Mission Statement:
ComicLibrary's mission is to provide comic book lovers with an on-line subscription service that allows users to read today's and yesterday's comics on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. ComicLibrary wants users to never be out of something to read. Keep your pull-box full with ComicLibrary!
Vision Statement:
In the next few ComicLibrary will be the number one provider of digital comics. With the recent popularity of comic book characters in other media, we want to increase the amount of comic book consumers by 20% by 2016. We want to bring comic books to a audience that would normally not try this type of media. ComicLibrary will be on the top ten list of all app sales on the itunes marketplace by 2016 as well.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Graham Evans
Graham Evans was a pretty interesting quest speaker. I can't recall what he was suppose to talk about, but his presentation boiled down to two main themes, knowing your market and re-thinking your thinking.
In regards to marketing, Graham talked about how having a great product and lousy marketing will result in no money for your product. Ideally, you want a great product and great marketing! Graham gave the example of the Microsoft's new Surface tablet. In the commercial, there are people dancing around with the tablet attaching the optional keyboard. Graham's question was what are they trying to sell me? Is dancing and a keyboard why I should be buying this tablet. This played into Graham's idea of knowing your market.
Graham elaborated on this idea being using a few examples with British companies. Graham talked about how these companies tried to break into the U.S. market, only to fail or stumble because they didn't know the market that they were trying to reach. Or in some cases, these companies acquired other companies that they thought were like them only to discover that this was not the case. Knowing your market is key!
The second theme of Graham's presentation was on re-thinking your thinking. While I thought that Graham's marketing stories were interesting, I was most intrigued by his second theme. Graham talked about how companies (or even scientist) can get so focused on one mode of thinking that they reject or don't evaluate other options. One example Graham gave was of an individual that figured out how the space shutter Challenger exploded on launch. This individual was able to figure out the solution when others could not by using a method that was not typical. Our professor touched on this subject as well but then the idea of being spring steel, not titanium. As an entrepreneur and I think in life in general, focus is a key but you should not be so focused that you put up blinders.
I thought that key was one of the better speakers we have had so far due to the fact that he challenged conventional ways of thinking.
In regards to marketing, Graham talked about how having a great product and lousy marketing will result in no money for your product. Ideally, you want a great product and great marketing! Graham gave the example of the Microsoft's new Surface tablet. In the commercial, there are people dancing around with the tablet attaching the optional keyboard. Graham's question was what are they trying to sell me? Is dancing and a keyboard why I should be buying this tablet. This played into Graham's idea of knowing your market.
Graham elaborated on this idea being using a few examples with British companies. Graham talked about how these companies tried to break into the U.S. market, only to fail or stumble because they didn't know the market that they were trying to reach. Or in some cases, these companies acquired other companies that they thought were like them only to discover that this was not the case. Knowing your market is key!
The second theme of Graham's presentation was on re-thinking your thinking. While I thought that Graham's marketing stories were interesting, I was most intrigued by his second theme. Graham talked about how companies (or even scientist) can get so focused on one mode of thinking that they reject or don't evaluate other options. One example Graham gave was of an individual that figured out how the space shutter Challenger exploded on launch. This individual was able to figure out the solution when others could not by using a method that was not typical. Our professor touched on this subject as well but then the idea of being spring steel, not titanium. As an entrepreneur and I think in life in general, focus is a key but you should not be so focused that you put up blinders.
I thought that key was one of the better speakers we have had so far due to the fact that he challenged conventional ways of thinking.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Kickstarter Post
Before I begin laying at how I would do crowd sourcing for my business, I feel as though I should elaborate on my business idea. My idea is for a subscription based media service. I have decided to use comic books as my media. I would like to have a website that for a fee, anyone could log on and read as much as they want as long as they are a subscriber. I was also considering maybe giving users a certain amount of points each month. With these points, the user could then purchase .pdf files of their favorite book so that they always have a digital copy even if they cancel their subscription. Or maybe they want their favorite book in print, they could use there points to purchase a hard copy that we will ship to them. I really enjoy Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, which uses a similar business model. I was hoping that I could do the same thing but with comic books Currently there is one digital comic book retailer, but they use the same business model as print books. I think that my model will be better for people with access to the internet and own tablets. I also think that my model will be more beneficial to first time users and therefore increase the market.
Most of the coding and app building for my website I feel can be done on my own or by others. What I am having trouble with is how I am going to get comic book companies to allow me to sell their product on-line. I need to have a large data base of comics for subscribers to read if I hope to be successful. This is where I think my Kickstarter money will come into play. It will help to maintain and facilitate the purchasing of servers and may help to show DC and Marvel that there is a group of people that would be interested in reading comics under a subscription.
First Level, pledge of 5$
One month subscription to my service and the app to access my site.
Second Level, pledge of 15$
Two month subscription app, and enough points allotted to their account. (3.99$ worth of points, enough money to buy a single issue from a comic book store. They could use to purchase a digital copy or hard copy).
Third Level, pledge of 35$
Three month subscription, app, and points allotted to their account. (Enough to buy a trade paperback book, roughly 4 - 5 single issues.)
Fourth Level, pledge of 50$
6 month subscription, app, and points allotted to their account. (Enough to buy a trade paperback book, roughly 4 - 5 single issues.)
Fifth Level, pledge of 100$
Year subscription, app, and points allotted to their account. (Enough to buy 3 trade paperback books, roughly 4 - 5 single issues.)
Most of the coding and app building for my website I feel can be done on my own or by others. What I am having trouble with is how I am going to get comic book companies to allow me to sell their product on-line. I need to have a large data base of comics for subscribers to read if I hope to be successful. This is where I think my Kickstarter money will come into play. It will help to maintain and facilitate the purchasing of servers and may help to show DC and Marvel that there is a group of people that would be interested in reading comics under a subscription.
First Level, pledge of 5$
One month subscription to my service and the app to access my site.
Second Level, pledge of 15$
Two month subscription app, and enough points allotted to their account. (3.99$ worth of points, enough money to buy a single issue from a comic book store. They could use to purchase a digital copy or hard copy).
Third Level, pledge of 35$
Three month subscription, app, and points allotted to their account. (Enough to buy a trade paperback book, roughly 4 - 5 single issues.)
Fourth Level, pledge of 50$
6 month subscription, app, and points allotted to their account. (Enough to buy a trade paperback book, roughly 4 - 5 single issues.)
Fifth Level, pledge of 100$
Year subscription, app, and points allotted to their account. (Enough to buy 3 trade paperback books, roughly 4 - 5 single issues.)
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
John Dimmer
Today we had a guest speaker come into the class by the name of John Dimmer. John was suppose to come into the class and talk about funding a business idea and his work with the Tacoma Angel Network. While he elaborated on these topics, most of his presentation was on his rise to the top. It was pretty cool to hear what kind of businesses he is participating and his opinions on his experiences. This guy has got to be making some serious bank now that he has achieved the level of success that he has. I think you know that you made it as an Ent. when you can take the money that you earned from your first business and starting using that money to invest in other business.
One of the things that I thought was interesting that John mentioned was that all his business opportunities came from working with people that he has know for a long time. It goes to show how smart it is to surround yourself with like-minded people. I am assuming that John is a excellent business man in his own right, but when you reach his stage of the game, it seems as though it is easy to find a good idea and then hop aboard. Granted you need to put some money up to invest in said idea, but all your really doing is picking the right horse to bet on. John talked about his involvement with business idea competitions at the University of Oregon so I am sure he has had large opportunity to hear some great business ideas, in addition to his involvement with the Tacoma Angel Network. By now, he probably has a keen judge for what is a good idea and what is a bad idea. If there was a machine that allowed you to download someone's knowledge and implant it in your own head, I think John Dimmer's head would definitely be on my list.
Another part of John's presentation that I noticed was that it sounded like his Father and cousin were Ents. as well. Which makes me wonder if he comes from a family of entrepreneurs. I wanted to ask him this question in class but time did not allow it. A lot of younger people whose families own businesses tend to work in the family business, and with John's family seeming to be a entrepreneurship family, I was curious if this was the reason that he wanted to become an Ent. I was also thinking that maybe his father generated a nice income for his family through business investment and John wanted this lifestyle for himself as well, and chose entrepreneurship to get him there.
One of the things that I thought was interesting that John mentioned was that all his business opportunities came from working with people that he has know for a long time. It goes to show how smart it is to surround yourself with like-minded people. I am assuming that John is a excellent business man in his own right, but when you reach his stage of the game, it seems as though it is easy to find a good idea and then hop aboard. Granted you need to put some money up to invest in said idea, but all your really doing is picking the right horse to bet on. John talked about his involvement with business idea competitions at the University of Oregon so I am sure he has had large opportunity to hear some great business ideas, in addition to his involvement with the Tacoma Angel Network. By now, he probably has a keen judge for what is a good idea and what is a bad idea. If there was a machine that allowed you to download someone's knowledge and implant it in your own head, I think John Dimmer's head would definitely be on my list.
Another part of John's presentation that I noticed was that it sounded like his Father and cousin were Ents. as well. Which makes me wonder if he comes from a family of entrepreneurs. I wanted to ask him this question in class but time did not allow it. A lot of younger people whose families own businesses tend to work in the family business, and with John's family seeming to be a entrepreneurship family, I was curious if this was the reason that he wanted to become an Ent. I was also thinking that maybe his father generated a nice income for his family through business investment and John wanted this lifestyle for himself as well, and chose entrepreneurship to get him there.
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