22A- Elevator Pitch No. 3

https://youtu.be/9y7HmIc9WNM

22A- Elevator Pitch No. 3

From my last elevator pitch I added more information to support my reasoning for using the automatic sunscreen application machine. I added in references to all of the interviews I have conducted throughout the course to show why the machine is beneficial and a luxury. I also added more to my pitch by removing my vocal pauses and speaking continuously throughout the entire video. 

The difference between my first and my last elevator pitch is tremendous. While the information itself didn’t change drastically, the way the information is expressed and presented did. The first pitch a lot of pauses and not a lot of dull information. The last pitch has more useful and supported information. Also, by the third pitch I felt a lot more confident in the information I was presenting which made recording the pitch a lot easier. I was able to do it in two or three tries versus the first pitch which took me five or six tries. 

17A- Elevator Pitch No. 2

https://youtu.be/J78AWZfsgV8

17A- Elevator Pitch No. 2 

From my last elevator pitch I learned that slow, fluent speech is important. I should continue to take my time while explaining my product and focus on the quality of the information versus the amount. It is also important to highlight the benefits of the machine and the luxuries of using it. I found that my feedback on the quality of my information was most beneficial. Learning that those who watched my pitch easily understood the concept and idea of the automatic sunscreen application machine was great. I now know I can focus on rephrasing to flow smoother and fit in more information without having to worry about getting my point a crossed because it is understood. 

Based on the feedback I changed my wording to be more consistent and highlight more of the features of the automatic sunscreen application machine. I will continue to keep my speech at the same energy level and use the same simple, easy to understand wording. 

21A- Reading Reflection No. 2

21A- Reading Reflection No. 2 

For Reading Reflection Number 2, I chose to read, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams. The general theme of the book was motivation and encouragement. Adams inspires you to learn from your mistakes and too view failures as a device and a tool. He stresses that if success was easy everybody would be successful. You have to fail in order to succeed because failure makes you stronger, smarter, more talented, more experienced, and most importantly gives you the inspiration to try again. 

I think, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, links with what we are learning in ENT3003 by delivering us an authentic idea of what to expect when trying to make our ideas and products into real, profitable businesses. Adams informs us that even if we have this billion-dollar idea, it is still going to take time and failure to succeed. He prepares us for a future filled with disappointment, discouragement and difficulty. 

If I had to design an exercise for this class, based on this book, I would have the class write down a list of times they failed and describe how they felt at the time of the failure and how they feel now, was there something they could have done differently, and what they learned from the failure. 

My biggest surprise when reading, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, was Adams advice to be selfish. The actual act of being selfish when it comes to work, and play wasn’t what surprised me. The advice to be selfish towards yourself from work and play and get good sleep, eat well, and not participate in stressful things is what flabbergasted me. I would have anticipated to be told to work tougher and pull all-nighters to get things completed but Adams advises that you can’t be successful if you aren’t feeling successful mentally and physically. 

20A- Growing Your Social Capital

20A- Growing Your Social Capital 

1.    Kamela Brewer: Kamela Brewer is the founder of Bold Sunless Tan, a self-tanner product and mobile spray tan service. Brewer is a domain expert in my industry. She has been growing her brand almost 10 years. She has branched out from just spray tan application service to a full online product distribution. I found Kamela through her sponsorships of beauty pageants, including the Miss USA pageants and the Miss Cowboys Model Search. I contacted her through her website.  I asked Kamela about getting started in the skin care industry and how she got her product reviewed and certified. I also asked her thoughts on my elevator pitch. Including Kamela Brewer in my network will enhance my opportunity by helping guide my path on getting my product produced and sold. 

2.    Eddie Hennessy: Eddie Hennessy is the son of Phillipe and Sylvie Hennessy, founders of Pevonia. Pevonia is an all-natural skin care cosmetics line. Eddie Hennessy would be an expert in my market. He has been around the skin care market his entire life and knows the ins and outs of every aspect of the industry. Hennessy is the husband of Kimberly Hennessy, my boss and close friend. I contacted Eddie through Kimberly and asked him his thoughts on my elevator pitch. I expect to gain more advice on how to make my service great and also which sunscreen would work best in the machine itself. Including Eddie Hennessy in my network will enhance my ability to exploit the opportunity by providing me with a contact for a possible all-natural sunscreen provider, which from my interviews I learned is very important. 

3.    John Regan: John Regan is the Chief Executive Office of Product Quest Manufacturing, LLC. Product Quest is a company that bottles and designs bottling for large companies. John Regan would be an important supplier in my industry. He can either be a manufacturer of my machine or he can give me advice on which manufacturer to go to. I found John Regan through my mother. She and John are close friends, so I contacted him through her. I asked Mr. Regan to look at my idea napkin and see if he thought my sunscreen application machine design was doable and practical. Including John Regan in my network enhances my ability to exploit the opportunity by providing me with a reference to a potential manufacturer of my machine, as well as, a contact that works with many large companies that could take interest in my machine.

This experience will shape how I participate in future networking events by influencing me to make the first move or to be the one to start the conversation. At future events I will not hesitate to ask for other opinions and advice on my ideas as well as look for opportunities to work and grow together. 

This experience was different from my networking experiences in the past. In the past most of my networking was done face to face at meetings, events or parties and not through email or phone calls. 

19A- Idea Napkin No. 2

19A- Idea Napkin No. 2

Who you are: I am a business major who is passionate about the outdoors and being in the sun. I previously was head of marketing for a sunscreen company, Havana Sun Quality Sun care Cosmetics, which was made by the founder of Hawaiian Tropic. There I ran all marketing including social media, web design, promotional bikini pageants and expositions. I was greatly involved in the public relations of the company and understanding the sunscreen market.  At this company is where I came up with the idea for an automatic sunscreen application machine. 

What are you offering to customers: I am offering an automatic sunscreen application machine. This machine will work like a spray tan machine that mists you head to toe in a matter of seconds. The machine will be easy to use and affordable that you can use the machine multiple times to re-apply sunscreen if you are out in the sun for long periods of time. This machine allows you to quickly apply sunscreen without having to purchase an entire bottle of product that may not go to use if you are traveling. The machine will also allow you to choose what level of SPF you’d like and also if you would like your whole-body sprayed or only one area. 

Who are you offering it to: I am offering this product to hotel pools and public beaches where sunscreen application is necessary. I will sell the machine along with the sunscreen that I recommend to hotel/resort pool decks along with the machine’s refill service. From there the hotel will sell the use of the machine to its hotel guests. Customers will be people who have the desire to quickly apply sunscreen including parents of young children and single beachgoers who do not have a way to apply sunscreen to their backs. 

Why do they care: Customers care about the sunscreen application machine because they are not interested in wasting money on sunscreen products they won’t use. The machine allows for travelers to purchase sunscreen as needed vs in an un useable quantity. The machine is also quick and easy to use and provides a helpful hand for those who have their hands full with little ones and those whose hands can’t reach their own backs. 

What are your core competencies: My product stands out because it is not only a product but a service. It provides you with the sunscreen and also applies it for you. It is a luxury to have something so easy and accessible. The sunscreen application machine is also unique because there is not another sunscreen out there that applies it for you. 

I do think that these elements go together. My background in the sunscreen industry will provide me with the knowledge I need to advance my application machine to the highest standards and quality. I think that the luxury of an application service machine goes perfectly with the bonuses and splurges that go hand and hand with vacationing and traveling. 

From my feedback I got the idea to make the machine have more specialized features like application area selection. I also got the idea to be able to select different SPFs to different parts of the body. Since Adam said his concern was re application, I could provide the option to select stronger sunscreen in the areas like shoulders and face that burn more easily. 

I incorporated these ideas into my napkin by focusing on my background in the sun care industry and introduced more features to my product. 

18A- Create a Customer Avatar

18A- Create a Customer Avatar

My prototypical customer segment is active moms. These people generally drive a minivan or larger vehicle to fit their children. These people may be interested in shows on HGTV to look for new improvements on family living. These moms may have multiple children, and some may be adopted. These moms are always on the go running from sport practices to tutoring and maintaining a proper household. They are any mom who has young children. Moms pretty much always feel tired and older than they are because they are caring for multiple people. My prototypical customer would enjoy being outdoors and socializing and are interested in traveling. 

I don’t think I have a lot in common with my customer avatar now, but I do aspire to be similar to it. I do want to be an active mom who takes her kids on vacations and to the beach. I think that it is not a coincidence that I am designing a product that combines my past with my future. I used to work at a sun screen company, and I hope to be a mom one day and my product is to help quickly apply sunscreen at the beach which is very useful to parents.