BBI 201
Final Course Project
STARTING YOUR OWN RETAIL BUSINESS
Pick a type of retail business that you would like to own. Remember that it must be a retail
store that sells to consumers like you and me, and contains no manufacturing or wholesaling
aspects. It must be a storefront operation and the primary purpose of the business should be
to sell products, not services. Some possible considerations might be toys, candy, clothing,
electronics, furniture, jewelry, sportswear, shoes, etc.
1. The Business
Describe the type of business you have chosen and why.
2. Form of Business Ownership
a) What type of business ownership would you use and why?
b) What qualities do you have that will help your retail business be
successful?
c) What qualities are you lacking that you could learn, and how would you
learn these?
3. Products
a) List the various types of products that you will sell in your store, and the
approximate retail selling prices for each type of item. For example,
Product
Price Range
Running Shoes
$49.99 - $99.99
Shoe Laces
$0.99 - $3.99
b) Include an example of a price tag you would put on your products. Be creative in the
shape, colour, and design.
4. Store Image and Personality
What will be the image or personality of your store, and what are some of the things you
will do to create this image?
5. Target Market
Who will be your target market and why?
6. Naming Your Store
Because a small business owner wants both regular customers and off-the-street
customers, he/she needs a name that lets strangers know what products are being sold in
the store.
Your store name should be:
 easy to pronounce
 easy to remember
 easy to recognize
 short and simple
 be related to what you are selling
Some things that are really effective include:
i. A combination of name and a simple visual image that ties in together for a double
impact on the passerby, and
ii. the owner's name and product line in one. It's your store and you want your name on
the sign, but since no one knows your name, you should tell people what you are
selling as well. For example, Wendy's Hamburgers, Leon's Furniture.
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BBI 201
Final Course Project
7. Store Logo
a) Create a logo for your store keeping in mind that colours communicate a message to
the customer. They can relate your store to an existing one or they can relate certain
emotional feelings:
Colour
Meaning
Red
Danger, speed
Yellow
Warmth, happiness
Green
Freshness, stability, trust
Blue
Cool, tranquility
Purple
Royalty, mystery
Orange
Friendly, youthful, sociable
Silver
Expensive, high quality
White
Purity, cleanliness
Gold
Royal, expensive
b) Include with your logo what colours you will use in your store and why?
8. Business Card
Every business owner should have a business card. Design a standard business card
including the colour and lettering style you will be using.
9. Financing
a) List some of the estimated start-up costs that you will have when you begin your
business. For example,
Item
Carpets
Light Bulbs
Cost
$120.00
$50.00
b) Where will you get the necessary financing (money) to pay for the above items?
10. Competition
Who are your competitors?
Name
Products Sold
Strengths
Weaknesses
11. Slogan
A slogan or jingle is a catchy phrase sometimes set to music to help consumers remember
the business being advertised. For example, “Where the lowest price is the law”.
Write a slogan or jingle for your business and the purpose of the jingle.
12. Advertising
a) On a piece of bristol board, draw a magazine or billboard
advertisement that you would use for your retail store. Be
creative, using your logo and colour scheme. Be sure to include a
headline, illustration, copy, and signature.
b) Create a radio script for a radio advertisement that you might use for your store.
Include a list of the radio stations you might advertise on and why.
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BBI 201
Final Course Project
13. Employees
a) What are the qualities that you will expect your employees to have?
b) Include a classified job advertisement that you might put in a newspaper if you were
going to hire new people for your store. Be creative, and include your logo in the ad.
c) How much would you pay your employees? Outline the pay plan and why it will be
effective.
d) List any fringe benefits you will offer.
14. Floor Plan Layout
Draw the layout (floor plan) of your retail business. Be sure to include the following
elements:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Tips:




Products – include shelves, racks, etc.
Furniture and Equipment
Service Areas – customer service, change rooms, washrooms, etc.
Employee Facilities – lunchrooms, meeting rooms, etc.
Storage Area
Security Features
make sure you clearly label each part of your layout
show as much as possible
be colourful, and creative
use a bristol board or create a 3-dimensional model of your store's layout
Requirements
-All written portions of the project must be typed
-Final course project can be done individually
-Evaluation will be a combination of self, peer and teacher
-Remember that is assignment must be completed entirely in the class. Part of your mark will
be based on how well you use this time
-You will be required to present your project to the class on the due date
-Feel free to consult with the teacher at any time
-ALL presentations will be submitted to the teacher on the date due regardless of
when the student is due to present.
POWERPOINT FILE DUE: _________________________________
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BBI 201
Final Course Project
Name: _____________________________________________
Criteria
Level 1
50 - 59
Level 2
60 -69
Level 3
70 – 79
Level 4
80 – 100
Limited
understanding of
type of
ownership
Inferior research
for the store
inventory
Did not
understand their
target market
Limited research
of start-up costs
Some
understanding of
the type of
ownership
Some evidence of
research of store
inventory
Some
understanding of
their target
market
Some evidence of
research of startup costs
Good
understanding of
the type of
ownership
Considerable
evidence of
research of store
inventory
Considerable
understanding of
their target
market
Considerable
evidence of
research of startup costs
Thorough
understanding of
the type of
ownership
Thorough
research
completed for
store inventory
Thorough
understanding of
their target
market
Thorough
research of startup costs
Limited effort in
the design of the
logo
Limited
understanding of
the business card
requirements
Slogan is not
effective
Advertising is
incomplete
Floor plan and
fixed items are
not complete
Some effort in
the design of the
logo
Some
understanding of
the business card
requirements
Slogan is
somewhat
effective
Advertising is
adequate
Floor plan and
fixed items are
somewhat
detailed
Considerable
effort in the logo
design
Good
understanding of
the business card
requirements
Slogan is very
effective
Advertising is
very effective
Floor plan and
fixed items are
detailed
Superior effort in
the logo design
Thorough
understanding of
the business card
requirements
Slogan is highly
effective
Advertising is
highly effective
Floor plan and
fixed items are
very detailed
Limited thought
in the selection
of the business
concept
Store name
doesn’t reflect
the product/style
Limited research
of the
competition
Some thought in
the selection of
the business
concept
Store name
reflects the
product/style to
some degree
Some research
about the
competition
Considerable
thought in the
selection of the
business concept
Store name
reflect the
product/style to
a good degree
Adequate
research about
the competition
Strong thought
was put into the
selection of a
business concept
Store name is
highly reflective
of the
product/style
Thorough
research about
the competition
Limited thought
about the store
image/
personality
Little thought
into the qualities
they expect of
their staff
Some evidence of
thought put into
store image/
personality
Some thought
into the qualities
they expect of
their staff
Considerable
evidence of
thought put into
store image/
personality
Considerable
thought into the
qualities they
expect of their
staff
Much thought
was put into the
store image/
personality
Much
consideration of
shown about the
qualities they
expect of their
staff
Knowledge




Understands the
type of business
ownership selected
Accurate research
of inventory for
the store
Understanding of
the target market
Adequate research
of the start- up
costs
Application





Logo is effective
and creative
Business card is
clear and reflects
store image/
product
Slogan is catchy
and memorable
Advertising is
effective and
thorough
Created a detailed
floor plan with
correct fixed items
Thinking



Selection of an
interesting
business concept
Store name reflects
the product and
style
Adequate research
about the
competition
Communication


Created a unique
store image and
personality
Effectively
explained the
qualities they
expect of their
staff
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BBI 201
Final Course Project
Levels Achieved: K __________ A __________ T __________ C __________
EVALUATION
Name(s):
______________________
______________________
Report Content:
All required sections complete
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Level of depth/detail
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Neatness/Creativity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Advertisement:
Overall effectiveness
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Presentation:
Prepared and presented
Overall Effort:
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Comments:
Total:
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=
______%