Business Plan by sam key

Designs

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

DESIRE STATEMENT

Money: $75k a year Give up: Social life, and time. Date: June, 2013 Plan for carrying out desire: I plan to focus on my design, and build up my portfolio to become the best graphic designer in the area. People will come to me for any of their needs, and I will be able to complete them in a timely fashion. Clear, concise plan: I will start now, in building up my portfolio as I work my way through school By the time I graduate I will have a strong portfolio to show as I try to obtain jobs in the area of graphic design. I will find a local shop, close to home, and if not I plan to open up a small graphic shop to do my business. By the time I graduate, I will be ready to rock and roll, and jump right into the field. In the time leading up to graduation, I plan to work on design often, and research the field of graphic design to obtain more information about general stuff I may not know. I plan to get out, and get my name out there, by offering my services to local business now, while still in school. I will do some of these services for free, so I can get my work out in the world for people to see, and over time, everyone will want me in their shop. After working in a shop for a while, I want to focus on myself, and my own business, unless I had started it earlierâ&#x20AC;Śin that case, I will enrich what I already have. By June, of 2013, I plan to be making $75k a year as a minimum.

MISSION STATEMENT

We can help your marketing strategy, refine your corporate identity, and strengthen the branding of your business.

PRODUCT/SERVICE STATEMENT

SK Designs is a graphic design agency, which takes pride in producing both advertising and marketing products. I am a versatile graphic designer who focuses on marketing and advertising. I can help your business gain business! I have the most current experience with the most modern designs. I can print on any product including paper, magnets, T-shirt, vinyl. I have the materials to get what you want done, finished in a timely manner. My staff is willing to stay long hours, and put in extra hard work to get customers products back to them sooner than they expect. We offer more than one design for your liking, so you are able to choose which one best fits you. With our integrated photography and web design services, we can more efficiently execute your advertising and marketing needs.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

I plan to have a healthy, successful company that leads in graphic design services in Southern Maryland. I hope to build up a large customer base, and in these customers, have several loyal customers who repeatedly come back for my services. I will meet the customers wants and needs to every aspect, and do the best I can as a graphic designer. I will exceed and honor price differences between SK Designs and the several other agencies locally.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

CONSUMER SEGMENT

Secondary Segment I will be selling to: Business owners Charities Music artists Churches Advertising companies (flyers, magazines, etc.) Schools People will buy their products from: Wherever they may need the advertising Hiring Special events Fundraisers Concerts Promotions Websites People will spend their money: When their profit is high for their businesses When they need promotions for ther business to gain profit When businesses have the money to spend

Ancillary segment

Age

Generally between the ages of 25-65

Gender Any gender Location Southern Maryland, to start off eith, then branching into the more popular cities, such as Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Near after, branching into different states, and eventually different countries of possible. Income Level Any icome level is sufficient, preferably people who have the money to get the job done. Social class and occupation Business owners/workers will be the most prominent customers only because they are the ones who will need the items printed. Education Education does not have to be required, as some business owners have no colege experience.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

5 FACTOR

Products

Price

STRENGTH

WEAKNESS

We provide several products, but not all Customers may possible products. go elsewhere We also offer Very strong in because they simple services, the products that may want like copying and we offer something other printing, which the than what we other competitors have to offer. might not.

Reasonable prices, with a good quality return.

Cheap prices, for good quality product.

Quality

The good quality product keeps Great quality for our customers all marketing and coming back for advertising needs, as more. We often those are my strong get referred to fields. other customers, which helps us gain business.

Selection

Versatile in We offer many selection dealing of different with marketing designs, and and advertising, products that but we do not offer many people EVERYTHING may want for possible. There are a their business, few other things that home use, or just people may need, for advertising which will cause events. them to take their business elsewhere.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

COMPETITOR 1 Web designers

COMPETITOR B T-shirt shops

IMPORTANCE TO CUSTOMER

They are able to offer web design, which my company does not yet have.

We do not do T-shirt designs yet, we can make the design,but are not able to print them

They may offer a more affordable price, as they do everything at As time goes They will not the same shop. on, we feel offer what I do, My business on that we would at the same price the other hand, raise prices because they are only designs the according to my strictly a web print, and then knowledge. design firm. has to get it sent out to a T-shirt design printer, which may cost more. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer some services that people may want, and sometimes Once again, the The quality even the type quality would be would probably of product they pretty much the be the same, want. Although same, just in a just on different we try to cater different type of products. to all, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t product. always make ends meet since we do not have all the supplies. We do not offer web page design, nor T-shirt designs, although we plan to expand out shop eventually to include both of these aspects.

They would focus more on web design, and the things pertaining to that alone.

Sakey@me.com

They would probably only offer T-shirt designs, printed on T-shirts, not all other types of advertising.

http://web.me.com/sakey

6 FACTOR

Service

Reliability

Stability

STRENGTH

Great service, with cheap pricing, and good quality.

WEAKNESS

As work load grows, we may be forced to Our customer raise the prices service is great, to accommodate and all workers our workers, get their jobs and keep them done without at their best. any problems. We will try as This allows hard as we can us to keep our to keep control prices low and of this, but manageable. anything can happen.

Very reliable. We are an organized We have plenty company, and we of workers, who get our work done can get the jobs in a reasonable time done in a timely and leave customers manner. with what they want every time.

We are just starting out, and so far so good. There seems to be a lot of people in the area who are interested in advertising products for a good price.

SK Designs

If our customers keep up with us, we will be good to go, and stay at a decent stable status.

240.643.4990

There may come a situation where we cannot handle our load (which I hope won’t happen) and we may be forced to delay some delivery/ printing of products.

If for some reason, business declines, we will be forced to change our ways, and maybe even our location to accommodate our needs, and keep us making money.

COMPETITOR 1 Web designers

COMPETITOR 2 T-shirt shops

IMPORTANCE TO CUSTOMER

Everyone may have good Since a T-shirt services for their shop would business, as they strictly print do strictly web T-shirts only, design, those are they have a the services that limited service they are going to allowance. offer the most.

All companies can have their ups and downs, the reliability can differ from company to company, it all depends on what the company has to offer to it’s clients.

If the company is producing their products in a timely manner, getting them to people as they need them their business should stay rather stable.

If the place is located in a decent area, with a decent following, they should be very stable. Advertising of their product is key to staying stable and keeping customers happy.

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

7 FACTOR

Expertise

Company reputation

Location

STRENGTH

WEAKNESS

All of our designers are experienced with the most recent design techniques. We am very well We keep up knowledgeable in by attending my field, with many classes to learn years of experience what’s the best and learning. thing out there for the current time. Things are always changing, so we need to stay on top of our game!

COMPETITOR 1 Web designers

This, with the same as a few other factors, may change with time. We stay on top with the best designs, but there may come Being a web a time when designer, you we don’t have have to have what it takes expertise to to complete get through EXACTLY what and design a a customer may successful web be requesting. page. Some customers may be picky, and this will alter things greatly, and force us to work in a different way.

We are blessed to have great If a customer customers who ever is unhappy, spread the word the same If they do good We have a great because they domino effect work, their reputation! Many like what we could happen, reputation of our customers have done for and then could should stay have built up them. As I’ve spread the word well, this is also our company by stated before, that we messed done by word of referring us to others our customers up one of their mouth, and what for advertising. keep coming products. Word the people will back for more, of mouth is how see. as well as keep we make our bringing us business. more business.

We are location in a good place, rural, where there are not many other shops around. We are convenient to those who need simple services done.

SK Designs

When our Depending on We’re in a company grows, their location, good location since we are they should for all of the in a low key do fine, web locals, so we town, we may design can be are convenient need to relocate done anyway, for them, and to a bigger even through we can get the location, so we the internet, so job done as they can handle our they should have may need it business in a more success done. better manner. with this.

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

COMPETITOR 2 T-shirt shops

IMPORTANCE TO CUSTOMER

T-shirt design does not need that much expertise, pretty much anyone can do it if you have the right materials.

If they produce good T-shirt product, people should keep coming back for more, and if the price seems to be affordable, it will incise customers to come back wanting more.

Location is key for a T-shirt shop, many people may or may not want it. If they choose a location that has many charities, they may want T-shirts often for the different events.

http://web.me.com/sakey

FACTOR

STRENGTH

WEAKNESS

COMPETITOR 1 Web designers

COMPETITOR2 T-shirt shops

Appearance doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really matter in this The shop firm because would have to Small shop, but Our business you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even stay clean in The small shop we have all the may not stand have to see the appearance, allows us to be equipment we need out like all of people to get the as if they are more personable Appearance to get by, and make the other local job done. Many unorganized with our all experiences good business, as we web designers people may want customers. ones. are a small shop. never meet with to go elsewhere their clients, to get their making the job a t-shirts printed. lot easier to get done. We are very Word of mouth, organized, offer a and what people layout and proof If someone is Their sales see. People may before we do any unhappy, our method would see the designs permanent sales. Word of mouth, word of mouth be the same as as shown on We only require half advertising, procedure may mine, word of the T-shirts down when product flyers, other not go that mouth would and ask people Sales method is in the print businesses, well, and our stay at the where they got process. Once the friends, family, reputation will top of the list, them done, and product ships, the website. be lowered by followed by maybe even remaining balance those individual their websites, about pricing is paid and the customers. and portfolios. and customer customer receives service. their product. All customers are required to pay Requiring the half down before customers to Some people products have began pay a deposit are bound to get the printing process. helps us to keep angry, and not The payment The payment This allows us to our business on like these rules... options stay options stay start the job with the top. We do this But in business pretty universal pretty universal Credit confidence that the in order to keep you need to have policies throughout the throughout the customer will not profit coming in a collateral to different fields different fields change their mind. even if someone hold for your of design. of design. The deposit is nondecides to customers refundable, because cancel. Most of before you start once the product is the deposits are with anything. printed, our money non-refundable. would be wasted.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

IMPORTANCE TO CUSTOMER

http://web.me.com/sakey

FACTOR

Advertising

Image

STRENGTH

WEAKNESS

COMPETITOR2 T-shirt shops

Advertising can be done through site of what they have already made. People obviously would be walking around with their product and others would see what great work they put out. As I’ve said I don’t think before, web image really design doesn’t matters in this Customers may really matter field, because be expecting to because not you can’t expect see something everyone is too much from else, something being seen. Web a small town that we aren’t design can be shop like this. If and this may done without they get the job push them away. any knowledge done, they’re a of the person good fit for what doing it. people want.

We do our own Since we are People may advertising, which is able to do our think we are what reels in most of own advertising, limited to our customers. Our we can show the certain design ads are very diverse customers our techniques and from the rest, in the expertise and may not want ability that we can ability before to look any show what we have they even start further into our to offer by a simple to research us. business. flyer, or billboard.

Our business as a whole is We all carry treated very ourselves well, and professional, and present our business we are able to be with a positive what we are and image. get things done in a professional way.

COMPETITOR 1 Web designers

IMPORTANCE TO CUSTOMER

Advertising done for web pages, can simply be done on the web pages. They can make their own, or even include web sites they’ve done on search engines.

NICHE

My niche market would cater to those who want strictly advertising done. It may be done by either print, or web, with a good quality. My prices would remain low, as long as my business does not fall under. If I am high in business, I plan to keep expanding to include the fields of both web design and T-shirt design.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

PROMOTION

I plan to get the word out to customers by advertising, word of mouth, social networks, local coupon books, and a business website. Most advertising will probably be done in the form of print, and web, but there may be an occasion where something else may need to be done to promote our business. As a design firm, we can design our own advertisements, and print them as well. If we need to print larger things, we can easily outsource them to a bigger printing facility. If we plan to put our business advertising in local coupon books, and perhaps newspaper advertisements, we would have to pay those fees to get posted in them, but would still design our own. Our business is built on networking, this is how we became a business. We focus on social networks, and internet, so we can get our work shown at a reasonable price, if at all. Word of mouth is also a big role in our company advertising. We plan to make a positive impact on all of our clients, by providing them with the best work possible, at a reasonable price. We hope to keep the coming back for more, whenever they need any work done. We also plan to build ourselves as a company by letting our work be seen. If one of our bigger clients has some work we have done, and plans to spread it out amongst a large area, people may see it and be interested in some type of work done for them in the same aspect. We plan to complete all of our own logos, cards, letterheads, brochures, signage and interior design. When the company is being built up we well determine and establish all of the basics as soon as possible.

PROMOTIONAL BUDGET

To get the business started in the promotional aspect, it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cost too much, considering the fact that we will be our own designers, all that we would have to pay for is for the printing of larger advertising aspects. The price may be around $700 per printing period, which would include the print of the larger signs/banners. Before start up, the prices may be a little more extended, for the sheer fact that we would need to build up our customers, and form a solid base for our company. I expect to spend $1,000-$2,000 on advertisements at the start of the company. On going, it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cost too much, once again because we will be designing our own things. I expect monthly, to pay around $300 for services such as newspaper, and magazine prints for advertising of our company.

PRICING

Our prices are going to be set by standards. In graphic design, there are set prices for special print objects. Each different thing we do will have a set price, per sheet, and as the numbers go up for the number of prints, the price will decrease per sheet. I plan to also offer a few promotional discounts, and frequent buyer discounts as well to keep people coming back for more. Most design places do the same thing with basic prices for everything offered. As a business, we should do fine in this area of pricing. Compared to our competitors, the prices are around the same, but as the quantity increases, we decrease the bulk price by a little bit. Price is very important when it comes to competition. People may not always depend on low prices because mostly they are looking for good quality now. If I am able to provide my customer with a nice design, at an affordable price, they should be happy with what I have to offer. We plan to provide our customers with the best service that we can, affordable, unique, and very high quality. As far as credit policies, we plan to accept all kinds of payment, and refunds will only be applied if the customer is unhappy. We will not give a full refund, as we will require a half deposit before we start the job. This allows us to have security in our work, and even if the customer backs out, we will still be making something off of all of the time we spent on doing what we do.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

PROPOSED LOCATION

Location isn’t such a big deal, we plan to work out of a basement. When we need to meet with a customer, we plan to meet them at a rented out office space, or maybe a restaurant. We will offer most of our services online, so people can see the wide variety of things that we have to offer. The location doesn’t need to be too convenient, for the sole fact that we can still provide what we have without a set location for people to actually come into. This business is very easy to run through the internet, but there will still be that occasion where we need to meet with our consumers. For the most part, I plan to build up the business and eventually move to a small location, and rent out a small store. When that stage hits, we will be able to connect with her customers even more than before. It will be a small modern shop, with everything we need to get by. Until then, we will be working out of a basement, a smaller area, but we will still be able to get the job done! With a company like this, I believe that I can provide with customers want without having a set location for them to come to. I would like to rent out office space, for a day whenever I may need to meet with a customer to speak about a project. There’s always competition around regardless of where we are located. Being a design company, many of our competitors may also have online access to all of their services. Being in a small town, there aren’t that many companies such as mine, but there are print shops that can do some of the things that we offer.

DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

We will offer our services through our website, and also through meetings with customers. This will allow us to show our customers what we have to offer in hope to get their sale in return. We will keep a company portfolio of work we have done for other companies and individuals, in hopes that when people see them they will be incised to buy their products from us. If a customer wants to meet with us, they will be allowed to see the different things that we have to offer to them. Once our product is done in printed, we will be shipping our product out unless the customer is nearby. If that is the case, we can offer to deliver it, if the customer isn’t too far, or have our customer pick it up if needed. We won’t have any agents, we will do our own sales and what not, all we will need is an accountant/assistant to keep care of our records and what not. We won’t need any representatives either, we will handle that for our self, we will only need the assistant to handle scheduling, pricing, and answering phones.

PRODUCTION

Production is one of the main parts of our company because this is how we plan to get our products to our customers. To complete an order we will need to print, pack and ship (if necessary) the order. Costs will depend on the type of product being produced, the type of paper, amount of time we have to complete it, and the type of shipping. We will be printing the smaller items in house, with our industrial printer, and the larger items such as banners and what not will be printed at an outside company, because of lack of materials. As a small company, we do not have the funds just yet to buy the printer, and the material we need for these type of things to get done. Since our products will be completed on a computer, will we be able to edit and monitor the designs coming out of the system before we waste money to mass print. This should increase the quality control of what we have to do. Pertaining to customer service, we will have a assistant who will answer phones and take orders. As we may have questions, us designers will call our customers and figure out the solution to all of our problems. If we may need to meet with any customer, as I’ve said before we will be able to meet with our client at a rented office space, or somewhere such as a restaurant, or coffee shop.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

PRODUCTION CONT... Our inventory should not be too difficult to maintain, we will only be keeping regular supplies as well as

inks, and papers in house. We will keep these things in bulk, so that we should never run out while in the middle of production. The process of production will be done by executing a design for the client on the computer, after sketching the ideas out. Once the computer file is done, it is sent to me, as the head of the design team, to look it over. If I am the one designing the product, someone else will look it over. This is done for opinions, and for editing reasons. After this is done, the corrections will be made, and a test print will be sent to the printer. We will then look it over for any mistakes or adjustments we may need to make, correct them, and send it to the printer for mass print.

LOCATION

I plan to start the business off from my basement, and as the company grows expand to a small to medium shop in the local area. Starting off, I will have a spot in my basement, which will be rather small, and will have a few cubicles, one for each designer. We will have a section blocked off which will be the printing area. We will also have a small section for all of our shipping supplies. When we grow, I would like to move into a larger location, that would support the amount of business we have gained. This location would be rented out from a local building. In this, I plan to have everything laid out the same way, with more room to do the work. This would make for a more comfortable work environment for both me, employees, and clients. This location will allow us to have customers/clients come to our location when we need to meet with them. It will allow us to cut back on costs of renting offices for a day at a time. We will start of with the minimal space, as we will be working from the basement. Soon after, we will move to a building location which will allow us be comfortable in the workplace. At the start, we will be located in the basement of my house, and later on in our business life, we will move into a building that probably has multiple other companies adjoined into it. We wouldn’t have to worry about zoning, we would only have paper scraps to get rid of, which wouldn’t be too big of a hassle to get rid of. In our house location, we would most likely be a minimum for utilities. As we move into a bigger location, we will need to be focusing more on these types of things, because the bills will become larger than before. Moving into a bigger location may cramp the income of the business, which is not a good thing. This is why I plan to wait until our company has hit a high before doing any moving of the sort.

ACCESS

Access is a big concern for suppliers, but at the same time it does not matter to our business. As I’ve said earlier, it is very easy to execute this business through our online resources. If we needed to meet with a customer, we would have some places where we could arrange to meet them to discuss any concerns or issues. Once we move into our bigger location, we will have offices where we can arrange to meet with people. We do not necessarily need any type of walk-in access, we could meet our clients at a remote location to get things processed and complete. Working from the basement, parking, proximity to freeway, airports, railroads and shipping centers do not really apply, when we move to our larger location we will only need the minimal. As we may not have too many clients at the same time, we will not need much parking. Freeway and airports aren’t really a concern in this type of business and shipping centers are all around our location. Concerning shipping, we may also be able to register our company for pick-ups, so we do not have to go out and ship our packages. We plan on working from our basement location for a good amount of years, until we can build up enough money and clientèle to expand our business. This can be pretty pricey, that is why I would prefer to wait, until our business is in a comfortable spot to move on and expand. SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

ACCESS CONT... Our business will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and when needed some employees may need to stay after

to get important jobs done. This is all a part of being a designer, and some nights we may have to put in some hard work and hours to get things done.

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT

Since I will be working from home with my team, a lot of legal things will not fall into place. Of course we will have a general legal insurance for the company, and the loss of the companies materials. We will also have some type of coverage towards the other employees in the office. We would not have to worry about zoning, because of the type of company that we are. Our main concern will be laid upon our inventory, and keeping things straight within that area.

PERSONNEL

I plan to have a small staff of 3 to 4 people, but high technology to keep fixed costs low and have the highest quality in such a competitive industry. My co-designers should have the skill of a professional, with the most up to date technology training, so they are able to combat whatever may come our way. I will have to look close at first for good-quality employees , and then branch out. This meaning look into my close network to see if anyone is in the need of a position, and then I would turn to the outside. I would view all resumes, portfolios and anything else that may help me determine that the person meets the specifications for my company. Existing staff would consist of me, as both a business owner and a head designer of the company. I have the intention to keep my designers up to par with the society. This may mean enrolling them into classes, or having them do/watch tutorials that may help them. Being in this field, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always new things out there to make you a better designer and I want to take advantage of these things to help build up my staff. I plan to have 2 to 3 designers, and 1 or 2 people who would cover the regular office tasks such as ordering, booking, light housekeeping, and accounting for the company.

INVENTORY

The only materials we will keep in house aside from printers, and computers, will be papers, inks, cutting boards and standard office supplies. After we complete each product, we will have a copy for ourself that will be put into a portfolio of work that we have done. Including all inks, and all of the different types of paper, we will have about $3,000 to $5,000 worth of inventory in-house. Each of these supplies will help us to complete our projects, and as the customers come and go, our supplies will begin to depreciate and our money will begin to rise. Over the first year we should be able to cut even with our supplies, with all of the products we have produced/sold. Once the customer orders, and pays half down (which depends on what they order) we will begin to execute our designs for them, and begin the production stage.

SUPPLIERS

Our key suppliers will be generic office supply stores, such as office depot, staples, and quill. We will be able to order most of our printer and paper supplies from these types of stores, which makes it more convenient for our business. Incase one of those companies should have a product on back order, we will have a backup where we will be able to order and get our materials in a timely fashion. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to have many problems within this department, because most of these stores have several of the items I will need on stock daily.

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey

CREDIT POLICIES

We do not plan on selling on credit, however, if we decided to do something like this in this field, we would most likely be screwed out of our own time and money. I believe it should be mandatory to put half down in the beginning so we are not wasting our time/money. We can alter this depending on how long we have had the client, and how loyal they are to us. We do not need to sell on credit. If we were selling something such a furniture or something to that extent it may be an ideal thing to do. Since we are a design firm, everything takes time and of course, money. If we sold on credit, and someone didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end up paying, or if they decided to cancel their order and we already started, it would be a waste. If we do plan on changing this in the future, it is going to be on a bases of our top customers. The customers/ businesses who keep coming back, giving us business will have the opportunity to establish credit with us, which will in turn make it easier on them.

COST & BUDGET Resources

Quantity Unit/Cost/mo.

Printer Designers Camera Computers Software Social Network Website Paper Advertising

Total Cost

$700.00 $2,400.00 $1,200.00 $3,000.00 $100.00 $0.00 $20.00 $300.00 $500.00

$700.00 $4,800.00 $1,200.00 $6,000.00 $400.00 $0.00 $20.00 $300.00 $500.00

flat fee flat fee

TOTAL COST

$13,920.00

Capabilities

Quantity Unit/Cost/mo. Total Cost Web sites $300.00 $3,000.00 Promotional Flyers $300.00 $4,500.00 Photography $200.00 $3,000.00 Banners $300.00 $4,500.00 Business Cards $150.00 $2,250.00 Logos $100.00 $1,500.00 Outsource Printing $50.00 $1,500.00

SK Designs

240.643.4990

flat fee, with no edits depending on quantity depending on event

Depending on the job, and quality

TOTAL COST

Sakey@me.com

$20,250.00

http://web.me.com/sakey

SK Designs

240.643.4990

Sakey@me.com

http://web.me.com/sakey