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?
As I stated in my first idea napkin, I think it is important to state in this idea napkin that my morals and values are strongly rooted in my faith which direct my work ethic as a businessperson, in school, and in life. My idea pertains to me because I live in a dorm and also frequent the gym and think that a product like the one I have come up with would be a huge help to me in my life and would make living in the dorm a little more enjoyable. It is something that I am passionate about so I know I would work hard to make this product an actual business.
2) What are you offering to customers? Describe the product or service (in other words, how you'll solve customers' unmet needs).
I am offering a product that replaces shower shoes. The customers that I have identified definitely have an unmet need and I think my product will solve this issue. The product is a spray that comes out of a can and it will be a polymer-based solution that will seal the surface of the customer’s foot in order to protect it from the dirty floor.
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?
The people that I am offering this product to are mainly college students, specifically students who are living on-campus in dorms and students who frequent the fitness centers on campus or around campus. The other demographic is the elderly who go to the YMCA on a daily basis who use the sauna, steamer, and showers. The thing that all of my customers have in common is that they use public showers.
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.
I have already talked to at least 30 potential customers who claimed that they would pay money for this product. It is a cleaner, more convenient, cooler, and safer option to the traditional shower shoe.
5) What are your core competencies? What sets you apart from everyone else? Also: what do you have that nobody else has?
This is a proprietary product that was created from an unmet need that the creator specifically had. This is a versatile idea that could be applied to other ventures such as the sealing of surfaces temporarily.
In addition to these five elements, please spend a paragraph evaluating whether you believe these elements fit together or whether there are aspects of your business concept that are weaker / out-of-joint with the others.
The elements of my business flow in that I have talked to multiple customers and have had reassuring feedback, but have also had helpful criticism. People have had concerns about the stickiness of the product. This is something that I am working on and is a concept that is weaker than the others. My response is that the stickiness of the polymer will be enough to stick to the foot without leaving a residue and will be easy to peel off without coming off on its own. Other than that concern, I think that the rest of the business flows together and makes sense.
Feedback Memo
- I talked about the “you” aspect more. I also listed why this idea pertains to me and why I want to create this product.
- I incorporated my target market to include the “college kid” demographic that I am really going after.
- I am going to create a polymer-based solution as the spray.
- This solution could be used for many other applications for sealing surfaces temporarily.
- I will expand my customer base and look more into the YMCA elderly people demographic.
I incorporated this feedback into this idea napkin by talking more about myself in the “you” section of the idea napkin. I talked about why I want to create this product and why it means something to me. I also added a demographic in the customer section and think that expanding my customer base would only benefit my company. I also thought about potentially using this polymer-based solution in other aspects such as temporarily sealing certain surfaces or using it for gloves, socks, or bandages.
Hey! Great idea. Can't say I have ever felt the need for a shower shoe since I don't use public showers, but I can totally identify with how gross it would be to just walk around barefoot in one. I don't quite know how shower shoes work or how you would actually be able to design something that works that well a spray on, but if you can figure out how it would work and why your solution is more effective or useful than the shower shoes that are out now, then you definitely have something. My target audience is also primarily college students, but I focused on fulfilling their eating needs. Either way, good job!
ReplyDeleteAlso, check out my post:
http://sebastianent3003.blogspot.com/2016/03/idea-napkin-no2.html
This is a very well thought out idea, my only question is, how do you get it off after your done in the shower? Also, as an idea, would you make one for the beach? I've seen several people who wear "beach" shoes into the water or flip flops because they are terrified to step on something. I think you did an excellent job on this post--
ReplyDeletehttp://katyshitchhikingghosts.blogspot.com/2016/03/week-9-idea-napkin-2.html
Wow this is a really creative and well thought out idea that has what seems like a big market. I go to the gym 5 days a week and I don't shower after workouts at the gym but I know tons of people who do. And as you explained this product can expand even outside of the gym and onto other markets. Shower shoes look funny and sometimes can be hot or irritating. This seems like a great replacement product and surely has a need.
ReplyDelete