To help think about and expand on a business idea, we learned in class (17th Oct) that all bright business ideas begin with solving a need which is meaningful. Our lecturer has come up with something called the USER values which are displayed below. These values need to be viewed differently, depending on what’s best for a particular business idea. The aim of this is to produce a good or service which consists a balance of these values via good design in order to improve customer experience which in turn stimulates business success.
In order to find out what customers’ needs and wants are, a good starting point would be empathy. This can be done by observing how individuals act in real life situations and being able to recognise issues they face as well as a work-around/solution to those issues. Another empathic method that would be useful for a business is testing ideas with potential customers. This is because it enables a business to have a better understanding on what customers want, make quicker decisions regarding forming the product that customers require which in turn reduces time wasting, and it diminishes costs. When testing business ideas on potential customers, it’s important to do something tangible with them rather than thinking about it in isolation.
Generally speaking, some people who are asked what their wants and needs are aren’t really sure of the answer. However for those who do know, they usually don’t give a direct or straight forward response. Instead of asking, it’s more effective for a business to observe issues that individuals experience giving the business a better understanding on how to overcome the problem and therefore offer a solution to its potential customers.
My business idea is based on a workaround of tangled earphones and this idea triggered in mind when I observed commuters on the underground trains experienced difficulties and frustration untangling their earphones. My idea of a workaround to the issue is to have the earphones wrapped around a spring chord which is attached to a phone case. The earphones can be rolled out of the phone case for use by pulling and rolled back in when finished by pulling slightly.
Even though individuals face problems with having to untangle their earphones, tangled earphones weaken the connection between the wire and the phone in the long run. The solution to this problem can help earphones last longer and save users from constantly having to buy new ones.
This idea is beneficial and suitable for all phone users especially for the elderly who experience movement disorder.
As a result of this, my innovative idea balances out on the USER value displayed above. It meets the needs and wants of the customers as they look to avoid untangling their earphones as well as purchasing new earphones every time theirs break. The business will profit from this as it isn’t costly to produce.
SamTheLondonBloke 