1) Azim (Domain Expert) - This is one my family friends. He owns his own cellphone repair shop in my hometown. This is helpful for me because my business idea involves utilizing smartphones equipped with scanning and paying abilities. He is one of my family friends so it wasn't too hard to get in contact with him and ask him for his advice and since we are friends, he doesn't expect anything in return. I showed him my napkin idea and he told me I had a good and easily implementable idea since the app used to scan and pay already exists. Having him in my social network will allow me to obtain advice and a good direction for my business idea since he is technologically savvy.
2) Zach (Market Expert) - This is one of my friends that I have grown up with. We have gone to the same school our entire lives. He used to work at Publix when we were in high school, so his expertise is useful to me as my idea is to be implemented in grocery stores. He also doesn't really expect anything in return from me since we are pretty close friends. I shared my elevator pitch with him and he said that this idea could be really useful during peak times of the day and year, such as when prepping for hurricanes or when the new school year starts.
3) David (Supplier) - This is one of my neighbors back home. David was the best person that I could get a hold of that had some sort of relation to my idea. He was a computer science major in college and he is a developer of an app that allows you to scan a barcode to see what the price is of an item. He explained to me that my idea of scanning a barcode and paying for items using a smartphone and all under one interface might result in some technical issues, but overtime, these bugs can be fixed with updates.
Friday, March 27, 2020
19A – Idea Napkin No. 2
1) I am a senior at the University of Florida, graduating this spring. I am a Biology major on the pre-med track and I hope to eventually become a physician, for which I will be applying to medical school this summer. Next year, I will be spending my gap year at home in South Florida working and doing research. I hope that my business idea to speed up the checkout process at grocery store might make the process a little more convenient for me and allow me to focus my time in other important tasks, such as studying.
2) I plan to have cashiers posted with smartphones that are equipped with scanning and paying abilities. This will minimize the time spent in checkout lines. This will be especially useful during a time like this when customers are lining up outside of stores to stock up on groceries for the crisis we are in. And it might even be helpful to promote some aspects of the concept of social distancing.
3) My customers will be college students and working adults especially parents (male or female), because these are the customers that I encountered that go grocery shopping and often complain about the long checkout lines.
4) Customers find this product of mine valuable, because it will save them a lot of time in the grocery store and allow them to spend time doing other tasks in their busy schedule.
5) This solution can help to tackle two issues at once, which not many can do. It not only minimizes the time spent at the grocery store, but also minimizes some of our plastic waste by encouraging customer to not bag certain items.
Now that I look at it, and given the current state of the ongoing pandemic, my solution can also help tackle another issue, which is fighting against COVID-19 by promoting social distancing during checkout.
I think all 5 elements that I proposed in this post really do fit together. At first, I thought the first element regarding who I am was the most out-of-joint with the others, but then I realized that this element serves to explain why the solution I am proposing would cater to me and people like me.
The one feedback I received for my first napkin idea post wrote that I had a great solution and agreed that speeding up the checkout process would indeed help us accomplish more of our other daily tasks. I used this feedback to reflect on the current situation of COVID-19. I feel like now more than ever people are really in need of more efficiency during the checkout process and a method that would promote healthy interactions and proper social distancing.
2) I plan to have cashiers posted with smartphones that are equipped with scanning and paying abilities. This will minimize the time spent in checkout lines. This will be especially useful during a time like this when customers are lining up outside of stores to stock up on groceries for the crisis we are in. And it might even be helpful to promote some aspects of the concept of social distancing.
3) My customers will be college students and working adults especially parents (male or female), because these are the customers that I encountered that go grocery shopping and often complain about the long checkout lines.
4) Customers find this product of mine valuable, because it will save them a lot of time in the grocery store and allow them to spend time doing other tasks in their busy schedule.
5) This solution can help to tackle two issues at once, which not many can do. It not only minimizes the time spent at the grocery store, but also minimizes some of our plastic waste by encouraging customer to not bag certain items.
Now that I look at it, and given the current state of the ongoing pandemic, my solution can also help tackle another issue, which is fighting against COVID-19 by promoting social distancing during checkout.
I think all 5 elements that I proposed in this post really do fit together. At first, I thought the first element regarding who I am was the most out-of-joint with the others, but then I realized that this element serves to explain why the solution I am proposing would cater to me and people like me.
The one feedback I received for my first napkin idea post wrote that I had a great solution and agreed that speeding up the checkout process would indeed help us accomplish more of our other daily tasks. I used this feedback to reflect on the current situation of COVID-19. I feel like now more than ever people are really in need of more efficiency during the checkout process and a method that would promote healthy interactions and proper social distancing.
Friday, March 20, 2020
18A – Create a Customer Avatar
My grocery store innovation would benefit all grocery shoppers. I believe the biggest benefit would go to mothers and fathers that are in a rush to get back to their family. Thus for my customer avatar, I have created middle aged parents, who have children that they need to get back to. They watch Seinfeld, the office, and are lovers of food network. They feel older than they are because of their hectic lives. Their children all play sports and they are constantly running around between work. They have no real days "off," not even the weekends. My mobile checkout idea would benefit them as they will be saving valuable time that they can now allocate elsewhere.
17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2
1) Elevator pitch link:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16CXzy0j2jsA5m3JLa8oSY435z6cPHd_i
2) From the feedback that I was given for my first elevator pitch, everyone seemed to have enjoyed it and said I did well. What surprised me the most was that I was told that I was very enthusiastic in my pitch, which was always hard for me to do when I had to perform other speeches such as for my public speaking class. I tried to be as enthusiastic as I could in this new pitch, but it was very late and I was tired, so I'm sorry in advance. I was also a little concerned as to whether I was talking at a fast pace or not. However, from the feedback, I was told that I was going at a good pace when delivering my pitch.
3) I didn't really change anything in my pitch since no one said that there was anything wrong with my first one.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16CXzy0j2jsA5m3JLa8oSY435z6cPHd_i
2) From the feedback that I was given for my first elevator pitch, everyone seemed to have enjoyed it and said I did well. What surprised me the most was that I was told that I was very enthusiastic in my pitch, which was always hard for me to do when I had to perform other speeches such as for my public speaking class. I tried to be as enthusiastic as I could in this new pitch, but it was very late and I was tired, so I'm sorry in advance. I was also a little concerned as to whether I was talking at a fast pace or not. However, from the feedback, I was told that I was going at a good pace when delivering my pitch.
3) I didn't really change anything in my pitch since no one said that there was anything wrong with my first one.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
16A -- What's Your Secret Sauce?
Curious - I naturally find myself always asking questions about why things happen. I think
this curiosity has led to my love of learning and always pushing myself in my classes.
this curiosity has led to my love of learning and always pushing myself in my classes.
Self-belief - I do not believe that there is a “right” path to get you to your goal. I believe that
as long as you are motivated you will be able to achieve what you desire. I may not be the
traditional entrepreneur, but I know that I will be able to sell my idea.
as long as you are motivated you will be able to achieve what you desire. I may not be the
traditional entrepreneur, but I know that I will be able to sell my idea.
People Person - I am concerned about others and their emotions. I am good at sensing my
surroundings and guiding my conversations with others accordingly. I like making people laugh,
but am also good at consoling individuals during hard times.
surroundings and guiding my conversations with others accordingly. I like making people laugh,
but am also good at consoling individuals during hard times.
Organized - I am very particular on how I get things done. I use my planner and follow my plans
to a tee. It helps me meet my goals in a timely fashion.
to a tee. It helps me meet my goals in a timely fashion.
I am not a follower - I try and do my own thing as much as I can. This allows me to think in ways
others would not and potentially. I am able to think with a critical eye and see things that others
do not necessarily see.
others would not and potentially. I am able to think with a critical eye and see things that others
do not necessarily see.
Interviews:
Shawn Gulgule: Shawn is one of my boyfriends best friends. He believes I am very caring and always
will be there for them. My bad quality is that sometimes I may be too nice and people may take advantage
of me.
will be there for them. My bad quality is that sometimes I may be too nice and people may take advantage
of me.
Julia Prakash: Julia is one of my best friends at UF. It turns out she grew up less than a mile from where
I live, but I only met her here at UF. Julia says that I am the type of person that thinks before they speak.
She also thinks I can work on standing up for myself and standing my ground in an argument.
I live, but I only met her here at UF. Julia says that I am the type of person that thinks before they speak.
She also thinks I can work on standing up for myself and standing my ground in an argument.
Nilan Bhakta: Nilan is my boyfriend. He says that I am very strong and motivated, especially in the
academic setting. He knows me well and knows that I procrastinate often.
academic setting. He knows me well and knows that I procrastinate often.
Uma Kumar: Uma is one of my friends from UF. She says I am always motivated and have a positive
attitude that can pick others up. She thinks at times I have too much on my plate and spread myself too
thin.
attitude that can pick others up. She thinks at times I have too much on my plate and spread myself too
thin.
Rifa Ali: Rifa is one of my friends that I met through Julia Prakash. Rifa says that I am very welcoming
and easy to talk to. Her constructive feedback was that I do not hang out with her enough, likely because
I am so busy at times.
and easy to talk to. Her constructive feedback was that I do not hang out with her enough, likely because
I am so busy at times.
Reflect on the Differences:
I think my friends described me very well. Nothing that they said came out of left field. I accept the flaws
that they mentioned and will continue to work on them. I do think that the strengths that were mentioned
make me a great person to pursue my entrepreneurship idea.
that they mentioned and will continue to work on them. I do think that the strengths that were mentioned
make me a great person to pursue my entrepreneurship idea.
Links to Interviews:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=15ZDJwnBDxxYg7hBqwGndE1q-n9yK16vf
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jdwApbAmgzFca7fa1suBlH0-DmRvnz9a
https://drive.google.com/open?id=15ZDJwnBDxxYg7hBqwGndE1q-n9yK16vf
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wZ6ekyX2LrgoL8lS2NnJHxwhswTVfLmR
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Nv--GZ2q34nopZqCxZea9I_NWRzu7l56
15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior, No. 2
Segment: Students at UF who go to the grocery store at least once a week
My Findings:
From my interviews I discovered that people are willing to go to other grocery stores
if (1) the prices are cheaper (without sacrificing quality) and if (2) the checkout lines
were less busy. In these three interviews, it is still unclear which of these 2 factors
determine if the consumer is willing to switch grocery stores. It seems to depend person
to person, and also their income and time that they go to the grocery store. One thing
that was consistent in all the interviews is that everyone would prefer shorter and
quicker checkouts. An interesting point that one interviewee brought up was the cost
of having my mobile checkout system. Employees would need to have a mobile device
provided by the grocery store to scan items and also take payments from the consumer.
This obviously would add costs and also will require additional employees during peak
hours. I would argue that the cost of my idea would be minuscule in comparison to the
profits that a grocery store sees.
if (1) the prices are cheaper (without sacrificing quality) and if (2) the checkout lines
were less busy. In these three interviews, it is still unclear which of these 2 factors
determine if the consumer is willing to switch grocery stores. It seems to depend person
to person, and also their income and time that they go to the grocery store. One thing
that was consistent in all the interviews is that everyone would prefer shorter and
quicker checkouts. An interesting point that one interviewee brought up was the cost
of having my mobile checkout system. Employees would need to have a mobile device
provided by the grocery store to scan items and also take payments from the consumer.
This obviously would add costs and also will require additional employees during peak
hours. I would argue that the cost of my idea would be minuscule in comparison to the
profits that a grocery store sees.
My product (the mobile checkout system) would have to be bought by the individual
grocery stores, not the grocery store consumer. However, for the purposes of these
assignments, I am focusing on the actual consumer at the grocery store because they
are the ones directly impacted by my product.
grocery stores, not the grocery store consumer. However, for the purposes of these
assignments, I am focusing on the actual consumer at the grocery store because they
are the ones directly impacted by my product.
Conclusion:
Grocery store consumers have a variety of preferences depending on their economic
status and time that they go grocery shopping. Everyone would like faster checkouts,
but it is not something that will attract a considerable amount of shoppers from one
grocery store to another. Price, variety of products, quality of products all seem to
attract shoppers more than speed at checkout.
status and time that they go grocery shopping. Everyone would like faster checkouts,
but it is not something that will attract a considerable amount of shoppers from one
grocery store to another. Price, variety of products, quality of products all seem to
attract shoppers more than speed at checkout.
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