Week 2 Bug List

1. Ballpoint pens often leak ink onto my hands when I write.
-The top section of the pens are not secured properly to the body of the pens.
2. Markers often leave their color on my hands after I use them.
-The color doesn't dry fast enough before my hand swipes against the paper.  And no, i'm not left-handed.
3. Pencils get lead inside my pencil case, and my pencil case is now stained gray inside.
-Pencils have no cap like pens do to keep the ink from staining fabrics.  Pencil hats need to be invented.
4. The Paderno Spiralizer is a great tool and concept, and it is the best brand that exists on the market.  However, the blades and the machine itself are difficult to clean.
 -The blades easily slice up a kitchen sponge, and the entire piece of equipment must be wiped down from top to bottom after use because the vegetable juice gets everywhere.
5. Automated cat litter box do not do what the name implies.
-These supposedly "clean themselves." I had one of these for my cat, and it made a huge mess that  had to manually clean which defeated the purpose of having a self-cleaning litter box.  I wont go into much detail in case anyone is trying to enjoy their breakfast or dinner right now, but when the machine would scoop, what was scooped would only stick to the scooper and not get discarded.  Much fun that was.
6. "Wonder Hangers" are supposed to add to your closet space and keep your closet organized, but they are ineffective.
-These hangers are very thick and made of plastic.  They allow you to hang up to four or five articles of clothing on one hanger (saving you hanger, thus saving you closet space right?) but you have to space these hangers out very far from each other to avoid bunching.  You have to use less hangers which defeats the purpose of creating more closet space for the addition of more clothes.  I found these on an infomercial.  I should have known.
7. Clear plastic cling wrap almost always knots up before I can rip it from the box.
-the plastic doesn't rip off effectively and it bundles to itself instead of forming a nice flat sheet.
8. Re-seal-able plastic bags don't always open after you've torn on the dotted line.
-I still have to end up breaking out the scissors to open these bags because the perforation was placed in the wrong spot on the bag in manufacturing.
9. Electronics typically come in hard plastic packages that even scissors won't get into well.
-The plastic is very thick and there is no clear opening.
10. The "Hot Air" hair curler curls hair by winding the hair up and then releasing, but hair can get very tangled in the process.
-Fine hair can easily get entangled in the bristles of the device.
11. Appliance repair gives you a four-hour time frame of when the service will take place, and often time the servicemen do not arrive on the first call
-Schedules are not set-in-stone and the servicemen cannot make guarantees on timing.
12. Beauticians performing manicure services often dig client's cuticles in before painting their nails.  I find this service unnecessarily painful.
-Apparently, cuticles prohibit nail polish from covering the maximum service area, so by pushing them in, more polish can be applied which makes client's nails look longer and more appealing.
13. Jars that have in incredibly tight seal are very hard to open.
-They are sealed tightly for preserving freshness.
14. Some cooking pots have metal handles that get hot when cooking.
-The handles absorb the heat.
15. Automated Recordings on phone sometimes seem to not ever get the caller in contact with an actual representative
-This phone service seems to be helping clients by fixing the problem as simply and quickly as possible by not having to wait for a rep to answer, but often times service reps are needed.
16. I-phone Auto-Correct "corrects" words I wish it wouldn't.
-This service corrects misspelled words to save users time from spell-checking themselves.  However, often times I find my spell spending even more time undoing what auto-correct corrected.
17. Youtube places advertisements on videos.
-YouTube is a way for companies to gain exposure, capture audiences, and generate revenue.  However, nine times out of ten I skip the entire ad when I have that option, so I don't know if these ads are even effective at all.
18. GPS systems are often give you weird routes when another route is much more feasible had you known the area.
-these systems seem to be outdated with the current road systems.
19.  Many gloves are not compatible with touch-screen phones and electronics.  I have to take my gloves off if I want to type on my I-phone.
-the electronics cannot sense the touch action due to the smooth fabric.  I did come across some "Iphone compatible" gloves in a Bloomingdale's store though that had a rough grove of fabric on both the thumb and index finger though!
20. I often find that bracelets and watches are too large for my wrists as is, and I have to get them taken in if I want them to fit correctly
-Apart from rings, jewelry manufacturers only make accessories to fit the average size.

This exercise actually surprised me in that it wasn't that difficult to come up with these "bugs."  Once I got started brainstorming, more ideas came to me easily!

Week 2 Reading Reflection ch. 1

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was learning that kids and teens ages 8-14 have a purchasing power of over $40 billion dollars annually.  Wow.  I knew that the tween market must be large, but I didn't know that that age bracket dominated in the marketplace.  Entrepreneurs should enter this market and/or come up with the latest and greatest products that will succeed in it.  I also didn't know that the market for high school athletics was so large.  There are more than 7 million high school athletes in the United States who demand products, transportation services for games and tournaments, and even recruitment events and programs.

When reading about the integrative approach to entrepreneurship I became a little confused and had to re-read the section to grasp its main points.  What particularly confused me were the input and output components involved in the entrepreneurship process. The integrative approach is meant to "provide a logical framework for organizing entrepreneurial inputs" such as environmental opportunities, the individual entrepreneur, creation of a business concept, implementation of a business concept, and financial/non-financial resources.  Entrepreneurship, itself, is also its own output variable, and specific "entrepreneurial events" can differ in measures of intensity.  Entrepreneurship as a variable will discussed in more detail in the next chapter, so with further reading, I am sure I will be able to fully grasp the material.

I would ask the author why he claimed that "sooner or later, all companies wither and die."  I do understand that interests among people are always changing, but I also believe that brand loyalty is a very strong entity.  With the right strategic planning and implementation, business can keep their loyal customers and continue to grow through innovation and acting on changes in consumer demand.  For example, Macy's Department store has been in business for 157 years and is still a leading company in the retail fashion industry due to its high quality yet affordable products, excellent customer service, online presence, and technical innovations.

I disagree partly with "myth 2" that states, "entrepreneurs are born, not made."  I don't think this statement should be classified as a myth.  Yes, teaching entrepreneurship as a discipline where individuals can acquire knowledge on the subject can be beneficial.  However, the drive certainly has to be there, and an individual needs to be bold, assertive, and not risk-averse.  I think being a people-person and being naturally creative are necessary to be an entrepreneur as well.

Week 2 My Entrepreneurship Story

Last year, a few classmates and I were given the challenge to come up with an idea for a new product.  We each considered different gadgets that we would like for ourselves, things that would make day-to-day life easier and more fun, etc.  In the end, we decided on cellphone cases that could protect phones from harsh temperatures.  I thought of this idea because I've had several experiences where my iPhone has gotten too hot and has turned itself off.  Living in Florida during the summer, overheating a mobile device is certainly not hard to do.  Also, last March while I was in New York City, my phone actually became too cold.  I was in the middle of a call, and my phone shut off on its own due to the weather.  We decided that thermal-insulated cell phone cases would be a hit, and picked our designated retailer to be Best Buy.  Maybe this invention will become a reality one day!  I'd certainly buy it.

I enrolled in ENT3003 because I've definitely teetered with the idea of starting my own business.  I am very passionate about the fashion and beauty industries, and am also passionate about health and wellness, healing, and stopping animal cruelty.  Since I was young I've thought about opening my own boutique, starting my own clothing line, starting a business that supports and funds animal shelters, etc.  I hope to learn what it takes to make these thoughts a reality.  I hope to learn the mindset needed to make all these things possible.  It certainly can be done, and I'm eager to see how others have accomplished their own goals and how I can accomplish mine.






(backstage at Pensacola Fashion Week talking with designers)

Week 2 Introduction: About Me

Hello, everyone!

My name is Analeis, and I am a third-year marketing major with a minor in retail.  I am from Pensacola, FL which is in the panhandle just below Alabama.  I have two older brothers, 29 and 26, who currently live in Pensacola along with my mom.  My dad, however, has traveled quite a bit in the last few years because of his job, and he now resides in Pittsburgh, PA.  Prior, he lived in St. Louis, MO and Houston, TX.  I've enjoyed being able to visit him in each of these big cities though; We've always been able to make fun trips out of my visits.

I also have an adorable orange kitten (not so much of a kitten anymore) named Benjie who showed up at my doorstep last summer.  He's a handful.

I love traveling, and I just recently drove to NYC from Pittsburgh with my dad after the start of the new year.  This trip marks my second time in the city; last spring break I traveled there with the UF Retail Center and had the opportunity to tour headquarters of retail companies like Macy's, JCpenney, Ross, Google, and Ralph Lauren to name a few.  I love the excitement of New York, and I can definitely see myself working there for a retail company like those mentioned.

Fashion has sparked my interest since I was young, and I would love to work on the corporate side of retail in either the buying/planning, merchandising, or marketing departments.  This past summer I interned virtually for an online clothing and accessories boutique, ShopSereneSky.com, based in Orange County, CA. I helped manage social media accounts like Instagram, wrote blog posts for the website, created visual displays for posts, contacted bloggers and designers for potential collaborations, and helped plan events like trunk shows and PR parties.  I enjoyed using my creativity through this internship, and I hope to work in a field that allows me to stay creative and to learn more about myself through growth opportunities.







Starting my own business is also something I've considered multiple times.  I have several interests, so I don't know exactly what type of business I would like to start at this present moment.  Apart from fashion, I am also very passionate about healing, health, and wellness, and I could see myself working or running a business in that field as well.

I thought another interesting fact to add about myself is that I have set the goal to learn Russian this year!  My best friend and her family are Russian, and they are always speaking in their native tongue at home.  I am a quarter Russian myself, so I figured I would get back to my roots, give it a go, and see how much I can teach myself!  Yhana (the blonde in the photo below) and her mom have already taught me a few words and phrases, and it seems like such an interesting language to learn.  Wish me luck!

Week 2 Entrepreneur's Mantra