Video Discussion Questions
Essentials of Entrepreneurship and
Small Business Management, 4/e
by Thomas W. Zimmerer
and
Norman M. Scarborough
Joan Rivers Worldwide Enterprises
1.
2.
In what ways does Joan Rivers demonstrate the
characteristics of the “typical entrepreneur”?
In the video, Joan Rivers says, “Have 40
balloons up there, and if one doesn’t pop, they’ll
say, ‘She’s brilliant. She had that idea.’ What
they don’t realize was that was one of a million
ideas you’ve tried.” How does Rivers’ statement
relate to the way most entrepreneurs view
failure?
Joan Rivers Worldwide Enterprises
3.
Joan Rivers says, “A lot of our business has come
from ‘Let’s do it, let’s try it, let’s see.’ ” What
does she mean? Do you think this attitude is
typical of other entrepreneurs?
TheWaggingTail.com
1.
2.
3.
Which characteristics of the “typical
entrepreneur” does owner Keith Durst
exhibit?
Describe TheWaggingTail.com’s target
customer.
What advantages does
TheWaggingTail.com offer pet owners?
TheWaggingTail.com
4.
5.
In what ways has Keith Durst
differentiated his business from “ordinary”
dog kennels?
What role does technology play in
TheWaggingTail.com’s success?
Build-A-Bear Workshop
1.
2.
Which of the three business strategies
described in Chapter 2 is Maxine Clark
using? Explain.
In what ways has Clark set Build-A-Bear
Workshop apart from the typical toy store?
Build-A-Bear Workshop
3.

Would the Build-A Bear concept make a
successful franchise? Explain.
Describe the sources of Build-A-Bear’s
competitive advantage.
Zoots
1.
2.
Describe Zoots’ target customer.
The video never mentions Zoots’ prices or
how they compare to those of their
competitors. How do you think their
prices compare to those of competitors?
How important do you think price is to the
typical Zoots customer. Explain.
Zoots
3.
4.
How has Zoots’ marketing strategy
enabled the company to gain a competitive
advantage over its rivals in the dry
cleaning business?
Describe the opportunities and threats that
Zoots faces as it grows.
Strike Holdings LLC
1.
2.
How has Tom Shannon created a
competitive edge for Strike Holdings
LLC?
In what ways has Shannon repackaged the
simple game of bowling to appeal to his
company’s target customers? How
successful has he been?
Strike Holdings LLC
3.
Given its marketing strategy, what
opportunities and threats does Strike
Holdings face?
The Golf Network
1.
2.
How is Greg Matzel using the World Wide
Web to create a competitive advantage for
The Golf Network?
Refer to the “Strategies for E-Success” in
Chapter 7 of your book. Which of these
strategies is Greg Metzel using?
The Golf Network
3.
4.
Visit the Web site for The Golf Network at
www.thegolfnetwork.com . What
suggestions can you make for improving
the Web site? (Hint: You may want to
read “Designing a Killer Web Site” in
Chapter 7 of your book.)
What recommendations can you make to
Greg Matzel for advertising The Golf
Network?
Bay Partners
1.
Bay Partners’ mission statement is to
“identify new technologies in networking,
wireless, and software and invest in
companies that leverage these innovations
to create and lead new market
opportunities.” How did sticking to their
mission during the rise (and subsequent
fall) of the dot.coms benefit the venture
capital firm?
Bay Partners
2.
3.
4.
Explain the process by which venture capital
firms screen small business candidates as
possible investments.
What do venture capital firms such as Bay
Partners look for when considering making an
investment in a small company?
Describe the benefits a venture capital firm can
offer a growing small business.
MyTeam.com
1.
2.
Venture capitalist Ted Dintersmith says that
MyTeam.com “is appealing on multiple
dimensions.” What are some of the
characteristics of the company that make it
unique and so appealing to professional
investors?
What do venture capitalists look for when
considering making an investment in a small
company?
MyTeam.com
3.
Describe several sources of financing that
MyTeam.com might rely on to finance its
growth.
Crunch Fitness
1.
2.
CEO Jim Solomon says that Crunch Fitness
locations will be successful only in major urban
areas. Do you agree? Explain.
Visit the Crunch Fitness Web site at
www.crunch.com to get a sense of the
company’s unique approach to the fitness
market. Develop a list of factors the company
should consider when selecting a location for its
new fitness centers.
Crunch Fitness
3.
Select a city you think would be suitable
for locating a new Crunch Fitness center
and use the resources on the Web site for
your book at www.prenhall.com/zimmerer
to research the demographics of that city.
Offer convincing evidence that the city
would be a profitable location for Crunch
Fitness.
Neema Clothing
1.
2.
3.
How important is the purchasing function
to Neema Clothing? Explain.
What advantages have an effective
purchasing strategy and tight inventory
control given Neema in the men’s clothing
industry?
What benefits does Neema’s electronic
data interchange (EDI) system produce for
both the company and its customers?
CESSI
1.
2.
3.
Why do disabled people have a difficult
time finding employment?
How important are hiring decisions to the
typical small business? Explain.
What steps can business owners take to
minimize the likelihood of making hiring
mistakes?
CESSI
4.
In the video, Fred Cherry says, “The goal of this
company is to help. Yes, we make money. We
have to make a living, but I love to see…the
people who work for CESSI happy…and
helping someone, especially the people with
disabilities.” Is earning a profit incompatible
with fulfilling a company’s social responsibility?
Explain.
Second Gear Bicycles
1.
2.
3.
What is social responsibility? Identify
several areas in which a company has a
responsibility to society.
How is Jason Upshaw demonstrating his
company’s social responsibility?
Should a company be able to “escape” its
responsibility to society simply because it
is small? Explain.