Happy ThoughtsThe Events Specialists

Alyssa Louise Lozanes

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYBrief Description of the Project

Happy Thoughts, The Event Specialists, is a start-up business that aims big time. Happy Thoughts brings to the community of Bacolod a new breath of air in the event planning market. By combining worked and reworked experiences, going the extra mile, Happy Thoughts will lead the market, providing the best quality results, at all times. Happy Thoughts is an equal opportunity business making its expertise and its products available to help its customers plan their own events.

Brief profile of the Entrepreneur

Alyssa Louise Lozanes is an A.B Communication graduate at University of St. La Salle-Bacolod. With her passion to learn and share happiness to others, she has been a part of a lot of events, whether as a production staff, production manager, talent, and as the event coordinator. With thorough experience in handling events, Alyssa Louise Lozanes aims to give her clients “Happy Thoughts” in their every event.

Project’s Contributions to the Economy

As a business, Happy Thoughts understand the needs of public and private organizations. As parents and family members, we understand the needs of setting special time apart from other events in our lives. Happy Thoughts strives to accomplish these goals, in Bacolod and eventually other areas of Negros Occidental.

In addition, Happy Thoughts aims to help our fellow countrymen by providing them jobs and tapping them in every event possible.

MARKETING PLANDescription of the Product

Happy Thoughts, The Event Specialists, is a start-up business that aims big time. It is a service type of business that would cater events planning and other related tasks. These events range from first-birthday parties to political fundraisers, anniversaries, bar and bat mitzvahs, fashion shows, product launches, conferences, graduations, reunions and etc. By combining worked and reworked experiences, going the extra mile, Happy Thoughts will lead the market, providing the best quality results, at all times.

Services

Happy Thoughts mainly provides the following services:• Consultation• Event scheduling• Discounted invitations and products• Vendor confirmation• Rehearsal attendance (in certain events)• Budget planning• Supervision of the event/ceremony set-up

ProductsAlso, Happy Thoughts got some products to offer:• Party Pack- The Party Pack is a complete kit for any party. It includes, lighting effects guide, cutlery, decorations, plates, napkins, cups, punch mix (or recipe), snack supplies (or recipe), tablecloths, theme music (where applicable), invitations, thank-you cards, and a step-by-step guide to planning, putting together, and hosting the event.• Step-by-Step Guides- These booklets include a calendar to map out the event, a step-by-step guide on what is needed for and how to put together a successful, worry-free event, resource information, popular refreshments with recipes, games, and tips to put their event in the record books. The events available include birthdays for all ages, meetings, retreats, parties, vacations, and special occasion celebrations such as graduations, holidays, showers, weddings, and receptions.

Comparison of the Product with Its Direct Competitors

DIRECT COMPETITOR ADDRESS

Lips Events Services Pueblo San Antonio, 6100 Bacolod City

Eye Candy Creative Design

Mandalagan, Bacolod City

Events Gallery 715 B.S. Aquino Drive, Villamonte, Bacolod City 6100, Philippines

Cocoy 17th Lacson Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Da Works Events and Special Project Outfit

52 Rosario-Gatuslao Sts., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Julius “Rod Simon”Ulgasan

169 Jalandon Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Manuel P. Sombilla Sto. Niño BS Aquino Drive, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Stanley June “Stanley Jordan” Dequit

17th Lacson Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Espejo Novelties Bacolod 2nd Floor Plaza Mart Building, Araneta Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Cyrus Legaspi Alcala Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Clay Weddings and Events

2nd Flr. Bargain Square Mall, San Juan St., , Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Blissful Thoughts Circumferential Rd, Dakbanwa sang Bacolod 6100, Philippines

Party Perks Circle Inn Building, Lopez Jaena Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

OTHER COMPETITORS

• Hotels and Conference Halls in Bacolod City• Employees or Persons wishing to do it themselves

Competitive Comparison

Happy Thoughts is in a unique position of competition. We compete against hotels with conference facilities, conference centers, other event planners both on the large and small scale, persons within an organization who are assigned the task of organizing an event, and people who wish to organize their own events without the benefit of assistance. The benefits and drawbacks of each of our competitors as compared with the services we offer are hardly a match in quality and price.

Competitive Comparison1. Hotels and Conference CentersStrengths: On-site facilities, equipment, and support staff. Ability to transport and house persons for overnight stays. Able to internalize costs of transportation and equipment.Weakness: Often very expensive, impersonal, rely on unskilled labor for support staff. The error rate is high due to high volume and traffic from other events happening at the same time.2. Other Event PlannersStrengths: Have been in the market longer, have established a reputation and client base.Weakness: Reputation precedes them, some of them focus on smaller events, specialized events are main focused rather than all events; do not have the supporting products to market with, or instead of, event planning services.

Competitive Comparison

3. Employees or Persons wishing to do it themselvesStrengths: Internalized cost of planning the event; able to add tiny personalized touches that have meaning within the group or family.Weakness: Consumes time that could be spent on other things; don't have access to the best prices, services, and other needed resources available.

Location

Estanzia Subd., Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City

Market Area

Happy Thoughts is located inside the city limits of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. It is a home-based business. Most meetings with clients are conducted in social settings, such as restaurants, coffee houses, the client's home, facilities wishing to be used for the event, or over the phone. Since Happy Thoughts is just starting, Happy Thoughts will eventually move from its home- based into a small office complex, also within the city limits of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Main Customers 1.Private Organizations and Businesses

Private organizations make up the single largest portion of Happy Thoughts' client base. Private organizations such as businesses, corporations, and political parties host the most events on the largest scales, therefore, these events generate larger revenues per event. The majority of larger scale holiday functions will fall under this segment.2.Public Organizations

Government agencies host many events every year. Happy Thoughts hopes to alleviate the pressure of event planning for public employees. The second single largest segment, the public sector, can save money and give back to its community at the same time. These events are moderate in scale with middle to low revenues generated. Emphasis is placed on the visibility of the event for public viewing. The majority of organizational family functions will fall under this segment.

Main Customers 3.Age Breakdowns

Under 24: Persons under the age of twenty-four (24) using an event planner are rare at best. We hope to tap the early college graduates who have begun their professional careers but have not yet started their families. These events will focus mainly on themes with moderate to high energy appealAges 25-55: The persons that fall into this age group are employed, middle to upper-middle class families. The reason they choose event planners is they are too busy to do it themselves. Ages 56 and above: Persons over the age of 55 have reached the turning point of life. Many are retiring, others are celebrating anniversaries of significant years, and still others are seeing that their children's special events are taken care of.

Selling Price For our services rates:5,000Php - on the Day Event Coordination Services Fee

We also have turn over coordination (at least 4-6 months planning/coordination) for only - 13,000Php and15,000Php - is Full Coordination Services Fee (at least 7-9 months planning/coordination)

3,000php-5,000php --> on the day coordination for civil wedding only (*still negotiable depending on the services you need)5,000php --> on the day coordination for a DEBUT Party only (*at least 3 months planning/coordination)

5,000php --> on the day coordination for a KIDDIE Party only (*at least 3 months planning/coordination)

Marketing Strategy

We have discussed our client base as being predominately middle to upper-middle class individuals, couples or families, public and private organizations. We must then look at the needs of these markets and cater to them. We promise the same great results, every time.

When marketing to individuals, the idea of releasing them from the task, freeing their time for family and friends, and the promise of a worry-free event are the buzz words and concepts. Our marketing is predominantly by word of mouth or visual connection to large events these individuals have participated in or worked at.

Marketing Strategy

When marketing to public or private organizations, the idea of greater efficiency for the money and a professional event without error would be the key concept. Groups, especially large ones, do not wish to deal with problems that arise due to oversight on their part. If the guarantee of worry-free, error-free events is available at a cost benefit to them, there really appears to be no better choice.

Sales Forecast

Happy Thoughts is expected to begin in a smaller scale, however it envisions growing at a rapid pace to keep up with the demand. Steady rate of sales growth is a great reward, however it can’t be denied that sales will vary monthly depending on the types of occasions being covered by Happy Thoughts. Rapid increases during the holiday season will boost sales and then allow that growth to level off at a steady rate.

Promotional Measures

Happy Thoughts Events Specialists aim to boost its name using “word of mouth” marketing. Also, it will use New Media, (Facebook, Twitter and blogging sites) to freely advertise Happy Thoughts’ services.

Marketing Budget

Only the monthly internet connection and electricity will be the main concern of the marketing budget since the owner would incorporate word of mouth advertising and social media in boosting the brand recognition of Happy Thoughts.