Small business interview

Crystal Caves Family Entertainment Center

Benjamin NelsonNichols College

MGMT-100-01Business and Society

Introduction Person Being Interviewed: Debbie

Hanson Company Name: Crystal Caves

Family Entertainment Center How We Meet: Family friend, and

former employer

Describing The Company Sole Proprietorship In Business Since 1978 Product:

• Miniature Golf• Ice Cream Parlor• Batting Cages• Small rides• Soccer Cages

Background Started as just a small miniature golf course The business was started by Mrs. Hanson’s

farther because he always wanted to own his own business.

It was finance with their own money they had saved.

Mrs. Hanson learned the business from her mother and farther.

Today the company is much more successful due to the added attractions and better advertising .

Successes Revenue for the company has

increased steadily over the years, 2009 being the largest.

Most Rewarding aspects:• Working for Herself• Working with her parents and children

Most Critical Part:• Maintaining customer loyalty and a family

friendly atmosphere

Challenges The fact that the company is seasonal due

to the outdoor aspect. Not able to be open in the winter.

Having to sell an asset that was a driving range down the street for financial reasons.

Challenges overcome by:• Having much success in the summer months• Having well trained and competent employees

Fatal flaws:• Seasonal running• Weather is a huge factor (rain)

Competition In the aspect of miniature golf there is not competition

due to it being the only one in the town of Auburn. In the aspect of ice cream the biggest competitors are:

• Ronnie's Seafood and Ice Cream• Friendlies.

Keeps competitive advantage by:• Offering more than just ice cream• Kind and friendly atmosphere.

Keeps customer loyalty by:• Friendly atmosphere and employees• Clean facilities • Good quality product

Marketing/Staffing Marketing Strategies:

• Billboards on the highway• Television commercials• Advertisements in news papers• Message sing in front of business

Employee Qualities:• Hard working• Competent• Having an education with good grades• Friendly• Works well with others

The Future Mrs. Hanson plans to stay in business

as long as she is able to. Plans for the Future:

• The company hopes to buy the land next to the business and install a go-cart track. This is something they have tries to do in the past but were unsuccessful.

Unique Questions How often do you hire new

employees?• We hire new employees every opening of

the season. Because we are a seasonal business not all of our employees stay from year to year.

How many days a week do you yourself work at the business site?• Every day. I am there, at some point, every

day. Even if it is only in little spurts of a few hours at a time a few times a day. I am always there to supervise and instruct my employees.

Unique Questions Do you like or dislike the fact that you

are a seasonal company?• At times it can be challenging, only being

able to be open during the warn months. However its one of the reasons why its enjoyable. It like a treat to our loyal customers when it get warm and they can come do something fun outside.

Summary Advise for the class:

• You need to be careful with your finances. Profit will come with time, but you probably will struggle out of the gate

• Don’t try to grow a company too quickly. Stay small and get a good local customer base that is loyal. Then look to expand slowly if you wish to.

What I learned:• Running a business isn’t an easy thing. It take

hard work, long hours, and some failure, but if you really want it and put all you have into it you can be a success.