Untitled Essay, Research Paper

OVERVIEW

Skittles is a variety entertainment and dining establishment located in

Washington, D.C. . Our mission is to provide our patrons with a unique blend

of live entertainment while delivering a top quality dining experience. We

will do this by emphasizing service excellence and the highest level of

performance in all aspects of our operations and services. Our prominent

services include live entertainment, ranging in form from comedy to jazz

performances to poetry recitals and others. We also offer lunch, dinner,

drinks and dancing to our customers.

The restaurant is operated by its several partners who have an equal share

in ownership. The partners are Tracy Jackson, James Johnson, Sonja Dawkins,

Kevin Brown and Steffi Carr. The restaurant is ideally located on the D.C.

waterfront. There it will be easily accessible to a large cross section of

consumers and make it possible to provide patrons with a safe and controlled

environment.

Our establishment brings a relatively new concept to the Districts restaurant

industry. What we provide is an everchanging mix of live entertainment to

customers while serving all of their drinking and dining needs as well. We

are somewhat of a one stop, night on the town, in that we provide not only

the drinking and dining needs of person going out but we also provide, in

the same location and depending on the night, everything from dancing to

live music performances to

a night of comedy entertainment. Because of its uniqueness to the marketplace

in D.C., Skittles has an excellent opportunity to establish itself and become

a force in the restaurant/entertainment community in the District. This is

partly because of the limited direct competition the company has to face.

Although direct competition is limited, there are several establishments

which we feel will pose competition to us in the market. They include Blues

Alley, Hogates, H.I. Ribsters, Phillips, Gang Plank, The Wharf, and Club

721.

Despite the threats which the competition poses to the restaurant, we are

still very confident in the ability of this concept and restaurant to thrive

and succeed in the District.SITUATION ANALYSISWe, the owners of Skittles, are very enthusiastic about our chances of success

with this new and exciting restaurant concept. Our enthusiasm was bolstered

even more by what was revealed to us after performing a situation analysis

for the company. The analysis showed that as a company, our strengths and

the opportunities that exist, far outweigh our weaknesses and the threats

we perceive ourselves having to face. This indicates to us that with hard

work and a total team commitment, Skittles will be a definite success. As

for the particulars that were revealed through the analysis they are as

follows.

First, the businesses internal strengths include the location of the restaurant,

because of its convenient access to all the residents in the Metro Area.

Another strength is the room for growth that we have as a company, because

without it the company would reach its maximum potential in a relatively

short time and then have no where to go but down. Also we have a strength

in our prices which, for the services and the variety of entertainment we

provide, are better than favorable when compared with the competitions prices.

Finally, our internal strengths include the variety which we provide for

our customers, both in the services and in the entertainment which we

deliver.

Next, there are the internal weaknesses that we have as a business and they

include, first our inexperience with being managers and operators of a business

as well as the inexperience in dealing with the real world, unforeseen problems

that are bound to arise with a new business. Secondly, there is the fact

that as of yet we don’t have an established customer base to rely on. Also,

we also don’t have a loyal market of consumers whom we can depend on even

during the most difficult economic periods. Finally, there is the fact that

we don’t have the established reputation for service and excellence that

some of our competitors may have with the consumers in the area.

Next, the situation analysis turned to the external factors that would be

affecting our establishment. These factors include both our opportunities

and the threats that we will have to face. First, there were the opportunities

which include, the economic situation in the district which has the mayor

and other prominent officials

encouraging and supporting the formation of new businesses in the District

in hopes of creating more revenue for the city. This is an opportunity because

with the cooperation from the city and the powers that be, it will be less

difficult to deal with all of the red tape and bureaucracy one has to go

through when starting a business. Secondly, there the opportunity to become

a tourist attraction, because we are located in the nations capitol which

receives millions of visitors on a yearly basis. By becoming a city hot spot,

it would enhance our reputation not only with the local residents but nation

wide as well. It would increase our business revenue drastically if we could

become one of the “must see” places for visitors to the capitol. The second

opportunity has a direct relationship with the third and final opportunity

which is to franchise and branch out. If we are successful in becoming a

tourist attraction, that would open up markets for us all over the country

in places where people don’t have but want the services and entertainment

concept which we provide to our customers.

The final segment covered in our analysis was the threats we perceived ourselves

having to deal with. They include, first the many hassles and the bureaucracy

we would have to deal with, such as obtaining the proper licenses, zoning

and building permits and meeting the required health, building and safety

codes and regulations. Secondly, there is the threat posed by the slow economy

we are currently faced with. It is causing more people to opt to stay at

home rather than going out. Finally there is the threat posed by the competition

in the District for disposable income. Because D.C. is the U.S. Capitol,

there are many establishments which provide a variety of things to do for

the consumer which will make attracting those disposable dollars all the

more difficult for a new business.

Over the coming year, it will be our goal to build on the strengths that

we posses and to take full and complete advantage of the opportunities that

exist for Skittles in the D.C. market. We also plan, to the best of our ability,

to overcome the threats which await us and to eliminate as many, if not all,

of our internal weaknesses. This will be achieved through strong management

leadership, dedication to the company and careful decision making and planning

on the part of Skittles owners and all of our employees.ORGANIZATION OBJECTIVESSince we are a new organization , there are many marketing objectives that

we have yet to achieve and which we will strive to accomplish within the

next year of business. Three of the more prominent objectives we have include

first, establishing and maintaining a high level of customer loyalty and

a large loyal market base in the D.C. metro area. Secondly, we seek to eliminate

all of our internal weaknesses. Third and most importantly, we want to provide

our customers with the most outstanding and superior quality of service found

anywhere.

As a new business, we are faced with the task of having to find a place for

ourselves in the market among consumers. We can best make a place for ourselves

by establishing a large , loyal base of consumers. We plan to achieve this

objective by providing patrons with an experience like no other and by delivering

top quality entertainment. We will be able to determine if the objective

has been achieved by monitoring the increase or decrease in the level of

regular repeat customers over the next year.

Our second objective is one in which we have a great deal of concern. It

is to eliminate our internal weaknesses. While we are concerned, we feel

most confident about getting it achieved. This is because internal weaknesses

are those which we have the most ability to influence and change. Currently

our internal weaknesses include inexperience in management and a lack of

a loyal customer base, to name a few. We will determine if the objective

has been reached by performing a second situation analysis at the end of

the year and comparing it with our current analysis.

The third objective we have is probably the one most essential to determining

our future in the marketplace. It is to provide our customers with the most

outstanding quality of service found anywhere. By achieving this objective

we will have little problem with achieving our first objective of developing

a loyal customer base. This is because if we deliver a high quality of service

excellence to our patrons, they will only naturally think highly of us and

want return to our establishment. Also, by delivering outstanding quality

in all aspects of the company, it will help to develop a positive reputation

in the eyes of the consumers which will lead to more business for the restaurant

which will in turn lead to more profits for the business. We will determine

if the objective has been accomplished by getting feedback from customers

after they’ve had the Skittles experience. Surveys will be taken randomly

throughout the year to determine if service and overall quality is being

maintained, improving, or getting worse.

In any event we feel the achievement of these goals are essential to our

remaining a viable venture in the marketplace and we plan to do everything

within our powers to make certain that they are achieved.

PERCEPTION OF GOODS

Skittles target market will find the restaurant to be ideal for their dining

and entertainment pleasure. This is because our services as well as our marketing

are geared towards attracting and satisfying the wants and needs of our target

market. Through our reasearch, we have found that our target demographics

enjoy jazz, live music, and comedy, as well as full course dining when going

out. By inquiring of the specific target market demographics, we have determineed

exactly what they want in terms of entertainment and dining. As a result,

we have focused our endeavors to meet those needs.HOW IS USP MANIFESTED?

The unique selling position of Skittles will be manifested by our ability

to provide a variety of live entertainment forms. It will further be manifested

in our ability to provide for our customers, dining excellence as well as

fun and excitement, all in the same location. In addition, our ability to

cater not only to those looking for live entertainment fun but also those

who wish to use our establishment for business purposes as well as other

private functions will add to creating a distinct U.S.P. for Skittles.BRAND NAME DISCUSSION

Skittles was chosen as the name of our establishment because the word skittles

has now become synonymous with a variety of flavors. This is, we feel the

most appropriate name to describe what it is that we have to offer our consumers

in terms of goods and services, a wide variety. In the entertainment, as

well as in the dining options and the overall concept of our business, ,Skittles

the restaurant much like Skittles the candy, will provide a rainbow of variety

and flavors to its customers.

ADVERTISING OVERALL PLANSkittles overall campaign will utilize several mediums and techniques in

order to get the publics awareness of our existence up. The mediums we plan

to utilize include flyers, posters, billboards and newspapers. The advertising

campaign will be somewhat aggressive in its approach because we are a new

entity trying to create a niche for ourselves in a very competitve environment.

The advertisements will be targeted to appeal to the wantrs and sensibilities

of our specific target market. We will accomplish this by focusing the ads

on the entertainment and the variety aspects of our restaurant. Likewise,

we will convey through our ads a sense of the atmosphere and ambiance which

exists at Skittles. The ads will be run in major papersd tri-weekly, while

billboards, posters and metro ads will be continuos in their display. We

will make use of free passes for entertainment and meal discount coupons

as well. As with any product , we are hoping that word of mouth will also

help in establishing the reputation of Skittles as a great place for

entertainment and dinning.DISCUSSION OF SUPPLY TO RESTAURANTThe supply of Skittles’ food and beverages will be handled through a combination

of several wholesale and retail suppliers. For our beef, pork, lamb and veal

supply we will utilize the National Beef and Provision Co. of Baltimore MD.

The prince Wm Co. Poultry and Egg Company will provide our needs in those

areas. Our seafood will be acquired fresh from the D.C. Wharf. Finally, our

liquor and alcoholic beverages will be providerd by two suppliers. The F

Wine Specialists will supply our wine needs while the International Distribution

Corportion will supply all of our other alcohic beverages and the Pepsi Bottling

Co. will supply our Fountain Sodas/beverages.

To insure for our customers, the freshest food posible.

Our meats, seafood, poultry and vegatables will be ordered weekly. To add,

because all of our suppliers are in the D.C. area and in such close proximity,

we will receive our supplies by way of refrigerated trucks. Again with the

furthest supplier being in Baltimore, we are assured that our oders will

be delivered within 24 hours of the reciept by the suppliers.

Segmentation

The Washington, D.C. market is the 6th largest MSA market

according to the Office of Management and Budget. With a consumer market

population of over 4 million people Washington,D.C offers a wide, diversive

ethnic make-up of Whites,Black,Asians,Hispanics and Other ethnic groups,

with the White and Black Populations being the majority.

Furthermore the Washington D.C. market has an effective

buying income of over 88 million dollars, and had retail sales in excess

of 31million. (SRDS August 1993)

Young adults

Adults Middle Aged Seniors

18-24 25-34

35-49 50+

Racial Diversity: High degree and Some degree and Very small degree Extremely

small degree

highly intergrated some intergration and seperated and secluded.Maritial Status High degree of Some degree of singles Medium degree of married

High degree og married

Single individuals Some degree of married some divorced and singled some

divorced and widowedAttitude towards Service Speed and Professionalism Value required, honesty

extremly patient, avoid Expects Respect, and Honesty

are k y aspectts professionalism demanded extra cost and Personable receives

discounts.

The above segmentation chart shows the age divison of

adults in Washington, D.C. The base selected for this chart is the Age of

the Consumer Market Population of Washington,D.C. The reason we chose age

as our base is because it is the easiest way to divide and segment a consumer

population. Furthermore the base starts at age 18 because Skittles will provide

adult entertainment and will be serving alcholic beverages.

We chose Racial Diversity, Maritial Status and Attitudes

toward Service as our descriptors because Skittles will cater to a cornicopia

of people with a high degree of ethnic diversity; married, single and divorced

individuals as well as different attitudes and perceptions towards service.

In doing so we noticed that there was a some degree of disparity among the

Young Adults and Adults; within the descriptor of Maritial Status; generally

the Young Adults were single, because many of them were either still in school

or recent graduates.While the Adults were recent newlyweds and some still

single. With the Middle Aged having a high degree of people being married

and some divorcees. Finally the Seniors had a extremly high degree of married

couples with some being widowed.

Within the descriptor of Racial Diversity there were some

differences.There is a high degree of Racial Diversity and intergration within

the younger ages that gradually decreases as the adults get older. Also since

Washington ,D,C. has such highly diversified communities ranging from Whites,

Blacks, Hispanics,Asians, and others it would be ideal to offer a resturant

that would and could cater to all people regardless of their ethnic orgin.

PERSONAL SELLING MESSAGESkittles servers will be trained to provide customers with both quality service

and congeniality. To ensure that our employees are both courteous and respectful

when dealing with customers, we will establish an incentive program for our

employees which will be based on customer responses toward the service they

receive. Ideally, the interaction of a Skittles server and a customer should

be similar to the following dialogue:Server: Good evening, my name is Jacque and I’ll be your waiter for this

evening. Would you care for any appetizers or Drinks at this time?Cust.: No thank you, we’re not quite ready to order yet so could you give

us a few minutes please.Server: Certainly. (returns shortly) Are you ready to order now?Cust.: Yes, we are ready to order.Server: May I recommend our specials.Cust.: Thank you, but we would like to order …Server: Would you like anything to drink?Cust.: We’ll have …Server: O.K. I’ll be right back with your drinks.(returns) Here are your

drinks and your dinner will be ready shortly. (leaves and returns w/ food)

Here is your dinner, I hope you enjoy it. If there is anything that I can

get you please let me know.Cust.: Thank You.The server will then check regularly to see if everything is fine with the

customers and after they are finished with their meals, he will again check

with them.Server: Would you like any dessert or is there anything else that I can do

for you?Cust.: No thank you, we are ready for the bill please.Server: Of course.The server then will deliver through our computerized billing process, the

bill to the customer.