Assignment 14A- Halfway Reflection

Coming into this course I was a bit worried because I had heard from other students that the weekly assignments for this class are often tedious and long. But I think the best way to prepare yourself for this is to plan. At the beginning of each week look at the assignments and their requirements so you know what needs t be done ahead of time and schedule times throughout the week that you will dedicate to working on the assignments as well as watching lectures. Another big obvious thing is don’t procrastinate! I hate watching online lectures but one of the best habits I’ve started this semester is splitting the lectures in half and watching one half one day and the other half the next day. One moment when I felt like giving up on this class was about two or three weeks ago when I saw the requirements for an assignment. I saw that the assignment had like six parts and I had to interview five people. But rather than just not do I planned out when I would look for interview people and I spread the assignment out over a couple days so I wouldn’t stress myself out. I think that before this moment I did have a tenacious attitude already instilled in myself but it was a matter of pushing myself to be better and do better that helped contribute to my tenacity. If I could give a student three tips I would tell them: 1.) Get a planner and write your assignments and your due dates for the next month and do it every month for the rest of the semester. 2.) Don’t think you have to watch a 2-hour lecture in one sitting take a break and come back later. 3.)Don’t let a lengthy assignment intimidate you go in with positive mindset and get it done.

Assignment 13A-Reading Reflection No. 1

            For this assignment I chose to read Coco Chanel by Lisa Chaney. Of course we’re all familiar with the Chanel brand but this autobiography allowed me to learn more about the woman who started it all. While reading I was surprised at the fact that she came from such a terrible childhood yet was able to create this amazing brand. Often times when we see designers that become very famous or well-known, they come from a good family and have a background in art and have attended prestigious schools, but Gabrielle is the complete opposite. What I admired most is how she was able to surround herself with such interesting people from politicians to artists to authors. She was a sort of socialite and lived the kind of life many dreamed of. But on the other hand, the one thing I least admired was her involvement in WWII and how she had so many ties with the Germans. I also felt that she acted selfishly by closing her shops and putting thousands of people out of work.  I think that Gabrielle did experience a lot of adversity being a woman trying to create a brand in the twentieth century as well as overcoming her tough childhood.

            Looking at Gabrielle as an entrepreneur and not just a clothing designer I noticed that she did the most important thing which is find an unmet need. Being a woman herself she saw the need for comfortable yet fashionable clothing for woman especially because your clothes play a huge role in your appearance. I also found her to be very innovative considering it was a war time and she many common materials were sparse. One thing that I found a bit confusing was the discussion about her personal relationships with women. Chaney introduced some letters from Gabrielle’s male lovers but to me this in a way casts a shadow over the possibility of her being a lesbian and having female lovers. If I could ask her two questions they would be: How did you begin designing clothes when you had no real artistic background? How were you able to introduce this idea of comfortable casual clothing for women in an era when this concept did not exist yet? I think that as an entrepreneur Gabrielle sought the need for hard work an innovation as well as relationships. If you look at many of the people who she kept in her circle they were well-known people who helped her to create this image we all know which I too think these are all essential to create such an iconic brand.

Assignment 12A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

For this assignment I chose to use age as my market segment and for my interviews I spoke with people who fell in the range 18-25.

Alec, 22

            Speaking with Alec I learned that he does use vape products regularly and not just in social settings. When asked if he thinks he might have a nicotine addiction he said he does not think so however he does feel a bit dependent on vaping. I asked him how often he vapes and he said that he uses it every day and it has gotten to the point that his friends have suggested that he stop. I asked if he vapes around his parents and he said that they do know that he uses vape products and don’t approve of it. When asked about his health Alec said that he feels fine but his doctor back home has suggested he stop. He also explained that he has tried to stop using vape but finds it hard because of he is slightly dependent on it. I asked if he knows about the materials used to make these vape products and how they affect your body and he said he didn’t know much but was sure they were better than cigarettes

Lexi,19

            Lexi is a college student who only uses her vape product when she goes out with friends to bars or clubs and sometimes when she’s bored. She explained because she doesn’t use it much and she has no dependency on the product but does wish that she used it less. I asked if her use of the product was influenced by her friends and she said that when she is out yes but when she’s alone she uses it on her own. I asked if she has considered stopping vaping altogether and she said yes but she does like to use it when she goes out. When asked about her health in relation to these products she said she has heard about how people have been hospitalized from vaping so much and that has been a big factor in her considering stopping. Lexi also talked about how after hearing about some of the stories she has been doing more research on vape products to see what is in them and how they can affect her body.

Jace, 20

            Jace is also a college student and vapes very consistently. He said he vapes when out to bars and clubs and also carries it even when he is on campus or just out doing normal things. I asked if his usage was influenced by his friends and he said that his friends do vape as well but he first tried it on his own his freshman year of college. When asked about quitting he said he would like to because both his parents and primary doctor are worried about the long term affect that vaping could have. I asked if he has found another vape product that is not toxic and nicotine-free and he said he hasn’t because most vape products still have nicotine. He also said that after a quick search online he learned that one JUUL pod is the equivalent to a pack of cigarettes which surprised him a lot.

            These interviews showed me that a lot of people have a need but are in denial about it. For example, Lexi said she has become aware of the detrimental effects of vaping and wants to stop but continues because she believes she is not addicted. Another big thing I learned from these interviews is that many of these young adults tough that these vape products were a safe alternative. It wasn’t until they did their own research that they realized how harmful they could be. I think using this specific market segment was very helpful because it helped me to target the group of people who have an increasing need for my product. This age group also showed me that they are becoming more aware of the need for a safe alternative. I was genuinely surprised to hear that they took it upon themselves to look up information about vaping and that they were actively looking for an alternative. However, because these are college students, they are very consciousness about their health so I think another market segment that lies here is whether they attend a college or university.