Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Further Research

In order to further narrow down the opportunity discussed in my last posts, I have interviewed five people who do not have this unmet need, although I though they would. I will summarize my findings below.

Interviewee 1: I interviewed someone who spends a lot of time outdoors hiking and camping. most people in this community do own an Eno. This person however, does not. In fact, they never intend on purchasing one because it is not a necessity and they do not feel it would enhance their outdoor experiences. Thus, the do that have the unmet need of ore efficient Eno straps, because they do not have an Eno.

-Through this interview, I gained perspective. I initially assumed the target market would be outdoorsy people without even considering the fact that there are a lot of these people who don't even own an Eno.

Interviewee 2: This person owns and Eno and uses it often. They agreed that Eno straps can be a hassle, however, they do not have this unmet need because they've come up with their own solution. This person made a custom drawstring back that perfectly fits both the Eno and the straps.

-This interview made me see my market more clearly. Many people in this community are creatives, so when there is a problem, they find an easy way to solve it. People who have already come up with a better way to store their Eno Straps will not have this unmet need.

Interviewee 3: This person did not relate to what I was talking about. They have an Eno, and use it frequently. However, to them, the deconstruction of the Eno is "part of the experience" not a hassle. They said that when they are Enoing, they are relaxed and not in a rush, so they've never had a problem folding the straps.

-Again, this interview allowed me to see different parts of the market. Many of the outdoor community are easy going and believe that extra gadgets takeaway from the simplicity of things. People who don't see Eno straps as a problem don't need a solution.

Interviewee 4: This person has an Eno and totally agreed that there were some kink in the deconstruction process. However, they didn't see the opportunity in the Eno straps, but in the who Eno. They said it would be so much easier if the straps were just attached to the Eno, rather than having an entirely additional device to contain the straps.

-I now see that there are multiple solutions to the opportunity, and that some people my see an extra gadget as unnecessary or not entirely solving the problem.

Interviewee 5: This person has an Eno and was very similar to interviewee 2. They have already come up with their own solution to the opportunity by winding their straps on a spool type thing. They wouldn't want to pay money for something they've already remedied.

-This is the first time money came into question.  Some people just don't see the problem as big enough to justify spending money on.

Inside the Boundary

Who it is:

• People who own an Eno
• People who see Eno straps as a hassle
• People who haven't already come up with a solution
• People who are willing and able to spend money 

What is the Need:

• The need is a more efficient way to deconstruct an Eno

Why Does it Exist:

• The need exists because people who have an Eno sometimes experience difficulty efficiently deconstructing their Eno because of the length and bulkiness of the straps

Outside the Boundary

Who it isn't:

• People who have already come up with a solution
• People who aren't in a rush to deconstruct their Eno
• People who do not have the money to spend on a product
• People who think the problem is in the entire Eno

What the need is not:

• An extra gadget
• Something that costs a lot of money
• Something that takes away from the experience

Alternative Explanation:

• Just let people solve the problem on their own
• come up with a solution that addresses the entire Eno, not just the straps

Conclusion

Who: There are people who fall inside the outdoorsy community who do not experience this unmet need. This is for a variety of reasons including, they've come up with a handmade solution, they don't think there is a big enough problem, or they don't even own an Eno.

What: My need begins to differ from other needs when the question of money and simplicity come into play.

Why: People who are outside of the boundary are those who don't find problem solving in yet another purchase.