Patent Application
20060155556
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a business method for encouraging participation in an association. More particularly, the present invention relates to a business method for encouraging participation in an association of competitive entities through exclusive access to a desired product.
2. Background
In the last ten years, large national and international companies have dominated almost all markets by providing products and services at a discounted price. However, some industries have resisted large scale company dominance. Customers within these industries have shown a preference for small operations that are locally based with which they can have a personal relationship. These industries include floral shops, wedding planners, corporate event planners, funeral planners, etc. The inherent personal nature of these businesses results in a customer's desire for personal attention from a local merchant who is familiar with the local concerns of the customer.
Various corporations have attempted to consolidate these industries but have failed. Various problems result because of the lack of unity between the businesses. For example, local businesses are forced to pay higher prices for items related to their services because they are purchased on a very small scale in relation to the industry as a whole. In addition, the prices local companies pay for items is further increased by the necessity of intermediary parties between the local company and the manufacturer/supplier. In addition to price, local companies are often not able to provide certain high end products that may only be available through bulk purchases. Therefore, for at least these reasons there is a need in these industries for a system that provides an incentive for local businesses within particular industries to associate with one another.
The present invention relates to a business method for encouraging participation in an association of competitive entities through exclusive access to a desired product. This method is designed for use in individual industries that are dominated by small scale local businesses. Particular local businesses will be selected and offered an opportunity to join the association. Only one business in each small market and only a few in larger markets will be allowed to join the association. In exchange for joining the association, members will be given exclusive local rights to sell a particular floral product. The floral product will be offered to association members at a lower price than they could otherwise obtain. Association members will be required to pay at least one of an initiation fee, a monthly fee, a yearly fee, a per product fee, and a percentage of sales. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.
In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
The present invention relates to a business method for encouraging participation in an association of competitive entities through exclusive access to a desired product. This method is designed for use in individual industries that are dominated by small scale local businesses. Particular local businesses will be selected and offered an opportunity to join the association. Only one business in each local industry market will be allowed to join the association. In exchange for joining the association, members will be given exclusive local rights to sell a particular floral product. The floral product will be offered to association members at a lower price than they could otherwise obtain. Association members will be required to pay at least one of an initiation fee, a monthly fee, a yearly fee, a per product fee, and a percentage of sales. While embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method of encouraging participation in an industry association, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other areas.
As used in this specification, the following terms are defined accordingly:
“floral product” is a product that includes at least one flower. A “floral product” may also include other non-flower related products to form a kit.
“floral industry” is the retail industry of selling flowers and arrangements of flowers to the public.
“funeral industry” is the retail industry of facilitating funerals for the public.
“wedding planning industry” is the retail industry of facilitating weddings for the public.
“corporate event planning industry” is the retail industry of facilitating corporate events for corporations and businesses.
“customizable floral product” is a floral product that includes at least one customizable flower.
Reference is made to
Initially, businesses are selected within a particular industry, act 105. The selected businesses are located in different local markets so there is no direct competition among the selected businesses. Various methodologies may be used to identify the selected businesses. For example, the selected businesses may be the businesses in each market that have the highest annual revenue. Alternatively, the businesses may be selected for the number of years they have been in operation or the number of employees they currently employ.
Next, the selected businesses are offered exclusive local rights to sell a particular product if they join a new industry association, act 110. Since the selected businesses in a small market are each located in discrete markets, each of the selected businesses will be given the opportunity to have a monopoly on the particular product within their local small market. Several may share a larger market. The particular product is provided to the association members via a single provider entity. For example, the particular product may include a patented customizable floral product from Speaking Roses™. The customizable floral product includes at least one customizable flower and may further include at least one other non-flower related item. The non-flower related item may be either customized or non-customized. For example, non-customized non-flower related items may include a teddy bear, candy, clothing, baskets, etc. And wherein customized non-flower related items may include any item with a customized greeting or logo printed on it.
In addition, the floral product is offered to association members at a lower price than they would otherwise pay for a similar product. The single provider entity is able to offer the floral product at a lower price to association members by dealing in bulk quantities and by ordering directly from an international supplier. Likewise, association members may also be required to purchase all flowers from the single entity provider to ensure that the single entity provider is able to continue to make bulk purchases from the direct supplier. When flowers are ordered by small businesses they are forced to pay a premium price because of their small quantity purchases and the required intermediaries between the small business and the actual supplier.
Next, the association is structured such that each member pays an initiation fee, a monthly fee, a yearly fee, product fees, and/or a percentage of related sales at 115 in
Each industry which this method is applied may require specific association characteristics. The floral industry will most likely require the association members have the ability to use their fees for advertising campaigns. The wedding industry will most likely require the association members have the ability to purchase wedding related items at a bulk discount. The funeral industry will also likely require the association members have the ability to purchase funeral related items at a bulk discount. The corporate event industry will likely require the association members to have the ability to use their fees for advertising and purchase corporate event related products at a bulk discount.
Thus, as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present invention embrace a business method for encouraging participation in an association. More particularly, the present invention relates to a business method for encouraging participation in an association of competitive entities through exclusive access to a desired product.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
