Coursework Aid (worth reading through)

[Joshy]

Well I at the moment I am studying for my Business & Marketing Higher National Diploma. And a major part of my coursework is now to invent a very unique business idea where there is a clear market niche. And to then produce a Business Plan and preparations for it followed by a presentation.
But a part from those instructions, my collar is loose to pick what ever I want for this business idea. And I have one in mind I think you will all like, but I need some feedback and possibly some information from some of you.

My idea was to purchase and renovate an indoor, in-ground, heated pool. Not a huge Olympic sized one, but of good dimensions (though dimensions are not an issue as of yet).
When I say renovate, I mean clean it perfectly, redo the entire filtration system and make the heating efficient. If the pool purchased was to be an outside pool, then a structure would need to be built around it (again specifics are not necessary yet).

But now to the point you will all love, once the renovation and tweaking is complete, stock it with some of the biggest monster Amazon fish you can think of. Arapaima gigas, pacu, retailed catfish etc.
I think some of you can see where this is going. The service of the business will be allowing customers to visit, snorkel or dive with these huge fish. As well as charging admission onto the premises, equipment could be rented, food to feed the fish could be bought, adoption of a fish and even a café if diversification was needed!

There is obviously tons of planning to go into this, and I may need to make a small model as well as the presentation, should we stick with this coursework. So I am hoping members of MFK will be around to give me advice and comments as the months and planning go on.

So what are your views on this idea so far? Can you see errors that I may have missed? Obviously this is just the feather tickle of the entire project, planning will get more and more in-depth and specific in time.
I get the all clear on the coursework by Wednesday next week. Then the real work starts.

-Josh

 

[PrehistoricMonsterFish]

I like the idea and good luck with your project in whatever form it eventually takes. One observation however.

- You need to consider the effects of water borne diseases such as fish TB which can be caught by humans

 

[kakojones]

Don't forget about human filth that would mess up the water params.

 

[Joshy]

Staff: Haha thank you for moving this.
There’s me trying to get the indoor pond section going, and i go and put this in another forum instead, when it should be there!
Thanks

PrehistoricMonsterFish: I have absolutely no knowledge of water borne illness. Obviously need to put some big research into this. May see a Biology technician tomorrow and ask some questions.

kakojones: I was hoping to overcome contamination from humans by ensuring that all who get in the water wear a full body suit. While i guess an age limit would need to be implemented to stop immature people spitting and peeing. Although i imagine those who want to pay and see these fish would not be that type of person.

 

[RadleyMiller]

Staff: Haha thank you for moving this.
There’s me trying to get the indoor pond section going, and i go and put this in another forum instead, when it should be there!
Thanks

PrehistoricMonsterFish: I have absolutely no knowledge of water borne illness. Obviously need to put some big research into this. May see a Biology technician tomorrow and ask some questions.

kakojones: I was hoping to overcome contamination from humans by ensuring that all who get in the water wear a full body suit. While i guess an age limit would need to be implemented to stop immature people spitting and peeing. Although i imagine those who want to pay and see these fish would not be that type of person.

Get a crapload of UV sterilizers.

People will do that, I work at a zoo and yell at visitors a lot.

Disney has 2 saltwater tanks for snorkeling. I wonder how they do it.

You might want to put a size restriction on that thing, especially at night.

"You must be this tall so you don't get eaten by the RTC."

 

[Joshy]

UV sterilizers will be in my equipment list.
Later in the course i am going to have to actually find prices to every piece of equipment (as closely as possible)...so you lot can help me out on good deals with that.

Saltwater is way to complex, and needs way more investment. I intend to start small and simple (how ironic and what a lie).

Haha, I’ll have to keep the RTC nice and fat! I know what you’re saying though, if i got some to 4 foot, it could take a little 3 foot kiddie! Well there goes the insurance up the roof lol.
But to think about it, snorkelling/diving at night would be great, with under water torches!

Such a shame this is only going to be a coursework project

 

[RadleyMiller]

I wasn't saying go Salt, I was just saying Disney has a salt swimming pool with sharks.

 

[Pyrophile]

First of all Hello fellow Business Major. Are there going to be guides swimming with these people? Somehow I can imagine someone panicking and doing something stupid, hurting a fish or themselves. Also are you going to require they have some sort of training before they do this? I love the adoption idea. The business could also be a rescue for larger fish as well you can use this to cut down on the cost of operating. I would think the start up fee and overheads would be huge though.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

if you want to get a decent grade I would do one of two things

either find another way for your idea to make revenue (other than charging visitors), or pick a new project.

I hate to sound like a party-pooper but there just isnt a big enough market anywhere to support this kind of thing. For what it would cost initially and to maintain you would need to either charge a lot of money or have a lot of traffic, neither of which are realistic.

someone has to be devils advocate on this one, pick something that will get you a good grade and save this idea for when you get a gov't grant or win the lottery

 

[khayman218]

if you want to get a decent grade I would do one of two things

either find another way for your idea to make revenue (other than charging visitors), or pick a new project.

I hate to sound like a party-pooper but there just isnt a big enough market anywhere to support this kind of thing. For what it would cost initially and to maintain you would need to either charge a lot of money or have a lot of traffic, neither of which are realistic.

someone has to be devils advocate on this one, pick something that will get you a good grade and save this idea for when you get a gov't grant or win the lottery

I would pay $50 to give it a shot (maybe $75). If you get 1-2 people going each day (convince a few of the local schools to bring classes by, affiliate yourself with one of those adventure groups and let people practice before flying to the amazon, host weddings, etc, etc). You could be making $30k annually which might cover all of the maintenance.

Then you do it the American way: overpriced cafe and loads of souveniers that somehow people buy. Also, adopt a fish (like you said), get subsidies from the state for taking on abandoned/injured animals. There are lots of ways to make money off of it.

I would be very reluctant to say that it couldn't work. It's a fun idea and, if marketed correctly, could easily make money. I mean, I see stores that sell exclusively wicker furniture open for decades.... who the heck buys that much wicker furniture?! If those stores are open, an Amazonian mini-theme park had better be able to make it.