Idea Napkin No. 1 - Waiting for the Appetizer

My name is Isabella. I am a junior at UF studying sociology. I am 20 years old and would classify myself as somewhat creative. I grew up a dancer and have tons of creativity within a dance studio or stage setting. In regards to business building and being an entrepreneur – I would not classify myself as being talented as it is not something I am very familiar with. That is another reason why I am taking this course. I believe I have strong skills and experience with people, and many have told me this as well. From prior jobs (I had lots of experience with strangers and the general public) and being within many dance auditions and companies; talking to people and listening became second nature to me. I would say it is still second nature to me! My aspirations would honestly be to develop this product more within this course and work with my brother (who was a business major at UF) in developing this further outside of this course. My brother has always wanted to run a business (or develop a concept) and specifically with me, knowing my ability to make honest/fast acquaintances, so this may be just the answer. I believe this business would play a major role in my life simply because I began the thought and initiated everything. I would always be checking social media and trying to connect with big names to advertise and keep up with the industry as it is ever changing. I would think of it as my child, in a way, and want the best for the product and results to be wonderful and respected in the industry.    

What I am offering to costumers is a device to attach to a steering wheel in a vehicle to locate emergency vehicles sound coming within a 2 mile radius of the vehicle. This device would then alert the driver by vibrating the wheel. This would be beneficial to hearing impaired drivers who may not detect the sound as quickly as others. I am offering assurance to hearing impaired drivers. Being hearing impaired myself, it is really difficult to detect where sounds are coming from and often hearing impaired drivers are delayed with their response. It may also be helpful to other drivers; as nowadays many use their phones and other devices while driving. Being alert is important for anyone behind the wheel. My product would have the name "Here Wheel." I will be solving customers unmet needs by providing a safety feature within vehicles that has not yet been introduced but is much needed this day in age.

I am offering this product to anyone who is hearing impaired. This includes those whom are just slightly hearing disabled. It is not just intended for fully deaf individuals. As stated above, I think others who are not hearing impaired would also benefit from this product. In that aspect I am targeting young teens, possibly those learning to drive (i.e. permit drivers), young moms with children riding in the car as distractions, and college age students with loud sound systems too. I project that a majority of my costumers’ will be hearing impaired and they all would have less than “normal”/average hearing in common.

Customers will pay me money to use this product as I made this connection and designed it with the hearing impaired in mind. As someone who is hearing impaired, it has depth and perspective from the inside versus being a company or inventor of a device that is from the outside looking inward on the issue. With that being said, it is a product that has purpose and use for hearing impaired drivers who need more assistance with locating siren sounds and warning time just as everyone else does.

My core competencies include being able to understand marketing toward hearing impaired drivers and population as a whole. There are certain phrases and ideologies that are very offensive toward a majority of those who are hearing impaired. Marketing is key in this production and being able to understand the balance line is important. I am very close to my hearing specialist as well. My specialist is well known in the North Florida region and well respected. I think this sets me a part by having a “shoe in” with someone to advertise and push my product with his patients. He is known all over the U.S. as well as his home country which could really help market my product internationally. Although someone may have a hearing specialist nearby – or find one via Google Maps, I have a personal connection to my specialist that could spread the word internationally.

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All in all, I do think all of these elements fit together nicely. I do have a primary focus on helping assist hearing impaired drivers. Although someone reading this post may see some disconnects, overall I think so far it is okay for the stage I am at currently. My only concern would be if this product were to be developed further and someone thinking I created a hasty generalization when in reality, I am not. I do think my weaker points for my business concept is my doubtfulness when it comes to believing it could really take off. This then affects my ability to sell a pitch as experienced in the elevator assignment. I have hesitation about how it may be perceived but I suppose that is part of the process!