My Unfair Advantage

Marketing skills

V- This is valuable because I will know how to target my intended audience and really focus on their specific needs.

R- It's often common within big companies, however  a lot of start-up companies tend to overlook marketing.

I- Is not difficult to copy this, however once I find the best marketing method that is fitted for my company it may be more difficult to imitate.

N- There some substitutes for marketing skills, however this is usually a necessity

Direct contact with consumer group

V- This is valuable because we need to see what the consumer wants and suggestions in order to be different and competitive with the other pet parks.

R- Not a lot of big companies are able to physically meet their consumers so my company can use this as an advantage.

I- It will be difficult for larger companies to copy this, however it may be plausible for smaller companies.

N- There are other things that can provide the same benefit such as research and experiments, however it does not provide the same quality of data that results from directly communicating with consumers.

Location

V- This is valuable because it is easier to manage when your organization is specific to its locations. To use this to our advantage, we will make sure that the park supports different needs of different locations.

R- I’m hoping to put these dog parks in locations where it would be convenient for pet owners.  I know that the amount of space will vary in different locations, but it will be tailored to each location. This will be somewhat rare especially for many start-up businesses.

I- The way I’m hoping to do this may be a bit more difficult to imitate.

N- For this specific venture there are no other substitutable options that can provide a strategic location.

Word of Mouth

V-This is valuable because it’s a free form of marketing and can potentially generate more loyal consumers that are willing to use our services.

R- This form of marketing is not rare, however it is rare for the organization to have direct access to it and to be able to act fast when organization has things to fix.

I- It really depends on the company if it can be replicated. Hopefully, my organization will have a specific place in the mind of a consumer.

N-It is hard to find a substitute for word of mouth due to the fact that most people trust it over reviews or any other form of media.

Extra Amenities

V- This is valuable because it has the potential to makes us different from the rest of the competition.

R- The set-up of my pet park will be different from the other competitors and to continue this trend I will ensure that we are constantly improving our amenities and providing more perks for pet owners to visit us.

I- It is possible to imitate this, however I will ensure that my organization will have distinct differences and will continually update things so that it is more difficult to imitate

N-There are a couple things that can be substituted. For example, small things like the toy renting and doggy treat vending machines. However, there is no substitute for the pet sitting service we offer.

Great Customer Service

V- This is a necessity if you want your consumers to continue coming back

R- This somewhat rare, which is why only some companies are known for their great customer service.

I- It may be hard to imitate this because it really depends on the type of environment that the company wants to provide.

N- There is not really any substitute for great customer service.

Financial knowledge

V- This is needed when trying to start your own venture and having some knowledge of financial decision can save you a lot of stress in the long run.

R- This not rare, however it is a missing component in many start-ups.

I- It is not hard to imitate, but finding the time to learn these concepts is rare.

N- There is a replacement for this, which is to hire someone who can manage your finances, however as an owner you will have to lose some control of your company.

Creativity

V- This is valuable because it will enhance the experience of the organization and people really appreciate creativity.

R- This is somewhat rare, because most companies tend to stick to what is most comfortable.

I- It hard to imitate someone's creativity and if they are the first to have a creative product it is usually the first product the consumers depend on.

N- There is no replacement for creativity.

Event Planning Skills

V- This is useful for the organization that I’m coming up with because there will be community based activities, which will require valuable planning.

R- This is somewhat rare, because there have been many events that I’ve gone to that lack organization and structure.

I- It may be hard to imitate this skills, unless you have experience in event planning

N- You can hire someone else to plan the event, but you may lose some control of how the event should be.

Personal contacts with entrepreneurs

V- This is valuable because I can gain insight on how to pursue my own ventures. This can also provide information that most classes don’t teach.

R- This is not rare, but it is very useful to have available.

I- It is not possible to imitate someone with experience in entrepreneurship

N- It is hard to substitute unless you have experience pursuing successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurial ventures

My top resource will be contact with the consumer. This is the most important because they will be the ones that will provide the best feedback and will also be the ones to offer ideas to make my organization better for them. Since, most of my organization is centered on the community it is essential that I maintain a close relationship with my customers.