1) Describe your interviewing strategy.
I definitely found this to be the most challenging of the customer interviews because of the interview format. I wrote down information about a potential product and wanted to get their reaction to the product. I also asked them how much they thought a product like this would be worth to gauge its profitability. I continued asking apartment renters as they would be the primary user of the product.
2) Conduct the interviews.
3) Reflect on what you learned.
This interviewing process was a lot different than the others. Without opening up and talking myself it seemed like the potential customers didn't want to either. I also spoke with more people that lived closer to a dumpster and for that reason were less interested in the concept. It could have been my presentation of the product that made the product seem better than just an idea on paper. Either way, these interviews have taught me about keeping a constant eye out for the problems people have. You may be able to market a profitable product if you find a good enough solution.
I'm surprised you found the index card method challenging! I was a little overly concerned about using it as a crutch but found the card immensely helpful. People reacted with more of an "oh, okay, let me read this..." versus the stern no thanks I was getting before. I love your last interviewee's response. He looked flabbergasted.
ReplyDeleteYou can't see my interviewees, but you can listen here: http://adventuresinent.blogspot.com/2016/02/customer-interviews-no-3-er-1.html.
I think these interviews help us to figure out what kind of salesperson we are. You like to use your charm (smile, talking), but I don't think the use of the index card had to put the kabosh on that. You could have still been yourself, though I agree it's difficult to prompt the conversation after they read the card.
Hey Robert! It seemed like you did a good job of approaching different types of people (an older gentlemen, a woman with a child), and I believe this would help you gauge the market for your device. While you may not have gotten the reactions you were hoping for, any reaction is helpful in determining how to proceed with your idea.
ReplyDeleteAgain, great job and thanks for sharing! Here's link to my blog if you want to check it out. http://jamestyrrell.blogspot.com/
Robert,
ReplyDeleteI thought that using the index card was going to make the task much easier and with some people I found that to be the case. However, I agree that some people find it a waste of their time to have to stop and read something and I can relate to how you felt not being able to showcase your business. Presentation is everything and I think this assignment helps to show first of all how successful an idea will be without talking it up and also how important presentation is with an idea that might be less than compelling for consumers.
http://kailadevin.blogspot.com/2016/02/interviewing-customers-no-3.html