For this second half of testing my hypothesis, I interviewed 5 more people. These people were those that didn't necessarily fit in my "boundaries" for my opportunity need. To refresh, that need was a need for an app that shows people what stores, brands, companies and products are either made with renewable resources, are environmentally friendly, biodegradable or donate proceeds to charities and organizations that help with the green movement.
Interview 1: one of my managers
When interviewing this manager, I asked him if he would be interested in an app like this. He said he would, but where he lives there aren't many "specialty" stores like Whole Foods it Fresh Market. I asked him if he thought this would be a problem for those in similar situations with this app. He said that while big chain stores like Walmart and Target have environmentally friendly products, they don't have a very big selection like Whole Foods does. Therefore, those that don't live near a store like Whole Foods might not get the whole experience from the app.
Interview 2: my sister-in-law
I asked her if she would be interested in using an app like this. She said she thought it was a good idea but wanted to know if there would be any fees associated with using the app or would it be a free app? Because people may not want to use it if it's subscription based because they can always just Google this information.
Interview 3: one of my friends
I asked this friend if she would be interested in an app like this and her exact words were "girl I'm too broke to buy organic all natural stuff", which made a good point about my targeted age range. Those still in college might not be as interested in using this app as someone who is established in their career and makes a salary.
Interview 4: my boyfriends mom
I asked my boyfriends mom if she would use this app, because I know her and her husband are very into health and fitness and buying organic items. She said she would love something like that, but she does most of her shopping at Costco to buy in bulk. With an app like this, it would probably suggest different stores for different items and not everyone wants to go to different stores to buy their products.
Interview 5: my boyfriend
I asked him if he would use an app like this and he straight up said no. When I asked him why he said "because you do all of the shopping", which made a good point. Not everyone does their own shopping/grocery shopping, so not everyone would NEED this app.
Inside the boundary:
Who is in: Those who are financially stable, do their own shopping and want to help the environment with their purchases.
What the need is: an app that will help them find these purchases from brands and stores that also make it their mission to help the environment.
Why the need exists: it's hard to know what companies help support the green movement and what products are sustainably sourced, so an app that puts it all in one place would help a lot.
Outside the boundary:
Who is out: Those who are not financially stable, don't do their own shopping or don't want to run around to different stores.
What the need is not: it's not something for people who can't afford higher end organic products, and it's not for everyone because not everyone does their own shopping or lives close to an store like Whole Foods.
Alternative explanations: not everyone is as invested in the environment as we think they are. Many people don't think they can make an impact so they leave it up to someone else.
Hi Hayley. I really like how you were able to reach out to people who fall outside of your boundary. It is really interesting how your different interviewees had such varying perspectives regarding your app. When you explained those people who fall outside of your boundary, it looks like you have a pretty good understanding of the target market you would ultimately be able to reach when trying to get your app out to the world. For example, your boyfriend's mom was very open to your app because she is into organic, environmentally friendly products, and is also open to new stores. Whereas, your boyfriend seems uninterested because he does not have much to do when it comes to grocery shopping.
ReplyDeleteHi Hayley,
ReplyDeleteI think your interviews were great. In interview 2, I think it is interesting that your sister-in-law brought up whether any fees would be associated with using the app. She is very right in the sense that most people are interested in free apps as opposed to subscription-based apps. However, if you make the app free and get a bunch of downloads, you can then run ads on the app to make some money. Also, your boyfriend's mom brought up a good point as well. A lot of people buy groceries in bulk now at stores such as Costco, so their need for this app might not necessarily be as much as someone who shops only at stores that support the green movement. However, I think your app would be great in bringing to light the companies and brands that do make efforts to positively impact the environment!