In my opinion, there is an unmet need of an affordable way
to communicate with and watch pets when not home. There is a way for a device
to be accessible by mobile device and move throughout a space. The device would also be
attainable to most pet owners. This kind of device exists but is unattainable
to most due to the cost and lack of advertising to the pet community. People
that want to check on their pets during the day must go home at convenient
times, hire dog sitters, or not check on them at all. Dog and cat owners would
be the likely customer for this product.
Iterations
#1: Mid-Twenties Male with dog and a job
· Do you have a pet and what kind?
- Yes, dog
· Have you ever left them alone?
- Yes, every single day
from 9-5, except for the weekends
· Do you ever miss your pet?
- All the time ... It is why I have a photo of him on my desk
· What do you do now when you leave your pet for an extended period
of time?
- I crate him and leave him with more toys than he can likely
handle, but I also am careful to not leave him with a choking hazard
· Are you ever scared they might get hurt while you are not home?
- Not really since he is
crated, but the few times when I let him roam while I am away, I do think
about his safety a lot
· Has your animal ever gotten hurt while you were gone?
- No
· Have you ever heard of this sort of devise before and were you
willing to buy?
- Yes, I have heard of it, but only because I did research into
it. I am only able to buy lesser models because good monitor units cost
over $100
· Would you feel better if you had an easy way to check on your pet?
- Absolutely, I love that my boarding place has the option
#3: Mid-fifties
female with a dog and a job
- · Do you have a pet and what kind?
o
Yes, yorkie
- · Have you ever left them alone?
o
Yes, when I go to work or on a trip
- · Do you ever miss your pet?
o
All the time
- · What do you do now when you leave your pet for an extended period of time?
o
I get a pet sitter
- · Are you ever scared they might get hurt while you are not home?
o
Yes, because she is so tiny and likes to jump on
and off the couch
- · Has your animal ever gotten hurt while you were gone?
o
No
- · Have you ever heard of this sort of devise before and were you willing to buy?
o
Yes, I have heard of something like that. I was
willing to buy
- · Would you feel better if you had an easy way to check on your pet?
o
Of course
#2: Early twenties
male with no dog
- · Do you have a pet and what kind?
o
I do not have a pet, but I used to have a dog
- · Have you ever left them alone?
o
Yes, we would leave him alone when my parents
went to work and I went to school
- · Do you ever miss your pet?
o
I miss my dog all the time
- · What do you do now when you leave your pet for an extended period of time?
o
When we left our dog, he would just roam the
house
- · Are you ever scared they might get hurt while you are not home?
o
I was not scared he would ever get hurt because
he was older and didn’t move a lot
- · Has your animal ever gotten hurt while you were gone?
o
He never got hurt
- · Have you ever heard of this sort of devise before and were you willing to buy?
o
I have seen this idea once or twice but never
had enough information about it to buy
- · Would you feel better if you had an easy way to check on your pet?
o
I think all pet owners would
Reflection:
I learned
from the interviews that people are willing to buy the product, but at a price
that is reasonable and with a little more information. I found it difficult to
find a person without an animal to interview, so I feel this product would be
very beneficial to most people.
Summary:
I think
my opportunity was enhanced by the iterations I made. Both dog owners were
excited about the product. I believe I now have a better understanding of how
much a product like this may be needed. I think entrepreneurs should take
customer feedback very seriously and adapt their products to what customers need.
This way the product will sell better and attract more consumers.
Hayley,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this idea and think it is so smart! Being a dog owner myself, I am always thinking about my dog and would be willing to buy the product for a good price. This idea may be something an entrepreneur might want to look into making and selling. There are so many dog and cat lovers in this world that if targeted at the right audience, it could be a hit! One thing I found surprising, was that 2/3 of the people you interviewed weren’t afraid of their dogs getting hurt while they weren’t home. With this said maybe entrepreneurs shouldn’t try and sell this product as a safety tool, because people aren’t really worried about their pets getting injured. Just a thought!
Great post!!
Hi, Haley! I got so excited reading your piece! My family actually owns a pet cube, which allows you to see your dog through an app when you aren;t home. However, the functions that allow you to interact with your pet aren't functional. My dog never chases the red light or responds to my voice through the speaker. I think your product is genius because these tools are very expensive and not accessible to everyone. My brother had to use a chunk of his paycheck to buy it for my mom. This was well done and very interesting!
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