wireless butterfly

prepared byChelsey Cleveland, Shelly Henricks,

Micah Robison, and Inega Taylor

presents

Opportunity

People with Special Needs

• Special needs children and adults were institutionalized.

• Movement started in late 1960’s and early1970’s

• Started exploring their capabilities not their disabilities.

• Opportunities have increased since that era.

• Programs developed provide options and opportunities:

– Special Olympics

– ARC (formerly known as Association for Retarded Citizens)

History

Herbs

•Fresh herbs were not available in retail settings like grocery stores until about a decade ago.

Current

People with Special Needs

• Employment opportunities and housing still limited.

• Receive life skills or occupational education

• Capable of employment if given a chance.

Opportunity

Herbs

•Fresh herbs are available in retail settings like grocery stores but are very expensive.

•Priced at $2.99 to $3.99 per package of only a few sprigs

•Enjoy a high profit margin

•Perishable

Opportunity

A non-profit company that provides:• an integrated work setting for typical and special needs employees • growing local organic herbs at a competitive price with charitable

appeal

Non-profit will be aligned with a university to:• benefit from their expertise • provide exposure to a variety of colleges throughout the university• serve as a model for other university communities throughout the

nation

Future

Concept Features • Crops will initially consist of herbs: easy to

grow, good profit margin, and provide options for both fresh and dry products.

• University experience will be combined with the business plan for packaging and distribution.

Concept Features

• Greenhouses will provide consistent year-round production

Site Concept• Greenhouses at one end and processing and

packaging at other end• Accommodations for special needs employees

– wider rows– production machines

• People come together to learn from one another • New age company culture and management:

– Environment/Butterflies– Social/Weekly events

• University departments will observe functions:– culinary - special education– mechanical engineering - management– entrepreneurship - sociology– psychology

Concept Benefits

• Contribute to state's economy • Special needs people will be paying into taxes

as opposed to accessing resources • Stores can:

– buy local – help change a problem in society.

Concept Benefits

Competitive Advantage

Employment – no competitors with all elements

• few close but not same– Red Wiggler Farms, Maryland

Left Foot Organics, Washington

– Mariposa, Iowa

Competitive Advantage

Herbs/Retail – no local, organic herb suppliers• Local stores’ herbs are not local

– HerbThyme Farms – California

– North Shore Greenhouses – California

– Goodness Gardens Herbs – Columbia (distributed via New York)

Target Market• Short-term (1 year)

– Small/specialty grocery stores– Restaurants– Made in Oklahoma product manufacturers

• Mid-term (1 – 3 years)– Wholesale warehouses that cater to large entities

• Long-term (more than 3 years)– Replicate format at other university communities

Market ApproachWin/Win situation:• Retailer -quality product at competitive price / special

needs adults - employment• Feel good component - buying local and helping a

segment of society

Made in Oklahoma “Partners” • Can use it in their marketing that they use fresh and

local in their product

Promotion• seek media coverage • advertise in Made in Oklahoma promotions

Distribution

• Distribution will be key as the product is perishable – Refrigerated vehicles will be necessary to transport

goods to stores, manufacturing plants, or warehouses

• Needs to be timely and coordinated with production

Operations

– Executive Director – development, coordination of resources

– Program Coordinator – employment coordination and operations management

– Marketing– identify market opportunities and establish contacts

– Distribution and customer service – logistics and problem resolution

– Administrative – accounting and grant writing

– Website operations – outsourced

Economics• Start-up costs

– Expensive to establish facility– Land either donated or affordable lease– Governmental grants are available– Private donors will be crucial

• Pricing/Margins– Lucrative profit margins in herb market– Crop bounties will be used for dried– Price will be competitive at $2.99 to $3.99 per

package

• Recurring revenues occur due to perishability factor

Financing• Start-up costs are estimated to be $375,000

– Facilities – land and production facility– Marketing - promotion– Packaging– Distribution– Personnel

• Funding will be through:– Individual contributions– Grant funding– Government programs and initiatives (Hoop

houses)

Summary

• FlavorAbilities

– combines two seemingly unrelated sources – fills a niche in society– benefits individuals and institutions