers and fans. The most easily identifiable group of this is males aged 18-49. This will be in a town without a comic book store, so it would be the only one, thereby catering to the whole population of two towns plus the UCF student population.
4. Customers would care because my store would be the only option in the area. If they want comics, and don't want to drive 20 minutes or more, often via expensive toll roads, they come to my store. Those who would become regulars would have a personal reason to keep coming back.
5. I honestly don't want to do anything super special, I just want to fill a niche where there is one. Ideally, there just won't be any competition, because there hasn't been a comic store in my town for at least the last 12 years I've lived there. So, I guess what I have that nobody else has, is the store itself, where there aren't any others. 

I think, for the most part, that all of these fit together nicely. My concern is that there isn't a comic store in Oviedo because there used to be, but it failed. But I have never seen one, and my research hasn't come up with anything, so I don't know if there's just never been one or if there was one but it wasn't popular. Regardless, even if there was one more than 10 years ago, the student population of UCF is big enough that I think I could sustain business from that and the people in the adjacent towns.

10A – Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Who: The most common issue for my idea is that many comic readers in today's world simply pirate their comics. Although comic pirates fit every other criteria for my opportunity, they fall outside the boundary due to the fact that they will never pay for comics regularly. There is still the chance that these people would buy other comic related merchandise, but that is not the prime mover of the opportunity.

What: My need is specific to the area of my city. It is geographically a small area and there are no other comic shops in it. The closest thing to this opportunity would be board/tabletop game shops, of which there are a few close to UCF, and chain gaming stores like GameStop. However, while those stores may carry merchandise such as statues, figures, or apparel, they would not carry comic issues.

Why: The underlying need is different because it is unlikely that people who are not already comic fans would use the store. The boundary itself separates comic fans from everyone else. Surely, the store would still cater to non-readers, but the main opportunity lies with the population of comic fans in the area who don't have a store to go to.

I can't figure out how to make a table in Blogger, so I'm just going to type it.

Inside the Boundary
Comic book readers/fans.
The need is a comic store in Oviedo, Florida.
The need exists because there is not store closer than a 20 minute drive.
Outside the Boundary
People who are not comic fans are outside the boundary.
The need is not for a specialty game store.
There are at least 2 specialty game shops. If my store would carry some tabletop stuff, as comic stores often do, it would have to be generic or common things, which would be purchased as an afterthought at the comic store. Nobody will go to the comic store specifically for games when they could go to the game store for it.

8A – Solving The Problem

1. The city of Oviedo, Florida, does not have a local comic shop, despite fast-changing demographics of the city suggesting there would be customers for one. The closest comic shop is over 20 minutes away by toll road highway. 
2. A Local Comic Shop, henceforth abbreviated as LCS, would be a success in the city of Oviedo. Oviedo is in need of an LCS due to the demographics of the city shifting as the city grows bigger in wealth and in population. It is in a good school district with quality public schools, meaning many new or young families live there. These are potential customers. It is also a short drive from UCF, and many UCF students live there. College-aged males are a big part of comic readership, so this represents potential customers as well. The neighboring city, Winter Springs, and Oviedo share many places of food and drink, entertainment, and shopping, due to the cities' proximity to each other. An LCS in Oviedo would still be a very short drive for someone in Winter Springs, thereby serving that population as well. Finally, UCF has many small game (board games, pen and paper games, tabletop games, not video games - though there is some overlap) shops located around it, but no LCSes. These two hobbies share a large portion of their customers, so the amount of successful game stores suggests that an LCS in a nearby area would also be successful.

7A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1. Comic shop in Oviedo, Florida
2. The city of Oviedo, Florida, is on the rise, but there is no comic book store within city limits. The closest stores are 20 minutes away or further. 
1. The who: Oviedo citizens (potentially neighbor city Winter Springs citizens as well).
2. The what: People who are part of comic culture have no close place to gather or fulfill their comic related needs.
3. The why: Oviedo does not have any comic stores.
3. Testing the...
1. who: Everyone in my "who" shares the need, because that is who my "who" is targeting. Confusing language, but I will elaborate. Comic book fans, as a whole, enjoy the experience of going to comic shops. One of the foundations of the comic book culture is going to your Local Comic Shop, commonly abbreviated to LCS. Going to an LCS is about more than picking up that week's issues and leaving; it's about having someplace where you know you can always find like-minded peers, have healthy debates, or just shoot the breeze with friends.
2. what: Do all comic fans necessarily want to go somewhere, even close by? What about people who shop solely online? Not all comic fans need a real life place to gather, considering the prevalence of online forums. Also, not as many people read comics as used to.
3. why: Maybe there's a good reason there isn't an LCS in my hometown. Did previous attempts at one fail? Has there ever been an LCS in Oviedo? Was it successful? The demographics of Oviedo may just not be the same ones that make a successful comic store. 
4. Many comic fans these days want the experience of a comic shop. I expected this. However, many bypass the physical comics altogether, and just read digital. I found that people who only got into comics by reading digital do not have as much of an interest in a brick and mortar shop compared to people who got into the hobby with physical issues. There are some who have never been to an LCS, or have only been sparingly, that would like to have an actual close location to go to. Additionally, I surveyed UF's Comics club, and although this does not pertain specifically to my hometown, many of the members actually do take extra steps to get their comics in person and hang out in the LCS environment. 
5. I did not think about the fact that there are a lot of comic fans who only read online. Many of those fans read by pirating content, which I understood and expected, but I thought that was only for convenience. As seen in the music industry, the more convenient a method of content retrieval is, the more it is used, even it costs money (streaming music vs pirating). I thought this would be true for the comic industry, and it is in some cases, but not nearly to the extent I expected. 
1. I may have to amend my idea to make it less niche.

6A – Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

1. Owning Property in Gainesville
1. https://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Gainesville-Florida/market-trends/
2. I think that the increase in the price of Gainesville real estate over the past 10 years indicates that owning property in Gainesville is an opportunity.
3. If you're the one owning property, selling or renting to college students and/or their families is the best customer.
4. This is difficult to get into but easy to make profit from. It's hard to get into because you have to have the money to buy property. It would be easy to sell because UF is the best university in Florida and many of its students have families with the means to buy or rent your property.
5. I think real estate is always in the back of every entrepreneur's mind. It's something that's easy to understand but hard to master.
2. Shipping and Logistics for Online Retailers
1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/266282/annual-net-revenue-of-amazoncom/
2. I think that the increase of Amazon revenue indicates that many more things are being sold online, and someone has to ship that. This also follows with other retailers but Amazon is the biggest and most obvious example. 
3. Online retailers, both big and small, need someone to ship their product. USPS, UPS, Fedex, and other logistics are the most well known logistics companies, but for mass transportation, more trucks are needed.
4. Thinking on it, I believe this opportunity would be difficult to exploit. There are already many established logistics companies. This opportunity would have to be different enough to make someone choose it over a reliable company.
5. I formed this belief based on the idea that more revenue means more product sold means more product shipped. I believe Amazon does in house shipping, but other online retailers have the same needs.
3. A Business for Rehabilitating Greyhounds
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/08/greyhound-racing-ban-florida-means-thousands-dogs-will-need-new-homes/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.209af88177b8
2. Greyhound racing was voted to be made illegal this past November, and in two years or less, those dogs are going to have nowhere to go. There will be a business for taking in greyhounds that aren't "worth" anything to their previous owners who only used them to race.
3. The customer will be people who will pay to give us their old dogs, and also, people who would buy rehabilitated greyhounds.
4. This is difficult to exploit. It requires veterinarian experience as well as a the time and space to care for big athletic dogs. It also won't be a long lasting opportunity.
5. I see this opportunity because I wonder where all the dogs were going to go. I figure many of the owners don't actually care about the dogs as pets, so who will care for them?
4. Selling Green Energy Devices
1. https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/home-ownership/energy-tax-credit-which-home-improvements-qualify/L5rZH56ex
2. Tax credits for having renewable energy devices in a house or business were changed for tax year 2018. Selling green technology is about to be huge.
3. The customer would be people wanting to implement or purchase green technology in order to start saving from tax credits.
4. This is difficult to exploit due to the cost of manufacturing renewable technology such as solar panels. It can be costly and there is a growing, but not guaranteed, buying market. 
5. I see this opportunity because some people I know opted to get one car over another due to the one car being electric because of the way the tax credits are in the new tax year.

5A – Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Nursing homes value profits more than care of elderly - Guest column
1. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0125%21January%2B25&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1712BE1D9627E7D0
2. The nursing home industry claims that its nursing homes are broke and that residents need more money for better care, but in reality, nursing homes get a lot of money through lobbying and subsidies. They use that money to line the administrators' pockets and pay for lobbyists.
3. The problem is that there is a major disconnect between nursing home admins and the nursing homes themselves, especially in chain homes.
4. The elderly in the homes, their families, and the lower level workers in the homes all share this problem.
2. Police: Drug heist led to fatal shooting
1. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0125%21January%2B25&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1712BE1C95C33290
2. A man involved in a drug theft shot someone on the escape and killed him. The police were able to capture the shooters and recover the drugs.
3. The problem is that some people stole a bunch of drugs from other people and one of them was killed in the process.
4. The killer has this problem, the accomplices have this problem, and the deceased and the deceased's loved ones have this problem. Also, the community in which this happened.
3. UCF officials stripped of bonuses - President, ex-CFO sanctioned after misspending of $38M
1. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0125%21January%2B25&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1712BE1D699F51B8
2. The UCF President and CFO were stripped of their bonuses, and the CFO resigned, after mismanaging funds to the tune of $38 million on the construction of a new building.
3. The problem is that the President and former CFO spent money in a way that the state does not allow schools to spend budget surpluses. 
4. The UCF President and former CFO have one problem. The state has another problem. The students and employees have the problem of money being mismanaged at their institution.
4. Abused wife needs a safety plan, exit strategy
1. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0125%21January%2B25&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1712BE1E05462C88
2. There is a woman who wants advice in working things out with her husband. She thinks he's good but in reality he slaps her and trips her. The writer suggests she get out ASAP with the kids. 
3. The problem is the abusive husband and the woman who thinks her husband isn't as bad as he really is.
4. The woman and her kids have the problem with the stepfather/husband. The writer has a problem with them staying together.
5. Hope turns to disappointment after photos of Ertel in blackface - Orlando Sentinel Editorial
1. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0125%21January%2B25&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1712BE1E5A42A800
2. Florida's newly appointed secretary of state resigned in disgrace after it was revealed that he went as an offensive stereotype in blackface in 2005, as a fully grown man in his 30s (not a dumb teenager).
3. The problem is that a popular government official was exposed using racist stereotypes for entertainment.
4. The governor has this problem, the former official has this problem, and the citizens of Florida have a problem with a racist in office.

4A – Forming An Opportunity Belief

1. I believe there is an opportunity in my hometown of Oviedo, Florida, for a comic book shop.
2. The unmet need is for comics and comic related merchandise, such as graphic novels, statues, board games, and other such memorabilia. Who has the unmet need? Comic fans who have to drive 15 minutes or more to a comic shop. There was once one in the main mall in the town, but it closed, so now the closest ones are at least a 15 minute (on a good day) drive away. To meet this need now, people are driving that distance or ordering online, neither of which can replace the feel and culture of a local comic shop. Going to your "LCS" has always been a huge part of comic culture. I am 100% sure this opportunity exists, as I no there is no comic shop in Oviedo.
3. The prototypical customer would be a young person, likely 18-34. Mostly male, but there are many dedicated female comic fans as well. It would be someone who values loyalty to the store. The person would value having a lasting relationship with the businesses they shop at. A secondary customer to capture would be an older comic fan in their 40s-50s, which most of the other traits being the same.
1. First Interview
1. Having to drive to Sanford (20 minutes north) just to get comics. She usually experiences it on Wednesdays, because that's the day when new comics come out. Since the only comic shop in the area closed more than a year ago. Currently she has to make that 20 minute drive at least once a week, and she is unsatisfied because of it.
4. The prototypical customer is the same as previously described, but I can now narrow the niche further by adding that it would be someone who values time and/or doesn't have the patience or money for the cost of gas driving back and forth, but still wants the comic shop experience.
1. Second interview
1. He finds shopping in person better and easier because he can leaf through issues. He never starts new series from online readings, only in person. He is aware of this issue every Wednesday when he sees new issues that he can't/doesn't want to read online. They've had this need since they've begun reading comics (2+ years). He became aware of this need when he moved from a town with a store to a town without a store and had to change his habits. He currently uses online comics, but doesn't like it. He also pirates comics because there is not a store around him, but he would gladly pay for comics if it were easier. He obviously likes the price (free) of pirating comics online, but he would still rather be in person where he can hold a physical copy and talk to other like-minded fans.
5. Finally, the last iteration of the prototypical customer takes into account all the previous things, but with the addition of the thought that people will pay for convenience even when they could pirate, and the value of having a meeting place for people with similar interests.
1. Third interview
1. He wants comics the day they're released but doesn't want to go far to get them. He became aware of the need only in the last year because he only recently became a fan of actual comics. They feel the need on Wednesdays when the new comics come out. They've had the need since they became a fan. They are currently pirating online comics and driving on special occasions, and they are moderately satisfied, but they want/would be more satisfied with a short drive to a comic shop not only for Wednesdays, but on other days to meet friends, buy related things like tabletop game supplements, or just spend time browsing.
6. Reflect: I learned that my opportunity seems valid. Others in the community share my hope for a store close by. Although it wasn't specifically mentioned, I think the idea of being a "regular" at some place is satisfying to most people, and that interviewees 2 and 3 wanted that aspect of the in person experience as well. Surprisingly, the second interview turned me onto the idea that yes, a lot of people pirate comics, but for many people, it's only because they don't have the convenience of a close store. I had not considered that aspect of it. People are willing to pay for the experience of something they could otherwise get for free. 
7. My original opportunity is still there. In fact, it is clear to me that there is even more of a need than I originally thought. Because of that, I do think that my new opportunity is more accurate than my original. The key is to hone in one the in person experience, which I did mention originally, but not thoroughly enough. I was focused more on the annoyance of driving, but it seems that while the drive is less important, the person connection is more important. I think entrepreneurs should adapt as much as they can without compromising what made them love the idea in the first place. "The customer is always right" comes to mind. Not that the jerk that comes into your store deserves to stay in the store, but that whatever the customer wants to buy, you should be selling. In my case, that would mean selling comics and other "nerd stuff" literally, but figuratively selling the "local comic shop" experience and getting people to return. 

3A – Your Entrepreneurship Story

My mom has always been looking for new opportunities to do business. She isn't happy if she isn't busy. That's not to say that she isn't a caring mother who took the time to raise her kids, but when she wasn't nurturing us, she was doing something. Over the years, she's cooked, sold kitchen tools, been a travel agent, helped manage a spa, been a marketing agent, and designed and printed custom t-shirts. These are just some of the things she's done, off the top of my head. Since I was young, I saw the determination, drive, and tenacity that made my mom successful time and again, and I wanted to copy that, in some way.

I mostly enrolled in ENT3003 for the credit, because I need business credits to fulfill my non-business degree, and I heard good things about Professor Pryor. But after syllabus week, I actually became excited to be in this class. It made me realize that I actually had a few business ideas bouncing around inside my head. Nothing too crazy or different, just some things that I'm passionate about, and I think others could be too. I've made some fake commercials in the past for silly products, and I think I can apply that humorous talent to making something real.

2A – Bug List

1. The traffic lights on University Ave/Newberry going west towards I-75 don't line up, so while the light you're at is red, the next light is green, but since the first light is red, nobody can go through the green light. Then when you do get to that second light, it turns red, so the first light being green is pointless because traffic is backed up. Just sync up the lights!!!
1. The bug exists because of poor traffic planning that doesn't compensate for the increased traffic that has developed since the lights were put in and programmed.
2. The RTS app isn't always accurate as to where the bus is, so it makes it hard to accurately plan when I go on campus.
1. The bug exists because the GPS in the buses isn't as accurate as it should be, for whatever reason.
3. Making a left turn out of my apartment complex means I have to cross both lanes of traffic, and during the busy hours in the morning or evening, this is nearly impossible.
1. This bug exists because there isn't any traffic lights, and the road I live on is a two lane road that is the main road through the area I live in.
4. To get to my girlfriend's house, I have to make a left turn through oncoming traffic. The light is red to turn left, so I have to wait for the green left turn light. But, if I go up one intersection, the next one has a blinking yellow or green left turn at all times, which makes it faster but less convenient to go to the next light and make a U-turn to get into her neighborhood.
1. The bug exists because of outdated traffic programming, similar to the other traffic problems I have.
5. The web client I use to run my Dungeons and Dragons games has some features that don't work intuitively and make things just inconvenient enough for me to complain. 
1. This bug exists because the program is trying to run in-browser rather than being it's own application. This makes it easier to access for more people but limits the scope of what it can do.
6. My lungs aren't good enough to work by themselves, so I have to breathe through my inhaler before I work out at the gym. It is annoying to have to carry an extra thing and worry about whether or not I can do certain activities.
1. This bug exists because I have asthma.
7. When I make tea, it comes out too hot, but if I add ice to cool it down quicker, it waters the tea down too much. If I don't heat it up properly, the tea doesn't mix into the water as well.
1. This bug exists because I haven't found the perfect ratio of water/time heating/ice.
8. I drive on the interstate a lot, and people slow down for a car on the side of the road that is well out of the way of the road itself, for no reason.
1. This bug exists because of people wanting to "rubber neck" so I keep looking forward out of spite. 
9. My cat gets really excited every morning around sunrise and runs all over my bed and meows at me, but she has access to her food, water, and litter, and when I get myself out of bed to play with her, she doesn't even care.
1. This bug exists because cats are an enigma that we cannot know the true purpose of. 
10. My room in my apartment is hotter than the other two rooms in the apartment, for some reason. To get my room cooled down, the thermostat has to be set extra low, which makes the rest of the apartment and rooms too chilly.
1. This bug might exist because of bad HVAC infrastructure. 
11. My car's horn doesn't work when I press it in the wheel. If I lock it via the keys, the horn beeps. So clearly, it still works somehow.
1. This bug exists because some of the wiring in my 13 year old vehicle must have gotten disconnected or something.
12. The User Interface of the video game I play with my friends got changed recently to be the same across PC, Xbox, and PS4. This UI looks and works terribly on PC, and is annoying to navigate and ugly to look at.
1. This bug exists because the developers wanted to bring all the platforms closer together in order to manage them easier, rather than developing one UI for console and one for PC. 
13. I can't find a computer chair that is comfortable with my posture. I like to sit up straight but most of the chairs at office stores are made for people who like to slouch, lean back, or both. 
1. This bug exists because most people have bad posture.
14. Despite UF having a lot of students that commute, the parking situation is abysmal. I've heard from professors and administrative staff that their parking situation is bad too. I don't understand how the school hasn't evolved with the growing population in Gainesville.
1. This bug exists because UF didn't want to take the time, space, and money, to make the extra space.
15. My scholarship last fall, which is supposed to pay for cost of attendance, took a month and a half to completely come in, and during that time, I had to pay rent and buy groceries. The state messed up and once I got the money, I didn't get the full amount, and that took another two weeks to sort out.
1. This bug exists possibly because of poor communication between the scholarship fund, the state, and the school. The bureaucracy, I suppose.
16. On the trips between my home and UF, my cat gets really stressed out and poops in her carrying crate.
1. This bug exists because my cat hates car rides, but I don't know why that is. 
17. I am a comic nerd, and I am subscribed to DC/Warner Bros.'s streaming service, DC Universe. The exclusive shows are good, but the app and website are not that well made. Everything takes a while to load or doesn't load at all.
1. This bug exists because I think they were trying to keep the budget as low as possible, and it shows.
18. Netflix autoplays "previews" of their shows or movies when you hover over them. Often these previews either spoil the show/movie or are just random clips with instrumental music played over them. Does anyone actually like this feature?
1. This bug exists because Netflix wants you to become more interested in their content so you keep their service around.
19. The self checkout lines at Walmart are always really long, but the cashier lines are slow because cashiers are slow.
1. This bug exists because people want to be quick and handle things themselves, but it actually makes the self checkout take as long or longer than the cashier checkouts, even though most cashiers at Walmart are pretty slow.
20. The shower in my apartment is either scalding hot or chilly cold. There is no in between. I have to wait in the hot shower, barely touching the water, until it's gotten to a comfortable warm rather than scalding hot. This wastes water and is uncomfortable and inconvenient to me.
1. This bug exists because of poor water heating management in my apartment.

I did find this list difficult, because I don't have a lot to complain about, in general. I am not a pessimistic person. I do not complain about a lot of things. I believe in just going with the flow of whatever life gives you. The only things on this list that are truly bothersome things that I think about a lot are the traffic related ones. They bug me the most because some of them are so preventable or avoidable, but people are often too self-absorbed to realized that if they drove in a safe, predictable way, we'd all get where we wanted to go faster and smoother. Traffic lights should be reprogrammed every few years to adapt to the changes in the area. 

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