"Warm Fuzz Cards" Case Study

1. How did Mills’ business benefit by her willingness to listen to advice from others?

Mill originally began her business by making "no occasion" cards. These cards were fun, but Mill was open to constructive criticism and she learned that her targeted audience is looking for more formal occasion cards, such as birthday/wedding/get well etc. 

Mill also had an informal research party in which she invited friends and family to see her cards and vote for what customers actually want. Mill's openness to criticism is the reason her business started to grow. If she had not taken the advice from others she was given, then Mill would not have begun to sell as many cards.   

2. If you were in Mills’ position, would you pursue a path of slower growth or faster growth? Why?

I think if I were in Mill's position I would choose to follow the faster growth path. If Mill plans on having a baby, she will have to devote a lot of her time to motherhood. By delegating some of the responsibilities for "Warm Fuzz" to a new employee, Mill will still be able to be involved with her company, but she won't be overwhelmed trying to meet deadlines and care for her child simultaneously. 

Also, Mill will not have to miss out on that business opportunity with her friend who owns a gift store. It sounds like an excellent opportunity to grow her business seeing as her target audience will be shopping there. 

I can understand Mill wanting to slowly grow her business. She is completely in control. However, it seems that she can still be in control of what she loves most (graphic design) if she hire new employees to help her expand and grow her business. It is an opportunity I would not personally give up. 

3. Given that you had sought faster growth, which of the four areas of possible investment would you target first? Why?

Although all four areas of possible investment are incredibly crucial and important, I think the first to target would be increasing sales and marketing efforts. Mill has a small business, and she is looking to grow. Before she should worry about producing more inventory (although I believe that would need to be the next step,) She needs to get her business's name out there for the awareness factor. She might have great products, but without marketing, no one will know they exist!