Interviewing Customers No. 3

I let my interviewees read my concept card so that every "interview" was consistent and I asked to record each of them giving me feedback so I could capture their immediate reactions to the ideas on my card. Attached below is a picture of the concept card that I used for the interviews:

Reflection: So far, I have received absolutely nothing but positive feedback. The most surprising piece of this project and its progress so far is the overwhelming support that I have been receiving in regards to moving forward into the next phase of completion. I did get a very constructive comment on my last post warning me about the dangers of "volunteer" work by employing the homeless in regards to legal issues with minimum wage, so that was an enlightening piece of information for me. The only thing that I am missing at this point is spare time, as I am taking 17 credits, am on two dance teams, and am suffering a painful death by Financial Accounting, but all of the signs the world has been sending me recently have been suggesting that I take a step back after I finish my current commitments, and pursue my ideas because they seem to have growing potential... So we shall see what happens... 

Reading Reflection Week 6

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations? 

• The biggest surprise for me in the reading was that the most successful companies are the most profitable companies, but that does not necessarily mean that they are the biggest companies. It was interesting to see the examples they used. 

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

• There was nothing in the reading that was confusing to me, although the reading was very interesting. I will admit it would take me a while to really comprehend the different industries and their respective profitabilities.

3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

• I would be interested in seeing more applied examples in the reading
• At which point does competition between industries become destructive rather than constructive? Could you give some more examples of such situations?

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

• Nearly all of the information in this chapter was new information for me, so I would have to know more about the subject to be able to disagree with the author. 

Idea Napkin No. 1

1) You. Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life?

• According to Strengthsfinder, my strengths are: Strategic, Connectedness, Relator, Communicator, and Command. I am good at making personal connections with people and guiding projects and energy in a direction. After establishing my business, I see myself playing more of a managerial role. I would definitely need a strong team to guide in the right direction and I would need people who were willing and able to help me focus and work towards important milestones to make sure the business remains profitable and on task. 

2) What are you offering to customers? Describe the product or service (in other words, how you'll solve customers' unmet needs).

• My idea is to introduce vertical gardening techniques to create green and social spaces that bring some life to underutilized spaces in Gainesville. I would like to start by converting an abandoned/neglected building and converting it into a green, sustainable cafe that grows its own produce and has social spaces for people to volunteer, socialize, and study. The next step would be an employment campaign for the homeless in Gainesville and create some kind of work exchange for taking care of the gardens and maintenance around the cafe. Studies have shown that green spaces improve morale, fight depression, and are natural stress relievers. I think it is really important to incorporate this into our daily lives to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle. 

3) Who are you offering it to? Describe, in as much detail as possible, the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your customers. Think especially of this question: what do your customers all have in common?

• I would be targeting: Residents of Gainesville, especially students/professors/people involved in University life here in Gainesville
• Also, another focus would be to target the homeless/poor of Gainesville by providing work opportunities (starting with garden maintenance) 

4) Why do they care? Your solution is only valuable insofar as customers believe its valuable to them. Here, explain why customers will actually pay you money to use your product or service. 

• Across the board, the feedback that I have received about the idea of starting a sustainable cafe has been positive. This project would add value to the community, and further, the individuals of Gainesville. I see this cafe as the beginning example of how easy it is to incorporate sustainability into our lives. There is one other cafe that is similar here in Gainesville, but I see that as an opportunity rather than competition, especially since the intrinsic goal of this project is to encourage everyone to live a healthier lifestyle (mentally, physically, habitually). I would just like to take this project a step further and continue forward by helping others convert their underutilized spaces/rooftops/etc. into spaces that can be used and that add value to their properties and to their lives. My cafe would become the example and consulting agency that makes sustainability convenient and available for the community of Gainesville, while providing another area to study, socialize, and be yourself.

5) What are your core competencies? What sets you apart from everyone else? Also: what do you have that nobody else has?

• The most valuable thing that I have going for me in regards to this project is experience. I grew up watching my family use sustainable gardening techniques to grow the food that we live on, and from that grew my passion for sustainability and green things! I have international exposure as I prototyped vertical gardening structures that proved viable, pitched my business ideas both here at the University of Florida and abroad to ThinkYoung and Google in Madrid, and won second place for the business pitch and content. It is evident I have genuine interest and support with the project, the only thing I am lacking is spare time and the right team.