wcms_436192

What is wrong with Janet’s business idea? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Now look at another case:
Lily’s experience
Lily had been working in the assembly line of a garment factory for more than five years. Her salary was low and
she was often required to work overtime. Lily’s sister-in-law came to visit and complained to Lily that she was
unable to find any good clothes for her 12 year-old daughter. She said that the clothes in the stores all seem
to be either made for younger children or for adults. After the visit, Lily decided to go around to the clothing
shops in her town. She saw young teenage girls shopping in the stores, but she noticed that the number and
variety of clothes geared to that age group was limited. She had already been thinking of quitting her job and
opening her own business.
Therefore, Lily decides to design some pretty
clothes and dresses for young teenage
girls. She makes some drawings of clothing
that would appeal to that age group. She
then takes her drawings to the local clothing
shops, asking the owners if they would buy the
dresses in the drawings, how much they would
pay for them and how many they would buy.
The shop owners seemed to be quite happy
with her designs and said they would display
her clothes. Lily then uses her savings to buy
a sewing machine and some material to make
her first batch. She works in the evening after
getting off from work at the garment factory. All of the dresses she makes sell very well and the shops are
willing to pay her in cash upon delivery. Lily then decides to quit her job to focus on her own business. Within
six months, Lily starts receiving regular orders from the shops. She plans to buy one more sewing machine and
hire one of her friends to work for her.
Why is Lily successful in her own business? What did she do that made her successful?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Starting a business is not an easy job. It takes a lot of work and a lot of planning. The effort and the money it
takes to start a business may be lost if you do not start the right business. The right business begins with a good
description of your business idea.
12 | Generate Your Business Idea