writing a business plan

[rhys27]

Got a uni project to write a business plan for a wine bottle I designed. Its for an existing company, Constellation Brands Inc (kumala, corona, hardy's..etc)

We've only been given one lecture on writing a business plan, and I'm seriously clueless about what exactly to put in it.

So far ive got:
1. Executive Summary
2. Market Analysis
2.1 Target Market
3. Competitive analysis - no competitors as product is unique?
4. Strategy - what the aim of the product is to achieve within the brand
5. Product - what the product does
6. Marketing & Sales - advertising, marketing budget
7. Financials (costing per item, forecasted sales, profit potential)

Anybody got any tips as to what to put in it? I've fully completed the Executive Summary and Market anaylis, but struggling on the other sections.

Have i missed anything out?! would appreciate any tips from anyone in business!

Thanks in advance!

[Stitch]

Errrmmm - how can you have completed the Exec Summary if you haven't written the rest of it?

The ES is exactly that - an abridged version of what follows.

I am sure if you do a google search you will find plenty of pro forma BPs that you can use as a template.

[siscar]

Is it really a business plan? If you are trying to get a company to adopt your product/design it is more of a pitch than a business plan.

Generally a business plan is about your business whilst this is trying to tell a company why it is in their interests to adopt your product so it is about their business rather than your business.

Unless I've misunderstood....

[rhys27]

well they've called it a Business plan, but as its for an existing company its more like a pitch.
Executive summary ive done is an abridged version of the benifits to the company and target market also explains a bit about the actual product. Theres no numerical figures in it.

Those are the things that have been suggested to us to include.

any extra things that you might recomend to include?!

Thanks guys

[Eric Mc]

Is it only students who wrire Business Plans?

I've yet to see a busines man or woman come onto PH and request help in writing a business plan.

[Carsie]

......welcome back Eric!

[al1991]

Everyone in my family who runs their own business (several of them) would have a clue about beginning to write a business plan.

[maser_spyder]

Eric Mc said:

Is it only students who wrire Business Plans?

I've yet to see a busines man or woman come onto PH and request help in writing a business plan.

S'cos they're too busy running a business!

My business plan 3 years old and completely out of date. I am naughty. And busy.

[rhys27]

ha! im on a BA Product Design course.
been given ONE lecture on writting a 'business plan' and exepected to know exactly how to lay it out etc.

ive googled it, but I thought maybe some of you business owners/ people in business might be able to give me some tips on writting one!

cheers anyways!

[dougc]

Rhys - have you already designed the bottle?

[Thurbs]

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?...

[stuthemong]

rhys,

That's all sort of back to front for starters!

Quickly mention market area (e.g. bottles used by everyone 4bn /yr in UK or something....)
What have you got? (product)
What's unique?
Why does anyone care that it's unique? (advantages, cost, etc.etc.)
What does this mean for a) who you sell to b) ultimate customer
Now mention market size, expected penetration
Talk about competitors / risks maybe
Talk about protection of your product if you have any (patent/copyright/contracts in place etc.)
Then talk about how much money this will all make you/them (marketing/sales/financials). You may need to raise capital, how? etc. etc.

That should give you something good to go on I'd have thought.

Edited by stuthemong on Tuesday 5th May 17:17

[rhys27]

yep, bottle already designed Doug,


Thanks Stu, thats the kinda of stuff I was after! thanks very much, our lecture notes are pretty crap, but that list makes sense! will re-structure it and add those sections in.

Thanks guys!

[stuthemong]

if you want to impress you'd also do well to try and do some primary market research.

If your new bottle widget is good/designed, poll people in the street and ask them if they would like this feature... if this feature costs more than a current bottle ask them if they'd be happy to pay more for it (most will say no unless its a good idea, so make sure if people just think its 'nice' you can make it for the same cost)

Stu

[spikeyhead]

how can a wine bottle be unique? I've got dozens in the rack.

[rhys27]

its not just the shape! its just a concept. very rough as its a 2nd yr module im retaking. "design innovation"

[spikeyhead]

rhys27 said:

its not just the shape! its just a concept. very rough as its a 2nd yr module im retaking. "design innovation"

but its still a wine bottle. Just because there's not another identical wine bottle out there doesn't make it unique.

[rhys27]

its a design concept that is unique. it hasnt been done before, its not just a straight forward wine bottle!

[spikeyhead]

swerni said:

rhys27 said:

its a design concept that is unique. it hasnt been done before, its not just a straight forward wine bottle!

So you have to consider the competition as being the existing wine bottles.
To say their is no competition is a tad naive.

It's not like people go to Oddbins with their hands cupped and asked for them to be filled with Rioja

You've not try visiting a cava and laying down underneath the barrel then? Open mouth, turn on tap

[rhys27]

spikeyhead!

ok, yes i guess there is still competition, indirectly? as its unique, granted there is still competition from existing wine maker, however its not direct competition? is that right?

thanks