Creating An E-Commerce Business 923660

Creating An Ecommerce Business

Creating an eCommerce Business 1 Creating an eCommerce Business 5 Creating an eCommerce Business LaChrisha Jackson Dr.Adrienne Garabedian Bus402 October 25, 2018 An idea for a prospective small business My business idea is an agribusiness idea that depends on agriculture products produced on a 45-acre farm that has four greenhouses. My business idea fills an ever-growing demand for vegetables from customers of the city of LA. My target market will cover all the homesteads of the western region of the city. My business idea involves putting up four greenhouses in the state of California on the outskirts of Los Angeles city. The four greenhouses will be used for planting the four common food vegetables consumed in America. The greenhouses will be used for planting tomatoes, cabbages, kales, and mushrooms. Outside the four greenhouses, right before the entrance of the greenhouses, I plan to grow onions. I have settled on these four crops because they are commonly used in almost all if not all households of the city of Los Angeles; all foods are prepared using onions and tomatoes and other than onions and tomatoes, cabbages and kales are the most used vegetables while mushroom is used in almost all soups (Specht et al, 2014). My businesses main target is to capture all the greengrocers of the western side of LA and ensure that I am their primary supplier and from that, I can rack in some profits. The business will run by the name Cali’s fresh produce. Cali’s fresh produce will primarily focus on the production of agricultural produce with the aim of distributing the produce from where the growing of the produce will happen. Orders will be made through an online platform as well as visits to the farm. The orders shall be delivered to the customers that are green grocers of Los Angeles as well as some hotels and restaurants within the locality. At first, the business will target clients within LA but will expand to other areas of the state of California and later the whole country. A form of ownership for the business The business will be Limited Liability Company and this implies that I will not be held personally liable for any mishaps that may come during the operations of the business. It is important to note that the business will be taxed as a sole proprietorship or as a partnership. I settled to have Cali’s fresh produce as a limited liability company because it is simple to run and does not require all the paperwork that corporations need to run (Mancuso, 2015). For Cali’s fresh produce it will be a manager managed Limited Liability Company where one manager will be selected to run the company. Primary competition and Secondary competition The leading direct competitors are vegetable producers suppliers out skirted the city of LA, within the state of California and suppliers from other states of the US. The indirect competitors include small vegetable gardens spread out in the city and other forms of vegetable such as canned products. The direct competitors offer vegetables to my target customers with large supplies and constantly making them more reliable to the customers. The indirect competitors such as the small vegetable gardens offer similar products to what I purpose to offer i.e. purely organic vegetables (Coyne & Knutzen, 2012). At times the small vegetable gardens offer lower prices and that has the potential to undermine the prices that I plan to offer. Canned vegetables are much cheaper than fresh vegetables however they are preferred because of the additional preservatives that are used in the canning process. One of my main competitors is Mrs Winston’s green grocer that is located in LA. Mrs Winston’s green grocery has several strengths that make the business a serious competitor for my business. One of the strengths of Mrs Winston’s grocery business is that it has been in existence for a long time and therefore it has a huge loyal client base. Secondly, the grocery shop offers free deliveries for orders that do not exceed a 3-mile radius from where the shop is. Thirdly, the business has an online platform where customers can order vegetables without having necessarily to visit the shop. Finally, Mrs Winston’s green grocer offers a wide variety of vegetables compared to what my business is offering. Some of the weaknesses of Mrs Winston’s green grocer are that it offers a wide range of vegetables but has not specialized in specific vegetables. Another weakness of Mrs Winston’s green grocer is that it has been involved in several cases where claims of the business selling genetically modified produce have been leveled against the business (Twiss et al, 2011). Another weakness is that the deliveries by Mrs Winston’s green grocer take too long to the extent that some produce end up getting spoilt before they reach the intended customers. Cali’s fresh produce mission statement For my business mission statement, I settled on a mission statement that gives confidence to my customers and that reassures them of the quality of produce that I offer. Cali’s fresh produce mission statement is “providing quality fresh produce for all while still offering exceptional customer service”. The mission statement encompasses all the target customers of Cali’s fresh produce. Customers of agricultural produce want quality and fresh produce that is delivered on time. They also want services that they can rely on. The mission statement of Cali’s fresh produce is reassuring for the customers as they feel that they stand to get quality and fresh produce from Cali’s fresh produce.

Paper For Above instruction

The emergence of eCommerce has revolutionized the way businesses operate, opening up new opportunities for entrepreneurs to reach wider markets with ease. Creating an eCommerce business involves several strategic steps that require thoughtful planning, market analysis, and effective execution. This paper explores the key aspects involved in establishing a successful eCommerce venture, using the example of Cali’s Fresh Produce, a farm-to-market online agricultural business targeting Los Angeles and beyond.

The foundational step in creating an eCommerce business is identifying a viable product or service. In the context of Cali’s Fresh Produce, the idea stems from a need for fresh, organic vegetables among urban consumers in Los Angeles. The business focuses on cultivating tomatoes, cabbages, kales, mushrooms, and onions within four greenhouses on a 45-acre farm. These vegetables are staples in American households, particularly in the Los Angeles region where culinary diversity and demand for fresh produce are high. The strategic selection of crops ensures that Cali’s Fresh Produce can meet consumer preferences while maintaining operational feasibility.

Next, it is essential to develop a clear business model that aligns with market needs. Cali’s Fresh Produce intends to operate as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), which offers personal liability protection and simplifies taxation. The LLC will be managed by a designated manager responsible for day-to-day operations, supply chain management, and customer relations. Choosing an LLC structure strikes a balance between legal protection and operational simplicity, making it suitable for a startup agricultural business aiming for growth and scalability (Mancuso, 2015).

Market analysis is crucial for understanding competitive dynamics. The primary competitors include established vegetable suppliers around Los Angeles and other states that provide bulk produce directly to grocers, restaurants, and hotels. Secondary competitors comprise smaller local gardens and canned vegetable producers offering lower-cost or preserved options. Notably, Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocer exemplifies a strong competitor with its long-trusted presence, online ordering system, and wide product variety. However, weaknesses such as slow delivery times and allegations of genetically modified produce present opportunities for Cali’s Fresh Produce to differentiate itself through quality assurance, reliability, and organic certifications.

Developing a compelling mission statement is vital for positioning the business and communicating values to customers. Cali’s Fresh Produce’s mission is “providing quality fresh produce for all while still offering exceptional customer service.” This mission emphasizes product quality, timeliness, and customer satisfaction, fostering trust and loyalty in a competitive market. Effective branding and messaging aligned with this mission can help establish a strong market presence.

Promotion and distribution channels play a pivotal role in reaching target customers. Cali’s Fresh Produce plans to utilize an online platform for order placement, allowing customers to browse, select, and purchase produce conveniently. Delivery logistics will be optimized to ensure freshness upon arrival, with a focus on prompt service to wholesale and retail clients within Los Angeles initially, then expanding statewide and nationally. Incorporating sustainable practices, such as eco-friendly packaging and efficient transportation, can also enhance customer perception and operational efficiency.

Marketing strategies should include building relationships with local retailers, restaurants, and hotels, leveraging social media, and engaging in community outreach to build brand awareness. Additionally, emphasizing the farm’s organic and sustainable practices can appeal to health-conscious and environmentally-aware consumers, creating a unique selling proposition that differentiates Cali’s Fresh Produce from competitors.

In conclusion, creating an eCommerce business like Cali’s Fresh Produce involves a multi-faceted approach encompassing product selection, legal structuring, market analysis, branding, logistics, and marketing. By focusing on quality, reliability, and customer service, such ventures can effectively penetrate competitive markets and scale operations successfully. The integration of technology into traditional farming practices not only expands market reach but also aligns with contemporary consumer preferences for fresh, organic, and sustainably-sourced food products.

References

• Coyne, K., & Knutzen, E. (2012). The urban homestead: Your guide to self-sufficient living in the heart of the city. Los Angeles, Calif: Process Media.
• Mancuso, A. (2015). Form Your Own Limited Liability Company: Create An LLC in Any State. Nolo.
• Specht, K., Siebert, R., Hartmann, I., Freisinger, U. B., Sawicka, M., Werner, A., & Dierich, A. (2014). Urban agriculture of the future: an overview of sustainability aspects of food production in and on buildings. Agriculture and human values, 31(1), 33-51.
• Twiss, J., Dickinson, J., Duma, S., Kleinman, T., Paulsen, H., & Rilveria, L. (2011). Community gardens: lessons learned from California healthy cities and communities. American journal of public health.
• Additional scholarly articles and industry reports relevant to eCommerce, agricultural logistics, and sustainable urban farming practices.