| Business management teams need to consider very | | | | RV. Well that is good and yes it does keep the price |
| carefully whether to open an additional outlet in an | | | | point higher, you are correct.Now what about |
| outskirts market. Building brand and making money is | | | | advertising? The advertising in the newspaper up front |
| important and therefore you need to look at all options, | | | | may not be needed, but radio, Cable TV and |
| possibilities and areas. When they review areas they | | | | newspaper is not so expensive in such small markets. |
| need to be thinking on many issues; from | | | | Even so it may not be needed in this case. Flyers, |
| demographics to seasonality. Small Business owners | | | | Chamber of Commerce inserts, small business direct |
| also need to do the same thing when planning their | | | | sales, (walk in with flyer) or call and ask to fax them |
| businesses.Now then in this case analysis we will be | | | | one. All the Chambers of all those cities I have been to |
| looking at a Mobile Oil Change Business to be | | | | and visited, might be surprised how well that might |
| operated in Lake Havasu City, AZ. This city is small in | | | | work.What about word-of-mouth advertising? Also |
| total population, but is growing and it is located in the | | | | realtors make sense to hit up for oil changes; big |
| desert between AZ and CA along the Colorado River. | | | | net-workers, know everyone. All at the weekly real |
| Well then should they consider changing the oil in | | | | estate office meetings too one day a week lined up, |
| marine craft and boats?Indeed that makes sense, | | | | captured audience. Also the casinos (Laughlin, NV |
| good idea, yes then I completely agree on the Boat | | | | nearby) have transportation, easy kill on those |
| thing, as changing oil in boats makes sense, smart | | | | customers, they need you. I think you could make it |
| thinking especially if you could get into the lots by the | | | | work there.Well next we need a mobile oil change unit; |
| London Bridge there, everyone comes in and parks | | | | The Oil Change Guys does not sell their Trailers in the |
| there. How many oil change stops per day could be | | | | United States. Perhaps you should call that NJ firm "Oil |
| done at residences? 10-stops per day is tough, but it | | | | Butler" but they want you to buy a whole franchise |
| can be done. If you have to travel between homes, | | | | some $40K or more; maybe that is a total package |
| better make it 5-7 or so. Better to use grouping, get in | | | | option? There is a guy in NC and one in GA that make |
| good with the Motor Home Parks, small fleets and | | | | a similar trailers. Some oil change trailer manufacturers |
| tourist transportation (lots of that) too. Especially if you | | | | are not interested in selling stuff in the US, too many |
| consider the Casinos in Laughlin, NV up the road.There | | | | regulations, it is not worthy of their efforts they say. |
| is a truck stop in Laughlin also; I bet the Pilot Truck | | | | Too many lawyers, Business Opportunity Laws and |
| Stop there would allow you to do Truck Oil Changes | | | | the franchise rules are absurd, as they only serve the |
| there on the property if you promised not to spill any. | | | | lawyers, not the entrepreneurs of course.You see it is |
| Nice Amenity for what is left of the Independent Truck | | | | important when doing case analysis to look at the |
| Driver. Also Laughlin, has lots of new expanded parking | | | | details and consider all these inane things in advance |
| structures and auto car washing is available why not | | | | of opening an outlet and for a small businessperson it |
| oil changes too.What about competition? Any low-cost | | | | is essential to survival. I sincerely hope this mini-case |
| oil change facilities there; like the oil change industry | | | | analysis gives you some insight into business |
| devil; Super Wal-Mart. The industry is sure worried | | | | decision-making and what works in the real world. |
| about their $12.99 oil change aren't they? No | | | | Consider all this in 2006. |
| Wal-Mart? Yes, I noticed that once traveling thru in my | | | | |