Please select and observe a small business in your area. Please do not use a chain or franchise. You should observe the business in person. If you wish, you can also speak to the manager or owner if they are available. Based on your observation, answer the following questions in a 4-5 page paper: 1. Identify the business name, location, and hours and days of operation. 2. Describe its products and/or services. Describe their store and storefront. What image are they portraying to the customers? 3. Give examples of the type of marketing that this business uses to promote their business and describe why they chose these methods. 4. Identify their customer. Describe their target market and their secondary market. (These two groups should be a very specific and clearly defined. Do not feel like you are excluding anyone. You are just defining who they are focusing their marketing activities on.) 5. Identify two competitors and describe how this business differentiates itself from them. 6. Does the business have a competitive advantage? Explain why or why not. 7. In your opinion, what challenges does this business face in the near future? Explain your reasoning. 8. If this were your business, what would you do differently? Focus on things we discussed throughout the class such as marketing activities, interactions with customers, public relations, image of the brand, social media, etc. Explain your response.
