Session 2: Ideation and Business Development
ICEBREAKER: Rock Paper Scissors Elimination: Students eliminate each other. Each student plays O.U.T. After each “play” players must switch opponents! |
Brainstorming, IDEATION, and Creative Thinking
ACTIVITY: Pre-Business Brainstorming
Take out a piece of paper or if you have a laptop, open up your BDD (Business Development Document), and start jotting down all of your ideas for a potential business.
COPY AND PASTE
Here are some starting questions:
What are your interests?
What are you good at?
What are you passionate about?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
How could you turn that into a business?
Do you have any skills? List them!
Are you able to craft or make things?
What type of business would you want to start?
Do you like helping people?
What kind of products would you want to sell if you were to start selling items?
What kind of service do you think you could help people with?
Identifying Market Needs
Find Business Gold in Your Neighborhood
ACTIVITY: Treasure hunt
Each student will find a video of a teen/young entrepreneur on YOUTUBE! Students should watch the video and simply share with the class the business in which the student was engaged. If you are taking this class independently, find and watch a couple of these videos! https://www.youtube.com/
Remember, successful businesses are built on the foundation of understanding and meeting the needs of their customers. By identifying what people are looking for, you can create products that truly resonate and make a positive impact. So, as you learn about market needs, think about how you can use your knowledge to create something that people will love and appreciate. which now many of us can't live without.
ACTIVITY: Business Ideas
The Instructor can read this or students will read this on their own.
Students…. Think about a business you would be really good at and we’ll talk about that later on.
Starting a business can be a great learning experience for young students, teaching them about entrepreneurship, responsibility, and financial literacy.
Here are some product/business ideas to consider.
1. Handmade Crafts:
Friendship bracelets or bead jewelry.
Hand-painted rocks or pebbles.
Custom keychains or lanyards.
Handmade greeting cards or postcards.
2. Custom Artwork
Personalized drawings or paintings.
Digital art or custom-designed stickers.
Temporary tattoos with unique designs.
3. Baked Goods:
Cupcakes, cookies, or brownies.
Homemade candies or chocolate bars.
Lemonade stands or homemade sodas (with parental guidance
4. Personal Care Products:
Homemade lip balms or lip glosses.
Bath bombs or bath salts.
Handmade soaps (using safe, kid-friendly kits).
5. Garden Produce:
Selling home-grown vegetables or fruits.
Seed packets or small potted plants.
Handmade flower arrangements.
6. DIY Kits:
Craft kits for other kids.
Science experiment kits.
DIY jewelry-making kits.
7. Clothing or Accessories:
T-shirts with custom designs (can use print-on-demand services).
Hand-sewn masks or bandanas.
Custom patches or pins
8. Educational Materials:
Workbooks or activity books created by the kid.
DIY puzzles or games.
Educational flashcards on subjects they're passionate about.
9. Recycled or Upcycled Products:
Decorated or painted old jars as candle holders or storage.
Bags or totes made from old T-shirts.
Refurbished toys or games.
10. Subscription Boxes:
Monthly craft boxes.
Educational kits or book club boxes.
Treat or toy boxes for pets.
11. Digital Products:
E-books or short stories.
Printable planners or coloring sheets.
Digital art commissions.
12. Services:
Lawn mowing or gardening help.
Babysitting (for older kids) or pet-sitting.
Car washing or simple chores for neighbors.
Dog Walking
Errand Running
STUDENTS: WHICH BUSINESS SEEMS INTERESTING TO YOU??
The instructor can read this…
Starting a business can be fun and educational, but safety and guidance should always be a priority. Talk to your parents if you are serious about starting a business. Their permission and help are essential!
LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS:
ACTIVITY: Brainstorming Business Names
Still unsure about a name?
Try this fun business name generator
Share 3 fun names with the class! https://namelix.com/ You may use other Business Name Generators. Search a few others on Google.
DECIDE and COMMIT ON A BUSINESS NAME! What is it? WHAT DID YOU DECIDE ON?__________________________
ACTIVITY: LOGO Design and INTRODUCTION TO CANVA
Students...Head over to www.canva.com and sign up for a FREE account with an email address.
Create a design: look for LOGO (or search for "Logo" in the search bar.
Look on the left side for LOGO templates to use
Think about a color scheme for your business.
Create 3 logos. ( A logo can be letters or an image that represents you and your business)
Teachers can create a PRO/EDU Account for FREE and then invite students to join their account. https://www.canva.com/education/
Don’t Spend more than 20 minutes on this activity in class. Students can finish their Logos at home.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPTIONS
ONLY USED IF STUDENTS CAN'T WATCH THE VIDEOS.
Brainstorming and Creative Thinking
Ideation is like brainstorming, where you let your imagination run wild and come up with as many ideas as possible. Remember, there are no bad ideas during this phase! Even the craziest concepts can lead to something amazing.
As you go through the steps of ideation and business development, remember that every great invention, product, or service started as an idea. So, don't be afraid to let your creativity shine, and don't give up if things get tough. You might just come up with the next big thing that changes the world!
Identifying Market Needs
We're going to dive into the interesting topic of identifying market needs. Have you ever wondered why certain products or services become popular while others don't? It all comes down to understanding what people want and need – that's where identifying market needs comes in.
Imagine you're in a town where everyone loves playing soccer. Now, what if there was a store that sold only baseball equipment? Chances are, that store wouldn't do very well because it's not meeting the needs of the people in that town. This is a simple example of how important it is to match what you offer with what people are looking for.
Identifying market needs involves doing some research to find out what problems people have or what they're looking to improve in their lives. It's like being a detective, trying to uncover the needs and desires of potential customers. This research helps you create products or services that are valuable and relevant to them.
Find Business Gold in Your Neighborhood
Imagine this: you're sitting on your front porch, watching people walk by with their furry friends. You notice that lots of families in your neighborhood have dogs, and those dogs need exercise. That's when it hits you – there's a business opportunity right in your own backyard! Welcome to the world of kid-preneurs, where you can turn everyday observations into exciting business adventures.
Spot Opportunities
You can discover that opportunities are all around you if you pay attention. It could be the neighbor's beautiful garden that gave you an idea for a plant-selling business, the bustling lemonade stand at the local park that sparked your desire to create your own tasty drinks, or even the handmade crafts your friends love, suggesting a potential market for your creativity.
Let's start with an example: the dog walking venture. You've noticed that many people in your neighborhood have dogs, and they're always looking for someone to help them with doggie exercise. You can be the solution! Start by talking to your neighbors, and letting them know about your dog walking service. Set reasonable prices, create a schedule, and before you know it, you're a neighborhood dog walker extraordinaire. Don't forget to carry some doggie treats with you – the pups will love you for it!
Sell Your Creativity
But it's not just about dogs. Your neighborhood might have other hidden opportunities for selling things. Maybe you have a passion for crafting, and you've noticed that people often admire the handmade gifts you give your friends. That's your cue to set up a little craft stand right in your front yard. You can create and sell your crafts to your neighbors. Who knows, your homemade bracelets, paintings, or scented candles might become the talk of the town.
Find Your Niche
Whether it's dog walking, crafting, or another idea, it's essential to find your niche. That means discovering what you're good at and what people need. If you're into gardening, you might start a plant-selling business right from your own backyard. Or if you're tech-savvy, maybe you can offer computer help or tech repair services to your neighbors.
Remember, every business starts with an idea. You can take what you see in your neighborhood, mix it with your creativity, and turn it into something amazing. But it's not all about making money – it's also about learning, growing, and having fun. So, get ready to put on your entrepreneurial thinking cap, whether it's walking dogs, crafting, or selling plants, and start finding business opportunities right in your own backyard!
LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS:
It’s time to choose a business model! You've spent some time coming up with exciting business ideas. Will you be selling products or offering services? Keep in mind that every successful business starts with a clear idea and some smart planning. If you aren’t sure, just pick something that you find interesting. Remember, we are just learning how to start a business. You won’t need to officially start one! Once you choose a business model, the first objective is to create a cool business name and a logo! Let’s talk about how to BRAND your business.
Branding The Business - Name Creation
A brand is an identifying symbol, mark, logo, name, word, or sentence that companies use to look different from other companies. A brand is seen as one of a company's most valuable assets. It represents the face of the company, the recognizable logo, slogan, or mark that the public associates with the company. Can you name some brands?
Creating a Brand
When a company decides to settle on a brand to be its public image, it must first determine its brand identity or how it wants to be viewed. For example, a company logo often incorporates the message, slogan, or product that the company offers. The goal is to make the brand memorable and appealing to the consumer.
A company usually consults a professional to develop ideas for the aspects of a brand, such as a logo or a symbol. For your website, you’ll create the logo and on a site called CANVA. This design website is free to use. Don’t go there yet! You’ll design a LOGO at the end of this session. School teachers can create a PRO Canva EDU account and then invite their students to use all the PRO features of Canva. The PRO Version offers many more design elements. If you can’t create/access a PRO account, just use the free one.
Brainstorm Names
Before you create a brand, you’ll need to create a clever business name. You have some options for naming your business. You can use your own name or make up a fancy one! Most of my business operates under my name, John. J. Peterson. You can find me on iTunes, Facebook, and Youtube. One of my branded examples is my kick/electric scooter business…I use the name “SlickScoots” (www.slickscoots.com). The name of your business should be related to your interest. If you don’t have an interest or passion yet for the business, you can use your own name like I did!