Idea Napkin No. 2

1. Brian Carriere
• I am a 34 year old technician and college student majoring in Sports Management.
• I have a variety of experiences selling things from cell phones to headphones. 
• I am talented debating (at least I think I am) and convincing people of why they need certain things (again, at least I think I am) as well as providing valuable insight in various areas. I also possess leadership skills and confidence.
• I see this business playing a profound role in my life as it is my creation and I would like to see it succeed as everyone thinks their ideas are the best and it is what people want. I am no different. I would not mind exerting the effort required to make this a successful product.
2. Covades

• Covades are spandex covers (initial launch) which fit over existing fan blades with a Velcro enclosure made to provide an easier method of keeping fan blades clean. They are washable and easy to slide over fan blades.
• They will come in different fabrics such as nylon, cotton, and polyester.
• They come as a set of five.
• They come in a variety of colors and designs.
• I would like to secure licensing to display different characters, superheroes, sports teams, company names and logos, and celebrity faces on the covers.
• They solve the unmet need of the sometimes arduous task of cleaning fan blades, provide a healthier environment as there would be less dust accumulation and will give people a desire to wash the covers more frequently so the dust will not show on the covers, and will also create a more fashionable home environment.
3. Offering To You And You And YOU! N
• The customer would be anyone who owns a ceiling fan or several ceiling fans. Within that I think there are two specific types of customers.
• Customer A
• Hardly ever cleans their fans and dust accumulates tremendously
• Needs a ladder or something to stand on to reach their ceiling fans
• Has asthma or someone in the household has asthma
• Out of sight out of mind customer
• Displays any or all of these characteristics
• Customer B
• Looking for fashion
• Will follow along the lines of other people whom they deem to be fashionable
• Wants to be led and told what to buy (especially by a celebrity)
• Looking for ways to stand out from the rest of the crowd
• Wants to become or be regarded as a trendsetter
• Displays any or all of these characteristics
• I think both Customer A and Customer B are heavily favored to be women as men tend to not notice or care as much as women do about the appearance of the home.
• I think my target audience would be women (single or married) with or without children but preferably with children. This product will not be expensive at its base level so income would be middle to upper class who live in suburban areas.
4. Reasons
• People will want to buy this product so they do not have to clean as often and the task will not be as difficult.
• Imagine not having to rush to clean when you know company is coming over or someone is coming in from out of town and once they are there you look up and remember that you forgot to clean the fan blades and hope that person or persons do not notice.
• By using a material such as spandex would repel dust to the floor where people clean more often which would be an added selling feature.
• People will want to buy because it will enhance the overall aesthetics of the home. 
• I would offer different materials with different selling features such as nylon where you would have to wash more often but may be more appealing to the eyes and spandex or polyester which would require less washing as they tend to repel dust.
• People will want to buy because their kids will want to look up and see their favorite characters especially if other kids already have them. Parents will be able to appease their kids in a safe, affordable way.
• People will want to buy to make a fashion statement.
• People will want to buy because I can be charismatic :)
• People will want to buy because they will feel it is innovative and people love things that are "new".
• People will want to buy because I would use convincing marketing techniques such as explaining the benefits (health safety, appearance) as well as gearing it more towards being a home fashion statement with the health and safety as a byproduct of this fashionable accessory.
5. Core Competencies
• What sets me apart and what I have that no one else does is the idea first and foremost. 
• I also have the drive to succeed and the will to turn this venture into a success. If I set my mind to accomplishing something then I will do everything I can to reach that goal which is why I am back in college at 34 years old since I did not finish what I started 15 years ago. 
• I have experience in talking to people and helping them understand why this product has value in their lives. In some of the interviews I conducted, some people did not realize how rarely they cleaned their ceiling fans as well as what the safety and health risks they were creating by not cleaning them. I can open the eyes of people on a mass scale with planning and mass production.
6. Evaluation
• I think all of these elements of this concept fit together as my core competencies would fit well with my target audience. I think my experiences will help me to sell an innovative product as well as help establish a new fashion sense inside the home. I also think by making this product affordable, I will be able to make a profit through volume initially. Once the business has been established as a viable enterprise I think it would become easier and more sustainable to secure licensing from trademarked characters and logos. That would create the second wave of marketing which would be geared primarily towards kids, sports enthusiasts and companies and restaurants.
7. Feedback Memo
• The only feedback I received centered around whether dust would stick to nylon or spandex. If dust does not stick then it would fall to the floor where it typically gets cleaned anyway which would be more beneficial to my product. From the research I conducted, nylon becomes positive in electrical charge which tends to attract dust whereas a cloth such as silk is the opposite and would repel dust. Silk would be a better fabric for compelling dust to fall to the floor but would be a little more expensive to use in production. Polyester also tends to repel dust but I am concerned about the quality and aesthetics of using polyester. Spandex also repels dust so that is why I would choose to initially start with this material as I think it would provide the fashionable look as well as the added benefits. At minimum I would increase the materials offered in the product/service mix to customers and they would be able to decide what they liked the best.

Please participate in my poll below the comment box. Thanks.

Elevator Pitch No. 2

1. Pitch
• https://youtu.be/xM72-Trobp4
2. Feedback
• The feedback I received mostly comprised of the room I was in and the accompanying echo that resulted from it.
• I was surprised by the amount of people who felt it was a great presentation. I thought it could have been a lot better and I tried to improve upon it in this pitch.
  
• I did not think anything was wrong or silly with the feedback from my first pitch. I did not think it was a great pitch but the feedback I received mostly centered around the echo in the room.
3. Changes

• I changed the room to a smaller room as to avoid the echo from the previous pitch.
• I mentioned the name of the product, "Covades" in the pitch this time.
• I focused more on the benefits of the product and dust elimination with a mention of the fashion statement for the home.

Please partake in the poll located below the comment box. Thanks.

My Customer's Avatar

Customer Avatar

1. Identification
• Woman
• Single
• 30 years old going on 25
• feels exuberant and the number change in front from a 2 to a 3 did not make a difference as she still feels excited about life
• Has a daughter
• Master's Degree
• Education
2. Personality
• Intelligent
• Popular
• Effervescent
• Cogent
• Looks for the good in people
• Positive attitude
3. Characteristics
• Middle class professional
• Will maintain professionalism but can not resist letting out elements of her trendsetting fashionista personality which is hidden beneath the exterior
• Progressive growth mindset
• Drives a red Audi A4
• Supports Hillary Clinton
4. Hobbies
• Swimming
• Being a mother
• Reading
• Memoirs of a Geisha
• 50 Shades of Grey
• The Hunger Games
• Outwitting the Devil
• Think and Grow Rich
• The Four Agreements
• Shopping
• Debating
  
• Television
• News - Local
• Game of Thrones
• Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
• Real Housewives of New York City
• Scandal
• The Notebook
• Joy
• The Conjuring

Commonalities

1. Single
2. At least 30 years old
3. Maintain a positive attitude and look for the good in people
4. Progressive growth mindset
5. Support Hillary Clinton
6. Enjoy Reading
7. Debating
8. Game of Thrones
   

Coincidence?

1. I think our common characteristics are not coincidental.
2. I think the creation of my customer avatar is affected by my own personal beliefs and characteristics so part of my own personality bled into hers.
3. I think my avatar represents the people who will initially start the popularity trend of my product where others will follow afterwards.
4. I think my product will be sold to more people after it is established as something that is identified as being fashionable for the home.
5. I think it will be sold a lot to parents for their children.

Don't forget to participate in my poll located below the comment box.

Thanks.

Alternative & Post-Purchase Evaluation

1. Interviews
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-21/s-oBr5f
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-2-interview-2/s-zPlQb
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-2-interview-3/s-ZrbDX
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-2-interview-4/s-gEh9r
2. Alternatives
• Swiffer/Price matters most/Would pay up to $30
• Would use cover or cleaning/Would prefer covers/Quality-Style matters most/Would pay up to $50
• Would buy Covades/Quality and Style matter most/Would pay for the covers
• Wants to know qualitative benefits before buying/Quality and benefits matter most/Would consider buying if quality matched standards.
3. Buying Behavior
• Mostly in-store/not an impulse buyer/does some research before purchasing
• Mostly in-store/does some research but not extensive
• Mix 1 in-store and getting more online the other mostly online but would wait for the Covades to become mainstream in stores before purchasing.
• Mostly online, Amazon in particular/impulse buyer sometimes but only if she has the money and it's something she had been desiring for awhile/does a little research
4. Post-Purchase Evaluation
• Not an impulse buyer so usually satisfied with purchase results
• Usually satisfied with purchase results but has been disappointed by misleading descriptions of products in the past.
• Usually satisfied with purchases. They do a lot of research prior to purchasing and not impulse buyers so dissatisfaction is usually from misleading or non-performing products.
• Usually satisfied with purchase results
5. Findings
• Not everyone is an impulse buyer and people diligently research before relinquishing funds. People are willing to pay up to $30 for a set of Covades.
• People do some research and quality and style remain paramount over price.
• A classmates' suggestion was reinforced by creating Covades that are clear or transparent so the original ceiling fan blades may still be seen.
• The benefits have to be necessary and beneficial for purchase. Would consider purchasing for style but purchase hinges on benefits.
6. Conclusion
• This particular venture does not have many alternatives. People currently use a Swiffer or just furniture polish and towel. People do not clean their fan blades often enough to do a lot of research on products designed to help cleaning their fan blades. Price matters and appearance seem to matter the most to people with quality at the top of the list as well.

Please participate in my poll located below the comment box.

Thanks.

Famopinion

1. Portmanteau
• Famopinion
2. Encompassing Words
• Famous
• Opinion
3. Definition
• The inability to think for oneself
• personal opinions exceedingly influenced by and mirrors the opinions of the media, celebrities, influential persons or other heroes who are greatly admired
• thoughts becoming those of the media
4. Reactions
• I did not receive positive reactions. I used it whenever an opportunity existed which made usage of the word relevant in a conversation and people would look at me as if I was speaking Spanglish. I would then get asked if I made that up or why doesn't it show up in Google as if Google is the be all end all for all words and portmanteaus. I would just reply with how I defined it but people did not start using it YET. I will keep using it over and over until people use the word more frequently. I think the two weeks were not enough time so I'll see how it goes. On a positive note some people actually did try to Google to see if it is a word that is being used somewhere else so that is a start in my opinion.

• Secondary

• The other portmanteau I created is "Covades" which is the name of my venture concept and it is the combination of cover and blades which are the fan blade covers I am designing. I have not had a chance to use the word enough to make an assessment for this blog but I will use it more often in the future.

Please provide valuable feedback on my poll located below the comment box.

Thanks.

Halfway Reflection

1. Tenacious Competency
• I released inhibitions about approaching people and removed the fear of rejection and failure notion from my mindset.
• I began to hang out at Starbucks more frequently to gauge when more of my target customers visited this establishment.
• I developed a schedule to complete the assignments. I constantly read the books required for the reading assignments to finish that portion of the class ahead of time. This enabled me more time to focus on conducting interviews for the weekly assignments. I usually comment on Blog posts early in the week, complete written tasks (such as this one) early to mid-week, and conducted interviews towards the end of the week to gain insight from the lectures.
2. Tenacious Attitude
• I never felt like giving up as I already had a tenacious mindset. From the start of my enrollment, I have set a goal for myself to not drop any class nor not complete any assignment. Once I'm in I'm all in.
• There was some trepidation early on as I did not feel I was very good at approaching people and asking for interviews. I removed that fear from my mentality fairly early on and kept telling myself I want an A and I will do my best to get an A in this class and every other class.
• I think not graduating from college 15 years ago contributed the most to my current attitude. I know the mistakes I made then, how I dropped classes that I felt were too difficult without really trying and how that catapulted to dropping out entirely. Learning from those mistakes has helped me the most. Unfortunately I probably can not convey this properly to someone who is in school for the first time fresh out of high school as I would not have listened to myself or anyone else sharing their experience 15 years ago. Sometimes experience can not be expressed to people with inexperience conjoined with an unwillingness to listen.
3. Tips
• Believe in yourself. It may seem overwhelming and scary at first but with time, patience and practice confidence can be developed and cultivated.
• Read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success as early as possible as it talks about the fixed vs. growth mindset. That will bring self-awareness to the student as to what type of mindset they currently have and if they feel it is a good or bad thing. If it's bad they will have time to change it which would be beneficial in this class. 
• For the instructors, I would suggest letting the students write their first reading reflection on either a biography/autobiography or psychological/philosophical book. This will allow them more latitude and opportunity to read a book that would inspire a positive, thought-provoking mindset which could enable them to strive forward in the course and earn a better grade.
• Have fun. It's like a roller coaster. Scary on the way up and then becomes exhilarating later on. Staying focused, determined and disciplined are critical and necessary for this and any course so you may as well have fun while you are doing it.

Down 3-1, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team ever to overcome this deficit to win the NBA Championship.
If that is not tenacity, I do not know what is.

Please provide insight to the poll below the comment box.

Thanks.

Need Awareness and Information Search

1. Segment
• Fan Blade Cleanliness
2. Interviews
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-1/s-bporC
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-2/s-HK5Ir
• https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/need-awareness-3/s-b8hMH
3. Need Awareness
• The need arises when people notice their fan blades are dusty
• It also arises when people are expecting company and notice they have not cleaned their fan blades
4. Information Search
• When the customer notices the blades are dirty, they typically clean the blades using a towel and disinfectant. They also purchase cleaning products such as a Swiffer.
5. Findings
• I learned that people typically do not notice the cleanliness of their fan blades until it becomes apparent and noticeable.
• Ceiling fans are typically out of sight out of mind.
• There is no set schedule for cleaning ceiling fans for most people.
• The task can be arduous especially if ceiling fans are high up. This can also create a safety risk by having to stand on a stool or ladder.
• Fashion is just as important as maintaining cleanliness.
• Dusty fan blades can contribute to asthma.
• People who smoke often can contribute to discoloration of existing fan blades which may compel those people to look towards purchasing covers.
• People will typically pay about $20 for a set of covers provided they are aesthetically appealing.
6. Conclusion
• I conclude that people do not typically clean their fans and they mainly go unnoticed as most people do not look up often. Current products on the market do not suffice the needs of the customers and customers want a product to look nice if they were to purchase covers. Customers do not typically search the internet for products or talk to family and friends regarding cleaning their fan blades.

Please participate in the poll located below the comment box.

Thanks.

Idea Napkin No. 1

1. Brian Carriere
• I am a 34 year old technician and college student majoring in Sports Management.
• I have a variety of experiences selling things from cell phones to headphones. 
• I am talented debating (at least I think I am) and convincing people of why they need certain things (again, at least I think I am) as well as providing valuable insight in various areas. I also possess leadership skills and confidence.
• I see this business playing a profound role in my life as it is my creation and I would like to see it succeed as everyone thinks their ideas are the best and it is what people want. I am no different. I would not mind exerting the effort required to make this a successful product.
2. Covades
• Covades are spandex covers which fit over existing fan blades with a velcro enclosure made to provide an easier method of keeping fan blades clean. They are washable and easy to slide over fan blades.
• They come as a set of five.
• They come in a variety of colors and designs.
• I would like to secure licensing to display different characters, superheroes, sports teams, company names and logos, and celebrity faces on the covers.
• They solve the unmet need of the sometimes arduous task of cleaning fan blades, provide a healthier environment as there would be less dust accumulation and will give people a desire to wash the covers more frequently so the dust will not show on the covers, and will also create a more fashionable home environment.
3. Offering To You And You And YOU! N
• The customer would be anyone who owns a ceiling fan or several ceiling fans. Within that I think there are two specific types of customers.
• Customer A

• Hardly ever cleans their fans and dust accumulates tremendously
• Needs a ladder or something to stand on to reach their ceiling fans
• Has asthma or someone in the household has asthma
• Out of sight out of mind customer
• Displays any or all of these characteristics
• Customer B
• Looking for fashion
• Will follow along the lines of other people whom they deem to be fashionable
• Wants to be led and told what to buy (especially by a celebrity)
• Looking for ways to stand out from the rest of the crowd
• Wants to become or be regarded as a trendsetter
• Displays any or all of these characteristics
• I think both Customer A and Customer B are heavily favored to be women as men tend to not notice or care as much as women do about the appearance of the home.
• I think my target audience would be women (single or married) with or without children but preferably with children. This product will not be expensive at its base level so income would be middle to upper class who live in suburban areas.
4. Reasons
• People will want to buy this product so they do not have to clean as often and the task will not be as difficult.
• Imagine not having to rush to clean when you know company is coming over or someone is coming in from out of town and once they are there you look up and remember that you forgot to clean the fan blades and hope that person or persons do not notice.
• People will want to buy because it will enhance the overall aesthetics of the home. 
• People will want to buy because their kids will want to look up and see their favorite characters especially if other kids already have them. Parents will be able to appease their kids in a safe, affordable way.
• People will want to buy to make a fashion statement.
• People will want to buy because I can be charismatic :)
• People will want to buy because they will feel it is innovative and people love things that are "new".
• People will want to buy because I would use convincing marketing techniques such as explaining the benefits (health safety, appearance) as well as gearing it more towards being a home fashion statement with the health and safety as a byproduct of this fashionable accessory.
5. Core Competencies
• What sets me apart and what I have that no one else does is the idea first and foremost. 
• I also have the drive to succeed and the will to turn this venture into a success. If I set my mind to accomplishing something then I will do everything I can to reach that goal which is why I am back in college at 34 years old since I did not finish what I started 15 years ago. 
• I have experience in talking to people and helping them understand why this product has value in their lives. In some of the interviews I conducted, some people did not realize how rarely they cleaned their ceiling fans as well as what the safety and health risks they were creating by not cleaning them. I can open the eyes of people on a mass scale with planning and mass production.

I think all of these elements of this concept fit together as my core competencies would fit well with my target audience. I think my experiences will help me to sell an innovative product as well as help establish a new fashion sense inside the home. I also think by making this product affordable, I will be able to make a profit through volume initially. Once the business has been established as a viable enterprise I think it would become easier and more sustainable to secure licensing from trademarked characters and logos. That would create the second wave of marketing which would be geared primarily towards kids, sports enthusiasts and companies and restaurants.

Please participate in my poll below the comment box. Thanks.

Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

1. 1. Who
   • Some people do not like the idea of covering their fans as they have spent money on them and would like them to be seen.
   • Some people are old-fashioned and would not see the benefit in purchasing this product.
   • Some people would only buy if they are fashionable and do not necessarily mind cleaning their blades periodically but would like them if they are more appealing.
   2. What
   • The need to maintain cleanliness differs from the need to become fashionable. 
   3. Why
   • People outside the boundary just need clean blades which are fashionable whereas people inside the boundary want clean blades and a safer easier way of cleaning them.
   4. Recordings
   • https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/hypothesis-2-1/s-fuLK0
   • https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/hypothesis-2-2/s-7fbIO
   • https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/hypothesis-2-3/s-WG5XM
   • https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/hypothesis-2-4/s-Iyt8y
   • https://soundcloud.com/user-477379640/hypothesis-2-5/s-J03En
   * My battery died for recording 5. He stated he would pay $20-$30 for the blades if they were fashionable.
   
   

   Inside the Boundary	Outside the Boundary
   Who: People with ceiling fans looking for cleanliness, safety, and ease of use.	Who: People who don’t have ceiling fans or don’t mind cleaning them by hand; They are looking to make a fashion statement.
   What: The need to remove dust from fan blades and an easy way to clean them.	What: The need to maintain cleanliness only without any extra products or to create a home fashion statement.
   Why: People inside the boundary want a safe way to clean their blades and to maintain cleanliness for appearance purposes and health.	Alternative: Different fan blade design or making blades stand out in a fashionable way.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   Please participate in my poll below the comment box. Gracias.
   
   

Tweaking the Innovation

Product/Service Mix

Color	Design	Logo/Licensing	Size
Red	Spiral	Superheroes	42”
Blue	Dotted	Sports Teams	52”
White	Horizontal Lines	Company Logos
Black	Vertical Lines	Customize Your Own
Green	Customize Your Own
∞

Map

• Color: Core
• Design: Core
• Logo: Augmented
• Size: Tangible
• Customize Your Own: Augmented

3. Innovation

• Color
• Mix of colors (e.g. half and half)
• Different material (spandex, cloth, etc.)
• Design
• Mix of designs
• Transparent
• Logo/Licensing
• Discounted pricing
• Mix of Superheroes
• Size
• Installation services
• Warranty

Please provide a poll opinion located below the comment box. Thanks.

Elevator Pitch No. 1

1. Elevator Pitch
• https://youtu.be/2OpcWBh1D-c
2. Text Description
• My opportunity is to eliminate dust accumulation on ceiling fan blades by creating covers out of spandex or nylon with a velcro enclosure. I will design them in different colors and designs to create a fashion sense for the home and remove the element of the boring standard fan blades.
3. Name
• Covades

Please partake in my poll below the comment box. 

Thank you.

Reading Reflection No. 2

The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More
Chris Anderson

1. General Theme/Argument
• The general theme revolves around "hits" no longer being the driving force in entertainment and business. Rather than selling a lot of a very popular item/product/etc., it is better to extend all the way down to the less popular products/ideas/etc. (niche markets) and making them available for sale. This has become popular through the use of the internet which alleviates the costs of overhead and shelf space allowing anyone to become a producer and sell virtually anything at very little cost. 
2. Connection To ENT 3003

• This book connects with the course material and teachings through identifying unmet needs (opportunities) and acting on them accordingly. This book focuses on creating niche markets which allow millions of amateurs to produce goods and services instead of relying on the few professional producers to decide what the public will consume. This enhances what I am learning in that it reinforces the idea of keeping my eyes open and viewing daily activities from an entrepreneurial perspective. With the advances in technology, I am now able to produce what I think is an unmet need to consumers
  without having to risk an excessive amount of capital and investment towards a new venture.
3. Exercise Design
• The exercise I would design would involve finding a current product/service/idea/etc. and extending it downwards towards the long tail. In other words, I would focus the exercise around industries that provide a current consumer need (shopping, web-searching, home cleaning, entertainment, reading, etc.) and have students identify who is at the top of the mountain in that area. I would next ask what does this particular company provide and how do they remain at the top of the mountain. Finally, I would ask how could producers at the bottom (individuals and amateurs) produce the same goods or provide the same services in a different way with minimal costs that will move up towards the head at the top of the curve rather than the good or service trickling from the head at the top down towards the tail.
4. 'Aha' Moment
• I learned the business models of the companies which are now the most profitable such as Amazon and Netflix and how they were able to change the entire landscape of the market. One 'aha' moment came it was stated producers such as KitchenAid would give exclusive colors to certain distributors which effectively enabled them to sell more of their white appliances. Also they made a variety of colors available online for people to really capture the 'niche' market and customize their appliances to their own color specifications. This has become increasingly popular in many areas from appliances to shoes where everyone wants their own individuality to stand out as opposed to owning what the "trend-setters" say we should own. I learned giving consumers more options with filters and sorting functionality will not overwhelm people and it will provide them with the opportunity to achieve a product to their own requirements which will effectively make them happier than having a product chosen for them.

Please answer my poll at the bottom below the comment box. Thanks.