Blog: 21: Mentorship

1. ) Araceli Mendez (909) 287-6423
     Rosy Nunez (909) 993-2530
2. ) The most important thing I learned from mentoring with these ladies is being able to connect with your customers. Both did that extremely well they always wanted to know what they could do better and what they can improve on. Also with Mrs. Nunez when I visited LA, seeing how the competition is for business, how they compete with each other. Some hand the upper hand because they had more inventory in other chains of their stores. So if we needed a dress they called up the other store to have it shipped there for pick up. Which correlated to franchising because of people able to connect your chains of the stores with one another and have better efficiency.
3. ) Working with the clients and being taken out of my comfort zone and asking everyone if they need anything made me realize the hard work you need to put in. When in LA it helped me realize that franchising the business and having more variety within your business is key. You are able to grow your business and easily comfort the customers needs which brings in more money. Making your business more efficient.

Blog 20: Exit Interview

(1) What is your essential question and answers?  What is your best answer and why?
My essential question is "what is the most efficient way to transform your small business into a franchise?" My best answer would have to be sequential franchising. Sequential Franchising because if you may not know is when you franchise your business buy allowing others to take ownership of further chains and allowing them to either open further chains under your business name or sell the existing chain. The owners must prove to you that they are fully capable of operating the existing chain before opening more.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
I arrived at this answer on my birthday March, 27. I wasn't getting my answers approved by Mr. Purther and I had asked him for help seeing what can I use that would answer my essential question. He gave me a couple things to look into of ways to franchise a business. I took these considerations and looked them up extensively while keeping the pros and cons of every method on a piece of paper. I can to a conclusion that sequential franchising and single-unit franchising, had a lot of similarities and made the most sense on how to transform your business more efficiently. About a week later I got my answer approved. I didn't know it was my best answer until I chose single-unit as my best answer and knew that I knew more about sequential franchising and that it makes more sense when franchising your business. By April 9th, I knew that sequential franchising would be my best answer. This was when we turned in our 3-Column Chart.


(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?
In the beginning of the year I had no idea what I wanted to do for my senior project and was completely lost for about the first two weeks. Not until my friend from a different school said to do it on business related since I can always do hours with her mom and I decided that that wasn't a bad idea. Then choosing what part of business was even harder I knew i wanted small business because the mom had a small business that was doing well so I wanted to make that my topic. About two months in I needed more information and changed my topic to franchising this happened to work out because the mom is playing on opening further businesses. My answer two and three were also struggles I came upon. I did not get them approved till later on I didn't what to have as my answer until i talked with Mr. Purther and got everything straightened out. Also my blog itself had problems putting links that never really got resolved I don't know why this happened but seemed to happen to other classmates as well.


(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?
The first important source would be my mentor Araceli Mendez, she helped me throughout my project gave me the right mindset to do my work and stay on track. I also got to give Mr. Purther credit even though he isn't a source I think he did help me.
 The second source would be the article "Different Types of Franchising" By Dr.Callum Floyd
This article explained sequential franchising and single-unit franchising the basis of both of my answer two and three. Helped me understand it very well and helped search further articles and such.

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a)  “I, Gabriel Mendoza, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) Wix.com helped me create the website that came to be. Mrs. Rosy Nunez giving me the opportunity to do the job.
(c)
(d) I have created a website and business cards (multiple) for A & R Creations. Created the website from scratch as well as the business cards with no experience.
INTERPRETIVE  

 

APPLIED 
Creating the website and business cards really helped me understand the importance of getting your business know to begin your franchising process. I believe that having these essential pieces are key to moving forward in franchising your small business, because the very very first step of franchising is being approached by a franchisee if you're not planning on doing it solo. And getting your business out there making it more official is the building block of franchising. This independent component helped me understand that thoroughly. Proved that without hard work you won't get anywhere with your business. I'm very proud of the outcome of both the website and the business cards which as of today I have gotten the go ahead of making them official for A & R Creations. 

Blog 18: Third Answer

EQ: 

What is the most efficient way to transform your small business into a franchise?

Answer 3:

The most efficient way to transform your small business into a franchise, is being able to adapt and listen to recommendations and commendations.

Details

• Being able to adapt and hire experts for certain fields and asking mentors.
  
  • You're not going to know everything there is about your business having go to people who do helps tremendously.
• Listening to recommendation and commendations
  
  • Being able to listen to recommendations and commendations and being able to perform from your high and lows can never hurt.
• Do your homework
  
  • Franchising is a big step and you just shouldn't try it alone especially if you don't know you're business entirely your have options use them wisely. 
   
  Sources 
   
  1. "Turning Your Successful Business into a Franchise." About.com Franchises. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
  2. "How to Build Better Business Relationships BY Darren Dahl." Inc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
  3. "Flexibility in Business…." Bosco Anthony Business Growth Strategist RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Blog 17: Interview 4

Interview 

20 Questions

1.) Have you ever thought of expanding your business?
2.) If, so are you on tract into expanding your business or are you doing so?
3.) If you are indeed going to expand your business or already in the process of doing so, will you be expanding your business shop size or product size?
4.) Where do you plan on opening your business?
5.) Why in that area?
6.) When you first started your business did you think it out or rushed into it?
7.) How did you think it out?
8.) How long have you had your business for?
9.) How long did it take for you to start making profits?
10.) Was it worth your wait?
11.) Thinking back on how you got to this point is there anything you would change?
12.) Looking at your business from now do you think it's headed in the right direction?
13.) Is there anything you would immediately change about your business?
14.) Do you like your own business?
15.) When asking customers how they heard of you, what are some typical answers?
16.) If most of those answers are of them hearing from a friend do you think you have great, good, or bad customer service?
17.) How did you start your business off?
18.) What gave you the inspiration to start your business?
19.) Have you had troubles within your business?
20.) If so, who helped you power through these problems?

Blog 16

EQ

What is the most efficient way to transform your small business into a franchise?

Answer

 The most efficient way to transform your small business into a franchise, is to communicate with your employees and customers.

1. Knowing what you're employees want when they come and work makes for a better environment which leads to better customer service.
2. Knowing what you're customers want lets you have better customer satisfaction. Which would lead to you're business growing in size.
3. Making for a better work environment is key to every business success.

 #29 in my working bibliography
 #30 in my working bibliography

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1. For the 30 hours to accumulate for the independent component 2 I plan on creating a Website for A & R Creations as well as business cards, flyers and discount coupons ads. I will be creating the website from scratch as well as the business cards.
2. If you know or may not know creating a website does indeed take some time. Especially if this is your first time and are new to it like I am. I will also be going back to A & R every other day to show my production and ask if there is anything there is to fix or add to the website/business cards.
3. Doing this independent component it's going to help me understand more to what you really need to get out there for other potential business owners to know about your business. Mainly whats important to know. It is also showing me all the same details a business has to go through as I will be spending much time at the shop as well as working on the my work.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

• Literal
  
  • A) I, Gabriel Mendoza, confirm that completed my independent component which represents 30 years of work.
  • B) Araceli Mendez, Hair Salon in Pomona
  • C) Hours on log
  • D) My senior topic is on transforming your small business into a franchise, so for my independent component I started of with my own "business" which was going around to different businesses and passing out flyers to local neighborhoods.
•  Interpretive
  
  
  
  
  • While on the job I found out that everyone must put in hard work to further themselves. Since I was doing a really good job at passing out the flyers on a timely matter, I started getting referred to other business which in the end gave me my a building block for my answer 1. Which was using your connections wisely.
• Applied
  
  • This component gave me the basics for my answer 1. Using the basics my component gave me I built around it for my answer 1, which stated above was, using your connections wisely. In this case I was a connection remax used. Also a good building block for my answer 2, which is advertising properly.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

I'm really proud of meeting the 10 minute requirement of talking about my answer. A lot of people were worried about it.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC

I would give myself a P because i met all the requirements and flowed my presentation well.

        b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

Rule of  3, I did do everything

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

My activity really worked out for me. I'm really proud of it because it was fun entertaining had everyone involved and related to my answer perfectly.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

I would practice more and try to memorize a lot more.

5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

At the moment i don't really have an idea of what it would be, but there are options for me.

Blog 11

1.) I did my mentor ship at my sister's house.

2.) My contact is Amanda Mendoza

3.) I did a total of 10 hours while I was there

4.) While I was there she made me do an outline on a project her job gave her. Which was basically like what type of posters/ads and such should be put up keep in my that she works at Victoria Secret so this was really difficult on me and i really didn't do a good on it. BUT after I was done she gave me an eye opener she brought me her outline that she was working on cause she knew that I wasn't going to do such a good job on it and told me that if i really want to go into business really put forth effort into finding out who your clients are going to be and what kind of deals are they looking for and that really made me get more focused on my senior project cause I really had to find out who customers where to do a good job on it.

Blog 10: Senior Project: The Holiday

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?

A. During the break my Mentor went off on a vacation with her family so I was stuck in a pickle on how to get hours for my senior project that would relate to my topic. So I went and asked my sister if I can somehow help her with anything relating to business and luckily for me they gave her a certain for the store. I basically had to find out what kind of customers will go to VS. Now she works in Rancho and that's not my area of expertise to I had to do some research and I came up with OK ideas sense well it wasn't really my place to do work for.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

A. I learned that you really got to know the type of customers you'll be getting. You really need to focus on what they want and what they would like to see if of course you want to maximize your potential profit. Just working on ideas which I wasn't very good at but it showed that knowing your business helps a lot when doing such things as that.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

A. I am thinking of changing my EQ because I don't really like how it is right now making it more difficult to do research so as of right now this portion I cannot answer very well. But of course I can always ask vague questions and see what kind of response I would get but I don't want that.