My business idea has to do with a free third-party delivery service. Most delivery services, like Doorstep Delivery for example, charge a $3.99 delivery fee which serves as a barrier to many customers. The way that this company would make money is by charging the businesses a slightly higher fee to use our services than the other companies. Typically, these delivery services will charge the restaurants 20-30% of the order total. This idea would likely charge them a fee upwards of 30%, but would give customers, including those who are not currently customers of these restaurants, an incentive to order from them, serving as both sales and advertisement. Below are the customer interviews I took. Unfortunately, my phone died during the last interview so I will find someone tomorrow to interview and upload it to this post afterwards.
I learned that using this technique of handing all of the interviewees the same piece of paper with the business idea written on it was a better way to go about conducting the actual interviews. Because they were all exposed to the same idea using the same verbiage on the paper, it made the interviews a little more standardized. It also showed me that this is an idea that may actually have some sort of potential. If I was not a student right now, it is a business idea that could be well worth persuing.There wasn't anything in particular about the interviews that surprised me though.
Abraham,
ReplyDeleteI also liked the index card technique. I worry that it made my interviewing lazy, but the people I interviewed seemed to respond better to reading the card and warming up rather than being assaulted with questions. Standardized is a good word for it.
I'm not sure how your model would work only because I know restaurants don't want to be upcharged, particularly if you have competition that won't charge them. You would have to be able to offer superior exposure.
In some respects, I'm in the same boat. See my interviews/concept here: http://adventuresinent.blogspot.com/2016/02/customer-interviews-no-3-er-1.html. If I can have local businesses sponsor exhibits (pay for all the fixtures, etc.) that would mean I could charge entrants less, but because the exhibits would be a direct reflection of the business to the consumer, and I provide the "show" space, I can see businesses partaking in my model.
It's tricky, no doubt. I just wonder how your venture profits in the end.
Hi Abraham,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the index card technique seemed to work better for those being interviewed. I think they were able to get a sense of what to expect before having a camera shoved in their face and asked random questions. I also like your idea of passing on the cost to the business owner rather than the customer.
Abraham,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you incorporated the index card technique. The people you interviewed had some time to think about the topic thoroughly and were able to give better answers. I agree with you that using index cards standardized the technique.
I like your idea of using free delivery service in Gainesville, as many of the delivery services here are very expensive.
Here is the link to my interviews:
http://jaryprinent.blogspot.com/2016/02/interviewing-customers-no-3.html