CASE STUDY OF ROXANNE QUIMBY 1

Case study of Roxanne Quimby

Sabita Chaudhary

Westcliff University

BUS 651 Entrepreneurship and New Ventures

Presidential Business School

Mentor: Bibek Bhandary

November 11, 2019

Abstract

This paper is about the case study of Roxanne Quimby which is related to the recently relocated

organization in Raleigh. This provides answer of various questions posed in this case study. The

question are related to Roxanne’s entrepreneurship and the reason of success of her business.

There is also the discussion about the difference between idea and opportunity and also Risk

rewards and trade-offs of life style business versus a high potential business are discussed on the

basis of case study.

Introduction
The main feature of this case was Roxanne Quimby, and the company discussed here is

the manufacture of personal care products and crafts from beeswax. Roxanne was not involved

in any business at the start of the case and cared so much about the product. His dad taught her

about the entrepreneur who helped Roxanne to survive. She also thought she had a sense of

entrepreneurship during these courses. She met Burt Shavitz later in this case who dropped out at

the end of the 1970s. All agreed to partner in 1987, which was profitable and debt-free. The main

problems in industry are high transport costs, high wage taxes and lack of expertise. She felt the

organization's potential at that time was greater than $3 million.

Then, she decided to move her business to North Carolina, which seemed central and well-

placed. Throughout North Carolina, there was a wide range of qualified people and low transport

costs and income taxes. Nevertheless, her main problem is labor costs, which are more expensive

than Maina. It now has three alternatives: continuing or moving to Maine and selling the

company in North Carolina.

1. Who can be entrepreneur?

Anyone with risk, clear vision, dedication and devotion to their job, leadership,

confidence, and imagination has potential to be an entrepreneur. [ CITATION Fer192 \l

1033 ]We take Roxanne as an example, and in her life she never gives up despite going

through so many ups and downs. She's been involved in her job. She is capable of

working in difficulties and knows how to handle situations properly. Burt and her-self

have been born by their imagination to turn beeswax into a candle.

To be an entrepreneur one should be able to adapt things quickly and to do what does not

work. Individuals who can handle changes and are dedicated to their job can become a
CASE STUDY OF ROXANNE QUIMBY 4

contractor because change and adjustment are essential to something different. [ CITATION

Fer193 \l 1033 ]

2. Risk rewards and trade-offs of life style business versus a high potential business

Commitment and Determination Courage Leadership Opportunity Obsession Tolerance

of Risk, Ambiguity and Uncertainty Creative, Self-reliance and Adaptability Motivation

to Excel. A lifestyle business is one that is intended for supporting the proprietor’s salary

and individual necessities rather than maximizing revenue.[ CITATION Reb14 \l 1033 ]

There is an ambiguity and no complete control of a lifestyle company over a highly

potential business. It is always easy to have complete control and contact the employee at

a small company, but it would be difficult to manage the business once the business

begins to grow, because the growing company needs more workers. It is almost

impossible to watch someone allocate themselves hard to them on a regular basis. Often,

a new employee is difficult to trust.

Some of the rewards are like there will be more opportunity with a larger business. We

can also have more opportunity for investment and expansion of the business. Similarly,

the owner has the freedom to work and doesn’t have to report to anyone above them.

3. Difference between idea and opportunity and learnings from exhibit C and D?

Two different things are ideas and opportunities. The idea is the first step in creating a

company in which the chance is a business idea that has been explored and developed

and assembled to a viable product that is ready to launch. Chances come with great ideas.

In this case Roxanne had no intention of using the beeswax left. She distilled the thought,

scrubbed it and looked for the chance. In this scenario, her idea worked. An idea is a
CASE STUDY OF ROXANNE QUIMBY 5

meaningless idea unless you do business with one, because you should understand the

issue you describe and for whom you solve it. There are also enough people who pay

enough to do a realistic job. An open door is Exhibit C demonstrates the establishments

for toilet preparation, job insurance and development. Roxanne is focused on skin care

products. In Exhibit C shows In Exhibit D, too, we can note that the total number of

businesses decreased in 1988, but from 1992 to 1993 it became high. In this Exhibit D we

can see the contrast of the manufacturing norm category. a concept which can be

introduced that will succeed in providing resources.[ CITATION Qui04 \l 1033 ]

4. Reason of company succeed

Roxanne's vision is the main reason behind her business success. Her commitment and

expertise have contributed to the success of the company. They had a very strict policy

and they would not negotiate with the retailer if the company was unable to pay its debt

within 30 days. A company also was debt-free to discourage debtors from paying huge

amounts of interest. Similarly, Burt's wife was thorough and encouraging.[ CITATION

Qui04 \l 1033 ]

5. What should they do?

I think they should shift the business to North Carolina. Moving to North Carolina will

provide them an opportunity to grow their business and make it worthwhile. They

will pay a high payroll tax and transport costs are also high if they stay back in Maine. To

develop their service, they need good specialists, but in Maine they could not find any

good expertise. The big city North Carolina will make enormous profit for the company.

They can make profits while staying at Maine for how long time. Moving to North
CASE STUDY OF ROXANNE QUIMBY 6

Carolina will allow them to find a good location and will reduce transport costs, as they

are situated in the middle of the United States.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship is ready to do something new and different involving risk, innovation

and creativity. Pioneers, innovators, founders and inventors are businessmen. We could

make a great company even with the smaller concept. The best entrepreneurial examples

were Roxanne and Burt's. Take over from this case is that we should not give up

regardless of the situation. We can never get up without falling. She never gave up even

with many difficulties and hikes.

Reference

Fernandes, P. (2019, May 15). Retrieved from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7275-

entrepreneurship-defined.html.

Ferreira, N. M. (2019, May 12). Retrieved from https://www.oberlo.com/blog/what-is-

entrepreneurship.

Quimby, R. (2004). How I Did It. Building a company has been a lesson in balancing ambition

and compromise for the co-founder of Burt;s Bees.

Rebekah. (2014). Benefits of Creating a Lifestyle Business. lifestyle business.