Examine the motivations for Kathy Gallant to start the business. Would you regard her to be a successful entrepreneur? What metrics would you use?
One of the most important aspects that motivated Kathy to start the business was the fact that she had been involved in cooking and issues involving foods at a young age. Most of her experiences in catering had led her to explore other options that opened her to new ideas about opening her business. One of the aspects to be classified as a successful entrepreneur emanate from the concept of doing what you enjoy most. This was evident in Kathy Gallant’s case as she had loved and was involved in the food business from a young age. Her knowledge of foods was vast. Her background gave her the confidence to start a new business. The level of enjoyment in doing what you like plays a significant part in increasing the chances of having a successful business. In classifying Kathy as a successful entrepreneur. An important metric to use would be to evaluate her research abilities. From the case, it is noted that she sorts the help of other individuals that had already ventured into the business of foods. Planning was critical in contributing to Kathy’s cues. Through savings, she was able to purchase the building she had started her business in.
Blue Moon Natural Foods has a competitive advantage that was visible through a number of avenues. Firstly, Kathy had identified a niche for herself that was not yet fully exploited in the area. The concept of natural foods was relatively new and was highly welcomed in the area. Secondly, the Blue Moon Natural Foods mainly targeted the female market as it was attributed to their ever-growing need in the area. The idea of focusing on health awareness generated a lot of media attention that helped market Blue Moon Natural Foods to a wider customer base. The strongest aspect of Blue Moon Natural Foods marketing that was key in enhancing its competitive advantage depended on its public relations and word of mouth. The warmth customers felt while at the shop was spread by word of mouth to other potential customers who would travel longer distances just to come and shop at Kathy’s shop. Kathy’s presence in the newspaper also contributed increasing the shop’s presence in the community. Furthermore, owing to competition from surrounding supermarkets, Kathy decided to drop any products that were offered by supermarkets as they attracted lower prices in the supermarket than in her shop. Her prices were slightly higher and to ensure products kept moving she would only keep them by order from customers.
Advice to Kathy Gallant from a paid consultant’s perspective
The expansion should be a priority for Kathy Gallant. There is a need for Kathy to ensure that expansion caters for the ever-changing healthy lifestyles of individuals Having gained an already established customer base, This can help boost the profit base for the business. Even though the main goals of the business are to promote healthy living, it is important that Kathy seek to improve the image of the business in terms of aesthetics. Kathy needs to take time and implement her plans involving the cookbook as this may open up a new form of an enterprise like teaching classes or even a teaching program on cooking.
