Bud Collier grew up smack in the middle of a 100 mile-long hay field.' as he puts
Question:
Bud Collier grew up "smack in the middle of a 100 mile-long hay field.' as he puts it, near central
Kansas. That part of the country features a lot of land, a lot of cattle, very large farms, agricultural processing centers, and relatively few people. The region has a number of very small farm towns, with populations of less than 1,000 located as much as 30 to 50 miles apart, and a much smaller number of small cities, with populations of 10.000 to 30.000 widely scattered throughout the state. There is an ongoing effort by state and federal agencies to support the development of commerce in those regions. Outside of farming and the few small retail shops that serve those small towns, there is not much happening in the way of new employment opportunities. The farm base continues to shrink, and natives of the area continue to move to other parts of the country after high school, college, or a hitch in the military.
Bud's small family farm is located near one of those small cities. He has earned a degree in marketing and graphic arts and now faces a dilemma and tuming point in his life. He very much wants to go home and settle down in the community that he loves, wants to start a career related to his newly acquired skills and knowledge, but has no idea as to what or if that area has to offer him.
He developed a great interest in market research and data analysis while in school. Bud has studied national and international trends in business in an attempt to discover where the opportunities and connections lie between future product and service demand, his graphic arts and marketing skills, and his desired home base. He is trying hard to be creative and innovative and to 6think outside the box" as he was often encouraged to do while in school. Bud is also trying to make the data work for you" as his statistics professor often spoke about.
He has thought about and studied the data regarding food production and world hunger. His area of the country is capable of producing additional and abundant quantities of much needed agricultural products. The only thing standing in the way seems to be governments and politics. His area of the country is a national hub for the transportation and distribution of products from coast to coast and includes a number of major interstate highways. Bud has learned that health care and wellness and its many related industries are projected to become the number one source of jobs and opportunities to the new generation of college graduates. That industry offers options ranging from traditional forms of health care, to fitness, recreation and leisure, diet and nutrition, and nontraditional programs and practices. From a global perspective. Bud knows that China and the Pacific Rim and all of the so-called 'Latino Nation& represent two gigantic and growing markets for virtually all consumer goods and services His mind continues to race with thoughts and ideas as to how to connect these opportunities with his desired home base.
Bud also gained skills in the process and art of new product development while in school. He was often assigned to work with small groups of classmates to brainstorm ideas, to shrink the list to the best and most feasible, to conduct research and analysis, and to finally develop prototypes and test marketing strategies. Bud is now ready to do this for real: he also wants to incorporate his graphic arts skills into the mix. Bud has become very proficient in desktop publishing, computer animation, and video production. He is familiar with and proficient in current multimedia marketing software.
Soon after his return home. Bud learns that an old friend of the family is about to retire and sell his printing and stationery business. That business is located in the downtown of a nearby small city, population 26,000, near Bud's home and has provided a nice income and lifestyle for the proprietor. The shop sells greeting cards, office supplies, and other complementary paper products and includes a small warehouse and processing center where the owner is able to produce custom business cards, office stationery, and a limited line of brochures and flyers. Most of the equipment is old and labor-intensive with limited capabilities.
Use your imagination and creativity along with the information provided to identify a short list of the best opportunities for Bud to consider.
College Mathematics for Business Economics Life Sciences and Social Sciences
ISBN: 978-0321614001
12th edition
Authors: Raymond A. Barnett, Michael R. Ziegler, Karl E. Byleen