INDEPENDENTBUSINESSPLANEVENT

EVENEMENT
CARDS

SanLeandroDECAChapter
SanLeandroHighSchool
2200BancroftAvenue,San
Leandro,CA94577
EmilyLo
1/11/2016

TABLEOFCONTENTS

I.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY............................................1

II.

PROBLEM.......................................................3

III.

CUSTOMERSEGMENTS...........................................3

IV.

UNIQUEVALUEPROPOSITION.....................................5

V.

SOLUTION......................................................
.5

VI.

CHANNELS......................................................5

VII.

REVENUESTREAMS..............................................5

VIII.

COSTSTRUCTURE...............................................5

IX.

DETAILEDFINANCIALS...........................................7

X.

KEYMETRICS...................................................
9

XI.

COMPETITIVEADVANTAGE.......................................9

XII.

CONCLUSION...................................................10

XIII.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................10

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I.EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Howmanytimeshaveyoureceivedagreetingcard?Whenpeoplereceivegreetingcards,
theyusuallygetthrownawayrightafter.Peoplefindgreetingcardsassomethingthatsbeen
givenwithnothoughttothepersontheybuyitfor.Othersthinkthatgreetingcardsarecheap
andeasygifts.IntheU.S.,approximately6.5billiongreetingcardsareboughteachyearthatsa
lotofpapergoingtowaste.EvenementCardsworkstobringoriginalityanduniquenesstothe
greetingcardworldwhilesavingtreesatthesametime.Mycompany,EvenementCardscreates
uniqueoneofakindmadecardsusinghighqualityrecycledpaper.Weworkwithourcustomers
tocreateacardthattheywant.Nocardwilleverbemadethesameandweneverreuseany
designsthatwemakebecausewewanteverycustomertoknowthatthecardthattheyreceiveis
100%madejustforthem.Weliketothinkthatbecauseourcardsaremadewithalotofthought
andlove,mostwillkeepthembecauseoftheirsignificancewhichalsosavesmorepaperfrom
goingtothetrash.
EvenementCardsisanewcompanyinthemarketdedicatedtothecreationofindividual
andpersonalcardsthatsparkanemotionalfeelingtothepersonwhoreceivesthem.Were
lookingtomakeandcreatememories.Initiallystartingwiththeconceptofgreetingcards,we
alsocreateeventinvitationsforbigcompaniesthatweworkwith.Withateamof10withroom
togrow,mycompanyislookingforwardtobringinghappinessintotheworldwhilebeing
ecofriendly.
Thegreetingcardindustryisfairlyboomingwithapproximately6.5billioncardsbeing
soldeveryyearandaround$7to$8billiondollarsinprofit.However,withbiggreetingcard
companiesinthemarket,suchasHallmarkandPapyrus,itsnoteasyforothercompaniesto

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standout.However,mycompanyisonethatattractsattention.Mycompanystressesontheidea
ofpersonalandmeaningfulcardsaswellasbeingecofriendlytoourearth.Wefocusgreatlyon
originalitysomethingthatthebignamecompaniesdont.Withbignamecompanies,itseasy
tofindmultiplecopiesofonecard.Withmycompany,thatsnotpossibletodo.Eachcardis
uniqueandoneofakindtherewillneverbeanyothercarddesignedlikeit.
Mycompanyisdirectlytargetingpeopleandcompaniesintheeventplanningbusiness,
secretaries,andpublicistsaswellasthefemalegenderandGenerationY.Witheventplanners,
secretaries,andpublicistsworkinginalargecompanybasedbusiness,itiseasyforthemtobe
associatedwithlargeevents.Asmycompanyalsocreateseventinvitationsandcardsfor
businesseslikethosestated,thesepeoplearetheoneswerelyonfortheirbulkpurchases.The
femalegenderisonethatspendsthemosttimelookingatandpurchasinggreetingcards.Women
purchaseapproximately80%ofallgreetingcardsandaremorelikelytobuymultiplecardsat
once.Youngergreetingcardbuyers,GenerationY,arealsotheonesmoreengagedintechnology
andtotheideaofonlineshopping.Whileourcompanyisbasedonline,thepeopleinthis
generationaretheoneswhowillbemoreattractedtoourcompany.
Intermsoffinance,mycompanyisontrackforarevenueofaround5figuresforourfirst
yearinbusinesswithplanstodoubleourprogressnextyear.Ourpersonalandinternalsources
duringthestartupofthecompanycamefrompersonalinvestmentsaswellasinvestmentsfrom
others.Wealsowenttoexternalsourcesaswetookoutaloanof$8000withplanstorepay,with
interest,inquarterlypaymentsthroughoutthespanof3years.Ourprofitsfromoneyearsurpass
theamountalreadyandwearehopingtobeabletopayoffourloaninlessthan3years.The
pricethatwevesetforourproductisasstated:Onecardfor$4(designonthefrontonly),one

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cardfor$5(frontandbackorfrontandinsidedesignonly),onecardfor$5.50(designonfront,
back,andinside)andwithbulkordersover50soldat$3.50andbulkordersover100soldat
$3.00.Itonlycostsaround$0.27,makingaprofitofatleast80%.Ourproductislookingto
becomeveryprofitableaswebrandthecompanyasonethatsuniqueanddifferenttothe
market.

II.PROBLEM

Everybodyhasreceivedagreetingcardatleastonceintheirlife,buthowmanyofthose
cardshavebeenactuallysaved?Therearecopiousamountsofgreetingcardsoutinthemarket.
However,somanyofthemareirrelevantand/orunfeelingtotheoccasionyouwanttopresentit
to.EvenementCardsworkstoendthefrustrationthatmanyhavewhilesearchingfortheir
perfectcard.Yet,whenpeopledofindcardsrelevanttotheiraffair,alotofthetime,theyarenot
aestheticallypleasing.Thecardshaveunappealingfonts,designs,oraretoobigortoosmall.
Withmycompany,weworkwiththecustomerastheyhavetheoptiontodesignandcreatea
customcardperfectforwhattheyneed.However,withthecreationofcustomcards,other
competitorpricescanrisequicklywithextrafeesontheamountofcolorsused,theamountof
designs,andevenonshippingandhandlingfees.Mycompanyoffersflatrateshippingandaflat
ratepriceonourcardswithonlyadditionalfeesifyouwantmorethanjustthestandarddesign
onthefrontofthecard.

III.CUSTOMERSEGMENTS

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Mycompanyislookingtoappealtoeveryonewhoenjoysreceivingthoughtfulgifts.
However,wewillbespecificallytargetingeventplanners,secretaries,andpublicistsaswellas
femalesandyoungadults.Witheventplanners,theirmainjobistoexecutelargeeventswhich
willundoubtedlyneedinvitationsthatarevitaltogetthewordout.Ourcompanycanmakeany
typeofcustomcards,eveninbulk.Secretariesarealsoakeycustomerthatwearelooking
towardsbecauseeverybusinessemployeeshouldhavetheirownpersonalizedstationery.Our
artistsexcelincreatingcustomfontsandlogodesignsandareheretohelpbusinessescreatetheir
own.WewillalsobecateringtopublicistsasadvertisingiskeytomanyPRevents.Sincemy
companyhelpstocreatecardsthatcanappealtomanyandgarnertheattentionthatiswanted,we
arehopingtoestablishpartnershipswithourcustomersandtheirowncompaniessotheyllcome
backtoworkwithusfortheirfutureevents.Itsalsonotedthatwomenpurchaseapproximately
80%ofallgreetingcardsandaremostlikelytobuymorethanonethanmenwhobuygreeting
cards.Andwithmycompanybasedonline,youngadultswhoaremoretechsavvyaremore
likelytobuywithmycompany.Withthesecustomers,wehopetomakeconnectionswiththem
asatrustedandprofessionalcompanythattheyllrecommendtotheirowncustomers.

IV.UNIQUEVALUEPROPOSITION

EvenementCardscreatesoneofakindcustomgreetingcardsatlowpricesforany
occasions.Weworkwithonlythebestbecausewewantyoutobesatisfied.Ourcardsare
originalanddesignedtobeunique,unlikeothercompaniesthatreusetheirideasandsellbulk
designstothemarket.Weselldirectlytoyouandforyouasweworkwithyoutocreatethe
originaldesignthatyouwant.

V.SOLUTION

Mostgreetingcardsonthemarketarecopiesofeachotherandarenotusuallypersonalor
appealingtothepersonthatitsgivento.Wesolvethisproblembecausewemakesureallofour
designsareoneofakindandnotreusedforanydifferentcustomerswecaterto.Wemakesure
thatourcardsarenottackyandunappealing.
Ourdesignsarealsosimple,creative,andunique,neverboringandalwaysdifferent.Andto
makesurewedontbreakthebank,ourcardsarepricedreasonablyforthetimeandeffortput
intothemandthesatisfactionyouwillreceive.

VI.CHANNELS

Wearecurrentlyonlysellingthroughouronlinesiteandarenotplanningonexpanding
tostoresinthenearfuture.Webelievethatsellinginstoreswilldefeatthepurposeofour
statementthatallofourcardswillbeoriginalandpersonalwewanttoworkwithyoutodesign
yourperfectcard.

VII.REVENUESTREAMS

Ourrevenuemodelisbasedoncommissionandourprojectedyearlyincomeistobein
the5figures.Toachievethis,werehopingtostartoutsmallwithourservicesadvertisedin
newspapers,magazines,andotherplugs.Wewillbereachingouttovariousotherservicesthat
workinthepublicrelationsmarketinhopestohavethemuseourservicestostrengthentheirs.

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Ourcustomerlifetimevalueissectionedtowardsonetimebuyersandrepeatbuyers.Our
onetimebuyersaremostlypeoplewhoorderatawhimtotryoutourcompany.Ourrepeat
buyersarethepeoplewhoorderduringourpeakholidayseasonseveryyearandarealsothebig
companiesthatweworkwith.Mostofthebigcompaniesworkwithusthroughouttheyearwith
bigeventsthatthatneedeventcards.Thesecompaniesaretheoneswhohavelargercustomer
lifetimevalues.Ourrevenueforoneyearisestimatedtobearound$5733.53withestimatesto
doubleourearningsthenextyearandourgrossmarginis$26674.

VIII.COSTSTRUCTURE

Althoughwearenotdirectlyreachingouttoindividualonetimecustomers,weare
planningtoadvertiseourbusinessthroughadsinnewspapersandinmagazines.Forourtargeted
customersofeventplanners,secretariesandpublicists,weplantodirectlyreachouttothemand
theircompaniesthroughemailandsocialmediatoattractthemastowhyourcompanyisone
thattheyshoulduse.However,forourdistributioncosts,ourprofitfromoneproductgreatly
makesupthecosttomakethatoneproduct.Wedoofferaflatrateshippingfeeof$3whereas
shippingrateforproductslessthan1ouncerangefrom49centsto80cents.Forbulkorders,
shippingwouldbeattheleast$5.85andatmost$17.45,dependingonhowlargetheorderis.
Theprofitfromtheproductwillcovertheshippingcostsforus.
Thesalaryforourworkersdependonhowmuchtheirworkperweek.Aregularweek
wouldamounttoatleast40hourswhileaweekwithmultiplerushandbulkorderscouldwellbe
over60.However,forthefirstquarter,sincebusinesswillbeslowerthantherest,therewillonly

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beafewworkershired.Aftermoreordersarebeingplacedandweareabletomakeconnections
withotherbusiness,moreworkerswillbehired.

IX.DETAILEDFINANCIALS

ONEYEAR
PLAN
INCOME
SALES

Sales

LessReturns
and
Allowances

NetSales
Costof
GoodsSold

GrossProfit

MO MO MO Mo Mo Mo Mo Mo Mo Mon Mon Mon YEA Yea Ye

NTH NTH NTH nth nth nth nth nth nth th th th R1 r2 ar

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12
3

75
150 175 204 264 198 158
7121 268 536 06
402 642 967 4.5
6
4
6
6
8 2999 3153
.5 09 18 5.2

53 75
150 175 204 264 198 158 299 315 712 268 61 06
402 642 967 4.5
6
4
6
6
8
9
3 1.5 09 8 5.2
2 3.12 5.02

7.9 9.04 10.6

14.6 10.1
13.8 34.1
39
2
6 8.72 15.8
4
8 135 270 1.5

263 197 157

53 74
638. 961. 149 174 203 1.38 5.84 9.28 298 313 708 266 34 67
400 88 98 6.6 6.96 3.4
3.2 9.16 7.32 74 8 3.7

OPERATING
EXPENSES

666.
0
5

666.
0
5

19
666. 199 199 99.
0
5 9.5 9.5 5

TermLoan
Salary&
Payroll
Taxes

Lease/Rent

Advertising

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

22

22

22

Automobile
Dues&
Subscription
s

Insurance

872
301 382 433 572 732 814 893 924 824 881 935 1035
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 849

22 440
0

9
Legaland
Accounting
Misc
Expenses
Office
Supplies

0
720
1093 555. 555. 555. 555. 555. 555. 555. 555. 555. 555. 555.
.03
66
66 66 66 66 66 66 66
66
66
66 5.29

Security
Telephone/I
nternet
Depreciatio
n

Utilities
(StartUp
Cost)

Total
Expenses
NetIncome
From
Operations
Other
Income
Other
Expenses
NetProfit
(Loss)
Before
Taxes

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35 420
0

0
130
108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108. 108.
39
39
39 39 39 39 39 39 39
39
39
39 0.68

165 119 124 205 154 162 170 240 161 167
2.17 5.8 6.8 2.3 5.8 7.8 6.8 4.3 5.8 2.8
$12
$5 $19 $40 $92 $4 $3 $1,3

52.1 $55 $28 55.7 8.16 5.60 4.58 28.4 6.52 10.4
7 6.92 4.82
0
6
0

0
209
172 249 40.4
6.8 3.3
7
$1,4 $4,5
12.3 94.0 782
6
2 4.44

Taxes
NetProfit
(Loss)After
Taxes

35

0
0

$5
$4
$1,3 $1,4 $4,5
125 556 284 55.7 $19 $40 $92 28.4 $3 10.4 12.3 94.0 573
2.17 .92 .82
0 8.16 5.60 4.58
6 6.52
0
6
2 0.53
$1,1

$125 $55. $28. $55. $19. $40. $92. $42. $3.6

$141 $459 95.7
.21
60
40 50 80 50 55 80
5 $131 .30 .40
1
$1,
$6
$17
$36
$83
$4
$4
$1,1
$1,2
$4,1
$4,5

377. $61 $31 11.2 8.36 5.10 2.03 71.2 0.17 79.4 71.0 34.6 34.8
38 2.52 3.22
0
6
0
6
2
2

Ourproposedplantomeetcapitalneedsrelyonmanyfactors.Forourpersonaland
internalsourcestosuccessfullystartupthecompany,weareplanningtoworkfromhomeforthe
firstyearandwillhopefullyexpandinthelateryears.Withthisplan,wewillbeabletosave
somefinancesintermsofleasingand/orrentingofaworkspaceandforbasicutilitiesaswellas
security.Withthesepersonalandinternalsourcesthatwewillbeabletojumpstartoffof,we

1
0
willbeabletosavesomecoststhatcouldbeusedtowardsotherneedsinthefuture.Ourexternal
sourceswillbeusedtoIntermsofaccuratebookkeepingaswewillbeusinganonlinetax
organizationwebsiteaswellaskeepingourownaccounts.Forourearnings,shorttermand
longtermborrowing,andlongtermequity,ourprojectedearningsforthefirstyearis$
5733.53,
includingexpenses.Ourexpensescomeuptoaround$20940.47andwewillbetakingoutaloan
of$8000withplanstopayitbackwithmonthlyorquarterlypaymentsoverthecourseof3or
lessyears.Wewillsolelyberelyingontheloanandsomepersonalsavingstostartupthe
company.

X.KEYMETRICS

Keyeventsthatwearetargetingandareexpectingtobecomeourbusiestseasonsarethe
holidayseasons.Mostpeoplewillbeorderingcardsforothersduringthebiggestholidays
ChristmasandValentinesDay.Otherbigeventswearetargetingareweddings,andfunerals.
Ourbulkorderscomemostlyfromtheseevents.Weareplanningtoadvertisemoreduringthese
seasonstogainmorecustomers.

XI.COMPETITIVEADVANTAGE

Webelieveinqualityworkandaccountability.Ourproductscannotbeeasilycopied
becauseallofourdesignsareoriginalandcreatedwiththeinformationthatourcustomers
supplyuswith.Nootherproductwillbeabletobeboughtthathasthesamequalityand
originalityasourssinceourcardsareoneofakind.Wedontrepeatdesignswecreatenewones
foreachcustomer.

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1

XII.CONCLUSION

EvenementCardsisagreetingandspecialeventscardcompanythatworkstoprovide
originalcardstocelebratemomentsinlife.Withspecificcustomersandcompaniesweare
targeting,wehopetosolvetheproblemofingenuityandgenericitywithgreetingcardsinthe
markettoday.Usingsocialmediaandadvertisements,wehopetoreachourcustomersand
garnerenoughinterestforthemtocontinuetouseourcompanyfortheirneeds.Tocombatthe
issueofourstartupcosts,wewillbeusingourownpersonalandinternalsourcesaswellas
externalsourcestomakeupthecosts.Bytheendofthefirstyear,weareprojectedtomakemore
profitsthanexpenses.Ourcompanyisonethatcannotbeeasilycopiedorboughtbecauseofour
policytobeoriginalanduniquewithallofourproductsmadeoneofakindandwithgreat
quality.

XII.BIBLIOGRAPHY

"AboutGreetingCardsGeneralFacts."
AbouttheIndustry
.GreetingCardAssociation,n.d.
Web.11Jan.2016.
Boitnott,John."7TypesofInsuranceYouNeedtoProtectYourBusiness."
Entrepreneur
.N.p.,
30Dec.2014.Web.11Jan.2016.