Blog Wars: Small business pitch

Thirty-one SIUC students recently finished Operation Bootstrap, which teaches students how to plan for a small business. What small business plan would you pitch in Carbondale?

Luke McCormick
I’m always seeing people slurping up coffee and I’ve been kicking an idea around. I’d sell cups for like six bucks and put them in weak containers but make sure I had a cool atmosphere in the store. This way everyone would want to be drinking my coffee.  We’d probably sell music that would put you to sleep and also sell below average baked goods.
After some more thought I have realized I have no original ideas and the only thoughts coming from my brain currently are riddled with sarcasm. You don’t want me as a business partner.

Allison Huber
That’s a tough question, because Carbondale already has a thriving community of entrepreneurs, when you take the time to look at it. I’m thinking specifically of Arnold’s Market, Melange, Longbranch Coffeehouse, Krustado’s, Lote Tree Soap, Plaza Records, Robco Audio, Art Lovers’ Gallery, Bike Surgeon, Attitude Designs and 710 Bookstore, The Neighborhood Co-Op, Town Square Market, Bookworm, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, WDBX, Thai Taste, Mary Lou’s, Booby’s, Harbaugh’s, El Bajio, El Greco and Global Gourmet - but we’d be here all day before I could name them all. Seriously. I keep thinking of more, and it’s bugging me to know that at some point I’ll no longer be able to append this list each time I think of another one.
One venture I feel is not overtly present, though, is a pet-and-plant house-sitting service: that is, a trusted party to care for pets and house plants/gardens, on site, while clients are away on business or vacation. This service could also include collecting mail, taking trash and recyclables to the curb, or fulfilling custom-request tasks. The first name that came to mind is Don’t Worry, Be Happy Home-Sitting. My other idea is becoming a free-lance, personal theme song writer. 

Brian Feldt
There is only one thing I can think of that Carbondale needs more than anything: a kick-ass bakery. A bakery where a student can walk in and get a donut or a bagel and such. Or a dozen of donuts. I know that we have a bakery right now in the Murdale shopping center, but I need something more close to campus… like the Strip. Get it done, Carbondale City Council… get it done.

Jeff Engelhardt
Students usually need a good kick in the pants in the wee hours of the morning. To do this, one would have to look no further than my new business. First of all I would sell awesome items on my breakfast menu such as energy drinks, Toaster Strudels, bacon cheeseburgers, Crunchwrap Supremes, chicken wings, pizza and slurpees. And when you walk in, you would be greeted by the sounds of live music as I would be sure to book two bands to play from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. There would be nothing better than bands cranking their amps up to 11 while putting down some Toaster Strudels and Red Bulls at 9 a.m.