Assignment 20- Growing Your Social Capital

Domain expert:

             I was able to exchange a few emails with the owner of Camelot Super Smoke Shop that is a local business in my hometown. His smoke shop offers various products including vape like JUUL. I found him online when I was looking at the local smoke shops in my area. I told him about my potential product and asked if he saw any success in my plan. He gave my some very good feedback about what customers look for and others things he has noticed and learned about vape products.

Market expert:

            I was able to message a representative from “The Facts Now” which is an organization trying to bring an end to smoking and the use of tobacco products. I explained to her my business plan as well as the product I wanted to create and she gave me a few tips on marketing and how to engage young people like her company has been doing. Including her in my network could be very useful for not only more feedback but I could also use this company to help get my product out there and advertised.

Supplier:

            I was able to email a representative from Altria’s( they are a tobacco distributor) investor relations department and ask for their feedback on my potential product. I found this person online when I was looking for tobacco companies in the state of Florida that actually allowed me to contact them. I was only able to exchange a couple e-mails but the representative was able to provide me with valuable information on getting a leg into this kind of industry. She also gave me her own personal thoughts on her product and was very interested.

            I think this experience was very helpful because I don’t have a lot of experience in networking for a business, so it helped to boost my confidence for future networking events. It also helped me to become more comfortable and okay with receiving criticism.  This networking experience was very different from others I have done because it was more professional whereas normally the networking I do is less formal and for my own social circle.

Assignment 19A- Idea Napkin No.2

I am a fourth year Spanish and Business student who in my time at the University of Florida have acquired some very useful skills and knowledge. I would describe myself as very hardworking, dedicated, and detail-orientated person. Working as a customer service representative for about six years is what allowed me to acquire many of the skills I mentioned above. But the most important thing I learned from this job was how to communicate and create a relationship with customers as well as potential customers. In terms of my business concept I see this being a game changer especially since nicotine addiction has been something that has plagued us for years and before the introduction of these vape-like products we had nearly eradicated it. My hopes for this opportunity are that it not only helps people to end their addictions but also helps to improve their health. I would also like to see this product be used outside in countries in Europe because after visiting there I saw that not only did a lot of people smoke cigarettes but a lot of them were young adults. My plan is to offer to people a vape product that does not contain toxins harmful to the body and is nicotine free so as not to supplement an addiction they may already have. When marketing this product, I plan to target not just younger adults ages 18-25 but also those 25+ because often times those addicted to nicotine containing products begin at a young age and use them for the rest of their lives. There is no specific race or gender as anyone can become addicted, but I would use some of my resources to speak with cardiologist to inform them of my product so that if they think a patent might be a potential candidate they could refer me. But a major common theme here for each customer is that they either want to quit using nicotine-containing products or their health is at risk. I think my customers will care about this product because it can help improve their health and because many of the people using these vape products are young adults and even children. I think what sets me apart from other companies is that I genuinely care about the customers I am trying to help and want to provide them with a product that does not pose a health risk. Most companies produce these products and don’t care about the long-term effects and who will be using them.

            I do think that all these components fit together because my skills coupled with my passion could really make an incredible product. The only problem I could possibly see is getting people to put down these other vape products and understand that my product is a healthier alternative for them. I received some great feedback from my last idea napkin and many said they loved how detailed it was because it gave them a very good idea of the type of person I am and the product I want to sell. Some people also mentioned that I shouldn’t forget about the older age groups who use nicotine which is important because many older generations would be great customers as well.

Assignment 17A-Elevator Pitch No.2

https://youtu.be/dM6gZvKetd0







I was surprised that a lot of people actually enjoyed my first video and said I did a pretty good job because although I was alone for some reason I still got a bit nervous while filming. But I did like that people gave me tips on little things I didn't realize I was doing that could make my pitch stronger and look better on video.The only thing I really changed for this pitch was the hook I used. I wanted something that was a bit more interesting and caught people's attention more.

Assignment 18A- Create a Customer Avatar

I think that my typical customer falls in the 17-30ish age range and also enjoys having a good time by going out to bars and clubs or any type of social gathering. Because they are so young and many are even in college this customer doesn’t drive a lavish car like a Tesla or Mercedes but more like a Toyota or Honda. They definitely don’t have kids yet because they are still in that carefree stage in their life and haven’t settled down yet. This customer is also very up to date with all the popular TV shows and watches shows like On My Block, Love is Blind, and The Circle. Because they are a younger generation I don’t see them as people who will read for fun but I wouldn’t rule it out. As for politics I feel like a lot of them would lobe Bernie Sanders but of course there will be some who don’t and their views are the complete opposite. As for hobbies I think my customer likes to travel and go on spontaneous adventures with friends and is very active in a sorority of fraternity.

            I think that I do have some in common with this avatar because I know I like traveling and some of these shows that I think they would watch I have definitely watched. I don’t think it’s a coincidence because the people I am trying to target for my product fall in my age range so it would make since that in a way we are similar.