1. The domain expert that I talked to in my industry is an individual from GE's appliance customer service department. I first spoke with someone who did not know the inner workings of GE's microwaves. However, I was eventually transferred to someone more knowledgeable on the subject. Will is an engineer from Florida State University and has been working at GE for 2 years. He did indeed say that this invention is possible and that there was actually a product very similar to it on the market right now. However, this product only chills drinks and it is extremely expensive. This individual truly gave me more knowledge on my product and even gave me his number for questions in the future. This person being added to my network will definitely help when it comes to the technical issues of my product.
2. The market expert that I talked to was my friend, Josh's, dad. He is a Marketing manager for a Best Buy in South Florida. He has been working at Best Buy's marketing department for 8 years and knows an extensive amount of information on each appliance in the store. He even is aware of the individual target markets of each appliance in the store. He really helped me figure out how to gauge whether my target market is the correct one and said that the market for a regular microwave would be families. This individual could even help me when it comes to finding people who are interested in my product.
3. The important supplier I talked to was a customer service representative for K&L Microwaves. This individual has a vast knowledge of microwave parts that are distributed to brand name appliance companies. I found the customer service phone number on K&L's website and spoke with the first person to answer the phone. I explained my idea and they said that they would be able to provide certain parts that would go on a normal microwave. They also claimed to provide special order parts which may be useful when making my product. This individual provided me with the costs of ordering parts for a microwave as well as provided me feedback for my idea. This contact will be extremely important in the future when I want to build my product.
This experience definitely had a positive impact on my networking skills. I now understand how to not only talk to others when representing myself, but also when representing a company, I am used to networking through friends and family, but this provided me with a more professional form of networking. This will definitely be one of many opportunities for me to connect with others in the business world.
Friday, March 23, 2018
21A- Reading Reflection No. 2
1. The general theme of Thinking, Fast and Slow is to appeal to people's intuition rather than reason when using a marketing technique. The book discusses two award-winning psychologists views on why exactly intuition is so much important than reason. Daniel Kahneman claims that we are attracted to the "fame, feeling, and form" of advertisements.
2. This book connected to what we've been learning in class because when it comes to making an advertisement for my reverse microwave idea, I will have a better idea of how I should appeal to buyers. This book added to what I've been learning and gave me a completely new perspective on what to focus on when focusing on my target market. Obviously, it is extremely important to be reasonable, but the ability for people to quickly understand what my product is all about is even more important.
3. If I was to design an exercise based on this book, I would have each person in a class create an advertisement for a product of their choice. Then, classmates would fill out a questionnaire with questions that will measure the individuals level of intuition. For example, "On a scale if 1-5, how quickly did you make a connection to this advertisement?" The last question would eventually ask how effective the advertisement actually was to them. Each question will be based on intuitive thinking or rational thinking.
4. My biggest surprise when reading this book is that being intuitive when creating an advertisement may even outweigh logic. I always believed that any advertisement should be logical. While this is true to an extent, it makes sense how an advertisement being more understandable is important. The perfect mix of intuition and reasoning is the key to any marketing technique.
2. This book connected to what we've been learning in class because when it comes to making an advertisement for my reverse microwave idea, I will have a better idea of how I should appeal to buyers. This book added to what I've been learning and gave me a completely new perspective on what to focus on when focusing on my target market. Obviously, it is extremely important to be reasonable, but the ability for people to quickly understand what my product is all about is even more important.
3. If I was to design an exercise based on this book, I would have each person in a class create an advertisement for a product of their choice. Then, classmates would fill out a questionnaire with questions that will measure the individuals level of intuition. For example, "On a scale if 1-5, how quickly did you make a connection to this advertisement?" The last question would eventually ask how effective the advertisement actually was to them. Each question will be based on intuitive thinking or rational thinking.
4. My biggest surprise when reading this book is that being intuitive when creating an advertisement may even outweigh logic. I always believed that any advertisement should be logical. While this is true to an extent, it makes sense how an advertisement being more understandable is important. The perfect mix of intuition and reasoning is the key to any marketing technique.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Idea Napkin No. 2
1) You
My name is Matthew Field. I am a junior advertising major at the University of Florida. I want the Reverse Microwave to be a part of microwaves everywhere. I want it to be a normal feature. If the product takes off, I plan to dedicate the majority of my time to maintaining and selling it.
2) What are you offering to customers?
My product is the Reverse Microwave, which is exactly what it sounds like. I want to give consumers the ability to cool down their food at their own convenience. No more waiting for it to cool down or blowing on your food or putting it in the fridge for a bit. My product will let you cool down your food in record time, but thats not all. You could do things like un-melt ice cream and make ice. The opportunities are endless.
3) Who are you offering it to?
The Reverse Microwave can be sold to a wide array of consumers. However, if I had to narrow it down to a few, I think mothers and college students would benefit the most from it. Same people who use a regular microwave.
4) Why do they care?
I am offering something that literally no one else has. This technology is the first of its kind. This will be so beneficial and to a majority of the general consumers as well as just making life easier.
5) What are your core competencies?
As I said before, this technology is the first of its kind. People are going to be amazed!
I think these 5 elements fit well together. I think people are going to care greatly about this product, it is going to be a game changer. America loves new things.
My name is Matthew Field. I am a junior advertising major at the University of Florida. I want the Reverse Microwave to be a part of microwaves everywhere. I want it to be a normal feature. If the product takes off, I plan to dedicate the majority of my time to maintaining and selling it.
2) What are you offering to customers?
My product is the Reverse Microwave, which is exactly what it sounds like. I want to give consumers the ability to cool down their food at their own convenience. No more waiting for it to cool down or blowing on your food or putting it in the fridge for a bit. My product will let you cool down your food in record time, but thats not all. You could do things like un-melt ice cream and make ice. The opportunities are endless.
3) Who are you offering it to?
The Reverse Microwave can be sold to a wide array of consumers. However, if I had to narrow it down to a few, I think mothers and college students would benefit the most from it. Same people who use a regular microwave.
4) Why do they care?
I am offering something that literally no one else has. This technology is the first of its kind. This will be so beneficial and to a majority of the general consumers as well as just making life easier.
5) What are your core competencies?
As I said before, this technology is the first of its kind. People are going to be amazed!
I think these 5 elements fit well together. I think people are going to care greatly about this product, it is going to be a game changer. America loves new things.
Friday, March 16, 2018
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My product can be sold to a number of different individuals. Anyone from a stay at home mother to a college student can benefit from the Reverse Microwave. But, for the sake of the assignment I am going to narrow it down to 1. Mikey is a Sophomore in college. He often has late nights studying and does not have time to wait for the food that he orders to cool down. He wants to just have it and go to the library. That is why this product is perfect for him.
What do I have in common with him? We are both college students. That is about it.
I do not think this is a coincidence.
What do I have in common with him? We are both college students. That is about it.
I do not think this is a coincidence.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Halfway Reaction
1) Tenaciousness is a competency
- I would say the biggest skill that I have used with this class is time management. I could not do this class without it. But that is big for me because up until this class my time management skills were awful. But now I understand how to properly space out my work so I do not get overwhelmed.
2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude
- There have been a few blog posts for this class in which I almost gave up. Some of them I just look how it is only worth one point and just want to shrug my shoulders and have fun with my day. However, I think long term and what that point will do for me. It is not worth missing. So i get that last interview, or do that tedious post, and get that point.
3) Three Tips
- Tip #1... WORK COMES FIRST!! Especially in this class the work does not take long, so why not just finish it and then go out. There is no reason to take the points off for this work.
- Tip #2... Make friends in the class. It is always good to have friends in any class. People to call when you do not get an assignment or people to complain about the assignments with. Either way it is always great to have friends in class.
- Tip #3... Make sure you are getting something out of the class. Do not just do assignments and not pay attention to what you are doing. If you do that than it is not even worth taking the class.
Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2
My interviews for this post were very helpful in furthering my product. In an interview with Dianne, a mother of 2, she explained to me that the price would need to be right because as good of an idea as it is, it is not a need. She told me that I have an excellent idea that I would like to combine it with a regular microwave. She said no one has room for 2 microwaves. My next interview was with Thomas, a Sophomore at the University of Florida, he really loved the product. He also said the only thing that really mattered to him was price. It seemed to be a trend that people only cared about price, really because my product is not a necessity.
In the end, I learned that no matter who I interviewed, price was the biggest factor. I was able to convince 2 of my interviewees that this product was a necessity for select people. However, everyone feels it should be a feature on a regular microwave instead of having 2. Which was always my intention.
In the end, I learned that no matter who I interviewed, price was the biggest factor. I was able to convince 2 of my interviewees that this product was a necessity for select people. However, everyone feels it should be a feature on a regular microwave instead of having 2. Which was always my intention.
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