Buyer Behavior 2-assignment 15A

1) Find three people who would fit that segment.
The segment I chose again are adults who play or coach a sport recreationally on a regular basis.  The people I interviewed play, golf, tennis, and coach a little league soccer team respectively.  They are Ira, Stephen, and John.

2.  Begin with an alternative evaluation
All three of my interviewees are men that have families.  Therefore money is always on their mind.  They all three said they would rather pay less for an item that is less aesthetically pleasing.  Therefore this led me to think of some way for men and women to have different products with the men being more visible at a lower price.  This doesn't totally make sense to me and I'm not sure it would be the best option but it certainly is a thought.

3. How/where do they buy?
They would definitely buy in store at first.  They could pay with card or cash at any local drugstore.  I would think about putting it online either on Amazon, or even Ulta/Sephora's websites but for now solely in store.  This is certainly not a big enough purchase to need to finance it over a period of time.

4. Post-purchase evaluation
For my product, the obvious evaluation was if the glasses stayed in place or not.  However, another thing may look for is if they think it lasted as long as it should or if it had to be replaced after too short of an amount of time.  

5. Report the findings
Essentially all of these interviews were pretty similar.  That probably has something to do with the fact that my clientele for this week were all incredibly similar as they were all 3 men, and as mentioned earlier all have families.   While there were a few differences.  Ira as a golf player needs the product to hold up under less sweat than Stephen who plays tennis which is higher intensity.

6. Draw conclusions.
It seems to me most people are concerned about money which rightly so.  Also, customers are worried about how long the product will hold up over time, and how long it will last in one sitting.

Halfway Reflection/ Assignment 14

1.  The main thing to keep up with the work truly is to keep up with it.  Don't fall behind and most definitely do every assignment.  Don't forget to declare them.  I most of the time do work on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  This keeps me on track, and also gives me a brief period if anything goes wrong when uploading or anything.  Also, declare declare declare, if you don't declare the assignment is virtually useless.

2.  Honestly, I felt like giving up on the reading reflection.  I hate reading and to get through a book is a struggle for me so therefore this was not my forte.  But I did pull through and finish the assignment.  I do feel like I have developed a tenacious attitude.  This class really has not been that bad and the assignment while they are frequent they are not horribly difficult to complete especially since they are given so far ahead of time.

3.  As far as tips for the class my top 3 would be to just stay on top of it don't get behind, also set a reminder to declare your points so you don't forget, and last but not least have fun and work hard!  This class can be so helpful in creating business ideas and getting feedback on the creative process of entrepreneurship.

Reading Reflection 1/Assignment 13A

Grinding it out by Ray Kroc

What surprised you the most? 

• The thing that surprised me the most about Ray and his journey was how late in life he actually did the thing that made him famous.  It was not until he was even 52 that he booked his ticket to meet the Mcdonald brothers to even check out their store.

What about the entrepreneur do I most admire?

• I most admire the way Ray Kroc was good with his customers when he was selling the paper cups.  He was willing to work with them and give them the best deal.  They trusted him and he trusted them and I really thought that was great for someone who is a salesperson.  I really liked how he just took care of them.

What about the entrepreneur do I admire the least?

• Honestly, I don't like how he was worried more about himself than his family.  It is no wonder he ended up divorced because he was constantly working and thinking about how to further his career instead of thinking about his family.  Granted he thought this would be the best move for everyone but he did not think of the effects it would have on his wife and family.

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

• Yes, Kroc did encounter lots of adversity and failure.  He continued to persevere however and did not let any of those things stop him from taking control and finding the next big thing.

What competencies did the entrepreneur exhibit?

• I would say the best competency thatn Ray Kroc had going for him was his charisma and salesmanship.  Not only could he sell products such as paper cups and hamburgers, but he sold himself to companies so they would hire and work with him!!

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

• The thing that confused me the most about the book was how Ray would talk about how he and Ethel were estranged and distanced but never really did anything about it.  He didn't try to make it right or help in any way and to me that's wrong.

If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

• I would ask how did it feel to completely beat out the competition? and Do you regret anything about your journey?  Because businessmen have to make hard decisions that don't always seem moral to me and looking back I want to know if he would change anything he said or did.

 For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

• Ray Kroc definitely had a high view of hard work.  He worked hard his whole life and never let anyone tell him no or get in his way.  If they discouraged him he would just steamroll right through them and wish they hadn't.  While I share his sentient I would go about it differently because to me you don't want to burn any bridges because you never know when you'll need to cross back and get some help.

Buyer behavior 1/assignment 12A

Segment:  Adults who play/coach sports recreationally and wear eyewear

Interviews

1.  Atticus, 27, wears sunglasses when needed

• When I spoke to Atticus I asked him at what age he began to feel the need to even start wearing sunglasses to which he responded that he's been wearing them for as long as he can remember.  He really noticed the slippage in high school however when he started playing baseball.  One time he found it so frustrating that the first thing he decided to do was not wear them at all which hurt his play but was less of an annoyance.  He also said that he never put much thought into a solution for this issue because he then grew out of playing competitively so it was not that big of an issue.  However, now he is a youth sports coach and is constantly in the heat so the issue has come back to haunt him.  He seemed very interested in my product to stop the glasses from slipping as long as it seemed cost effective and efficient.

2.  Joan, 50, wears corrective lenses all the time

• Joan, unlike Atticus, wears glasses all the time not just sunglasses.  She as a middle-aged woman does not spend nearly as much time playing sports as she did in her youth.  BUT she does these exercise classes at the indoor trampoline places.  So even though the sun is not a factor sweat is and that is what ultimately causes falling of the glasses.  She has tried to think of a solution and has even put double stick tape on her glasses which worked temporarily but it wasn't waterproof so therefore ultimately failed.  She found that temporary fix on the internet to which I asked her search terms and they were "How to stop glasses from falling down the bridge of my nose?"  When I explained my product idea and mockup she seemed very into it, especially at the thought of being able to keep the tube in her purse or pocket and apply it on the go whenever needed.  

3.  Rusty, 30, father of 3

• Not only do I count being a father of 3 a sport, but rusty also plays on the local kickball team through one of the churches.  He also wears glasses full time but has the non-slip kind as regular glasses, but plastic ones as sunglasses.  He, therefore, experiences the slippage when playing on the kickball team.  He first noticed it as a child but he did not mind then, but now as an adult, it really bothers him.  He hasn't tried to look for many solutions because it is only an issue with his sunglasses and said he can deal with it.  When I explained my idea though he seemed somewhat interested again if it were cost effective.

Summary

Ultimately, I found that these adults truly do want a solution but it MUST cost effective.  Nothing super expensive.  They could not give me a ballpark number they would just have to see if it felt right at the time.  The need did arise on its own for all of them because it is an annoyance, but they really didn't go that far out of their way to fix it themselves.

Elevator pitch 1/10A

Hi!   Here is my elevator pitch!

Idea Napkin/11A

1.  I am a 20-year-old business administration major.  I have worked at the YMCA for the past 3 years in all aspects of the job.  I have done the front desk, concierge, scanning and child watch.  I believe some of my main skills are being trustworthy, and loyal.  I would also like to think I am approachable and a good leader, who leads by example, and stands behinds my people.  My aspirations are to become someone who my parents are proud of not only in my career but also in my personal life.  I don't mind if I'm not the CEO of a massive company I want a family and that is what matters to me.  However, if I were to build a business I could see it fitting into my life in a role that I want.  I would hope I could work from home and have some flexibility in my life.

2.   The product I am hoping to sell is something that stops glasses from slipping off people's noses.  I envision it being much like an eyeshadow primer which is clear when blended and is smooth yet rough at the same time to add some friction to the face.  The product also has to be waterproof or else it defeats the whole purpose.

3.  The people I am offering it too is anyone who wears glasses, that cares about their glasses falling, and who is not into DIYing a solution that isn't aesthetically pleasing.  Also, they must want the problem to be changed and not just be okay with it.

4.  This sort of goes along with number 3 above but people would pay money because it is an issue that almost all glasses wearers deal with.  Whether they care or mind it is another thing.  But they would pay for it because it is an easy solution and would be simple.  A swipe on the nose or the bridge of the glasses and the issue would be gone.

5.  What sets me apart is my fierce loyalty and my amazing memory.  When I am into something I remember everything about it.  The exact dates and numbers and any information I could possibly need I remember.  It has my full attention and as long as I am passionate about it, I will always be heavily invested.

SUMMARY
In conclusion, I do think all of these things can meld together seamlessly.  My weakest link I believe is people not thinking it is worth it to put money into something they theoretically can DIY themselves.  Also, me wanting flexibility in my adult life could also be an issue.   But overall I think I can do it!

Testing the Hypothesis/9A

• Who:  During my interviews, I found that while I thought everyone that wears glasses is a prime audience for my product I was missing a massive chunk of glasses participants: Children.  Ultimately, I interviewed 2 children, a boy and a girl, a mom of one, a dad of one, and then an elementary school teacher.
• To my surprise, I found out that both of the children are not interested nor worried about their glasses slipping.  They did not find it to be a nuisance to continuously push their glasses up, in fact, both of their glasses were the kind that hooked all the way around their head so my problem truly was virtually no problem at all for them.
• The mom of one of the kids though thought it would be a good idea to buy and invest in a product that stops the slipping for the future.  She can see how annoying it would become and doesn't want her child to have to deal with it at all.  She also thought it would be good for herself and her sunglasses when outside.  
• The dad also thought it would be a good idea but as almost every other male was not so concerned it how it looked just the mere functionality of the product itself and the price it would be. 
• Lastly, the teacher,  she said she thinks it is a fabulous idea not just for her but also her students.  As she is talking to kids and having to crouch to get to their level her glasses constantly slip.  Also, she finds her students to have to push them up which at such a young age causes distractions in the classroom.
• What:  Something unique about my idea is that it is not a bad thing or a person behind a motive.  It is simply physics that needs to be stopped.  Therefore, the need for this is simple it is just science combating science.
• Why:  The need is only different with kids who have the wrap around glasses.  If they have regular ones but just don't care if they slip then the need is the same as adults but they don't want the issue to be stopped. 

	Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who	·      Adults who wear glasses or sunglasses ·      Kids who don’t have the wraparound glasses ·      People who care about the look of the object	·      People who wear no glasses ·      Kids who don’t care/have wraparound glasses ·      Adults who are willing to sacrifice look for not paying money
What	·      To stop glasses from slipping	·      To make people wear contacts or eliminate the need altogether
Why	·      To reduce the annoyance of pushing glasses up constantly ·      Exists because of sweating	·      I can’t think of any alternative explanations for this needs

Solving the Problem/8A

Okay,  so simply my idea is for a product that stops glasses from slipping off their noses.  This is a constant problem that glasses wearers of all sorts face day in and day out.  As a year-round glasses wearer, I know this is all too true.  I have a few ideas for this.   One of them is for something along the lines of a makeup.  More specifically an eyeshadow primer consistency.  For those who don't know, it is a clear color but stops the makeup from moving around and keeps the normally flying eyeshadow on the lid.  I also imagine it being in the same type of packaging as this like in a long skinny tube.  This would be my first choice.  If this is not an option then I would begin to think of something that is less of a product and more of an item that adheres to the glasses themselves.  Some sort of double-sided tape or something of that sort. 

Testing the Hypothesis part 1/7A

Stop glasses from slipping 2k18

• Opportunity:  Throughout the year all glasses wearers struggle to keep their glasses on their nose in the right spot because of sweating and the heat.
• Who:  all glasses wearers of any type
• What:  They are unable to keep their glasses in the right spot on their face without slipping
• Why:  Because of sweating and the heat
• Testing the who:  Yes, everyone in my current who has this need.  Anyone that wears glasses can benefit from this opportunity so whether that be seeing eyeglasses, sunglasses, or reading glasses the same problem occurs.  I would, however, venture to guess the majority of the "who" are people who either play sports with sunglasses on or who wear glasses all the time to see.
• Testing the what:  All glasses are not an issue though.  The types of glasses with the little rubber/plastic silicone pieces don't slip near as much as the full plastic glasses.  However, I don't know of any sunglasses that are like that so they would definitely still be a big part of the what/type of glasses.
• Testing the why:  Why people sweat is simply due to the heat.  Therefore, most peoples needs would be the same.  Obviously, people sweat at different rates so someone who sweats a lot would benefit more whereas someone who sweats less would not need the product as often. 
• Interview 1  
• I interviewed someone at Costco who works in the glasses sections to ask about all of the above things I mentioned.  He wears plastic glasses and said it is definitely a problem he deals with on a daily basis because he wears the glasses full time.  He also knows that a lot of his customers complain about the same issue and sometimes opt for the other silicone type so they don't slide.
• Interview 2
• For this interview, I talked to my father actually.  He is full-time glasses wearer from the age of 13.  The first time he noticed the issue was when he was playing sports and he decided to do something and actually switch to the other type.  He does feel however that he likes the look of the other glasses so if there was some sort of solution he would switch back.  He doesn't sweat that often so everyday issues is not the problem it's only when he's playing some sort of sport.  
• Interview 3
• I also interviewed my mom.  She is a reading glasses and sunglasses wearer.  She also sweats a lot.  The reading glasses are a non-issue but the sunglasses are a major one.  She sometimes doesn't even wear them because of how much they slip.  Her glasses are clearly the plastic ones as most sunglasses are and hate how they slide and wants this to not be a problem again.
• Interview 4
• My next interview was actually with my optometrist.  I figured this would be a good person because he knows about any issues that could arise with the product.  If there is anything that can irritate the eyes he would be the first to know.  He ironically enough doesn't wear any glasses so to that extent he was no use.  This was more of an informative interview
• Interview 5
• Lastly, I interviewed my brother.  He is also in the glasses business, as a full-time wearer.  He does not play sports so that isn't an issue and he personally does not think the sliding is not something he does.  But I can personally say he was constantly pushing his glasses up the whole interview.  He unlike my father won't give up what he likes the look of so the product has to be aesthetically pleasing.
• Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before? 
• I know what can and can not be used chemically to stop it from sliding so as to not irritate the eyes
• I still know that it has to be aesthetically appropriate because everyone likes a good look
• As for everything else nothing brand new broke through