Scenario: Renovating Vans

Hyori Lee a Research and Development Engineer and her newly wed Antonio Sanchez a Mercedes Mechanic and car modification enthusiast spent $2$ years travelling through North America, Europe and Africa in their customized Sprinter van $($Van Life$).$ During their travel, they$$ve met many other people, including digital nomads, casual campers and adventurers like themselves who were travelling solo or with their whole family that were in all different types of modified and customized vans and even small buses.

They came back to Vancouver and have discovered that there is overwhelming demand when they$$re selling their van.

This gives the couple an idea that they wish your group to further research and develop into a possible operating business. They envision setting up a warehouse that includes modification center where they can help their customer design and customize their vehicle to each of their adventure needs.

Additional services will also be included in the space such as an area to wash and maintain the vehicles, as well mechanics bays where people could work on their vehicles or have a mechanic$/$technician do this.

They also will be providing space where their customer could safely store their vehicle and have $24/7$ access when needed.

Details:

Find a warehouse or building that could be converted for this operation

All type of vans and small buses will be accepted for designing and modifications, not just Mercedes Sprinter vans

All modified vehicles must be able to live off grid for at least $5$ days in normal condition and in all seasonal weathers not just ocean front beaches in the summertime.

Vehicles must be designed and customized to include insulation with heated$/$AC system, solar panel and battery storage for power, have water system $($both clean and grey$),$ cooking area with fridge and propane system, toilet and shower and eating$/$sleeping area. Be creative with the rest while still be cognisant of the space constraint.

Partner with suppliers who can provide vehicle parts, electrical and plumbing parts, vents & windows, appliances and furniture as needed

Their current customers are mainly located in west coast Canada and USA, but they plan to penetrate the rest of the Canadian and American market.

For the warehouse or building that could be converted for this operation, also include vehicle:

Washing and working area

Charging and water system area $($both for filling clean and for disposing of grey water$)$

Mechanic bays with rentable tools

Car mechanic$/$technician on site available for hire

$24/7$ security on$-$site to protect the valuable vehicles being stored$/$parked there

They are excited about this business as it could generate money and involves something they love. Your group needs to take their vision and develop an operating plan that would fully explain each of the details and how they would inter$-$relate in this business.

Operations Outline

Student Assignment

For your selected scenario from the list provided by the instructor, include the following in a $45$ page report.

Customer$($s$)$ who are the customers who would make use of your business?

You must identify at least four $(4)$ different types of customers.

Provide a profile $(1-2$ paragraphs$)$ for each customer.

Main issues they are facing in life that would cause them to want to use your firm $$ what are important things happening in their lives

Age, income levels and professions

Relationship status $$ single, married, partners, children, extended family, etc.

Do they own their own homes and cars

Location where there live $$ urban, suburban, rural

Are they health conscious, environmentally responsible

Any other life challenges they may be facing

For each customer type $$ fully explain the VALUE your operation provides to them, and why this matters to them

VALUE is NOT the products and services you offer, but what intrinsic things are provided to the customer by using your business. How will customers feel using your products and$/$or services?

Competitive Strategies $$ using the Slides in Chapter $2$ identify which category or categories your firm operates within and the rationale for choosing each. Fully explain how these strategies will guide the way you operate your business.

Choose a maximum of two $(2)$ strategies and explain why each strategy was chosen.