Prepared By: C&B Communications Brock Zimmermann and Courtney Schafer Fall 2015
Prepared By: C&B Communications Brock Zimmermann and Courtney Schafer Fall 2015
C&B Communications
Brock Zimmermann and Courtney Schafer
Fall 2015
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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Executive Summary:
Modkid boutique (hereafter known as Modkid) is a design studio located in downtown
Bloomington specializing in high quality styled patterns, textiles and sewing books. Modkid has
been in business for ten years and is known for having quality products at affordable prices.
Modkid has many opportunities to gain awareness both locally and nationally as well as gaining
customers by expanding the business further.
This plan will help Modkid become well known and let the public know what it offers is
unique to not only the Bloomington-Normal area, but to customers worldwide and offers high
quality patterns for customers desired products. We want this to be the place people think of
when wanting unique patterns and textiles and also sewing books. We want the public to be
aware of Modkid and to contact them when they are looking for unique textiles and patterns and
sewing books.
This plan is meant to review and analyze the organizations current practices, and to see
what it does well and where it needs to improve. Then, the potential for improvements as well as
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setbacks will be discussed. There are several objectives that we will suggest for Modkid
including:
A plan to increase the awareness of Modkid worldwide
Relocate to a smaller workspace to minimize expenses
Increase amount of people talking about Modkid through online mediums as well as word
of mouth
Create new customers and business by offering new and different products
This plan will be used as the guideline until November 1, 2016, in effort to achieve these
objectives. The organization and future employees and interns should be aware on this plan in
order to follow its basic structure. Its important that all employees understand this plan and have
their beliefs for the organization aligned with it. In the future, this plan can be used as a guide or
template to create a new model in the following year.
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before deciding to leave her corporate job in 2005 to stay at home with her children and pursue
her own creative endeavors.
Today, she owns and operates Modkid LLC as the lead designer. Her designs are inspired by all
things pretty and colorful. She has completed 16 collections of textiles, quilting cottons and
knits. In addition to her studio work, she has also completed a book with sewing and knit
patterns called Sewing Modkid Style. She is a licensed textile designer for Michael Miller
Fabrics, JoAnn Fabrics, and Riley Blake. Her designs can be purchased through more than 50
company websites in the United States as well as in eight countries worldwide.
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Very strong _ The strongest level of competition comes from the independently-owned
sewing companies like Modkid, who make custom patterns and designs, and sell online,
to stores, and distributors worldwide. Modkid has many competitors that operate online,
but none are local. Modkid owners consider two-to-300 different companies at any given
time serious competition. Since it is a relatively affordable business to startup, many
companies will appear suddenly and then fold just as quickly as they are created. Go To
Patterns, Angela Kane, and Burda Style all offer online print pdf patterns. These are some
companies that are major competition to Modkid, although it changes constantly.
Moderate - Although they dont pose a direct threat to Modkid, the major retail brand
stores such as JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels and Hobby Lobby offer alternative arts and
crafts. Modkid is licensed through JoAnn Fabrics but there are other similar companies
within JoAnn Fabrics stores that could be purchased instead. These large retail stores
offer several books and pamphlets with sewing designs and patterns and they could be
purchased instead of Modkid.
Weak - Although they are not direct competition in the area, there are several stores in the
Bloomington-Normal area that offer similar products. Those weak competitors are
Sewing Studio, Quilt and Fabric Fashion Store, Hancock Fabrics, Bolines LLC, Sew Into
It, and Wee Sew Shop. These shops do not offer custom made fabrics and therefore do
not pose much of a threat, but because they offer the minimalistic alternatives, these
competitors are a minor concern to Modkids success.
Aspects
Strength
s
Implications
Possible Actions
Designer provides
unique fabrics,
textiles, and
sewing books.
Designer is very
passionate about
her job and it
shows through
her abilities.
Allows people to
understand that Modkid
puts a lot of work and
thought into her designs.
Encourage more
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three employees,
there arent many
outside or additional
resources
Encourage buyers to
review and rate Modkid
designs.
Confusion
throughout the
community on what
Modkid actually is.
Increase designs
for male customers.
Several competitors
online who offer
similar products at
competitive prices.
Increase presence on
multiple sites and offer
discounts or deals when
ordering Modkid designs.
Challenge to expand
to people outside of
the organization.
Opportunities Expansion to
location instead of
just online, or
continue expanding
to more online
retailers.
Threats
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Differentiation is how Modkid sets itself apart from competitors. Modkid has survived a
constantly changing environment by priding itself on excellent customer service. It is
known by major retailers as well as Modkids competitors what organizations have good
or poor customer service in the industry. Modkid is constantly regarded as one of the best
in the world for quality responses in a timely manner. Not only is the quality of the
product always excellent, the customer service is excellent and that has allowed the
organization to thrive for many years while others have folded very quickly.
Strengths and Weaknesses are the things that continue to keep Modkid moving forward
and what it can work on. The quality of the product is error free every time. This is done
by extensive pattern testing through its trusted testers as well as starting with flawless
design. The product is so good that many other competitors will copy the design and
change it just slightly enough that it becomes legal for them to sell. A weakness to work
on is the general marketing strategy. Once the budget increases from changing to a more
affordable location, the possibilities for marketing will increase greatly.
Perception is how customers and people who come across Modkid perceive it. In the
industry it is perceived as a trusted and established organization with quality products.
There is some confusion in the local community. Many people think of Modkid as a retail
clothing store, based on the name and window display. Downtown Bloomington requires
a window design for stores and this creates confusion for window shoppers. Many people
do not understand that its strictly a studio, and not a retail location.
Target Customers are defined as who Modkid is trying to reach. The majority of the
audience is mothers or grandmothers with primarily granddaughters but also grandsons.
There are much more women interested in the field of sewing, and this is why most of the
patterns are designed for girls.
Competition and Market Analysis Shows that based on Modkids ability to establish itself
globally, it is doing well compared to the competition. Its competition will gradually
come and go, because those other organizations either dont have the capital to sustain the
cost, of the quality of product is very poor.
3.0 Plan
The plan section provides details for the actions moving forward for Modkid starting November
1, 2015, and ending November 1, 2016. This section looks to guide Modkid in fulfilling their
mission and vision while giving it the tools and references for a successful year. The following
subsections include objectives, strategies, and tactics; critical success factors; key performance
indicators; budget and resource allocations; an implementation timeline; and final evaluation and
anticipated results.
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Objectives are the main things that Modkid wants to achieve in a measureable amount of
time.
Strategies define the Modkid should take to accomplish a desired objective using
different activities that apply to related objectives.
Tactics are specific forms of discourse that would be used to fit within the strategies and
achieve objectives.
Objectives
1.
Strategies
Tactics
Bring on a part-time
employee or intern for
class credit through ISU
Increase content on
already popular
Instagram page
Utilize share to win
posts so the page
appears on the
homepages of friends
who follow
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OBJECTIVES
1. Increase
awareness of
Modkid
worldwide
2. Relocate to
a smaller
workspace to
minimize
expenses
OPPORTUNITIES
BARRIERS
ENVIRONMENT
RESOURCES
Give buyers
incentives for
referring a new
customer
Would be
primarily from
its websites or
social media
pages
Continue to
build
relationships
with already
strong overseas
buyers
Contact retail
stores in
countries that
dont currently
sell Modkid
designs
Very large
scale audience,
may not be
received well
Use these
relationships to
make a
connection with
someone who is
an opinion
leader or has
advertising
knowledge
BloomingtonNormal is a
large metro
area with many
real estate
companies and
locations
Many
businesses may
be looking for
similar sizes
and prices
Be aware of
successful and
affordable real
estate
companies in
the area
Requires time,
labor, and
possibly money
to search for a
new location
Look in
neighboring
communities
that might offer
more affordable
rent compared
to
BloomingtonNormal
Might cause
day-to-day
inconveniences
for Modkid
employees
based on
travel,
familiarity, etc.
Owners may be
hesitant to
relocate
somewhere
based on
personal
preferences of
where they
want to live
Moving
company or a
self-rental
mover would
likely be
required to
accomplish this
objective
Culture varies
by country and
Modkid may
not be relevant
in a particular
area
The process
can be stressful
and costly for a
small business
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Increase
knowledge of
marketing and
advertising
online and with
retailers
3. Increase
amount of
people
talking about
Modkid
through
online
mediums as
well as word
of mouth
Encourage
public reviews
from pattern
testers and
from first-time
customers
Ultimate PR is
difficult to
achieve when
working in a
global setting
Continue to
build
relationships
with returning
and loyal
customers
Continue to put
customer
service and
relations first
Not all
customers use
social media
platforms
frequently
Vendors and
retailers know
Modkid offers a
quality product
4. Create new
customers
and business
by offering
new and
different
products
New or
innovative
products will
continue to set
Modkid apart
Owners have
hesitated to
follow trends in
the past
Listen to
customer
feedback and
understand
what they want
Would require
owners to take
on new job
responsibilities
or add more
employees
Follow trends,
expand outside
of fabrics
Limited
opportunities
in the industry
Recognize what
other
companies are
doing well or
Emphasis
would need to
shift to other
products,
The industry as
a whole has
been declining
in recent years
Employees
should be
experts in all
social media
platforms
Objective 1- Increase the awareness of Modkid worldwide by 25% in the next six
months.
o Benchmark: Record customers shares, likes and follows on the different social
media platforms. Record information every month for the next six months and
compare information at the end.
o KPI: Awareness should increase by 4% every month when Modkid is posting and
keeping people up to date.
Objective 2 - Relocate to a smaller and more affordable location in the next 12 months
o Benchmark: Search for the most reasonable places to rent every month and after
researching those findings, narrow it down and move to the new location.
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o KPI: Finding 3 new potential properties every month should increase the
likeliness of finding a new location for Modkid.
Objective 3- Increase amount of people talking about Modkid through online mediums as
well as word of mouth by 45% in the next eight months.
o Benchmark: Keep track of comments about Modkid online and research to see
what people are saying about Modkid.
o KPI: Talk about Modkid should increase 6% every month as Modkid continues to
engage in the world online and offline.
Objective 4-Create new customers and business by 10% in the next 12 months.
o Benchmark: Modkid needs to keep new customers engaged and up to date and
record whenever there is a new customer or business for Modkid.
o KPI: New customers and business should increase by at least 2% every couple of
months.
o If the plan was not successful, Modkid needs to adjust the plan for the next six
months to increase awareness worldwide.
Objective 2Relocate to a smaller and more affordable location in the next 12 months.
o If Modkid relocated within six months then this plan was successful.
o If Modkid was unable to relocate in 12 months then they need to continue looking
and find a new location within the next year.
Objective 3: Increase amount of people talking about Modkid through online mediums as
well as word of mouth by 45% in the next eight months.
o If by the end of the next eight months the amount of people talking about Modkid
has increased by 45% then the plan was successful.
o If the plan did not reach 45% by the end of the eight months the Modkid needs to
become more engaging and active online in the next eight months.
Objective 4: Create new customers and business by 10% in the next 12 months.
o If by the end of the next 12 months Modkid has gained more customers and
business by 10% the plan was successful.
o If the plan did not meet a 10% increase in 12 months then Modkid needs to adjust
the plan for the next 12 months.
With this plan, success is expected. The objectives provide an understanding way for the owners
to help accomplish the plan. If the plan begins to not meet the KPIs, corrections and adjustments
must be made in order to be successful for the next year.
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Appendices
A.
Lead Designer
Pattern Testers
B.
Accountant
Virtual Assistant
Job Descriptions
Lead Designer-This position is in charge of all things creative for the company. Modkids budget
is currently too small to add another employee. The owners feel that the organization is doing
well right now creatively and that bringing in someone else isnt necessary.
Accountant-In charge of all things related to expenses and distribution. This position oversees
purchases and expenses of the organization.
Pattern Testers-Modkid typically uses about 12 testers across the United States for collection
designs. These testers are strategically selected based on their history with the organization, their
ability to review and analyze the designs for errors, and if they can contribute to a specific size
requirement. Since Modkid prides itself on excellent customer service, it makes sure that their
testers are spread out throughout the various sizes of patterns they offer.
Virtual Assistant-This position primarily makes posts on social media accounts and works on the
website blog. Moving forward, this position may want to focus on keeping accounts updated,
even if some of the platforms are slowly becoming less used by the customer.
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C.
Budget
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D.
Timeline
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