business plan for mini grocery store

Why should you start a mini grocery store, how to start a mini grocery store in 8 steps, 1. assess your neighborhood’s needs, 2. draft a mini grocery store business plan, 3. find the perfect location, 4. design your mini grocery store layout, 5. stock your shelves, 6. power your mini grocery store with a pos system, 7. staff your mini grocery store, 8. celebrate your grand opening, achieve mini grocery store success with it retail, how to start a mini grocery store: 8 steps to success.

Imagine that you’re cooking your favorite meal. Your oven is preheated and ready to go, your first ingredients are simmering in a pan, and you’re headed to the pantry for the final touch to your dish — only to find that you’re missing an essential ingredient.

If you’re lucky, a mini grocery store might be just around the corner, giving you the chance to prevent a culinary catastrophe.

Mini grocery stores are neighborhood cornerstones, providing pantry staples, fresh produce, and other essentials to customers in a hurry.

If you’re feeling inspired to launch your very own mini grocery store , we’ve got you covered! In this blog, we’ll share why and how to start a mini grocery store in eight simple steps.

As a mini grocery store owner, you’ll have the opportunity to serve your community and provide them with the essentials each day.

Whether they’re stopping by for a coffee and a muffin in the morning or popping in for some dinner inspiration, your mini grocery store will keep them fed and satisfied.

Along with being a rewarding endeavor, opening a mini grocery store can be profitable. Opting for a smaller grocery store carrying only the essentials requires a lower initial investment than launching a full-scale supermarket, allowing you to get into the grocery game with lower risk.

If you play your cards right, you’ll also be able to attract more foot traffic to your mini grocery store by acting as a convenient spot for only the necessities, giving your sales a significant boost.

Now that we’ve covered why opening this kind of small business is an excellent idea, let’s explore how you can start a mini grocery store.

The first step in learning how to start a mini grocery store is to research your potential customers’ wants and needs.

Take a look around your neighborhood, and map out where your potential customers do their grocery shopping. What kinds of stores are nearby? How far apart are they? What grocery items do they specialize in?

Conducting this kind of market research can help you find a unique niche for your mini grocery store to fill.

For example, if you notice that your area only has a few supermarket-style grocery stores that are several miles away from each other, you’ll have an opportunity to fill a gap in the market by providing key staples in a convenient setting .

The next step on your journey to opening your mini grocery store is to outline your business plan.

The most critical part of your business plan is a comprehensive financial section . You’ll want to estimate your startup costs, ongoing expenses, and projected revenue to determine your mini grocery store’s potential for profitability.

Here are a few key line items to include when calculating your expenses:

Lease or purchase price of your location
Utilities and maintenance costs
Renovations and retail essentials like shelving, grocery baskets, and checkout counters
Initial and ongoing inventory costs
License and permit fees
Employee wages and benefits

Now it’s time to find the perfect location for your mini grocery store.

When evaluating location options, look for a space that's easily accessible, visible, and situated where your target market lives or works. Your customers should be able to pop in and out with ease when they’re in the market for a snack or a few grocery items.

You’ll also want to choose a location that’s fairly far away from your competitors. Convenience is a major reason why customers might choose your mini grocery store over the local supermarket, so make sure your business is situated in an ideal spot.

Once you’ve settled on the right location, it’s time to start getting your mini grocery store retail-ready.

Remember that your customers will be stopping by your store during their busiest hours as they start their day or prepare for dinner, so make design choices that will allow them to navigate your aisles with ease.

Use clear signage , bright lighting, and organized shelving to ensure that your customers can always find the items on their lists.

The next step as you determine how to start a mini grocery store is to decide what to sell.

As a convenient mini grocery store, you’ll want to offer a carefully curated selection of grocery essentials. Here are a few common items to consider stocking :

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Pantry staples like rice, beans, and canned foods
Grab-and-go snacks and drinks
Small containers of milk, cheese, and eggs

Keep in mind that your inventory should change with your customers’ preferences. Rely on your store’s point of sale (POS) system to show you which of your items are selling the most and the least , empowering you to stay in the know about your shoppers’ wants and needs.

The next big decision to make on your journey to start a mini grocery store is to select a powerful POS system.

Your store’s POS system is the engine that runs your business. This vital tool processes all of your transactions, keeps real-time records of your stock levels , and keeps you informed about your store’s performance.

When shopping for the right POS solution, look for providers who are dedicated to supporting small business owners in the grocery industry. Choosing a grocery-specific POS system will ensure that you have all the tools you need to succeed right at your fingertips.

Your employees will be the face of your business, so hiring is a foundational step in the process of starting a mini grocery store.

Put together a team of friendly, knowledgeable team members who are capable of providing top-notch customer service.

Once you’ve assembled your team, don’t forget the importance of training . Your employees should understand how to use your POS system, how to keep your mini grocery store looking its best, and how to craft a convenient experience for your shoppers.

We’ve covered almost every aspect of how to start a mini grocery store, so it’s time to talk about the big event: your business’ grand opening.

To kick things off, consider a grand opening sale to raise brand awareness and encourage your first customers to stop by. Use your store’s POS system to create discounts and promotions to ensure a quick and easy checkout.

Congratulations! Now you’ve learned how to start your mini grocery store down the path of success.

Thriving in the grocery industry depends on thorough planning, adaptability, and the right tools.

Fortunately, IT Retail will be here to help you every step of the way. IT Retail is a POS solution crafted specifically for small business owners just like you. Built for the grocery industry, IT Retail has robust inventory management features, convenient checkout processes, and insightful sales reports designed to help you grow your business.

Schedule a live demo today to see IT Retail in action, or use our build and price tool to start creating a custom POS system for your mini grocery store.

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Grocery Store Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

Grocery Store Business Plan Home
1. Executive Summary
2. Company Overview
3. Industry Analysis
4. Customer Analysis
5. Competitive Analysis
6. Marketing Plan
7. Operations Plan
8. Management Team
9. Financial Plan

Start Your Grocery Store Plan Here

You’ve come to the right place to create your grocery store business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their grocery stores.

Business Plan Sample for a Grocery Store

Below are links to each section of your grocery store business plan template:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Grocery Store Business Plan FAQs

What is a grocery business plan.

A grocery business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your grocery business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your grocery business plan using our Grocery Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Grocery Businesses?

A grocery store can either be small scale or large scale. Small format groceries are usually small, family-run stores like a neighborhood store, convenience store, or health food store. This also includes mini grocery stores. A mini grocery store typically has a small footprint and carries specialty items you won't find in small or large scale grocery stores. Large scale groceries, on the other hand, are supermarkets that offer a wider variety of products and goods sold.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Grocery Business?

The primary source of revenue for grocery stores is its food, beverage and alcohol sales.

The key expenses for grocery businesses are wages, rent or mortgage, cost of products sold, and utilities. Among the other expenses are insurance, equipment maintenance, and marketing.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Grocery Business Plan?

Grocery stores are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors. Inventory financing is also common for part of their funding needs.

What are the Steps To Start a Grocery Store?

Starting a grocery store business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Grocery Store Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed grocery store business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research on the grocery store industry, potential target market size, as well as information about the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your grocery store . This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your grocery store business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Grocery Store Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to cover your startup costs and launch your grocery store , so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as a business loan from a bank, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Grocery Store Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your store . Marketing strategies includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to start a successful grocery store business:

How to Open a Grocery Store Business

Where Can I Get a Grocery Store Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free grocery store business plan template PDF here . This is a sample grocery store business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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How to Write a Mini Supermarket Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a supermarket? If YES, here is a complete sample mini supermarket business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE . If you have a knack for retailing various products, then you should consider starting your own supermarket business.

It has been proven over and over again that supermarkets; groceries store or convenience store as it is popularly called in some countries is one of the businesses that can easily survive in any part of the world as long as it is situated in place where people live and work. The good thing about establishing a standard supermarket is that, if you are successful in building your brand, you can easily sell your franchise to investors and that will translate to more money for you.

If you truly want to start a supermarket that would enjoy continuous high patronage, then you should carry out your feasibility studies to enable you know the ideal place to situate your supermarket, the goods that are in high demand in the community, and loads of other factors that will help you plan and achieve your business goals.

A Sample Mini Supermarket Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Supermarket and grocery stores account for the largest share of food store sales in the united states. In 2013, grocery stores accounted for 90% of the country’s food and beverage store sales, while supermarkets accounted for 95% of the total Grocery Store sales.

The food retail industry is a high-volume, low-margin business, with cutthroat competition from all quarters. It includes grocery stores and supermarkets, as well as convenience stores. The staples offered at these stores make the industry non-cyclical.

In addition, grocery stores and supermarkets offer an alternative to restaurants during tough economic times, as buying groceries for home cooking is one alternative. Buying prepared foods, which are new higher-margin offerings at grocery stores, is an additional alternative to restaurants.

However, offering new higher-margin items such as gourmet foods, prepared foods, and general merchandise is making this industry more cyclical than in the past, creating pressures on revenue during the recent economic downturn.

Small chains and independent grocers still dominate this industry, but national chains, such as Kroger, are increasingly growing in dominance. Mass merchants, such as Wal-Mart, are competing with grocery stores at their “supercenters” by offering lower prices through lower cost structures.

Wal-Mart is now the world’s No. 1 seller of groceries. Warehouse clubs, such as Costco and SAM’S CLUB (owned by Wal-Mart), can also compete on price by selling in large bulk. Supermarkets have responded to these threats by building larger “superstores.”

Conventional supermarkets are grocery stores with over $2 million in revenue, with average square feet of 15,000. Grocery stores that have less than $2 million in annual revenue sell almost entirely packaged and perishable goods, and are mostly independently owned.

Superstores are supermarkets with about 30,000 square feet, averaging $12 million in revenue. They often have an extended selection of food and nonfood items, with specialty departments such as florists, delis, bakeries, banking, pharmacy, and video rentals. Combination stores are hybrids of superstores and drugstores under one roof, with an average of 55,000 square feet.

The supermarket and grocery stores industry is indeed a very thriving industry in most countries of the world. It is a major sector of the economy of the United States which generates a whooping sum of well over $602 billion annually from more than 42,539 outlets scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of well over 2,624,650 people. Experts project the supermarket and grocery industry to grow at a 1.4 percent annual rate. The establishment in this industry that has a dominant market share in the United States are; Albertson, Kroger and Publix Super Markets Inc.

Over and above, the supermarket and grocery store industry is a profitable industry and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can chose to start on a small scale in a street corner like the average mom and pop business or you can chose to start on a large scale with chains of stores in key cities all around the United States of America.

2. Executive Summary

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is a standard and licensed supermarket business that will be located in between one of the largest residential estates and business district in Baton Rouge – Louisiana. We have successfully secured a standard warehouse facility that is big enough to fit into the design of the kind of supermarket that we intend launching.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. will retail a wide range of durable goods and non – durable goods at affordable prices from different brands and manufacturers both from the United States of America and other countries of the world.

We are aware that there are several large and small chains of supermarket / grocery store outlets all around Baton Rouge – Louisiana, which is why we spent time and resources to conduct a thorough feasibility studies and market survey so we can be well – prepared to offer much more than our competitors will be offering. We will make available self – service options for our customers, and also various payments of options.

Apart from retailing the goods and products of top brands in the manufacturing and food industry, our customer care is second to none in the whole of Baton Rouge – Louisiana. We know that our customers are the reason why we are in business which is why we will go the extra mile to get them satisfied when they visit our grocery store and also to become our loyal customers and ambassadors.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. will ensure that all our customers are given first class treatment whenever they visit our grocery store. We have a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers no matter how large the numbers of our customers’ base may grow to. We will ensure that we get our customers involved in the selection of brands that will be on our racks and also when making some business decisions.

We are aware of the trend in the retail / supermarket and grocery store industry and we are not only going to operate a system where our customers would have to come to our store to make purchase or whatever they want but we will also operate an online store and our customers can order goods cum groceries online and they will get it delivered to their houses or any location they want us to deliver the goods to within Baton Rouge.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is a family business that is owned by Barry Whyte and his immediate family members. Barry Whyte has a B.Sc. in Business Administration, with well over 7 years of experience in the supermarket and grocery store industry, working for some of the leading brand in the United States.

Although the business is launching out with just one outlet in Baton Rouge – Louisiana, but there is a plan to open chains of supermarket stores all across the United States of America in the nearest future.

3. Our Products and Services

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is in the supermarket and grocery store industry and we will ensure we go all the way to make available a wide range of goods and products from top manufacturing brands in the United States and other countries of the world.

We will have available in our store a wide range of durable goods and non – durable goods at affordable prices. Our product offerings are listed below;

Fruit and vegetables
Beauty products and jewelry
Children’s toys and baby stuffs
Home furnishings and home appliances
Fresh and frozen meat
Dairy products
Beverages (including alcohol)
Drugs and health products

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

Our vision is to become one of the leading brands in the supermarket and grocery store industry in Baton Rouge – Louisiana and to open chains of supermarket stores all across key cities in the United States of America.
Our mission is to establish a supermarket business that will make available a wide range of goods and products from top manufacturing / production brands at affordable prices to the residence of Baton Rouge – Louisiana and other cities in the United States where we intend opening of chains of our supermarket stores.

Our Business Structure

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. do not intend to start a supermarket business like the usual mom and pop business around the street corner; our intention of starting a supermarket business is to build a standard and one stop supermarket outlet in Baton Rouge – Louisiana.

Although our supermarket business might not be as big as Albertson, Kroger or Publix Super Markets Inc., but will ensure that we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind while setting up the business.

We will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, honest, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers). As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more.

In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
Supermarket Manager
Human Resources and Admin Manager

Merchandize Manager

Sales and Marketing Manager

Information Technologist

Accountants / Cashiers
Customer Services Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

The chief executive officer will increase management’s effectiveness by recruiting and disciplining managers.
He will create the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction.
He is responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
He is responsible for providing direction for the business
He will lead the company to development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
He is responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
He evaluates the success of the organization

Admin and HR Manager

He/she is responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
He will maintain office supplies by checking stocks and by placing new orders.
He/she ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
He updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities.
He/she enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests.
He/she defines job positions and manages interview processes.
He/she carries out staff induction for new team members
Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees

Supermarket Manager:

He/she is responsible for managing the daily activities in the supermarket
He/she ensures that proper records of goods are kept and our racks and warehouse does not run out of products
He /she ensure that the store facilities is in a great shape and goods are properly arranged and easy to locate
He/she Interfaces with third – party suppliers (vendors)
He/she control goods distribution and supply inventory
He / she supervise the workforce in the supermarket sales floor.
He/ she manages vendor relations, market visits, and the ongoing education and development of the organizations’ buying teams
He / she helps to ensure consistent quality of goods and products on our rack
He / she is responsible for the purchase of goods and products for the organizations
He / she is responsible for planning sales and monitoring inventory.
He/she ensures that the organization operates within stipulated budget.
He/ she manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
He/she models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
He/ she will Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
He/ she Identifies development opportunities.
He/ she will be responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
He/ she will develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
He/ she will Document all customer contact and information
Represent the company in strategic meetings
He / she will help increase sales and growth for the company
Manages the organization website
Handles ecommerce aspect of the business
Responsible for installing and maintenance of computer software and hardware for the organization
Manages logistics and supply chain software, Web servers, e-commerce software and POS (point of sale) systems
Manage the organization’s CCTV
Handles any other technological and IT related duties.

Accountant / Cashier:

Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
Responsible for administering payrolls
Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
Handles all financial transactions for the organization
Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Client Service Executive

Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
Manages administrative duties assigned by the human resources and admin manager in an effective and timely manner
Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to customers when they make enquiries
Responsible for cleaning the supermarket facility at all times
Ensure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
Cleans both the interior and exterior of the supermarket facility
Handle any other duty as assigned by the supermarket manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

We are well informed that there are several supermarkets and grocery stores all around Baton Rouge – Louisiana and even in the same location where we intend opening our supermarket, which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be welled equipped to confront our threats.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in retailing to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives. This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc.;

Besides our competent team/ workforce, our location, the business model we will be operating on (physical store and online store), varieties of payment options, wide range of products and our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc.

One major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a supermarket outlet in Baton Rouge – Louisiana and we don’t have the financial capacity to compete with multi – billion dollars supermarket and grocery store outlets like Albertson, Kroger, Publix Super Markets Inc. and co when it comes to retailing at a rock bottom prices for all their goods.

Opportunities:

The fact that we shall operate our supermarket in between one of the biggest residential estates and business districts in Baton Rouge – Louisiana provides us with unlimited opportunities to sell our goods to a large number of people.

We have been able to conduct thorough feasibility studies and market survey and we know what our potential clients will be looking for when they visit our supermarket; we are well positioned to take on the opportunities that will come our way.

One of the major threats that we are likely going to face when we launch our supermarket business is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new supermarket, grocery store or retail outlet in same location where ours is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Trends

It is a known fact that supermarket and grocery store business has been in existence for as long as human started trading goods, but one thing is certain, the supermarket and grocery store industry is still evolving. The introduction of technology and subsequently online grocery cum retail store has indeed helped in reshaping the industry.

As a matter of fact, it is now a common trend for supermarkets and grocery outlets to leverage on technology to effectively predict consumer demand patterns and to strategically position their shop to meet their needs; in essence, the use of technology help retailers to maximize supply chain efficiencies. No doubt data collected from customers goes a long way to help supermarkets and grocery stores serve them better.

Another common trend in the supermarket and grocery store industry is the pricing system. Aside from having varieties of products in a store, one of the easiest ways for supermarket and grocery stores to sell the goods on their racks as fast as they can and keep re – stocking is to ensure that the prices of their goods are a bit lower than what is obtainable in elsewhere.

For example, it is common to see items with prices in this format; $3.99, $99.99 and $199.99 et al as against $4, $100 and $200. Supermarkets and grocery stores also engage in massive clearance sales and discount sales to attract customers. It is a strategy that helps them welcome new customers and also reinforce the loyalty of old customers.

8. Our Target Market

It will be safe to categorically state that the supermarket and grocery store industry has the widest range of customers; everybody on planet earth has one or more things that they would need in a supermarket or grocery store. It is difficult to find people around who don’t patronize supermarket and grocery stores.

In view of that, we have positioned our supermarket store to service the residence of Baton Rouge – Louisiana and every other key cities through the United States of America where we intend opening our chains of supermarket stores.

We have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to retail a wide range of goods and groceries to the following groups of people;

Corporate organizations
Bachelors and Spinsters
Corporate Executives
Business People
About to wed couples
Expectant Mothers
Sports Men and Women

Our Competitive Advantage

Research and studies carried out in the supermarket and grocery store industry reveals that the market has become much more intensely competitive over the last decade. As a matter of fact, you have to be highly creative, customer centric and proactive if you must survive in this industry. We are aware of the stiffer competition and we are well prepared to compete favorably with other leading supermarkets and grocery stores in Baton Rouge – Louisiana.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is launching a standard and highly secured supermarket business that will indeed become the preferred choice of residence of Baton Rouge. Our supermarket store is located in a corner piece property on a busy road directly opposite one of the largest residential estates in Baton Rouge – Louisiana.

We have enough parking lots that can accommodate well over 50 cars per time. We will ensure that we have a wide range of products from different manufacturers available in our store at all times. It will be difficult for customers to visit our store and not find the product that they are looking for.

One of our business goals is to make Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. a one stop shop. Our excellent customer service culture, online store, various payment options and highly secured facility will serve as a competitive advantage for us.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups supermarkets and grocery stores) in the industry meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives. We will also give good working conditions and commissions to freelance sales agents that we will recruit from time to time.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

Sources of Income

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is in business to retail a wide range of goods to the residence of Baton Rouge – Louisiana. We are in the supermarket and grocery industry to maximize profits and we are going to go all the way out to ensure that we achieve or business goals and objectives.

In essence, our source of income will be the retailing of a wide range of durable goods and non – durable goods at affordable prices. We will retail the following goods;

10. Sales Forecast

If your store is well stocked and centrally positioned, you will always attract customers cum sales and that will sure translate to increase in revenue generation for the business.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Baton Rouge – Louisiana and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow the business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the supermarket and grocery industry and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to startups in Baton Rouge – Louisiana.

Below are the sales projections for Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc., it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to supermarkets and grocery stores start – ups in the United States;

First Fiscal Year-: $120,000
Second Fiscal Year-: $350,000
Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B: This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same products and customer care services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Prior to choosing a location for Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc., we conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market and become the preferred choice for residence of Baton Rouge – Louisiana. We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the supermarket and grocery industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in Baton Rouge – Louisiana.

In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell the goods that are available in our store which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver. In summary, Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to win customers over;

Open our supermarket business in a grand style with a party for all.
Introduce our supermarket by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to organizations, households and key stake holders in Baton Rouge – Louisiana
Ensure that we have a wide range of goods from different brand at all times.
Make use of attractive hand bills to create awareness and also to give direction to our supermarket store
List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
Position our signage / flexi banners at strategic places around Baton Rouge – Louisiana
Position our greeters to welcome and direct potential customers
Create a loyalty plan that will enable us reward our regular customers
Engage on road shows within our neighborhood to create awareness for our bar
Leverage on the internet to promote our business
Engage direct marketing approach
Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Irrespective of the fact that our supermarket store is well located, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for the business. We are going to explore all available means to promote our supermarket store.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. has a long term plan of opening chains of supermarket stores in various locations all around key cities in the United States which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Baton Rouge – Louisiana before venturing out.

As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for winning customers over but to effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc.;

Place adverts on community based newspapers, radio stations and TV stations.
Encourage the use of word of mouth publicity from our loyal customers
Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Badoo, Google+ and other platforms to promote our business.
Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Baton Rouge – Louisiana
Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in and around our neighborhood
Contact corporate organizations, households, landlord associations and schools by calling them up and informing them of Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. and the products we sell
Advertise our supermarket store business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site
Brand all our official cars and vans and ensure that all our staff members and management staff wears our branded shirt or cap at regular intervals.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Pricing is one of the key factors that gives leverage to supermarkets and grocery stores, it is normal for consumers to go to places (retail outlets) where they can purchase goods at cheaper price which is why big player in the supermarket and grocery industry like Albertson, Kroger and Publix Super Markets Inc. will attract loads of consumers. Products in their store are tagged with the cheapest price you can get anywhere in the United States.

We know we don’t have the capacity to compete with Albertson, Kroger and Publix Super Markets Inc., but we will ensure that the prices of all the products that are available in our supermarket store are competitive with what is obtainable amongst supermarkets and grocery stores within our level.

Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. will make available to her clients;

Payment via bank transfer
Payment with cash
Payment via POS
Payment via mobile money platform
Payment via online bank transfer
Payment via check
Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for goods purchased without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for goods purchased.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business.

The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a supermarket store business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. These are the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital;

The Total Fee for Registering the Business in the United States of America – $750.
Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
Cost for hiring Consultant – $2,500.
Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
Cost for payment of rent for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
Cost for Shop remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
Other start-up expenses including stationery ( $500 ) and phone and utility deposits ( $2,500 ).
Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
The cost for Start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of goods from different manufactures) – $150,000
Storage hardware (bins, rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
The cost for counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.) – $9,500
Cost for serving area equipment (plates, glasses, flatware) – $3,000
Cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
Cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs: $10,000
The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $4,000.
The cost of Launching a Website: $600
The cost for our opening party: $7,000
Miscellaneous: $10,000

We would need an estimate of $400,000 to successfully set up our supermarket store in Baton Rouge – Louisiana. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of all the staff for the first month of operation.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is a private business that is solely owned and financed by Barry Whyte and his family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
Source for soft loans from family members and friends
Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $150,000 (Personal savings $100,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $250,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail our wide range of goods from different brands a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and also to ensures that our finished diamond can favorably compete with finished diamonds from any part of the world and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Barry Whyte Supermarket, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

Business Name Availability Check: Completed
Business Registration: Completed
Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
Application for business license and permit: Completed
Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
Leasing of facility and remodeling the shop: In Progress
Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
Generating capital from family members: Completed
Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
writing of business plan: Completed
Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
Recruitment of employees: In Progress
Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
Compilation of our list of products that will be available in our supermarket store: Completed
Establishing business relationship with vendors – suppliers of groceries: In Progress

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