Identifying Local Opportunities

MAN, 73, DIED IN MOTOR HOME FIRE

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0911%21September%2B11&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E5FB538451FCD0 

            An elderly man by the name of Richard Scarborough died in his motor home due to smoke inhalation when his mobile home somehow caught on fire. The authorities were not able to determine the cause of the fire due to an excess amount of debris and junk surrounded the property around the motor home. This, along with various power tools that were connected to extension cords around the property, makes it difficult to determine what the cause of the fire is. The real problem is that due to motor homes being cheaper, they are often not made to the best standards which means incidents like this occur easily. This is an issue that effects anyone who owns motor homes or want to own a motor home because they will have natural concerns about the safety of their motor homes. This could be seen as an opportunity for the development of a safer alternative to motor homes that could be just as cost-effective. While designing and manufacturing such an alternative won't be easy, the payoff could be high in markets such as Florida where there are a large number of people that would purchase a motor home or its equivalent. 

 

LIVING UNDER THE WHIM OF STORMS

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0914%21September%2B14&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E6F86CF1FA9228

           This article just a general one that was talking about the approaching hurricane Florence and what it is like living in places like Florida and the south east where tropical storms and hurricanes are common. The article describes how the more stronger storms like Andrew in 1992 and Irma last year always cause fear to escalate among residents as preparations get made to make it through the powerful hurricanes. The problem that is presented in this article is that we live in a place that is prone to  strong hurricanes. It is an issue for everyone Florida, especially if they live on the coasts, along with people of other states in the southeast like Georgia and the Carolinas. This situation presents opportunities for anyone who could provide storm preparation services or materials. Smaller construction firms or even independent contractors could offer services to fortify homes to last through storms. Water and canned food are always commodities that run out in stores so a company that focused on getting those necessary tangibles to people before, during, or even after hurricanes could also find success I think. 

PIZZA SHOP OUT AT CHANNELSIDE

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0905%21September%2B05&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E400EC9C0B1F78  

                 This article is about a local pizza place in Tampa, called Precinct Pizza, being closed because the commercial property it is on, Channelside, is being redeveloped. The pizzeria will not be a part of the development and therefore, the lease was not renewed by the property owners. This is a problem for the owners of Precinct Pizza as well as people who live by Channelside or visit Channelside that would want to enjoy a pizza. It is however an opportunity for a new pizza place or different food establishment or even a bar to come and take the place of Precinct Pizza and capitalize on its existing customers. 

 

SIPPING A LITTLE LESS TROPICANA JUICE NOW?

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0905%21September%2B05&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E400EDAEE90C68

                 Tropicana has decided to reduce the size of its plastic containers from 59 ounces to 52 ounces. This is because Hurricane Irma damaged a significant amount of orange crops, causing the company to incur a higher cost of production. The only ways to offset this were to either increase prices or decrease the packaging cost by switching to smaller sizes. The problem here is that orange juice companies are encountering higher production costs which is affecting their market. This would be an opportunity for the companies to do an overhaul of their production process to see where else they can save money while still offering customers the most value. 

VAN SHUTTLE IN PARKING GARAGE HAS UPS, DOWNS

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0904%21September%2B04&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E3AA8E43489768

           Hillsborough County is wasting $26,000 of taxpayers' money by paying for a shuttle service that takes county employees up and down the floors of their nine-story parking garage. The average wait time for the garage's one elevator is 1 minute 17 seconds which means this shuttle service is nothing more than a waste of money. This is an issue that effects all the county's taxpayers because their money should be spent for things that matter, not extra perks for county employees. I feel like this situation contains an opportunity to cut down on unnecessary government spending which can be better allocated to things that benefit taxpayers like schools and road public work projects like roads.