You are to be hired as a marketing research consultant ($8000 and five weeks of work with $2000 additional money for expenses) for one of the following businesses. Before you are hired, the business owner wants a "PROPOSAL" of the work you will do for the start-up business. You will likely want to suggest some follow-up work 6 months after the business has opened.

Some key points of information given to you are:

The start-up business will open its doors in 3 months.

The owner has had a dream of opening this business for quite some time (and is going to open the business with or without your consultancy work).

The owner has plenty of money to begin the business but not enough to carry the business.

You are not to worry about the logistics of the owner opening and operating the business (e.g., assume that the owner will handle locating and purchasing office equipment, etc.).

It is expected that the paper will be 5-6 pages in length not including reference and cover page (1 ½ spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, 1" margins). The paper should be written in your own words and credit should be given to all sources. Keep in mind that this is a marketing research plan, not a business plan, so use the business for contextual purposes only. Include page numbers but NOT CONTRACTIONS.

Business Choices:

A business similar to Knox Box (Knoxbox.com) to be produced and sold only in the south Florida area ("boxes" mounted to structures to provide a key for emergency services personnel to enter homes and businesses without causing damage to doors and windows). The owner has a contract with a manufacturer and the cost of production will be approximately $60 per unit, regardless of size. An office in North Miami has been located for doing business.

An antique store in the Midtown Miami area (a three-year lease of approximately 4000 square feet of retail space for $4,000 per month has been signed). The owner does not have any inventory yet but will begin attending auctions throughout the state.

Again, this is NOT A PROPOSAL FOR A BUSINESS PLAN NO IS IT FOR A "MARKET RESEARCH PLAN" this is a MARKETING RESEARCH PROPOSAL. You should explain what marketing research is, why it is important and what information and terminology you have learned through the semester (in the context of the chosen business)