Some thoughts on start-up for CSA Projects

Step-by-step starting out
Soil Association, 8 October 2008

What I’ll cover this morning
Some thoughts on business plans
What support is out there?
A few thoughts on relationship building

Who am I and what do I do?
Training - market research, marketing, social business planning
Consultancy - social enterprise
Mentoring
Writing
Photo from Ant Smallwood via flickr.com

Business plans should…
Inspire
Tell a story
Engage
Help people to suspend disbelief

Before you begin - reflect
What social impact do you want to have?
What issues are there that you want to address?
Aim - to put your idea into context
Try to suspend judgement - maybe CSA isn’t the solution to the social issues you identify

DIY market research plan
Aim: to become a Zulu in your chosen market
Find out about
The market
Customers
Competitors and partners
Free technology - surveymonkey.com & research blogs.
Photo from shtt! via flickr.com

So there’s need - but is there demand?
Is a CSA the answer to the issues identified?
You may believe your community needs a CSA - but will they really pay?
Let’s be honest - you never can tell 100%
You have to make your best judgement - based on the information you’ve found out.

Now you need a plan
A business plan is a work of fiction
To get people to believe it - you need to tell a good story
That story needs to be convincing and engaging
And it needs to be written in your tone of voice

Things you might include in your plan
Your business from your customer’s point of view/summary
Your context - research
Your vision, your mission, and your key objectives
Your main activities - which will achieve the above
Information about who’ll be involved

What money you’ll need to start out, what you will earn, what you will spend, and how you’ll manage your money
Nuts and bolts - operational issues
Legal issues: structure, liabilities, land ownership, planning…
Relationship building - your marketing plan

A monkey nutshell marketing plan
Work out what market you’re in
Put your business in context - research
Work out who your customers are
Work out what you’re going to offer them (features)
Work out what’s in it for them (benefits)
Agree some key messages (tell them about your benefits)
Start building relationships - do some marketing

Things that might work for you Local events Pay per click ads Ongoing research Website Signage/A Frame Mailshot Networking Business cards Local leafleting Partnerships Stunt Be friendly Flyers/Posters Talk to people Sponsorship Launch PR - good news Blog E-newsletter Word of mouth

What might go wrong - and what you’ll do about it (risk)
How you’ll know - and show - you’ve been successful
Where you’ll get help and support
What you will do next (action plan)

Some sources of support
Business Link - www.businesslink.gov.uk , www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk
Other local support initiatives - eg http://www.socialenterpriseincumbria.org/
Social Enterprise Coalition - www.socialenterprise.org.uk
School for Social Entrepreneurs - www.sse.org.uk
Other CSA’s and growing projects - not just in UK
For individuals - UnLtd - www.unltd.org.uk
Local Food, Soil Association and Plunkett Foundation

Other resources
Forth Sector business planning guide for social enterprises
www.forthsector.org.uk/resources.htm

Other resources
Lots more info on all aspects of social business planning
www.socialbusinessconsulting.co.uk

Other resources
Your chance to change the world
Craig Dearden Phillips

www.thesocialbusiness.co.uk
Blog about social enterprise
E-newsletter
[email_address]
0113 257 3942

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Some thoughts on start-up for CSA Projects

by Rob Greenland on Oct 07, 2008

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Some thoughts on start-up for CSA Projects — Presentation Transcript