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Can Social Entrepreneurship Work in the Rust Belt?
Can Social Entrepreneurship Work in the Rust Belt?
A Mom, a Dream, and a Declining Downtown
Author(s): Jennifer Brogee

Discover the challenges of social entrepreneurship success from a female founder and young mom in a declining downtown in the US rust belt
Publication Date  Available in all formats
ISBN: 9781916704121
https://doi.org/10.62859/9781916704107

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About The Book

Table of Contents

About The Author

Subject(s): Business models, economic development, gender discrimination, rural discrimination, startup funding, Great Recession, woman entrepreneurship leadership, community development, women in business, small business leadership

What lessons can be learned about social entrepreneurship success from a coffee shop founder in a declining downtown in the US rust belt?

Launching her coffee shop in a declining downtown in the US rust belt in 2003, entrepreneur and young mom Jennifer Brogee thought that a well written business plan and a social mission was the path to success. After being denied funding, she soon realized the many challenges she would face as a young woman and mother in business. Social Entrepreneurship in the Rust Belt documents Jennifer’s 20-year business evolution from startup to exploring new paths beyond the coffee shop. A business model with tight margins and high overheads, Jennifer details how she navigated the Great Recession, COVID and how she juggled multiple careers.

A story of independence and interdependence, this book is ideal reading for students of Business and Entrepreneurship, Gender Studies, and Cultural Studies as well as entrepreneurs and small business managers.

CAN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORK IN THE RUST BELT?
 
A message from the author
Copyright Page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Contents
Learning objectives
1 Entrepreneurship roots
Traits of an entrepreneur
Lima losers
2 Business as mission
Cabrini Green, Chicago, IL
Christian Community Development Association
3 Mom entrepreneur
Entrepreneur and a mom?
Writing the business plan
Choosing a property
A huge mom fail
Business proposal denied
4 Finding funding
Our original “investor” letter
A little help from our friends
Bootstrapping it
5 Growth
An early version of our menu
First day serving customers
Too many customers
April 27, 2003 (journal)
An unexpected development
Downtown Lima Assoc., Wed. November 12, 2003
The Jennifer story
In summary
6 The Great Recession
If you build it, they will come—maybe
September 2008
Great Recession lessons learned
7 Re-invention
Change in leadership
Now, a barista
8 Slowdown
The arrival of COVID-19
Surprising sources of revenue
May 14, 2020 (journal)
Next steps
9 Macroenvironment
10 Twentieth anniversary
Downtown Lima speech, March 2, 2023
11 Social mission
Epilogue: Mistakes made, lessons learned
Lesson 1: Choose debt vs equity wisely
Lesson 2: Plan for cash flow
Lesson 3: Avoid credit cards
Lesson 4: Beware of overestimating market size
Lesson 5: Avoid copying the big brands
Lesson 5: Be honest about your social mission
Lesson 6: Stay on top of your financial statements
Lesson 7: Constantly measure profit
Lesson 8: Analyze your industry
Lesson 9: Work together with the community and the government
Four legs of a table = people and institutions
Lesson 10: Be honest and transparent
Appendix Excerpts from original business plan and year one financials
References
Recommended further reading
Index

Jennifer Brogee MBA is an Assistant Professor of Business at University of Northwestern Ohio and Founder and CEO at The Meeting Place on Market.

Rating
About The Book
Subject(s): Business models, economic development, gender discrimination, rural discrimination, startup funding, Great Recession, woman entrepreneurship leadership, community development, women in business, small business leadership

What lessons can be learned about social entrepreneurship success from a coffee shop founder in a declining downtown in the US rust belt?

Launching her coffee shop in a declining downtown in the US rust belt in 2003, entrepreneur and young mom Jennifer Brogee thought that a well written business plan and a social mission was the path to success. After being denied funding, she soon realized the many challenges she would face as a young woman and mother in business. Social Entrepreneurship in the Rust Belt documents Jennifer’s 20-year business evolution from startup to exploring new paths beyond the coffee shop. A business model with tight margins and high overheads, Jennifer details how she navigated the Great Recession, COVID and how she juggled multiple careers.

A story of independence and interdependence, this book is ideal reading for students of Business and Entrepreneurship, Gender Studies, and Cultural Studies as well as entrepreneurs and small business managers.

Table of Contents
CAN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORK IN THE RUST BELT?
 
A message from the author
Copyright Page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Contents
Learning objectives
1 Entrepreneurship roots
Traits of an entrepreneur
Lima losers
2 Business as mission
Cabrini Green, Chicago, IL
Christian Community Development Association
3 Mom entrepreneur
Entrepreneur and a mom?
Writing the business plan
Choosing a property
A huge mom fail
Business proposal denied
4 Finding funding
Our original “investor” letter
A little help from our friends
Bootstrapping it
5 Growth
An early version of our menu
First day serving customers
Too many customers
April 27, 2003 (journal)
An unexpected development
Downtown Lima Assoc., Wed. November 12, 2003
The Jennifer story
In summary
6 The Great Recession
If you build it, they will come—maybe
September 2008
Great Recession lessons learned
7 Re-invention
Change in leadership
Now, a barista
8 Slowdown
The arrival of COVID-19
Surprising sources of revenue
May 14, 2020 (journal)
Next steps
9 Macroenvironment
10 Twentieth anniversary
Downtown Lima speech, March 2, 2023
11 Social mission
Epilogue: Mistakes made, lessons learned
Lesson 1: Choose debt vs equity wisely
Lesson 2: Plan for cash flow
Lesson 3: Avoid credit cards
Lesson 4: Beware of overestimating market size
Lesson 5: Avoid copying the big brands
Lesson 5: Be honest about your social mission
Lesson 6: Stay on top of your financial statements
Lesson 7: Constantly measure profit
Lesson 8: Analyze your industry
Lesson 9: Work together with the community and the government
Four legs of a table = people and institutions
Lesson 10: Be honest and transparent
Appendix Excerpts from original business plan and year one financials
References
Recommended further reading
Index
About The Author

Jennifer Brogee MBA is an Assistant Professor of Business at University of Northwestern Ohio and Founder and CEO at The Meeting Place on Market.

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