GFX: Gravestat Farm eXchange will be a business entity which applies 21st century technology and business practices to an ageless business environment.
Live business experimentation over the last 12 months has identified that this modern approach to a traditional business yields a substantial competitive edge and extraordinary customer appeal. The overall concept, once fully operational, will be highly successful, able to sustain a profitable company with the potential to expand exponentially.
This business plan was submitted to obtain $110,000 in start-up financing to enable GFX: Gravestat Farm Exchange to transition from experimentation to a fully operating business entity. The funding request includes a healthy amount of operating and investment capital. These funds are needed to complete the plan and provide a realistic, safe ramp-up period to a financially secure future.
GFX: Gravestat Farm eXchange is a home based business, located north of Chandler, in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, and is owned and operated by Edward A. Graves and family. A long and successful business career that culminated in the U.S. The combined experience of over three decades in the field of international software development and sales management has given me a strong foundation for this venture. The full implementation of this plan requires no further employees, nor business locations, thus providing for the lowest possible operating costs without sacrificing any revenue potential. Instead, the plan focuses on offering traditional products with a strong, unique addition through ecommerce, event attendance and home-based sales.
1.1 A Business Overview
Reviewers should be open-minded and willing to let go of preconceived notions regarding the nature of GFX businesses.
GFX doesn’t operate as a farm. GFX is not a ranch for horses.
GFX, a Web-centric event supplier and retail location resale firm, is based in San Francisco.
There are two traditional methods to help visualize GFX.
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A pet shop that sells quality pet animals, in this case horses.We stock a full range of tack and equine supplies.
As you can see, this option does not currently exist for horse buyers. Horse enthusiasts are required to either buy their horses from a ‘#8220’ breed farm offering a higher quality horse than the buyer is willing to pay or B through a variety ‘#8220’ horse trader outlets that do not have a minimum of ethical business practices. This leaves the buyer with the choice of paying too much for something they do not need, or buying through unscrupulous sources that more often than not, lead to a bad (and dangerous) purchase.
As you can see, tack and horse supply companies are solid and traditional businesses. Not every tack shop is able to take full advantage of both the supply and horse’s symbiotic needs. Every horse buyer is a potential tack and supply customer. Every potential buyer of tack and supplies is a horse buyer. It is only logical, and an unfilled market niche, to combine the two, thereby offering the buyer a 1-stop shopping opportunity.
The industry calls the area between Oklahoma City, Tulsa (OK) and Ponca City (OK) “The Triangle” because it is home to the most active horse markets in the world. Yet, this market is not served by any single company.
GFX will open a retail shop at our location.
GFX will participate as a vendor in equestrian events held in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Purcell. These are the three most active equestrian venues in America.
GFX will ensure a strong Web presence by offering an online catalog as well as shopping options.
GFX uses modern business practices and technology in one of the most trusted and oldest markets.
1.2 Personal Credit Worthiness
We ask that the reviewer pay particular attention to the section on personal creditworthiness and include it in any considerations regarding this loan request.
The credit rating of our personal has been excellent for a long time.
We identified the business opportunity early on, which has led to this request for funding and business proposal. We set our sights on this goal, and started investing heavily with every personal resource in the experimentation that resulted in the current GFX recipe. At times perhaps, we invested too heavily. During the course of last year and through the present date, we have had to carefully play the “cash flow game.†At times we have fallen behind, and at times we have pulled ahead. At present we are even. This is something we have mentioned to the reviewer as we expect some negative reflections to show up on a standard credit score. We ask that the reviewer take into account the level of commitment and investment made prior to applying for formal funding.
The main issue is that in the past we have handled our personal finances with care and have not overextended our personal financial boundaries in pursuit of this opportunity. We hope that you will take into consideration these important factors.
1.3 Objectives
Successful first benchmark operation to achieve the following measurable results:
20 customers from different locations, attendance at two horse shows, and 500 ‘#8220’Web Hits per month. This results in:
- $4,500/month in product & tack sales at an average net of 30% for $1,350/month revenues
- $1,000 monthly in sales of manufactured products at an average of 60% net revenue for $600/month.
- $20,000 in monthly horse sales, at an average 30% net for $6,000/month revenue.
$7,950 monthly for an initial achievement benchmark at $25,500 gross
1.4 Mission
GFX: Gravestat Farm eXchange consolidates and legitimizes representation and sale of a complete range of horse products, including horses, in a professional business environment. This platform is designed to serve the interests of pleasure horse owners and those who are most at-risk from traditional horse sales. Customer satisfaction is the cornerstone of our success. This will only be possible if we are honest with ourselves and do everything right. We will constantly search for new products which provide value to the customer as well as GFX with reasonable profit. To ensure GFX grows its visibility, customer base and resulting successes, we will utilize the most recent technology and methodology. GFX will be the company setting the standard for the pleasure horse market. All others will follow.