IBC

Integrated Business Course = Part of the business program at BYU-Idaho where students run a business for 8 full weeks while simultaneously learning in depth about Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Organizational Behavior. 


I was put into a group with 14 other students and we started the company, SML (small, medium, large). We sold equalizer shirts (shirts that light up with the beat of music), as well as printed graphic tees and business to business made shirts. We made a booth from scratch, ordered shirts from a supplier overseas, and printed the graphic shirts ourselves with custom designs. Our business was organized into four departments: Supply Chain/Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Sales.


Our mission statement: We believe in dedication, first to our customers in supplying a quality product and happy atmosphere, second to our suppliers in dealing with them fairly and timely, and lastly to each other as a company. All aspects of our life, within and out of the company, will be defined by honesty and integrity through our example and service. We will achieve success with hard work, learning from mistakes, and maintaining focus.


Through the thick and thin, our company pulled through by paying off our loan and actually making more profit than expected. We were surprised with the results of our company and we learned a lot throughout the semester. For the last four weeks, I was promoted to Supply Chain/Operations Manager. I was able to work closely with my classmates and really figure out how to interact with people. These are a just a few things I learned from IBC...


Organization is important (drawers with labels for our shirts)
Inventory control is crucial (weekly checks)
Communication is key (between department heads especially)
Delegation (understanding how to delegate to specific types of people)
Don't take it personal
The more people, doesn't necessarily mean the better (assembly line, smaller meetings)
Embrace your target market, even if you'd hoped for something different
Record finances in detail and keep them updated
Do fun things outside of work to unify the company. Get to know everyone upfront
Have a sense of humor
Be confident when suggesting new ideas
Be proactive. Don't worry about getting credit, just put in the work anyways
Consider lead times and make orders in advance
Market Research helps with forecasting specific sizes, styles, etc.
Scheduling booth shifts ahead of time makes it easier to find replacements for later
Provide an atmosphere people want to be around

SML. Light up Your World. 

Enjoy it.