9A- Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

In this second try at “testing the hypothesis” I will take a different approach. I will continue to interview consumers but the people I have chosen for this assignment differ than just the usual person who would be interested in my business proposition. Micro transportation is not appealing to every individual because most people own cars or take public transportation. People’s safety though, is a priority that I hope to capitalize on.

Timothy- A local bike repairman that serves the Gainesville community. His age is 47 and he has two daughters that own bikes. 

Me: “Tim how did you start with this business?”

Tim: “Well I saw a need for a bike service in Gainesville because there is a huge demand for it because of all of the students. A vast majority of my clients that come in are students.”

Me: “Do you see a need for more safety in this field of transportation? And not just bikes but all micro transit.”

Tim: “To be honest I do. Now that I have two daughters I really see the dangers in everyday transportation. I actually have been hit on a bike at night back in the day.”

Me: “Do you think marketing a helmet for maybe not just bikes but all kinds of transportation would help combat the dangers of riding?”

Tim: “I do think there could be something here but there is always that risk when you step outside. Adding a helmet in certain situations though could be a life and death situation. I would never let my daughters leave without a helmet on.”

This interview was very interesting because I got to see my business standpoint from a parent. When parents make the decisions, of course they are going to provide helmets to their kids. When you are speaking on behalf of a college student the rate is much lower for them to put on some safety gear. My challenge is to make people of all ages want to wear safety equipment.

Hannah- Jet ski rental manager in Fort Lauderdale.

Me: “Hannah do you use helmets at your jet ski establishment?”

Hannah: “We do require customers to wear helmets because of the liability on the water.”

Me: “What can you tell me about the water sports in general and its safety?”

Hannah: “Well here in South Florida there are many recreational things to do on the water. I would say a majority are pretty safe but there should be more precautions out on the water especially at night.”

This is were I realized that I could not only, have an opportunity with micro transit, but also other recreational activities. I was thinking too close minded at first when I thought of this business idea. I was only thinking about my local community. Once I got a hold of Hannah, which is someone I have rented jet skis from in the past, I was able to start thinking about a real scalable business.

Jeremy- Was my next door neighbor when I lived in South Florida. He is currently 15 and has had a skateboard since he was little.

Me: “Jeremy do you like to wear helmets that your parents tell you to wear?”

Jeremy: “No I really hate them because I get too sweaty and they really aren’t cool.”

Me: “Would you wear one if it was designed to keep you cool and safe?”

Jeremy: “Not necessarily I just don’t want to wear them”

This interview was honesty quite frustrating because this is what my main problem is with this business idea, getting younger people to change their perception to wear safety gear. I will have to market and design this product to gear towards that.

Jean and Pierre- A young couple that lives in Miami, Florida. They both ride motorcycles to and from work.

Me: “Do you guys believe that there is an effective way in promoting safety gear?’

Jean: “I do. I see wrecks all the time on I-95 and some worse than others. I thing having a campaign to keep people aware of this is crucial.”

Pierre: “There is but there are just a lot of stupid people out there. When I ride on I-95 I see guys on sports bikes going 110/120 miles per hour zipping through traffic. So I think it really is a personal preference to be safe.”

Me: “Would you be interested in safety gear that can track critical data and assist you on your drive?”

Jean: “I would really enjoy that! I have a problem with directions so maybe having gear that can direct me as well could sell well.”

Pierre: “I could see myself using something like that. I would like to keep track of my speed.”

I like interviewing Jean and Pierre because it lead me to believe there is another market for this product and that would be motorcycles. I think there were some great points brought up in this interview about technology and my product. I see myself trying to somehow incorporate this.

Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who is in: Anyone who operates objects that needs safety gear specifically a helmet	Who is Not: People who use cars or other means of transportation that don’t need safety gear
What the Need Is: To promote safety gear that people want to wear	What the Need Is Not: People shying away from safety gear because isn’t cool or efficient
Why the Need Exists: Too many deaths and accidents in relation to micro transit and other dangerous operations	Alternative Explanations: People who don’t see a need in safety gear