Connect, Set Up, and Use Maple Tree Marketplace

           Answer Start-Up Questions

• Answer these questions to get a feel of where you are in setting up your business and what you hope to get out of your Maple Tree Marketplace experience.
  

1. Where are you at with your business?
   
2. How connected do you feel you are to the Indianola community?
   
3. What challenges are you currently facing?
   
4. How are you currently promoting your business?
   
5. How are you currently distributing your products and services?
   
6. Do you plan to expand outside of the Indianola Community?
   
7. What expectations do you have of Maple Tree Marketplace?
   
8. What immediate help do you need from Maple Tree Marketplace?
   
   Business Model Canvas - Definitions and how to fill out the BMC
   

• The Business Model Canvas is a tool that allows you to structure your business in a way that is easily adaptable. The following categories are the building blocks of the Business Model Canvas and are listed in the appropriate order to follow when filling out the BMC.
  

1. Customer Segments: An organization serves one or several Customer Segments.
   
2. Value Propositions: It seeks to solve customer problems and satisfy customer needs with value propositions.
   
3. Channels: Value propositions are delivered to customers through communication, distribution, and sales channels.
   
4. Customer Relationships: Customer relationships are established and maintained with each Customer Segment.
   
5. Revenue Streams: Revenue streams result from value propositions successfully offered to customers.
   
6. Key Resources: Key resources are the assets required to offer and deliver the previously described elements.
   
7. Key Activities: ...by performing a number of Key Activities.
   
8. Key Partnerships: Some activities are outsourced and some resources are acquired outside the enterprise.
   
9. Cost Structure: The business model elements result in the cost structure.
   

           Create a Brand Image

• Brand image is more than something that just identifies your business, product or services. It is a way to make a first impression on your customers and a way for them to recognize your business. Each of these steps will help you create a strong brand image that will create credibility with your venture.
  

1. Logo: Graphic that distinguishes you from others.
   
2. Bio or About me: Personal statement about what you are doing, how you are doing it and most importantly why you are doing it.
   
3. Picture: describes you or what you are doing.
   
4. Brand Following: Social media following way that you can promote your brand.
   
   Create Weebly or Business Related Site (ex. Rover)
   

• Business Professional websites allow for you to communicate with potential clients or customers regarding your products and services. It also allows for all of your material to be in an organized single space. Please view the current Weebly module for more information.
  
  Connect to Other Reach Modules - Contact John or Marilyn
  
• Looking at other modules can help provide more detailed information about how to use specific tools that can help you grow your business. Each of these modules help guide you through how to create and use these basic concepts and tools in your business.    
  

1. Weebly Module
   
2. Square Module- A comprehensive document to set up, use, and get informed about square.  
   
3. Business Model Canvas Module- Why it is important, Explaining a breakdown of all sections, how to personalize each section for your business.  
   
4. Marketing Module- Why marketing is important, basic concepts, and buyer behavior.
   

• Marilyn Mueller - marilyn.mueller@simpson.edu - Professor and Advisor at Simpson
  
• John Walker - john.walker@simpson.edu - Professor and Advisor at Simpson
  
• Todd Kielkopf - todd.kielkopf@simpson.edu - Advisor for Simpson
  
  Filling Out the Form on MTM​
  
• Go to the website mapletreemarketplace.com and fill out the form. Below are the list of questions you will be asked. Mapletree Marketplace is a platform to connect Simpson students and the Indianola Community. It is a place that people can visit to learn more about your company and have a link to access your website.
  

1. What are you promoting?
   
2. Where are you located?
   
3. Contact information
   
4. Name of promotion
   
5. Biography
   
6. Key business information
   
7. Current websites