6A: Economic and Regulatory Trends

Economic:

1. Physical shopping malls and department stores are dying out with competition of online stores.
Article: America's Malls and Department Stores Are Dying Off
a) http://time.com/4865957/death-and-life-shopping-mall/
I've noticed in the shopping mall closest to my house that it has become less and less crowded in the past few years.
b) With the decline in physical shopping malls, there is an opportunity in the other forms of shopping. For instance, online shopping with Amazon or even the same stores in the mall, but their online website. These can be seen as faster, easier, and simpler than having to go on a trip to the mall and make an entire day out of shopping. Instead someone can go from store to store just by clicking a button.
c) Prototypical customers include anyone who shops. Specifically people who shop on a regular basis. For instance, a mother with three kids may have to shop for new clothes for all of her kids. Although, if they are different genders and ages then she may have to go to multiple different stores and it takes time and patience. Instead, she can shop online quick and simple.
d) I believe this is an easy opportunity to exploit because malls are very common and they are all over the nation. Visiting my own mall I can tell the difference in the amount of people and the success of the stores just by walking around the mall.

-Overall, I believe I saw this opportunity because I like to shop. I have started shopping online more, but it is not because of convenience. I've started shopping online more because the mall in Gainesville does not have the stores that I'm used to from my hometown. Now that I am home for the summer and I have visited the mall a few times it is very obvious the change in customers in the mall. On the other hand, someone who does not shop much for themselves may have not noticed this opportunity, especially if they very rarely visit a mall.

2. Rise in Property Taxes
Article: Your property taxes just jumped by more than 50 percent. Now what
a) https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/your-property-taxes-just-jumped-by-more-than-50-percent-now-what.html
b) People are constantly relocating around the nations for various reasons, such as job opportunities, family reasons, schools, and more. With rising property tax there is a struggle for those people to afford housing in the location that they need.
c) The consumer may include middle to lower class citizens that have a tight budget they must stick to because of financial constraints.
d) I believe this opportunity is quite simple to exploit because it goes along with the rising demand in this market. With more consumers in need, rising taxes is the outcome to balance supply and demand.

-I saw this opportunity because my family was recently looking at houses. Although, for my age I would not be a typical consumer to see this issue. It would be easier noticed by real estate agents or people who own a property already or are planning to find new housing.

Regulatory:

3) Regulations on service animals traveling by plane are becoming more strict
Article: Traveling by air with service animals advance notice of proposed rule making
a) https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOT-OST-2018-0068-1157
b) It is becoming more common for people to own an animal that they train to be service for whatever personal reason they may have. This may be due to disability, emotional, or psychiatric reasons. The opportunity is more seen in people who have a service dog and are being ridiculed or harassed about taking their animal to an airport as if it isn't necessary.
c) The prototypical consumer includes those who have service dogs. I have a service dog registered for emotional support so technically I am the prototypical consumer.
d) This is a very specific opportunity so it may not be as easy to the average person to identify. Although to me it is very prevalent. I like to bring my dog almost everywhere I go for comfort and I have been questioned many times for having a service dog.

-I saw this opportunity because I deal with it on an every day basis. Also, later this month I have plan to fly to North Carolina with my dog for a family trip. I have never flown with him, but I will have to deal with people questioning my reason for needing an emotional support dog. I have checked regulations and my dog meets all the requirements, yet there will still be people who try to make it difficult.

4) Regulations on Hunting and Trapping in Alaska
Article: Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves: Alaska
a) https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NPS-2018-0005-0001
b) Alaska is a common state for hunting and trapping with the vast wildlife. National parks want to regulate hunting to preserve the animals of the area and regulate their habitats in order to keep specific species from going extinct.
c) The prototypical consumers are hunters that live in Alaska and hunt as a regular hobby possibly as a form of income or maybe just recreationally.
d) This is not an opportunity that is easy to see for a general person. Alaska is very secluded from the rest of the states, therefore this regulation is specifically targeted towards people living in the state. Although, many people around the nation are concerned with the threats on wildlife leading to those people having insight into this opportunity.

- I saw this opportunity because I am a marine science major and I have a high focus on wildlife, not only locally, but around the world. I am a large animal lover and I understand the reason why these regulations are being placed.