Enterprise Evaluation

Throughout the course of this module I feel that I have learnt a lot about enterprise and the basic principles of how to set up and run a successful business. Before the module I had very limited knowledge on how to go about structuring a functioning business. I think that having the information from the lectures and the tasks will allow me to go on and potentially set up a business if I so wished as before hand I wouldn't have thought about doing so.


For the group presentation we planned to each take a specific area and bring the information that we had gathered and communicate at the group meetings how that was going. As a collective we found this difficult due to fact that each one of the area relied on the other areas to be researched equally as they often overlapped. I feel that I did my share of the work within the group and extra along with others to make up for others that were lacking in quality and quantity of work. 


The presentation was ok and we had run through it a few times. I thought that I presented to the best of my ability for what information that I had along with the others in my group. I think that it could have been more in depth which would have bolstered the content and would have given other members more to talk about and elaborate on. 


In the process of the lectures and collaborating in a group to create a design studio it has made me realise how much time and effort goes into starting up any business from scratch and what is needed in order to succeed. 

Group Presentation

Our groups final presentation.

Open publication 

Legal and sustainability information for our group

Marketing Plan

Our marketing plan as a studio:


Our aim is to become a well established creative studio with a large customer base which is profitable within three years or less.


A good way to break down how our studios marketing strategy is set out is the four p's, product, promotion, price and place.


Product: 
Our product is the work we do, we are branding other businesses, creating what they need in order for them to succeed. Digital and print based promotional materials as well as the brand and logo itself.


Promotion:
We aim to keep the cost of self promotion down to as little as possible due to trying to make the most profit as possible to keep on track with our marketing plan. Essentials such as business cards, website, letterheads and mail-outs. 


Price: 
To be as competitive as possible we want to match or come close to what our competition offers for there services bearing in mind our overheads and other costings in order to make a profit at the end of the day.


Place: 
We are based within Leeds as we felt that it was the most suitable for all of us, we are familiar with the area and there is a wide range of creative opportunities. After looking at multiple places within Leeds we have decided to go with Umbrella creative studios as it is cheap and has more than adequate facilities to suit our needs as a studio.

What we do?

Describe your product and or service?


We are a design company that focuses on branding and innovative design. We are comprised of four designers. We are a small but versatile group of designers looking to improve the future for others. We have a wide range of skills between us these being:


Sam: Type, layout/editorial, concept and ideas
Ben: Typeface design, information graphics and logo design
Sean: Screen printing, interactive, hand rendered, layout
Josh: Illustration, logo  and branding


From these skills our main focus as a design studio is:

• Logo and branding
• Interactive and informational design
• Type driven
• Primarily for both print and digital media

After looking at what we offer as a company I decided to do a SWOT analysis to look for areas we would need to bring in outside help or strengthen.


Strengths:
Wide range of skills for a small design team.
- Flexible and versatile group.
- Fresh creative outlook.


Weaknesses:
- Limited digital technical knowledge.
- Limited print facilities (although digital prints will be sourced from local printers that we will want to build up and establish contact with.)


Opportunities: (target audience)
- Local community such as up and coming business as well as existing businesses
- Other creatives within and around Umbrella Studios, with potential to satellite for other companies around the local areas.


Threats:


- Local companies such as elmwood who are a global branding agency that have years of experience and a vast range of big clients.

Costings

This is the final costings sheet.
This spreadsheet is what we used to work out the hourly work based on the overheads. The start up costs aren't accounted for as they are covered by the bank loan which is payed over the course of a couple of years which is included in the overheads cost.

Open publication

Second Group Meeting

After narrowing down what our group was focusing on we set about clarifying what we needed to look at in order to create a business. 

From this meeting we each had a specific area to research into, from this we can create a business plan and costing etc. 

Enterprise Group

My group as follows:


Ben McKean
Josh Dazeley
Sean Perkins
Me


We have planned out a timetable to pinpoint when we are meeting as a group throughout the week. Our plan is to meet at least 3 times a week to discuss and pool together our ideas. The group meetings are marked in green.