National figures show more reliance on dues and fees among most non-profit organizations than in Ada County. Dr. David Bagley, Boise State University professor of Marketing on exchange from England, as well as Jolene Dewald and Linda Pierce, of the Boise Junior League, outlined the steps for starting a new business. The first step is an analysis of what the organization's goals are and what market is available for the goods or service to be sold by the group. There is a big market for hot tea and a big market for cold tea, but not necessarily for lukewarm tea. He advised looking for a group's needs that are not being met.
Planning is the second step.
Dr. Bagley said research can come from surveys of people, published material from libraries, or the Department of Commerce. Dewald and Pierce added that personal observation, experiments, focus groups, and test markets can also be used. The three panelists agreed that after a business is established there is a need for continued evaluation or control to ensure that plans are staying on track and that the business continues to be worthwhile. Costs are highest during the introduction phase. During growth, most of the energy is put into improving the product.