This time around I stepped away from interviewing mostly senior women and interviewed two senior men and one senior woman. One man was 68 and the other was 76. The woman was 73. When speaking to them it was obvious how they go about picking a product or service. In the case of my product which is a access ramp to the entrance of their home they were all willing to pay more money for a higher quality product. One of the men brought up a good point about how with certain products saving money is a must but when you have something like a access ramp you cannot afford to sacrifice quality. Only the senior woman had a particular issue with the type of style the ramp would be. I explained to her that the ramp would be customized to the entrance of her home and that before anything is built she would be part of the design process the entire way. If a customer truly wants a wooden ramp to be more stylish and match the color scheme of their home then with using a material like wood it can always be painted. If I take the time to paint the ramp and buy the materials needed to do this extra bit of work of course the price would increase. There were no other factors that any of my interviewees brought up. Their main concern was that the ramp would be high quality so they did not have to worry about it failing or needing to be replaced within a few years.
The hardest part with dealing with senior citizens and the buying process is realizing that they are not as tech saavy as I was expecting. All 3 of my interviewees prefer to go to a store to purchase a product. 2 of the interviewees said that when it comes to purchasing something online they allow their children help them navigate the internet. The most experienced interviewee with technology was the 68 year old man and he did not mind making purchases by himself. All of them preferred to use cash and not have any debt on a purchase. However, when I explained that my product would offer financing options if it could not be paid in full at the time of purchase they liked that this option was available. My opportunity would be more so online because obviously I could not sell access ramps out of a storefront and also in the beginning of a business I would not be able to pay for a storefront. Seniors not being great at using the internet could cause a problem for me but I feel like advertising in newspapers and other outlets that seniors more so use would help draw attention to the product and if they needed me to come to their residence for a free consultation and go over the product a number would be placed in all ads for them to call.
When looking back on the post-purchase the answer varied among them. The 68 year old wanted to know that what he paid for was going to hopefully last for the rest of his life so he did not have to worry about going through a replacement process. The 76 year old cared mostly about peace of mind and after making this purchase wanted to know that they could feel comfortable right away when using the ramp. The 73 year old wanted to know that this product would look good with her home and that it would not fail her in time of need. All of them agreed that they would think the purchase was a bad idea if the ramp started to break down on them. They all felt that after a few months if the ramp started to crack or fall apart they would be extremely disappointed and would require some type of warranty on the ramp so they would not be out of their money and stuck with a broken ramp. No matter what age a consumer is I could completely understand where they were coming from and this only made me want to make sure that my ramps were done with integrity which would lead to higher quality.
I enjoyed my interviews and the insight that was provided. It is good to hear from customers I am targeting what they would want out of my product and how they would want to be able to purchase it. It allowed me to see some obstacles as well as ideas that I had that were heading in the right direction. One thing about dealing with senior citizens is that they are going to be very honest when it comes to purchases and spending their money. So far this has been very enlightening because it is allowing me to make adjustments so by the time I am in the process of installing and building ramps I know that I am providing a service that has been researched which I think gives me a leg up on competitors who are more concerned with profit and not the overall well being of the customer using their product.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
16A-What's Your Secret Sauce?
Human Capital:
1.Leadership-Since I can remember I have always enjoyed being a leader. I look for ways to solve a problem and will encourage others to do the same. I am not one to wait on others to initiate a plan and then follow their lead. This trait has allowed me to become a great problem solver as well as someone who can help others achieve success in issues they may be faced with.
2.Thinker-I am the type to think before I act. I know that some may find this trait to be flawed and that you have to jump into things head first but I have found it much more beneficial in my life and personal experiences to think things through. When you weigh out options you are able to make a informed decision that will most likely allow you to achieve a more positive outcome. This is extremely important as you become an adult and decisions hold more weight.
3.Compassionate-This is a trait that I am most proud of. From a young age I was taught to treat everyone with compassion no matter what their race, gender, religion, or personal beliefs are. I have always walked through this life with the mindset that we are all brothers and sisters and should treat one another in that way. When we are able to put ourselves in others shoes then we begin to see people in a different light. The most positive thing you can ever do is show someone compassion in a time when it may be most difficult.
4.Spiritual-Whatever you may believe, having some sort of faith or spirituality to hold on to can change your life. Through my own faith it has allowed me to be brave when things did not always look like they were going to work out in my favor. It has allowed me to gain strength when I had little. Most importantly it has made me the man I am today. It has taught me morals that I am able to live by and incorporate into my daily life.
5.Observant-I have the type of brain that allows me to walk into a room and be able to walk out and tell you what most people were wearing or certain contents that were displayed in the room. Sometimes this trait can be a curse because I am always aware and which can be exhausting on your mind. It also has many benefits which allow me to focus more on little things others may pay no attention to. The more details you are able to retain the better advantage you will have in this life. Details are important in everything we do in this life and should be something that is never overlooked. I am not only proud of this trait but grateful for the benefits it has given me.
Interviews:(I could not get my sound to work for some reason so I had to do each interview using pen and paper. Each interview provided was quoted word for word.)
What makes me different when it comes to knowledge, skills, abilities, and emotions?
Mother: "You are extremely determined in anything you put your mind to. I have never seen you interested in a topic and not give it your all. When you truly want to succeed at something you do not let any obstacle get in your way. You work full time and are able to still attend college and keep your GPA over a 3.5. You are so kind and a people person. This allows you to connect with people in a way that most find hard. I am so proud of the man you have become and the man you continue to be."
Sister 1: "You focus on the big picture in life. You are not close minded and are willing to hear anyone out. Even though I am older than you, you hold so much knowledge and never want to stop learning. I feel like your compassion towards people shines through and I see you making connections all the time. I love that you are not afraid to express your feelings and be open about anything you may be going through. You are a leader and have been that way since you were little. I think your leadership has allowed you to grow so much as a person. Putting your mind to something has never been a issue and I think you continue to work towards a bright future."
Sister 2: "You are a over thinker. I think this is great but has also messed with you in life. I remember when you would have a lot of anxiety about situations because you would think about the outcome to much. You're extremely skilled with public speaking and connecting with people. I have always seen you treat everyone with kindness and can remember even when you were young and people were giving you a hard time you would still try to be nice to them. You're great at coming up with ideas and putting them down on paper. I know you are a really good writer and that has helped you it seems with a lot of stuff you have done in life. I am proud to call you my brother and also my friend."
Wife: "You have me as a wife so you obviously are smart, haha. In all seriousness though you are one of the kindest men I know. You always put me first and stay strong for us even when times get tough. You are one of the smartest people I know and I have hardly ever seen you fail in life. I know when you become interested in a topic or hobby you do everything possible to learn and become as skilled as possible as it. I know you are a deep thinker and spend a lot of time trying to solve problems. I've always admired your ability to connect with others and inspire them to live their best life. I am so blessed to have you in my life and know that your love and kindness means the world to me."
Best friend: Since I have known you there has always been something special with you. I have always looked up to you and how you live your life. Your dedication to your faith and family shines through every day and it inspires me to be a better husband and father. Since middle school you have always been there to help me out in tough situations. I always remember the times when I was having issues at home and you were there to look out for me. You are a hard worker and dedicated to anything you put your mind to. You continue to stay open to all aspects in life and I like the way you take each day as it comes. I know you have a lot of great things in front of you."
Reflection:
I have always seen myself as someone who tries to look out for other people. I try my best to make and keep positive relationships in my life. It was nice to hear that the interviewees took notice to that. I assume because I am a very open purpose when it comes to my life and things that take place within it is why my interviewees had the same thoughts that I have about myself. There are times when I become discouraged when I find interest in something and do not catch on as quickly as some of these interviewees seemed to make it. Also there are times when I get down and am not as positive as some of the interviewees seemed to think. I try to keep a open outlook at life and stay as upbeat as possible but this can be hard at times. I really would not make any changes to my list from Part 1. I noticed besides one interviewee not many mentioned my spirituality but that it something that is near and dear to my heart and I may not express that as much. Otherwise this was a great way to get others opinions on what they think and it opened my eyes to some things I never even realized people were taking notice of.
1.Leadership-Since I can remember I have always enjoyed being a leader. I look for ways to solve a problem and will encourage others to do the same. I am not one to wait on others to initiate a plan and then follow their lead. This trait has allowed me to become a great problem solver as well as someone who can help others achieve success in issues they may be faced with.
2.Thinker-I am the type to think before I act. I know that some may find this trait to be flawed and that you have to jump into things head first but I have found it much more beneficial in my life and personal experiences to think things through. When you weigh out options you are able to make a informed decision that will most likely allow you to achieve a more positive outcome. This is extremely important as you become an adult and decisions hold more weight.
3.Compassionate-This is a trait that I am most proud of. From a young age I was taught to treat everyone with compassion no matter what their race, gender, religion, or personal beliefs are. I have always walked through this life with the mindset that we are all brothers and sisters and should treat one another in that way. When we are able to put ourselves in others shoes then we begin to see people in a different light. The most positive thing you can ever do is show someone compassion in a time when it may be most difficult.
4.Spiritual-Whatever you may believe, having some sort of faith or spirituality to hold on to can change your life. Through my own faith it has allowed me to be brave when things did not always look like they were going to work out in my favor. It has allowed me to gain strength when I had little. Most importantly it has made me the man I am today. It has taught me morals that I am able to live by and incorporate into my daily life.
5.Observant-I have the type of brain that allows me to walk into a room and be able to walk out and tell you what most people were wearing or certain contents that were displayed in the room. Sometimes this trait can be a curse because I am always aware and which can be exhausting on your mind. It also has many benefits which allow me to focus more on little things others may pay no attention to. The more details you are able to retain the better advantage you will have in this life. Details are important in everything we do in this life and should be something that is never overlooked. I am not only proud of this trait but grateful for the benefits it has given me.
Interviews:(I could not get my sound to work for some reason so I had to do each interview using pen and paper. Each interview provided was quoted word for word.)
What makes me different when it comes to knowledge, skills, abilities, and emotions?
Mother: "You are extremely determined in anything you put your mind to. I have never seen you interested in a topic and not give it your all. When you truly want to succeed at something you do not let any obstacle get in your way. You work full time and are able to still attend college and keep your GPA over a 3.5. You are so kind and a people person. This allows you to connect with people in a way that most find hard. I am so proud of the man you have become and the man you continue to be."
Sister 1: "You focus on the big picture in life. You are not close minded and are willing to hear anyone out. Even though I am older than you, you hold so much knowledge and never want to stop learning. I feel like your compassion towards people shines through and I see you making connections all the time. I love that you are not afraid to express your feelings and be open about anything you may be going through. You are a leader and have been that way since you were little. I think your leadership has allowed you to grow so much as a person. Putting your mind to something has never been a issue and I think you continue to work towards a bright future."
Sister 2: "You are a over thinker. I think this is great but has also messed with you in life. I remember when you would have a lot of anxiety about situations because you would think about the outcome to much. You're extremely skilled with public speaking and connecting with people. I have always seen you treat everyone with kindness and can remember even when you were young and people were giving you a hard time you would still try to be nice to them. You're great at coming up with ideas and putting them down on paper. I know you are a really good writer and that has helped you it seems with a lot of stuff you have done in life. I am proud to call you my brother and also my friend."
Wife: "You have me as a wife so you obviously are smart, haha. In all seriousness though you are one of the kindest men I know. You always put me first and stay strong for us even when times get tough. You are one of the smartest people I know and I have hardly ever seen you fail in life. I know when you become interested in a topic or hobby you do everything possible to learn and become as skilled as possible as it. I know you are a deep thinker and spend a lot of time trying to solve problems. I've always admired your ability to connect with others and inspire them to live their best life. I am so blessed to have you in my life and know that your love and kindness means the world to me."
Best friend: Since I have known you there has always been something special with you. I have always looked up to you and how you live your life. Your dedication to your faith and family shines through every day and it inspires me to be a better husband and father. Since middle school you have always been there to help me out in tough situations. I always remember the times when I was having issues at home and you were there to look out for me. You are a hard worker and dedicated to anything you put your mind to. You continue to stay open to all aspects in life and I like the way you take each day as it comes. I know you have a lot of great things in front of you."
Reflection:
I have always seen myself as someone who tries to look out for other people. I try my best to make and keep positive relationships in my life. It was nice to hear that the interviewees took notice to that. I assume because I am a very open purpose when it comes to my life and things that take place within it is why my interviewees had the same thoughts that I have about myself. There are times when I become discouraged when I find interest in something and do not catch on as quickly as some of these interviewees seemed to make it. Also there are times when I get down and am not as positive as some of the interviewees seemed to think. I try to keep a open outlook at life and stay as upbeat as possible but this can be hard at times. I really would not make any changes to my list from Part 1. I noticed besides one interviewee not many mentioned my spirituality but that it something that is near and dear to my heart and I may not express that as much. Otherwise this was a great way to get others opinions on what they think and it opened my eyes to some things I never even realized people were taking notice of.
14A-Halfway Reflection
1. The behaviors that I have used in this course to keep up with all of the work is to make a schedule and be organized. There are many assignments and if you are not careful you will easily miss one. You have to be ready to work and keep moving forward. You also need to be focused in what you are doing and ready to achieve success in order to get the grade you want and deserve. I have used all of these behaviors to assist me so far.
2. The only time I felt like giving up is when the workload seemed to become overwhelming. With all of the lectures and the amount of assignments it seemed like quite the task. I've developed more of a tenacious attitude. I've always been the type of person to finish what I start and this course has helped me to continue with that type of personality trait. Focusing on the lectures and the material has really helped me with developing this attitude. The lectures are not short and they require your attention and a lot of note taking. It is easy to want to pause a lecture and go off and do something else and that is when your attitude kicks in and you push through knowing that in the long run this is all going to be beneficial.
3. Three tips I would give a student who will be taking this course next semester is one, do not give up. This class is going to seem like a lot of work and it is but if you put in the effort you will find that you learn a lot and it is really a fun experience. Second, make sure to make a schedule of how you want to get assignments completed throughout the week. This will help you not become overwhelmed and make it easier for you to stay on top of all the assignments. Third, come into the class with the mindset that you will get an A. If you already know that you want to succeed then that is going to help you stay tenacious. If you come in doubting the course or yourself then you are setting your mindset up for failure and you will not be able to keep up with the workload. Follow through with each assignment and lecture and you will most certainly come out of this course with knowledge and skills that can last a lifetime.
2. The only time I felt like giving up is when the workload seemed to become overwhelming. With all of the lectures and the amount of assignments it seemed like quite the task. I've developed more of a tenacious attitude. I've always been the type of person to finish what I start and this course has helped me to continue with that type of personality trait. Focusing on the lectures and the material has really helped me with developing this attitude. The lectures are not short and they require your attention and a lot of note taking. It is easy to want to pause a lecture and go off and do something else and that is when your attitude kicks in and you push through knowing that in the long run this is all going to be beneficial.
3. Three tips I would give a student who will be taking this course next semester is one, do not give up. This class is going to seem like a lot of work and it is but if you put in the effort you will find that you learn a lot and it is really a fun experience. Second, make sure to make a schedule of how you want to get assignments completed throughout the week. This will help you not become overwhelmed and make it easier for you to stay on top of all the assignments. Third, come into the class with the mindset that you will get an A. If you already know that you want to succeed then that is going to help you stay tenacious. If you come in doubting the course or yourself then you are setting your mindset up for failure and you will not be able to keep up with the workload. Follow through with each assignment and lecture and you will most certainly come out of this course with knowledge and skills that can last a lifetime.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
13A-Reading Reflection
Title: Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's, Ray Kroc
1. What surprised me the most is how McDonald's was running before Kroc became involved and how structured their process of doing things were. I sort of assumed McDonald's was what you see today but it was completely different back when The McDonald brothers were running it. That is ultimately drew Ray Kroc to the restaurant which he eventually took over and helped start the franchising of McDonald's.
-I most admired that Kroc started out as a salesman. He was not some big shot that just inherited a company. He went from playing piano at a bar at night to help with finances to selling paper cups during the day. He was a great salesman and overall a great businessman. I also admired his philosophy of never selling a product to someone that they did not need. He had so much integrity in what he did and that is what made him so successful.
-I least admired how Kroc handled his personal relationships outside of the business. He had multiple marriages and a lot of this was due to his non stop work ethic. I thought that when he and his last wife Joni whom he had loved while he was married to another woman both got divorces at the same time and then married was a pretty low way to do things. He gave his previous wife a nice pay off when he left but the way everything turned out to me was just not a honorable way to treat marriage and what it stands for.
-Kroc did not experience to much failure in the growth of McDonald's. He was such a strong businessman and surrounded himself with very smart people that he only continued to climb. The adversity he did run against was dealing with some of his top people. He had a great President and CEO in Harry Sommerman, however over time there relationship became sour due to differences in the business. This made it tough on Kroc because he had people within the company that were very loyal to Sommerman and himself. So when Sommerman left he had to deal with a lot of people believing that McDonald's was going to fail and I think that was tough on Kroc who was working so hard to make sure it continued to succeed.
2. The competencies that Ray Kroc held was that he was a very good salesman. He was able to sell just about anything. He sold paper cups which he was great at and what really led to his success was when he began to sell the Multimixer which was a milkshake machine. This machine is what led him to McDonald's. He also was a great talker and able to really turn any situation into something that would benefit him. I also believe the fact that he did not push sales on people was a great skill to have. To be able to connect with people and sell them items without coming off as pushy or needing to make a sale was a skill that I think really helped him become one of the best and most successful businessman around.
3. There were a few parts of the reading that confused me. Most of the book really talked about the success of Ray Kroc and how he was able to build this empire. He was no doubt a workaholic and that was beneficial to him. He also seemed like a really good guy that looked out for people and was willing to give people a chance. I guess I was confused by when not conducting business how he handled his personal life. Him holding on to this love for a woman while he was married confused me. He had a few different marriages throughout his life but I just couldn't understand how a man who was so disciplined in how he handled things could not handle marriages. He did not seem to treat them with the importance that marriages need and often left his wives alone while he was on business. He didn't show a lot of care in trying to balance a work/home life and that was confusing.
4. The first question I would ask Ray Kroc is what made him such a great salesman? I think sales are extremely hard and I have been in that type of industry before. I would like to know his secrets and how he was able to be so successful in getting people to trust him? The second question I would ask him is how do you handle success in this world? I know with that type of success comes so much stress and weight on your shoulders. I would want to know how he balanced it and managed to continue to push through.
5. I think Kroc's opinion of hard work was never stopping. He was constantly working and striving to be the best. He had the type of mindset that breeds success. He was not a slacker and did not expect others to be that way either. He was also a man that did not just focus on finances. He wanted to see McDonald's grow and that was his pride and joy. Of course with that type of success comes large amounts of money but Kroc did not even take a salary. His drive to make McDonald's the very best restaurant he could was due to his never die attitude. He had this type of work ethic even we he was selling paper cups and trying to make any money he could. He never let success make him lazy or slow down and I think that is what defined his hard work. I completely share this opinion because in order to be successful in this day and age you have to strive to be the best at whatever you do and never give up. There are always going to be people out there that have drive and a hard work ethic but you have to be better then them and never stop. I 100% believe in how Kroc handled his work and the type of business he conducted. I just wish that he would have learned to make him home life a bit better but besides that he had the type of work ethic that you need to be successful in this world.
1. What surprised me the most is how McDonald's was running before Kroc became involved and how structured their process of doing things were. I sort of assumed McDonald's was what you see today but it was completely different back when The McDonald brothers were running it. That is ultimately drew Ray Kroc to the restaurant which he eventually took over and helped start the franchising of McDonald's.
-I most admired that Kroc started out as a salesman. He was not some big shot that just inherited a company. He went from playing piano at a bar at night to help with finances to selling paper cups during the day. He was a great salesman and overall a great businessman. I also admired his philosophy of never selling a product to someone that they did not need. He had so much integrity in what he did and that is what made him so successful.
-I least admired how Kroc handled his personal relationships outside of the business. He had multiple marriages and a lot of this was due to his non stop work ethic. I thought that when he and his last wife Joni whom he had loved while he was married to another woman both got divorces at the same time and then married was a pretty low way to do things. He gave his previous wife a nice pay off when he left but the way everything turned out to me was just not a honorable way to treat marriage and what it stands for.
-Kroc did not experience to much failure in the growth of McDonald's. He was such a strong businessman and surrounded himself with very smart people that he only continued to climb. The adversity he did run against was dealing with some of his top people. He had a great President and CEO in Harry Sommerman, however over time there relationship became sour due to differences in the business. This made it tough on Kroc because he had people within the company that were very loyal to Sommerman and himself. So when Sommerman left he had to deal with a lot of people believing that McDonald's was going to fail and I think that was tough on Kroc who was working so hard to make sure it continued to succeed.
2. The competencies that Ray Kroc held was that he was a very good salesman. He was able to sell just about anything. He sold paper cups which he was great at and what really led to his success was when he began to sell the Multimixer which was a milkshake machine. This machine is what led him to McDonald's. He also was a great talker and able to really turn any situation into something that would benefit him. I also believe the fact that he did not push sales on people was a great skill to have. To be able to connect with people and sell them items without coming off as pushy or needing to make a sale was a skill that I think really helped him become one of the best and most successful businessman around.
3. There were a few parts of the reading that confused me. Most of the book really talked about the success of Ray Kroc and how he was able to build this empire. He was no doubt a workaholic and that was beneficial to him. He also seemed like a really good guy that looked out for people and was willing to give people a chance. I guess I was confused by when not conducting business how he handled his personal life. Him holding on to this love for a woman while he was married confused me. He had a few different marriages throughout his life but I just couldn't understand how a man who was so disciplined in how he handled things could not handle marriages. He did not seem to treat them with the importance that marriages need and often left his wives alone while he was on business. He didn't show a lot of care in trying to balance a work/home life and that was confusing.
4. The first question I would ask Ray Kroc is what made him such a great salesman? I think sales are extremely hard and I have been in that type of industry before. I would like to know his secrets and how he was able to be so successful in getting people to trust him? The second question I would ask him is how do you handle success in this world? I know with that type of success comes so much stress and weight on your shoulders. I would want to know how he balanced it and managed to continue to push through.
5. I think Kroc's opinion of hard work was never stopping. He was constantly working and striving to be the best. He had the type of mindset that breeds success. He was not a slacker and did not expect others to be that way either. He was also a man that did not just focus on finances. He wanted to see McDonald's grow and that was his pride and joy. Of course with that type of success comes large amounts of money but Kroc did not even take a salary. His drive to make McDonald's the very best restaurant he could was due to his never die attitude. He had this type of work ethic even we he was selling paper cups and trying to make any money he could. He never let success make him lazy or slow down and I think that is what defined his hard work. I completely share this opinion because in order to be successful in this day and age you have to strive to be the best at whatever you do and never give up. There are always going to be people out there that have drive and a hard work ethic but you have to be better then them and never stop. I 100% believe in how Kroc handled his work and the type of business he conducted. I just wish that he would have learned to make him home life a bit better but besides that he had the type of work ethic that you need to be successful in this world.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
12A-Figuring Out Buyer Behavior
I decided to choose a segment of regular health care buyers. All three of the interviews I conducted were with people who constantly buy health care products to fit their needs. These buyers were all senior citizens who do not own access ramps and use mobility devices. (Delores) My first interviewee is very health conscious and will spend money no matter what the cost to make sure her health care needs are met. When she started having issues with walking she went out and purchased a walker to assist her. (Virginia) My second interviewee currently uses a wheelchair and will buy any product to assist with her ailments. She goes to the pharmacy regularly and purchases health care products when necessary. (Horace) My third interviewee is very concerned about his health and purchases heath products constantly. As well as my first interviewee he uses a walker to help with his mobility.
When speaking with all three of my interviewees they all had very similar responses when it came to need awareness. The need for help entering their home meant a lot to them but at the moment none of them had decided to purchase one. The times that made all of them nervous and wishing they had this need was when leaving their home. For some reason they all felt more uncomfortable when exiting their homes using steps then when coming home and climbing the steps. Two out of the three really liked the luxury of having a ramp when entering a business or doctor's office. Since they all use mobility devices they felt any type of ramp to help them enter their destination made them feel more confident and safe. They all believed that the best solution to their problem of having trouble entering and leaving their home would be to have a access ramp installed. As of right now their solution is to take the steps very slowly and to hold on to their handrails the best they can. They all have to have the help of their children or friend to carry their mobility device into the house. A road block that became a theme for all of them was the fact that none of them were good with technology. All 3 do not use Google much and have not searched for access ramps. They do consult with family and friends regarding the situation of entering and leaving the house. One of the interviewees said that they were in the process with one of their children in looking to have a ramp installed. The other two had spoken with friends and family for references but nothing more had come from it.
I learned that regular senior health care buyers are great for this product when it comes to need awareness. They all know that this product is something they need in order to help make their lives easier. I would say that the issue is that these people were not good at researching information and did not have access to finding companies to help them. It would be a task to get these type of consumers to find my website or even my business due to their lack of technology. I would have to rely on their family or friends to seek me out which would be tough. It doesn't sway my opinion that this business could be very successful it just shows me that I would need to come up with better approaches to reach certain customers. I overall learned that more tech saavy seniors who know what they need to benefit their health will bring me the most business. For ones like the people I interviewed it would take approaches such as flyers in the mail or even door to door awareness campaigns. I look forward to speaking with more people from different segments and getting their opinions on this opportunity.
When speaking with all three of my interviewees they all had very similar responses when it came to need awareness. The need for help entering their home meant a lot to them but at the moment none of them had decided to purchase one. The times that made all of them nervous and wishing they had this need was when leaving their home. For some reason they all felt more uncomfortable when exiting their homes using steps then when coming home and climbing the steps. Two out of the three really liked the luxury of having a ramp when entering a business or doctor's office. Since they all use mobility devices they felt any type of ramp to help them enter their destination made them feel more confident and safe. They all believed that the best solution to their problem of having trouble entering and leaving their home would be to have a access ramp installed. As of right now their solution is to take the steps very slowly and to hold on to their handrails the best they can. They all have to have the help of their children or friend to carry their mobility device into the house. A road block that became a theme for all of them was the fact that none of them were good with technology. All 3 do not use Google much and have not searched for access ramps. They do consult with family and friends regarding the situation of entering and leaving the house. One of the interviewees said that they were in the process with one of their children in looking to have a ramp installed. The other two had spoken with friends and family for references but nothing more had come from it.
I learned that regular senior health care buyers are great for this product when it comes to need awareness. They all know that this product is something they need in order to help make their lives easier. I would say that the issue is that these people were not good at researching information and did not have access to finding companies to help them. It would be a task to get these type of consumers to find my website or even my business due to their lack of technology. I would have to rely on their family or friends to seek me out which would be tough. It doesn't sway my opinion that this business could be very successful it just shows me that I would need to come up with better approaches to reach certain customers. I overall learned that more tech saavy seniors who know what they need to benefit their health will bring me the most business. For ones like the people I interviewed it would take approaches such as flyers in the mail or even door to door awareness campaigns. I look forward to speaking with more people from different segments and getting their opinions on this opportunity.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
11A-Napkin Idea
1. I am the son of a man who taught school for 39 years. At a young age I was taught the importance of education and what it means to care about others. I am extremely athletic and for 15 years played baseball and basketball. I love being outdoors as well as doing anything that involves water. Being a good husband is a skill I strive to improve on each and every day. I have been fortunate in experiencing many different cultures. At the age of 16 I traveled to Germany, Austria, France, & London. It taught me to really appreciate the way other people live and how much things differ around the world. I am studying Telecommunication Media & Society due to my love for radio. I hope to actually get into sports broadcasting once I graduate from UF. I have always enjoyed building things and so access ramps were a easy concept for me to come up with. I grew up skateboarding and would constantly build new wooden ramps. This business would play a large role in my life because it would be time consuming as well as something I would put all my effort into. I would have to jump into this 100% in order for it to be a success and I believe that is the case in any business.
2. I am offering these customers a high quality access ramp. These ramps will be made of wood due to cost. However, the wood will be very high quality and extremely smooth. The reason that the ramp has to be very smooth is because many customers will be using wheelchairs and other devices to help them get to their entrance. I cannot have any cracks or little chunks of wood within the ramp or that could cause a customer to fall or stall them from moving forward. The product will also be made custom to fit the exact specifications of the customer's home. Hand rails will also be put in place for the customer to give them that extra bit of security.
3. I've spoken about this in previous posts but the one thing that all of my customers have in common are that they are senior citizens who have decided to age at home. (Age 65+) These seniors will have trouble with mobility and climbing the steps to enter and leave their home. In Jacksonville there is a quite large demographic of seniors. We have over 110,000 so the market is large. It will take starting in a specific area and working from there. These customers either have a mindset that makes them uncomfortable while trying to walk or move around. I want to change this and let them have peace and feel confident when they enter and leave their home. As the company grows I would begin to look at other markets such as people with disabilities that requires them to use a device to move around as well as businesses that need ramps in order to help customers.
4. The reason customers will care is because they have already expressed this need. According to the AARP 77% of seniors who have decided to age in place want a product that helps them enter the home without having to use steps. Senior citizens are at risk of injuring themselves in the case of a fall. Not only will the fall hurt them but it can also cause other health complications that have been known to lead to death. Many seniors do have the finances to afford a large company that produces metal ramps or something of that nature. My opportunity comes because due to my low cost in materials I will be able to charge them less for the labor and overall cost of the product. I also think as we age we begin to worry more about our health and things that can cause it to worsen. Seniors are very health conscious for the most part and need peace of mind. The more peace of mind someone can have the higher quality of life they will achieve. Knowing that it will not be dangerous or a extreme task to leave the home will allow seniors to gain the confidence so many are lacking.
5. What sets my business apart from a lot of other access ramp companies is price and overall quality. Many companies will set up a website and show off these ramps that look like they are done beautifully. When the ramp is actually set up at a home it is done sloppy and you can tell the owner was only out to make a profit. Also senior citizens are a big target for people wanting to take advantage of them. I am not in the business of doing this, I want to obviously make a profit but I want to make sure that my customer is completely satisfied with the product and feels safe while using it. If I would not let me own grandmother use the ramp then I would not allow another senior to use it. If you stand by integrity in all that you do then the quality of your product will speak for itself. I want to build a ramp that can last years and years for seniors.
I think all of these aspects work really well together. Each one of these separate elements complete the pieces to the puzzle. I wanted to create a plan that allowed elements contributing to one another. I truly do not believe there is a weakness in the plan. The closest part I can see if trying to compete with the larger more known companies. Starting off the company will be a bit of a challenge but I believe after a handful of jobs the quality will be seen and word will get around. Once I can jump the initial hurdles I think the opportunity can be out the gate running.
2. I am offering these customers a high quality access ramp. These ramps will be made of wood due to cost. However, the wood will be very high quality and extremely smooth. The reason that the ramp has to be very smooth is because many customers will be using wheelchairs and other devices to help them get to their entrance. I cannot have any cracks or little chunks of wood within the ramp or that could cause a customer to fall or stall them from moving forward. The product will also be made custom to fit the exact specifications of the customer's home. Hand rails will also be put in place for the customer to give them that extra bit of security.
3. I've spoken about this in previous posts but the one thing that all of my customers have in common are that they are senior citizens who have decided to age at home. (Age 65+) These seniors will have trouble with mobility and climbing the steps to enter and leave their home. In Jacksonville there is a quite large demographic of seniors. We have over 110,000 so the market is large. It will take starting in a specific area and working from there. These customers either have a mindset that makes them uncomfortable while trying to walk or move around. I want to change this and let them have peace and feel confident when they enter and leave their home. As the company grows I would begin to look at other markets such as people with disabilities that requires them to use a device to move around as well as businesses that need ramps in order to help customers.
4. The reason customers will care is because they have already expressed this need. According to the AARP 77% of seniors who have decided to age in place want a product that helps them enter the home without having to use steps. Senior citizens are at risk of injuring themselves in the case of a fall. Not only will the fall hurt them but it can also cause other health complications that have been known to lead to death. Many seniors do have the finances to afford a large company that produces metal ramps or something of that nature. My opportunity comes because due to my low cost in materials I will be able to charge them less for the labor and overall cost of the product. I also think as we age we begin to worry more about our health and things that can cause it to worsen. Seniors are very health conscious for the most part and need peace of mind. The more peace of mind someone can have the higher quality of life they will achieve. Knowing that it will not be dangerous or a extreme task to leave the home will allow seniors to gain the confidence so many are lacking.
5. What sets my business apart from a lot of other access ramp companies is price and overall quality. Many companies will set up a website and show off these ramps that look like they are done beautifully. When the ramp is actually set up at a home it is done sloppy and you can tell the owner was only out to make a profit. Also senior citizens are a big target for people wanting to take advantage of them. I am not in the business of doing this, I want to obviously make a profit but I want to make sure that my customer is completely satisfied with the product and feels safe while using it. If I would not let me own grandmother use the ramp then I would not allow another senior to use it. If you stand by integrity in all that you do then the quality of your product will speak for itself. I want to build a ramp that can last years and years for seniors.
I think all of these aspects work really well together. Each one of these separate elements complete the pieces to the puzzle. I wanted to create a plan that allowed elements contributing to one another. I truly do not believe there is a weakness in the plan. The closest part I can see if trying to compete with the larger more known companies. Starting off the company will be a bit of a challenge but I believe after a handful of jobs the quality will be seen and word will get around. Once I can jump the initial hurdles I think the opportunity can be out the gate running.
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
9A-Testing the Hypothesis-Part 2
WHO: Through interviewing the 5 subjects I found a few different types that though they had a lot in common with others in my opportunity the fell outside of the boundary. One interviewee who is 67 let me know that they would never need something like a ramp installed at their entrance because once they get to the stage in life where they are no longer mobile they will be entering a nursing facility and selling their home. Another interviewee who was a 74 year old female let me know that she does plan on aging at home however she would not use a ramp due to costs. She let me know that though she thought the idea was good some people would not be able to afford this "luxury." Two interviewees both in their early 70s live in condos where they have no steps to enter their condo. They have a step up but it would only be around 6 inches in height so there would be no need for a ramp. My last interviewee was a 80 year old gentleman. He let me know that though it would seem that a lot of senior citizens would have this need that most of his friends are still able to be mobile and would not need this in order to get in and out of their homes. He also pointed out that a few people he knew pay caretakers and they assist them with all of their mobile needs.
WHAT: One thing that a interviewee pointed out to me when I was thinking of this part was that health plays a major role in this. If a person in immobile it is not always due to them being a senior citizen. They pointed out that it is due to their overall health. Though aging plays a role in this not all unhealthy aging people are going to be able to afford, want, or see a need for a ramp regardless of their situation.
WHY: The underlying cause that seemed to be obvious and turned out that way was if a person is immobile or not. The interviewees that fell out of my boundary all were at the point where they did not need a ramp in order to enter or exit their home. Another cause is seniors who have decided that they are not going to age in place and will be going to a nursing facility. A ramp would not be a necessity because there would be no one at the home to use it. It really depends on the senior's overall health and how immobile they are that will determine if they truly need a access ramp.
Inside the Boundary:
Who: Seniors with mobility issues.
Seniors aging in place.
Seniors with steps to the entrance of their home.
Concerned children of a senior deciding to age in place.
What: Seniors needing to be able to enter and leave their home with assistance.
Seniors who use walkers or wheelchairs to assist them with getting around.
Seniors who no longer feel comfortable with walking or walking up or down stairs.
Why: Seniors who want to age in place will have tremendous amounts of trouble entering and leaving their homes.
There will be more injuries to seniors who are immobile. They will not be able to walk up or down their steps which will cause falls and result in other health issues.
Seniors quality of life will fall and they will not have the peace of mind or confidence to come and go as they please.
Outside the Boundary:
Who: Seniors who are going to live in nursing facilities.
Seniors who have no mobility problems.
Seniors who do not have stairs at the entrance of their home.
Seniors who have a full time caretaker.
Seniors who cannot afford to have a access ramp installed.
What: To stop seniors from injuring themselves completely.
Controlling the overall health of senior citizens.
Controlling whether or not they use a device to assist with mobility.
Why: For every reason listed. From health, nursing facilities, finances, and assistance. All of these play a role in why someone would fall outside of the boundary for this opportunity.
WHAT: One thing that a interviewee pointed out to me when I was thinking of this part was that health plays a major role in this. If a person in immobile it is not always due to them being a senior citizen. They pointed out that it is due to their overall health. Though aging plays a role in this not all unhealthy aging people are going to be able to afford, want, or see a need for a ramp regardless of their situation.
WHY: The underlying cause that seemed to be obvious and turned out that way was if a person is immobile or not. The interviewees that fell out of my boundary all were at the point where they did not need a ramp in order to enter or exit their home. Another cause is seniors who have decided that they are not going to age in place and will be going to a nursing facility. A ramp would not be a necessity because there would be no one at the home to use it. It really depends on the senior's overall health and how immobile they are that will determine if they truly need a access ramp.
Inside the Boundary:
Who: Seniors with mobility issues.
Seniors aging in place.
Seniors with steps to the entrance of their home.
Concerned children of a senior deciding to age in place.
What: Seniors needing to be able to enter and leave their home with assistance.
Seniors who use walkers or wheelchairs to assist them with getting around.
Seniors who no longer feel comfortable with walking or walking up or down stairs.
Why: Seniors who want to age in place will have tremendous amounts of trouble entering and leaving their homes.
There will be more injuries to seniors who are immobile. They will not be able to walk up or down their steps which will cause falls and result in other health issues.
Seniors quality of life will fall and they will not have the peace of mind or confidence to come and go as they please.
Outside the Boundary:
Who: Seniors who are going to live in nursing facilities.
Seniors who have no mobility problems.
Seniors who do not have stairs at the entrance of their home.
Seniors who have a full time caretaker.
Seniors who cannot afford to have a access ramp installed.
What: To stop seniors from injuring themselves completely.
Controlling the overall health of senior citizens.
Controlling whether or not they use a device to assist with mobility.
Why: For every reason listed. From health, nursing facilities, finances, and assistance. All of these play a role in why someone would fall outside of the boundary for this opportunity.
Assignment 8A-Solving the Problem
My problem is senior citizens (Age 65+) deciding to age at home in need of a entrance to their home that does not require using the steps. The product I have chosen to help with this problem is building ramps specific to the customer's needs.
-The reason that I chose this problem is because the AARP reported that more and more senior citizens are aging in place verses going to nursing facilities. 77% of these senior citizens said that it is important to them to have access to the entrance of their homes without steps. I live in Jacksonville, Fla and we currently have 110,000+ senior citizens living here. Also most homes regardless of size or location have some type of steps in order to access the entrance of a home. I grew up skateboarding and building wooden ramps with my friends so once I started thinking of a opportunity that many could benefit from and also would be a low cost and that is when access ramps popped into my head.
-The ramps that I would be making at the start of this opportunity would have to be wooden. Unfortunately, at the beginning stages of this business metal ramps would not be cost effective and would end up hurting any type of earnings I am bringing in. The ramps would be made of high quality wood and would be customized to the customer's liking. A complete lay out of the ramp would be submitted to the customer before the building process begins. Once the customer makes any changes and is satisfied with the overall design they will sign a contract and the work will begin. As I mentioned these ramps will be made of wood but the wood will be smoothed down so as to not cause any type of friction for the customer. Many of these customers will be utilizing mobility tools such as walkers and wheelchairs and I want to make the surface as easy as possible to maneuver. The ramps can also be made with wooden handrails to help the customer that is able to walk but needs that extra assistance to keep their balance. The ramps will need to be weather proof as over time they will be exposed to large amounts of water and sun. Over time as the business grows and more revenue is generated moving to metal ramps would be the goal. Also hiring a small crew to help build the ramps would be ideal in the long term.
-The reason that I chose this problem is because the AARP reported that more and more senior citizens are aging in place verses going to nursing facilities. 77% of these senior citizens said that it is important to them to have access to the entrance of their homes without steps. I live in Jacksonville, Fla and we currently have 110,000+ senior citizens living here. Also most homes regardless of size or location have some type of steps in order to access the entrance of a home. I grew up skateboarding and building wooden ramps with my friends so once I started thinking of a opportunity that many could benefit from and also would be a low cost and that is when access ramps popped into my head.
-The ramps that I would be making at the start of this opportunity would have to be wooden. Unfortunately, at the beginning stages of this business metal ramps would not be cost effective and would end up hurting any type of earnings I am bringing in. The ramps would be made of high quality wood and would be customized to the customer's liking. A complete lay out of the ramp would be submitted to the customer before the building process begins. Once the customer makes any changes and is satisfied with the overall design they will sign a contract and the work will begin. As I mentioned these ramps will be made of wood but the wood will be smoothed down so as to not cause any type of friction for the customer. Many of these customers will be utilizing mobility tools such as walkers and wheelchairs and I want to make the surface as easy as possible to maneuver. The ramps can also be made with wooden handrails to help the customer that is able to walk but needs that extra assistance to keep their balance. The ramps will need to be weather proof as over time they will be exposed to large amounts of water and sun. Over time as the business grows and more revenue is generated moving to metal ramps would be the goal. Also hiring a small crew to help build the ramps would be ideal in the long term.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)