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9A- Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2



·         WHO: After my extensive interviews and responses it seems like the people who I was targeting are not necessarily the most viable option. I previously had been aimed towards all individuals who are unhappy with the paper straw replacement after the plastic straw ban in Gainesville, Florida. I realized after my interviews however, that the paper straws caused more than just a nuisance. They were dangerous for small children who tried to swallow flaking off pieces and were difficult to use for elderly people, potentially damaging their false teeth.

o   In the first two interviews, I ventured father from campus and spoke with women in my gym class, both of which are mothers. They said that their toddler children are not able to drink without a straw and the paper straws lead them to chew on and try to swallow paper. Both agreed that they were fearful of their child choking on the paper and were now accustomed to packing a sippy cup to go out to eat.

o   My next interviewee was a nursing student who volunteers at Shands. She said that in the unit she works with there are several special needs patients who require assistance drinking. The paper straws have become an issue because some have a bad reaction to the texture of the dampened straw and it causes more of problem. So, they bought plastic straws and bring them for those patients.

o   Finally an elderly woman at Publix told me she hates paper straws because they get stuck in her dentures and sometimes cause them to wear. She explained to me that she orders bulk packs of plastic straws on Amazon every couple months.

·         WHAT:  When conducting the interviews a sudden realization struck me, if people are so bothered by paper straws they can simply buy disposable plastic ones online and bring them into a facility serving paper straws.

·         WHY: I feel like the need is not resolved, but that there is a group who has found a way to bypass or ignore the problem without actually finding a solution.

Inside the Boundary                    Outside the Boundary 

WHO
·         People who are environmentally conscious yet are unhappy with the paper straw pandemic.
·         Businesses who are trying to better serve their customers while still abide by government regulations.
·         Mothers who desire a solution, that is not plastic, that their child won’t choke on.
·         Individuals who bypass the regulations and purchase plastic straws online.
·         Businesses who do not care about customer satisfaction
·         Mothers who adapt by using sippy cups or bottles
WHAT
·         In order to provide a comfortable and environmental solution
·         To offer a straw that is not paper but is not environmentally efficient
WHY
·         Improve customer satisfaction
·         Safety
·         Disability friendly.
·         To eliminate the use of straws
·         To offer a cheap plastic straw to replace the banned version


Comments

  1. Javier Felis' ENT3003 BlogFebruary 16, 2020 at 4:59 PM

    Hi Jordan,

    Great job identifying the who in your interviews, as well as many of the problems that are being caused by the paper straws. I think that you also did a great job identifying in the what that many people that are bothered by paper straws can in fact buy this online and bring them to wherever they go. Finally, I believe you did a great job with your table by providing a detailed description of all the clients that are inside or outside the boundaries for the business opportunity you identified. Awesome job!

    Sincerely,

    Javier Felis Perez

    ReplyDelete
  2. Reed BlevinsFebruary 16, 2020 at 11:19 PM

    Hi Jordan,
    I think you did a great job venturing out and interviewing people in the Gainesville area, not just on campus. I think it did a great deal in validating your opportunity, as it shows that it is a widespread nuisance. I think the best way to bypass this problem is with a metal straw. If everyone brought their own metal straw with them, or kept it in their car, or in backpacks or purses, there would be no need for paper or plastic straws.
    Best,
    Reed Blevins

    ReplyDelete
  3. Samuel AckenineFebruary 17, 2020 at 2:01 AM

    Hey Jordan,
    I found it interesting how you discovered the harmful effects of paper straws from your interviewees. I really feel like you learned a lot about your customer based from these interviews, such as elderly patients and parents. I think it's actually quite surprising how many people this actually effects in a negative way. Overall, I believe this presents a perfect opportunity for your alternative product since it clearly demonstrates that paper straws have significant drawbacks from some. Great job going out of your way and interviewing a very diverse group of people.
    Samuel Ackenine

    ReplyDelete

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