Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management Duerr's Jam Essay

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management Duerr's Jam - Essay Example The best time to evaluate environmental conditions is prior to making a location commitment. Many states offer company location incentives. One strategy is to establish enterprise zones in order to bring jobs to economically deprived areas. Sponsored by local city/country governments, these zones lure businesses by offering regulatory and tax relief. In exchange for locating or expanding in these areas, eligible business firms receive total exemption from the property taxes normally assessed on a new plant and equipment for three to five years. Locating in an enterprise zone will not solve problems created by poor management or make up for an ill-conceived idea. However, enterprise zones can be used as catalyst to help, jump-start a small firm. Personal Preference of the Entrepreneur: As a practical matter, many entrepreneurs tend to discount customer accessibility, business environment conditions, and resource availability and consider only their personal preference in locating a business. Often, their personal preference is their home community; the possibility of locating elsewhere never enters their mind. Background: Fred and Mary Duerr founded their jam- and marmalade- making business in Heywood, Lancashire, in 1881. Mary prepared the preserves in her kitchen and using her own family recipes, while Fred delivered the filled jars by handcart to the local Co-operative Society and other shops. In 1884 production was moved into a factory building at Guide Bridge, North Manchester; but the business expanded so rapidly that in 1890 Fred commissioned a new model jam and marmalade factory at Old Trafford. ... expanded so rapidly that in 1890 Fred commissioned a new model jam and marmalade factory at Old Trafford. The site there is still occupied by Duerr's, now under the direction of Fred and Mary's great-grandsons and his two sons. Business Description:F Duerr & Sons was established in 1881. It deals in food conservatives which include products like jams including reduced sugar jams; conserves; fruit spreads; marmalades and reduced sugar marmalades; peanut butter and fruit curds as well as condiments such as apple sauce. The brand is most prominent within the marmalade sector, with almost 6% market share, and 3.2 million in sales. However, its share has declined from almost 9% in the year 2000 to 5.5% in 2004, representing a decline in sales of 42% over the four year period. This is at a much faster rate than the category as a whole of 6.5%. In April 2003, Duerr's introduced Half Sugar marmalade which contains half the sugar but 50% more fruit, which is suitable for diabetics and can be used as part of a calorie controlled diet. In December 2004, Duerr's launched a range of premium marmalades under the name Mary Berry, a well-known cookery writer. The range comprises three flavors: orange & apricot, ruby red grapefruit, and thick cut marmalade with muscovado sugar. The company is attempting to attract new users with new product launches within the marmalade category. Within the jam sector, Duerr's accounts for just 1% of jam sales, less than 1 million in sales. The company is also represented within the peanut butter sector with the Kernel King brand which accounts for just 1% of sales. It is the only other branded lemon curd within