Blog #7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

My plan is to start an Etsy shop of my own to get first hand experience of what it's like to actually start a business. Etsy is similar to Ebay in that anyone can create a shop, and sell their own crafts. To fill my 30 hours, I'm going to create my own mini 'business plan', make the products, put them online, and most importantly, try to sell them. I haven't pinpointed exactly what I am going to make and sell, but that will be a part of making my business plan. I'm also planning on making a blog related to the shop, to serve as another platform to reach more people. This way I can update the blog on posts related to crafting and link back to my Etsy shop.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I am going to have digital evidence of most of my work. Since everything is online, I will have my Etsy and blog linked. Also, I'll use photos to document the process of making the actual items for the shop.

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

I think starting my own business will help me to better understand my topic, because it will make it more personal to me and I will be directly experiencing what it's like. Since I'm doing an online shop, I will learn more about how online marketing works, and how technology plays a part in business.

September Extra Post

This month, I came across a podcast about business that was pretty interesting. It's a This American Life podcast called "It's Not the Product, It's the Person." I thought it fit perfectly with my senior project, because it's all about how selling yourself and your business is one of the most important parts of having a business - even more so than the actual product you are selling.

I've always known that marketing is a huge part of business, but before I started this whole project, I had no idea how important it was to be a people person. Whether you're just starting a small business, or you've owned one for years, a necessary skill to have is to be able to use your personality to grab potential customer's interest and pull their attention in. Perhaps you don't have to be good with people, but it seems like the more likable you are, the more successful your business will be.

For example, in this podcast, they open on a story about a little girl, Asia Newson, who has her own business. She walks down the street, approaches people, and pitches her whole idea on a daily basis. You would think this business tactic would be nothing special; plenty of kids go around trying to sell their various baked goods and creations. However, this girl has created a whole brand for herself. Asia uses her enthusiasm and friendliness to get people's attention and in turn, has a lot of success selling her products.

Asia Newson, 10-year old entrepreneur

On my own, I've been researching mostly about online marketing and using the Internet to get your business out there. But in this podcast, they focus more on the little things that make selling your business in person effective. It was helpful to hear the stories of various businesspeople and how they've gotten their businesses out there. It's all about interacting with others to communicate a whole business brand and message.

Blog #6: Second Interview Preparation

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

Mentor: Barbara Cheatley
Where they work: Barbara Cheatley Antiques

(though I may need to find a new mentor)

2.  What five questions will you ask them about their background?

• How did you get started?
• Did you to to school for business?
• Did you get a lot of help along the way?
• Were there any problems you encountered?
• How did you grow your business?

Blog #5: Mentorship and Research Reflection

1. Mentorship question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship? If you haven't found one yet, describe your experience so far in the search of a mentor.

I haven't yet found my mentor. I have considered working with my summer mentor, but I think I need to find someone who is more available. I have been looking for people in the same area. My family has some connections to various small business owners, and I'm still in the process of trying to contact them and decide what type of business would be best for my mentorship. Hopefully I can narrow my search down soon. I might just end up having two mentors if necessary.

2. Research question: What has been your most important article you have read so far and why?

So far, my most helpful article has been "Small Business Marketing: Why Maintaining a Digital Presence is Important." I'm slowly realizing that with technology and small business, the Internet is really important for getting your name out there and connecting with potential customers. This article introduced me to some of these ideas and has helped my senior project take a bit more shape. I am more confident now that online marketing will be a significant chunk of my researching and project.