And so the business will begin. Sausage Party!

[Andrew]

For Entrepreneur class we have to create and run a business.

This business will run for 4 hours. Preparations are unlimited, but the time we are allowed to be open can only be 4 hours total.

The groups have 7 members each.

We can operate the business anywhere in the city (where permitted) and can do pretty much anything legal.

Last semester groups did a car wash, another sold baked goods and coffee. Another sold chili and went door to door to the professors offices to sell it. They all operated on campus last semester because there were not many groups, but we can go anywhere since there are 14.

We can be open Saturday - Wednesday (only one of those days preferred, 4 hours open time)

We do not plan on investing much (were students :P), I'm guessing $20 each. As a class we plan on donating any profits towards the School of Business.

The whole process will involve a marketing campaign, financing and pretty much everything else that has to do with business.

Any suggestions/ideas of what we can do would be appreciated. Getting a great idea is probably the hardest and most exciting part of starting a business. It would be nice to do something new and unique to make the most money and to learn a lot of running a business. Questions are welcome.

[Mahdi]

Consulting firm for the other groups.

[Andrew]

Very nice. :)

Although I do not think that would be allowed.

Thanks for the suggestion. :)

Starts upcoming Saturday, so not enough time to consult.

[Mahdi]

Oh, I'm sure you'd get credit for such a clever idea.

'Course, 50% of the profits will go to me (just don't record receiving them).

That's my consulting fee.

[Andrew]

Yes, but we would have to consult the groups during the period of opertions only (As we would be getting paid to consult), and the groups would have everything figured out by then anyway.

[Terror]

How about gigolo stuff. I could hold out 4 ours being a gigolo who can select his own girls... Oh wait, that would make ME the client... Oh forget it.

*silence..*

would be fun though!

Oh never mind that thought. You could sell uhm, books? Or you could make birdcages and sell those! (my brother did that, got somewhat profitable too) But I don't think it will work for you, since my brother did this for like a couple of months not 4 hours.

Well okay, I gotta admit it's dang hard to be original in this case. 4 hours + preparation is rather short to do something real good.

[Dunenewt]

Busking? My friend does it four hours a week and makes about

[Mahdi]

Busking? My friend does it four hours a week and makes about

[Dunenewt]

Ok, gambling sounds like the only solution.

[Mahdi]

Illegal, but very profitable.  Have a poker game, a blackjack table, sell beer and shots for $2 a piece.....

Edit:  Oh, and a TV showing whatever sporting even can be currently found.

[Andrew]

We would need a lottery license. We discussed this, but needing the lottery license proved to be a problem.

Although it could be quite profitable, as there is little inventory and fixed assets. ;)

http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/onelisting.php3?number=14973&PHPSESSID=3d2954d5a1fe0afc24fac75d351c35ce

Hmm, seems like getting a lottery license would be easy to get, although not much of a business, because holding lotteries is not a business and can not be used for profit. (Of course any profit we make will go towards education and is allowed, not much of a learning experience.)

I have talent! Give me enough booze and I can dance!

Hmm.. people could pay to see a drunk man dance. ^-^

Actually having poker, blackjack, are legal and cost a little amount of money (see link).

We could sell booze off campus, but the teacher doesn't want anyone getting into the booze business. We would just have to apply for a liquor license. But not allowed to do it by the professor.

Showing television isnt a bad idea, last semester groups played music to get attention and to have a good atmosphere.

[erjin999]

Car washing. Heck, go to your local supermarket car park.

Or pretend to be collecting for charity...then tell the teacher you did car washing...  ;)

[Andrew]

It's winter here. Car washing probably wouldn't work unless we somehow put antifreeze into the water.

We are planning on selling coffee and hot chocaolate (and some other stuff). Details will become available Thursday.

[Andrew]

We are planning on selling hotdogs for $1.50 and sausages for $3. We will operate outside (cooking) and inside (selling) the student union building. The campus bar is there and there is a concert planned, and a couple hockey games going on in nearby rinks. We will be operational from 10PM - 2AM

Plan on putting some ads up around campus tomorrow. Going shopping tomorrow at 3PM.

Sadly we couldn't book Wednesday night at the campus bar, because Atlantic Veterinary College is doing a fundraiser during Megatrivia that night. There should be at least 1000 people there. They will make a killing. Good news is, if I have my school work done, I can go and get drunk there that night instead of selling hotdogs. :)

Can you BBQ hotdogs outside in -20 celcius weather? or will they stay frozen? :O

[Mahdi]

The fire won't freeze. 

You can cook the dogs, but they'l get cold fast unless you get them inside.

[Andrew]

Yah :(

At least we will be cooking them next to the door.

Sadly about 6 other groups plan on a BBQ around Ch'town during the several days allowed. One was going to BBQ at home hardware, but then decided that Sobeys would be better location, and another group went to Home hardware. Sad that everyone is BBQing and stealing the idea that the group I am in. >:D

Wow the storm suddenly stopped.

[Khan]

Wow a storm just started here...

[Andrew]

http://weblogs.upei.ca/node/view/1364?PHPSESSID=51d97d4fda927e10d3e11a26113711dd

And so it begins in 1.5 hours.

Wonder if I will be the mascot. ;)

[Khan]

Why are the sausages more expensive than the hot dogs? Who's gonna by 1 sausage when they can get 2 hot dogs for less money.

[Super-ness]

fat people?

[Mahdi]

Why are the sausages more expensive than the hot dogs? Who's gonna by 1 sausage when they can get 2 hot dogs for less money.

Sausages are more expensive than hot dogs becase sausages cost more than hot dogs to begin with.

[nemafakei]

Which is in turn because pigs eat more than dogs.

[Andrew]

Well we sold all of our inventory and could have sold a bit more too.

We made a profit of around $150.

It was cold outside :(. But I was dressed pretty warm.

So different watching drunks when sober. Got home around 3am.

Wow we have a blizzard tomorrow and monday. 2nd blizzard in less than a week. 3rd storm with lots of snow in a week. Lots of snow.

[erjin999]

Quit school and sell food for a living, who needs education ?!  ;D

Thats one thing this could have taught you

[Andrew]

Actually, that is what it is supposed to teach. Teach what it is like running a business.

You can have self fulfilment by running your own business. You can be happy without an education and still run a profitable business. Although it is slightly harder to do when you have no money to start a business. :P

Selling hot dogs and sausages in -30 degree weather for 4 hours a day is not self fulfilment for me. ;D

Now cutting grass can be fun. As long as the machinery works and other stuff. $$

I still need 12 new lawns averaging $30 a lawn to be able to fully pay for school next September without a loan. But that will not happen. As I forgot to adjust for increasing VC (get right on that). Still better than working at a fast food restaurant making minimum wage. I make twice as much and I'm the boss. ;D

Now that is entrepreneurial. I've actually thought of continuing cutting grass in the summers and working at a real job when I graduate. Although I have to decide this summer, as the next one is when I will have to invest in capital again.