18A- Customer Avatar

My prototypical customer: the UF student, probably involved in Greek Life

 

Sorority girls

Hobbies- studying at Library West, going out to Mid, raising money for DM

Car- white mid size SUV, TV shows- the Office, Parks and Recreation, Ages- 18-22

Fraternity Guys

Hobbies- tailgating, going on date functions, going out to Mid

Car- pickup truck or SUV, shows- the Office, Ages- 18-22

UF Student

Hobbies- studying, football games, clubs/organizations

I think I have a lot in common with these customer avatars. I am a UF student, and I am involved in Greek Life. We have similar hobbies and interests, and I can relate to these avatars well. I don't think this is a coincidence because when I was creating my sticker business idea, I thought of something that I myself would be interested in. So it makes sense that the things I would like would also appeal to the customer avatars considering we have many things in common. 

17A- Elevator Pitch No. 2

Pitch number 2

https://youtu.be/O97eWd_LR6k


Reflection- The feedback I got on my first elevator pitch was very positive, so I decided to tweak the original a little bit. One comment mentioned how my sticker business would be competing with an already saturated market and online companies, so I tried to further address that in this pitch. I made a point of how my stickers would be more customizable and eliminate shipping costs associated with buying online. Also buying in person would allow the customer to see the product before purchasing it, which they cannot do online. I thought that comment about the market was insightful and I tried to adjust my pitch to accommodate that. 

16A What's Your Secret Sauce

My human capital
1. I am creative- i can think of new designs and ideas for the stickers that haven't been done before or in a different way
2. I can draw- I know many people can draw, but everyone has their own unique style
3. I am outgoing- I can have a conversation with anyone, I'm friendly
4. I'm empathetic- I can relate to people easily
5. I'm diligent- I care about the work I do, and I always make sure to get it done well

Interview 1
https://youtu.be/swWMLBLd3Pw

Sydney said that I am a people person who can relate to others well. She said I am understanding and good at getting to know people.


Interview 2
https://youtu.be/vV-J7D1wQWg

She said that I have a "unique eye", and that I have artistic skills that would help me make stickers. She thinks my art would be good for stickers.

Interview 3
https://youtu.be/za3pVS5A6EM

She said that I am hard working, and that I always accomplish what I set out to do. She also said that I am "emotionally intuitive", and that will help me connect with people.

Interview 4
https://youtu.be/6kJSo2-gxa4

She said that she really likes my art work and described it as bright and pop culture. She also said that I am good at talking to people, which would help sell the stickers.


Interview 5
https://youtu.be/YiG4pVcAIG4

She said that I am good at influencing people. She likes my art and says I would be good at selling it.


Reflection-I think the way I see myself and the way others see me lines up pretty well. The interviews made me realize that other people do think I have unique skills. I think the people I interviewed are my close friends, so they were really nice and complimentary. Other people who don't know me as well may not know these things yet. I think my original list was pretty accurate compared to the other interviews.

15A Figuring out buyer behavior No 2

Interview 1
She said that when looking to buy stickers, she considers quality and style the most. She wants the stickers to be unique and reflect her personal style or interests. She also looks for quality too because she has had some stickers in the past that fell off or got scratched up over time. She said she is willing to pay more a style or design she really likes. She buys her stickers online, but she would be interested in buying stickers in person so she can see what their quality before she purchases them. She uses a credit/debit card since she usually purchases online. She said that she realizes if her purchase was a good idea or not when someone compliments her stickers. She also waits to see if the sticker falls off or get messed up easily.

Interview 2
He said that when looking to buy stickers, he considers the price and style. He wants the stickers to look good, but he also does not want to pay too much for them. He said that while he likes stickers, they are not a priority, which is why he is not willing to pay too much. But, he said that he does pay more for stickers from certain brands that he likes. He usually orders his stickers online or get them in the stores that he shops at, which relates back to him caring about the brand. He knows the sticker purchase was a good idea when he doesn't think that he spent too much on it and if it is something that he likes.

Interview 3
She said that when looking to buy stickers, she considers the style the most. She said that she changes her stickers up often, so it doesn't matter much if they stay on for a really long time. She is willing to pay for a sticker with a design she really likes or relates to. She buys her stickers online or in stores, and sometimes she gets them for free with a purchase at certain clothing stores. She also likes to get stickers when she travels, so she gets new ones relatively often. She knows the purchase was a good idea when she enjoys looking at the sticker every day.

Conclusion
A lot of people buy their stickers online, but it sounds like they would be open to buying in person so that they can see the quality before they buy it. It also sounds like people want the price to be fair because they would not want to buy an expensive sticker. People also care a lot about the design, and they are willing to pay more for a sticker that they really like. Some people will care about the quality too and want the sticker to last.

14A Halfway Reflection

Halfway Reflection

1. To keep up with the requirements for this course, I set aside time to watch the lectures and do the assignments each week. Since this is an online course, I have had to be responsible about making sure to watch the lectures. I schedule time twice a week to watch them and take notes. Some of the assignments for this course require me to work throughout the week, especially when interviews are necessary. Then, I schedule time for the peer reviews and cupcake each week as well.

2. There have been a couple moments throughout the course where I felt like giving up on my idea, or that maybe I should change it. When I had to interview people and when I had to record the elevator pitch, I felt unsure about my idea. I thought about whether I should completely change it or not. Then I remembered how excited I was about this idea when I first thought of it, and how doable it is. This is what kept me from changing the idea because I realized it would be worth it to try and develop my original idea. I think this class has encouraged a tenacious attitude because it is such a big part of entrepreneurship. The challenges in this class are easier to handle because they are just in the class, but in the real world these challenges would be much harder to push through. So, I think this is good training for future endeavors.

3. Tips
     Create a schedule that works for you- find time to dedicate to this class each week to do the assignments fully.
     Be creative- this is an opportunity to think of something new and original, don't be afraid to take a risk on a new idea.
     Stick with it- if you choose something you are passionate about, it will be easier to stick with the idea despite the challenges you may face.

13A Reading Reflection 1

Steve Jobs

What surprised you the most?

I was most surprised to read about how Apple started because it was more difficult than I would have thought. It seems like almost everyone has an iPhone, or had an iPod, or has a Macbook, so its easy to see how successful Apple has become. I never really thought about the actual process behind creating such a huge and influential company until reading about Steve Jobs. Reading about the rocky start of the company and how Steve Jobs actually left Apple for a while was very surprising. 

What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

I admire Steve Jobs for his commitment to his vision. I read somewhere that he sold his car to get the money he needed to actually start up the company. I know that for me at least, selling my car to start a risky process would be kind of scary because of the potential for things not to work out. But for Steve Jobs, he was so passionate about his vision that he was willing to do what it took to make it happen. I admire how much he believed in himself and his commitment to his vision. 

What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

I think that I least admire the way Steve Jobs handled conflict with people he worked with and cared about. His creativity seemed to be both a strength and a weakness because it sometimes hindered his personal relationships. As a said before, I admire his commitment to his vision, but this seems to be a double edged sword. It seems like at times he could be difficult to work with and had trouble listening to other people's opinions. 

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

Steve Jobs did encounter adversity and failure, especially after the initial success that Apple had. In the beginning, the Apple company started off as a very promising industry as it met people's needs, but over time issues emerged and the company met a slump. Part of the problem was that the Apple products were too expensive for the average person to bWouuy. Then, Steve Jobs had to leave the company he started. I think this was a time of adversity for him because he had to figure out a way to start over again. He did overcome this adversity/failure by focusing his attention on other aspects of the industry and making success for himself all over again. 

What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?

I think Steve Jobs had several different competencies that contributed to his success as an entrepreneur. I think above all, his creativity and commitment were crucial. He had a vision, and he had the guts to create it and stand by it. Even in the face of adversity, he did not give up. He could have walked away from Apple and the entire industry, but he didn't. Not everyone has the determination to do what he did. Also, he needed to have knowledge and skills to create new and innovative products. He had a drive to create and succeed. 

Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

I do not know very much about technology and how it works, so that was a little bit hard to understand at times. However, I think the reading was pretty straight forward although it probably could have been more concise. I was interested in reading about Steve Jobs considering I have an iPhone, Macbook, Airpods, etc. which are all products that come from the company he originally started.

If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

1. How did you continue to create and remain inspired after leaving Apple?

2. Did you ever experience self doubt, or were you just that confident in your abilities and vision?

For fun, what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

I think Steve Job's opinion of hard work would be that it is necessary to be successful. I think he was completely involved in the entire process, and continued to keep going even when the situation was less than ideal. I do share the same opinion that hard work is what makes a difference. 

12A- figuring out buyer behavior

For the segment, I chose female students ages 18-23 at UF.

Interview 1
She said that she first noticed the need when she came to UF as a freshman and went to Library West for the first time. She saw that almost everyone had stickers on their laptop covers and water bottles. She noticed that a lot of people had stickers referencing tv shows or organizations at UF. This was when she wanted to have stickers to express herself too. She feels the need more when she is in a group of people that she doesn't know because she says the stickers speak for her. She notices the need most when she goes to the libraries or has a group project where she has to work with other people. The first thing she did to fulfill the need was google stickers for one of her favorite tv shows. The search led her to different websites like amazon and Redbubble where she then purchased some stickers.

Interview 2
She said that she first noticed the need when she rushed her sorority at UF. She said that when she started meeting members of her chapter and making friends, she saw that the older girls had a lot of stickers on their laptops. She thought it was cute, and wanted to do that too. Once she was initiated, she was really excited to wear her greek letters, so she wanted to put them on her laptop and stuff too. Her solution was to ask one of her friends where she bought her stickers, and she said Redbubble. She then ordered stickers for herself from that website. She said she becomes aware of the need whenever she sees other girls with stickers of their greek letters or Dance Marathon.

Interview 3
She said that she noticed the need for the first time when she joined her club lacrosse team. She saw that a lot of the girls on her team had lacrosse stickers or other ones on their water bottles or equipment. She asked one of the girls on her team where she got them, and she said she ordered them online. So then she ordered some related to lacrosse and her other interests for herself online. She feels the need when she goes to practice but also at the library where she sees a lot of other people have stickers that reflect their organizations as well.

Based on these interviews, it seems like people feel the need mostly when they are in a group of people (the library), or at their organizations. I think this is because in groups is when people want to fit in but still stand out a little bit. They want to be a part of the overall group because they have something in common, but also want to differentiate themselves.

11A Idea Napkin 1

1. Me- I am a senior at the University of Florida, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Art History. My talents are drawing, painting, and ceramics. These skills will help me with this sticker business because I plan to draw the sticker designs myself. I have experience raising money for different organizations, including Dance Marathon here at UF. My "big picture" goal is to go to law school and specialize in immigration. I would like to continue my art as a hobby. For this business, my goal is to sell my drawings in the form of stickers to students. I think this business would be fun and a way to make a little bit of extra money during my last year here. I don't plan on having this business extend beyond UF.

2. What- I believe that people have the need to express themselves and their interests. This can be done in a couple different ways, but I see it carried out primarily through stickers here at UF. Pretty much everyone I know has at least one sticker on their laptop or water bottle, and usually multiple. The product I would be selling is hand-drawn stickers. Because I am drawing them myself, they will be customizable for whatever the customer requests, and they will not have to pay for shipping.

3. Who- After reflecting on the interviews I have done, I think the main demographic of my customers would be female students, ages 18-23. There are other aspects that are involved such as if they are involved in Greek life. Males, not just females, involved in greek life would be the other main demographic. Something that these people all have in common is being a part of an organization that they share with others. I have seen many guys in Greek life with stickers on their laptops or coolers, so my audience is not limited to only females.

4. Why- People are interested in using stickers on their belongings because it is "trendy"- what everyone else is doing, allows them to express their interests, and make conversation. I have heard that stickers can be used as an icebreaker, show classmates that you have something in common, and as a way to brighten their day. People actually pay money for this product because I have seen people order stickers online. Since my stickers will be made locally and drawn by me, people will be interested just like by the online stickers.

5. My competencies- The thing that really sets me apart from other sticker companies, is that they will be hand drawn, which makes them a unique piece of art. Also, they will be completely customizable. Maybe a sticker company online doesn't make a sticker for the organization someone belongs to but they would like to express that. My designs will be different from those online. Also, people will not have to pay for shipping (which can be more expensive than the stickers themselves) because I am local.

I think that all of the aspects of my business that I have described above will fit together nicely. I think this business will stay local, and stay primarily with UF students. Based on the interviews I have done, I think there is potential here, especially in the demographic group I mentioned earlier. If I can make more personalized or trendier designs than online companies, and people won't have to pay shipping, and their sticker is unique, then i think people will be interested.