2.1.1 Case studies – business ideas
Having met our case studies in the introduction, we will now find out more about their individual business ideas.
Euan
‘I want to make my family’s farming business more resilient and bring in more income by making use of the unused sheds and land we have. There are lots of microbreweries setting up and I think having one on the farm would be unusual and a great way to modernise what we do. It’d be unique and we could use lots of the resources we already have but it could take a long time to set up, purchase equipment and learn the ropes – that is something I am more than willing to do.’
Gwyneth
‘I love cooking and I’ve worked for others in hospitality and catering for ten years. I currently work part-time in a café but I don’t feel I could go back to full-time hours as I need some flexibility around my family. I want to make products at home that I can sell to delis and cafés in the area and at weekends at farmers’ markets and food fairs a little further afield.’
Julia
‘I live with my parents in an area where our local shop and Post Office are threatened with closure. This would mean my family and other local residents having to make a long and difficult journey to reach the next nearest Post Office branch or to buy daily supplies as public transport is so infrequent. I think that local residents could come together and run them as a community shop and I would like to be the person to lead on seeing if it is possible.’
Dafydd
‘My wife, Ffion, and I live on our family-run 140 acre sheep farm with our two children. We have three lovely traditional stone buildings on the farm which are surplus to requirements within our modern farming business. I would like to bring additional income into the business by restoring them to their former glory and letting them out as holiday lets.’
Gwenllian
‘I teach part-time. I have recently established a link with a local international corporation and realise that instead of the traditional type of language course, what they really seem to need is very tailored, ‘quick fix’. Basic language skill training and cultural briefings to prepare them for their business trips abroad. There is a lack of this kind of linguistic service in mid-Wales so my business idea is to develop a bespoke language service offering a range of different types of language support – from industry-based updateable, multi-platform, on-site translation and interpretation services.’
David
‘My business idea is to use my previous experience of making staircases for property developers and use it to establish my own company, designing and building bespoke staircases. I would use locally sourced, sustainably produced timber and work from a workshop located away from my home. I’ve worked self-employed before but this time it’ll be through choice, not necessity.’
If you are still a bit unclear about your business idea, it may help you to consider the seven sources of innovation identified by Peter Drucker (1985), whose writings have influenced the theory and practice of business, entrepreneurship, innovation and management for more than half a century.