A Plan of a Proposed Cupcake Shop along the Beach by Using the SWOT Analysis - Case Study Example

? Site Plan al Affiliation Site Plan For a business to prosper, there are various factors that have to be considered. Some of these include the location, the target group, and proximity to raw materials among others. In this regard, a business proprietor has to conduct a research regarding the above mentioned factors in order to choose the most suitable location. The site itself must be properly suited to meet the required need. This planning has to be based on the overall space available on the provided land and the intended use (Wertheimer, 2004). The location has to be easily accessible to the target group to guarantee the success of the business. Such information can be acquired by conducting a SWOT analysis of the business in attempts to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats affecting the business. This work evaluates the provided plan of a proposed cupcake shop along the beach by using the SWOT Analysis. In any business, it is vital to assess the industry in order to be fully informed of the requirements. It is essential to have credible information regarding the targeted customers and their needs. The intended business has to meet and satisfy the needs of the targeted customers. If the business achieves this objective efficiently, chances of success are high. Therefore, as far as this proposed business is concerned, SWOT analysis will provide the necessary information to make the business a success. Strengths The site location’s strength is based on the demographics of the area. The demographics, according to Russ (2009) give a person the idea of the population surrounding the area. Since the site is supposed to host a cup cake studio, the area demographics, which includes the beach, is suited for the site location. People of different age groups love the beach, and this is an opportunity to serve these people with cupcakes. The beachgoers love to relax as they enjoy themselves with their favorite snacks and beverages. Therefore, the fact that there is a cup cake shop near the beach is an advantage to the business since it is near the targeted customers. Also, because the business is located on the first building accessible from the beach is an advantage. Had the business been located in other buildings far away from the beach, proximity could have been affected. It is imperative to have a business located in a place easily accessible to customers. Easier proximity to a business plays a significant role in the growth and development of the business. When customers can easily access the business, the business is guaranteed to succeed. Furthermore, the immediate surrounding area has numerous apartments that will provide the proposed business with the required customer base for the business to achieve growth and development. Such a site is effectively planned for the achievement of development and growth (Russ, 2009). Weakness There is a weakness in the way the business is to be located. Therefore, because it is located near the beach notwithstanding, its location on the fifth floor is a weakness. This may prove tiresome to the targeted group, who may already be tired after spending some time swimming. The fifth floor may feel a long way for people to go for cupcakes. The situation can be better if the business is located on the ground floor. This would make the place more accessible to the beachgoers. They can get in and out of the cupcake shop on the same level with the beach, unlike the proposed location on the fifth floor. Opportunities There is an opportunity for the business to grow. It is evident from the site plan that there is an open place just near the building hosting the business. This is an opportunity since it shows the area has a chance to grow. Other buildings may be constructed on that space, and this may increase the customer base of the business. The business’ proximity to the beach gives it a chance to continue having customers. There are chances for the business to expand since, other than the proximity to the beach, there are other apartments surrounding the business enterprise and this gives the business an increased market share and, therefore, an opportunity to expand. The private school near the business location can serve as an opportunity for the business to grow because; it can provide with new customers. Those students and the staff of the school can offer the needed customer base for the business to grow and expand. Threats The proximity of the site location of a cup cake studio to the beach is a threat in the sense that the business may be vulnerable to sea storms if they occur. The coffee shop situated on the same floor can be a threat if the coffee shop owner sells cupcakes or similar products to the coffee shoppers. Sites meant for business should be planned in a way that the nearby businesses may not prove a threat by offering similar services. It is necessary to assess the entire region of similar businesses in order to ascertain the best location for the intended business site (Russ, 2009). The restaurants also offer threats to the business, as far as customers are concerned. Since the restaurants would serve similar products, this business can be affected by a reduction of the targeted market share. The business is under threat from the hotel apartments where there are high probabilities similar products are sold. Furthermore, since the hotel apartments are close to the building housing the business, competition for customers is high. Analyzing the site (the beach site and the plan) The business is located near the beach and surrounded by numerous apartments. There is an empty land to the right of the building housing the business. There are hotel apartments to the left, which offer competition to the business. There are restaurants to the far right of the business, which also would offer competition to the business. There is a market, a private school, and a tanking station, which are near the area. The building housing the business overlooks the sea view side and provides an excellent opportunity for the targeted customers. This is because it is the first building the customers would access after leaving the beach side. This site location is appropriate for business (Russ, 2009). Regarding the floor layout plan of the business, there appears to be some adjustments to be made. It is better if the living room is near the kitchen compared to the cupcake area. It should be easier for the person in the kitchen to access the living room easier than having to pass through the cupcake studio. It would be better if the kitchen and the cupcake area so as to save on space. The space being utilized by the cupcake area can be used specifically for displaying the ready products. Thus, by aligning the cooking areas (the kitchen and the cupcake area) on the same line, it becomes possible to undertake any adjustment necessary for the cooking areas. This would free the other side for display purposes. User and User Needs The business is by a woman who works in her apartment as a cup cake maker. She needs to sell the cupcakes to customers. For her to attract customers, she has to ensure the products are made using the most hygienic ways to win the trust and confidence of customers. In this business, the business owner has to ensure the raw materials for the business are easily available. If the raw materials are not available in the local area, they should be sourced elsewhere at a reasonable cost. This is to ensure the selling price of the cakes is affordable to the customers. The apartment has to have enough space for customers to make their purchases. References Russ, T. (2009). Site Planning and Design Handbook (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Professional. Wertheimer, L. (2004). Site Planning. Chicago, IL: Kaplan AEC Architecture. Read More