Running a Small Business

While I was at the University of La Verne, I participated in the Integrated Business Program. I started and operated a small business within a semester. The experience was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences I have ever had. I learned more about teamwork, grit and adaptability than I ever thought..

Challenges

Our product came in after one month of our selling date. This means we wasted another month of selling time. As tied to the semester deadline, every week counted, and we were already paying catch-up. A lot of groups were selling for weeks before we got to. This last moment hiccup meant we had to change our approach and take advantage of every piece of the product when it arrived.

My role as V.P. of Marketing

As the Vice President of Marketing, I was accountable for getting the word out and momentum. I scheduled every one of our selling events and they included:

• Claremont Colleges

• Cal Poly Pomona

• Cal State San Bernardino

• Pomona Night Event

Additionally, I worked jointly with our VP of Sales to develop a detailed selling plan to ensure we take advantage of every event. We worked on identifying locations that our target audience would be fully engaged at, and on developing a brand story that was engaging for our customers

The Outcome

Even though our timeline was cut short, our team worked very hard and decided to convert the loss into a win. We sold most of our inventory, made a thousand dollar profit, and our team donated our funds to the Leo Food Pantry. The Leo Food Pantry helps tackle food insecurity and make sure no student goes hungry on campus. It felt like a big win not only financially but also making an impact for the community.

Lessons Learned

Having started a small business within a compressed timeline, here is what I learned:

Adaptability is everything. Delays and setbacks happen, but you just have to adapt.

Marketing and sales are intertwined. You can have a stellar marketing plan but it’s useless if people don’t know what your product is.

Teamwork is what made the difference. Each department relied on the other and what I liked most was that we were able to work together to do our tasks under a short timeline and a lot of stress.

Community impact matters. Seeing the impact of the donation to the Leo Food Pantry reminding me why business and service can (and should!) overlap.

Overall, this project provided me with more than just a crash course in starting a business but also skills and lessons that I will take with me in every project I pursue.

Our company name and logo.