20A Growing Your Social Capital

1) My first domain expert is actually my mom, Kim. She has been studying and using these oils for about a decade. As for her background, my mom was a microbiologist who worked for Merk Pharamceutical Industry, Anheuser-Busch the beer company, and Mount Sinai Hospital where she manufactured radioactive isotopes for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. I am filling her in as domain expert. Because she's my mom, it obviously wasn't hard to contact her about my business idea. My mom has always given me ideas about the use of oils and practicing using them for myself for medical issues I might have. Obviously, if I have strep throat or some other major medical issue, I see a doctor but she also guides me on what to use for soothing and healing. 

2) I talked to Aria, a woman who works for a company called Aēsop. She is my expert. She opened her own franchise store in Wynwood, the art design district in Miami. I went to her store while walking around Wynwood and talked to her about the market and where the many branch was located, which is in Melbourne, Australia. She has been working for this company for about 8 years now and decided to open her own franchise for this company because she believe the products are extremely helpful. Aēsop is a company that uses a mixture of plant-based and lab-made ingredients for skin, hair, and body care products. They also use essential oils in the majority of their products. I was talking to her about my business idea for class because my mom happened to tell her I was visiting from college. She gave me her business card and told me to contact her if I had anymore questions. Including her in my network will be a huge advancement for me because she knows this products extremely well and knows how to target a market and consumer habits. Her store is located in a very touristy part of Miami, where many people come in because they want the natural style of products that she sells. 

3) Supplier: One is called Young Living. I talked to Errol Johnson who is a supplier for Young Living. He used to be a firefighter for the City of Miami but started working for Young Living about two years ago. He uses the oils for spiritual use, medical use, and even in some food dishes. I contacted him through the website used for oils and he informed me of all the products I could get and how a certain amount of money spent could get me free products. He also helped guide me on what products would be best for my business venture. This could help exploit my opportunity because he could reach out to many other friends, family, and coworkers of his and let them know about my business and how using the products could benefit them. 

Reflect. This experience will help to shape how I participate in future networking events because it can show how determined I am to understand how business works and the steps I need to take in order to pursue a business idea I might have. Networking can also help get your name and products out there to really start up your business.