- I am CJ Cesario. I am involved in the department of breakfast foods. For the lest couple years in high school, I was one of 3-4 chefs in a local bagel shop the town over. I specialize in the making of the porkroll egg and cheese, a fan favorite sandwich throughout my home state, New Jersey. I think my bagel shop would thrive on a large SEC campus like University of Florida. If I am able to allow students to pay for their food through the UF meal plan, I think that will capture even more customers. I see my bagel shop being the go-to place each and every morning of the week for students, professors, residents, and others.
- I am offering a wide variety of breakfast food choices. Places like IHop, Chick fil-a, Subway, and other chain places have very limited options. Not to mention that everybody is sick of eating from those places in the first place. Therefore, I think it is extremely important to be different in the business world and set yourself apart from others. I think my breakfast sandwiches with most of the ingredients imported from New Jersey and New York will give my shop what it needs to stand out as one of the top go-to places on campus.
- My breakfast shop is not limited to only those who reside on campus. It is gladly open to any paying customers. After my interviews with several different people, I realized that a lot of people in Gainesville, not just the students, would appreciate a nice breakfast shop to go to in the mornings. Although I still believe that students would be the largest consumers of my food, I still think my shop will draw a lot of attention from elsewhere off campus.
- This will be considered a valuable business to customers because it will be one like no other. Once again, people are tired of eating from chain places almost every day. Besides the fact that they are not at all healthy for you, it does not take very long to get tired of the food. However, no one seems to be working towards other options, which is why my business venture even exists. Plus If I am able to incorporate the UF meal plan within my breakfast shop, I think this shop could be as successful as any.
- What sets my shop apart from everyone else is that it is homestyle. I cannot stress enough how tired people are of eating from the same spots. Take it from me, someone who has eaten on the UF meal plan for two straight semesters and yet everyday, I try my best to look for options beyond what UF offers. understand that it is a college campus and you cannot always have the food that you desire. However, I think that if enough people work together, we can have other places like mine open up on or around campus, making UF one of the best schools in the country for food.
I think these business concepts go extremely well together. The demand is high. The supply is low. Not only is this a perfect venture that will fill a great need, but this is a perfect time to do so. There are several buildings on or around campus that would be able to have a place like this. I would not need that much space, just enough for a kitchen with some seating area. I do not want this to be a restaurant so to speak, but rather a popular "hole in the wall" concept. With hard work and commitment, I believe that this bagel shop could be up and running by next fall, so be ready for some good breakfast.
The feedback from my first idea napkin helped me with this one immensely. I realized that I needed to make this more formal and professional if it is going to be taken seriously. I also made this second idea napkin more specific and more personal, to really show that I am the right man for this job.

CJ,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your reflection about your last idea napkin and your adjustments that you made. Your picture was very cool to look at too. The bagel on top of the shop reals in all of your customers with a smile on their faces.
Hey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI think you cleaned up this idea napkin a lot since you posted the first one and made it a lot better. I think your business idea is really good because as you said, there aren't very many options near campus. One of my favorite bagel shops back home is Brooklyn water bagels which the closest one to here is about an hour and a half away. So I am definitely on board for a good bagel shop to open up in Gainesville.
Hey CJ, I think your experience in cooking and the food industry is one of your most important assets. Being around the industry and seeing how it works gives you a leg up on those who don't. Not only being able to cook or having expertise in being a chef, but seeing the ins-and-outs is beneficial too.
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