16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

1) Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique:

• I believe I am very good at manifesting what I want out of life; I am able to envision certain goals/aspirations, which in turn makes me work harder for them and often the goals become reality.
• I am a hard worker/determined; I use my time wisely to complete tasks and do not get discouraged when they start to get difficult. I have worked very hard from a young age. I believe working hard and getting out of your comfort zone allow you to grow.
• I am relationship-oriented. I noticed this about myself once I started networking at career fairs and meeting more people. I have a certain confidence that comes out when forming new relationships in business and in my personal life.
• I am accountable. I am very good at doing what I say I will do, in turn this allows people to trust me. Going off of this, I am very punctual and usually early to events, as I think it is important to be respectful of others' time. 
• I am light-hearted/ I do not take things personal. I am good at finding light in hard times, which can change the overall atmosphere of a situation. I also am humorous, so I do not get offended when people joke with/about me.

2) Interviews:

• Ashton: Ashton is a good, long time family friend and she also goes to UF with me. In her interview, she mainly focused on how my hard-work is very evident in my life. She touched on the fact that I do not let obstacles get in the way of the work I do.
• https://soundcloud.com/user-465789734/ashton
• Abby: Abby is my older sister, she is 23 and lives in Denver, CO. In her interview, she mentioned how I am a determined individual; this is something that I also mentioned about myself (see above). Additionally, she said how my character is very inclusive and social, that being said she mentioned how I have a warm heart.
• https://soundcloud.com/user-465789734/abby
• Kelsey: Kelsey is my other older sister, she is 25. In her interview, she touched on my personal leadership style and on my hard work ethic/determination. Also she talked about how I can be a team player in a group setting.
• https://soundcloud.com/user-465789734/kelsey
• Elsa: I have known Elsa for ten years, she is a hometown neighbor and friend. She said I am different because of how resourceful and caring I am. She also mentioned my humor.
• https://soundcloud.com/user-465789734/elsas-response
• Jonathan: I have known Jonathan for 3-4 years and I consider him a great friend. In his interview, he talked about how I have many qualities that set me apart from others; he said I was emotional, independent, driven, and intelligent. Also, he talked about how I am compassionate, yet extroverted and outgoing. 
• https://soundcloud.com/user-465789734/jon

3) Reflect: When comparing how I see myself and how others see me, it was reassuring to see that my friends and family are also able to notice my hard work ethic and determination, because I take pride in this quality. Though there are differences in my top five qualities I picked and the ones that my interviewees picked, I am able to see their perspective on what they said. For example, Kelsey talked about my leadership style; when I was making the list for myself, I forgot to add this to it, though I am very proud of my ability to lead others. I think the differences were caused by different perspectives; I think I come across to others differently than I actually do. Or, perhaps the qualities I think are most obvious to others are overshadowed by different characteristics. I do agree with the interviews I had; they all made sense to me. To my list from part one, I would add something about how I interact with others. Perhaps I would add how I lead by example or how I am generous; I would add these qualities because I think they are important and I overlooked them initially. It was a pleasant surprise to hear what those I am closest to see in me. 

15A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

As mentioned in previous posts, my product I am focusing on is Canine Condiments. Canine Condiments would be a line of nutrient-dense sauces for your dog's food. This product would aim in helping underweight dogs gain weight, elderly dogs continue interest in eating, and help picky dogs find a healthy solution.

1) Arranging the interviews: The segment I identified was individuals who have elderly/older dogs. I interviewed three people: Tracy, she has a nine year old boxer named Gator; Matt Dolan, he has an 12 year old pit mix named Jax; and Macy Howard, she has a 11 year old pit mix named Abby.
2) Alternative evaluation: I presented the interviewees with a list of alternatives to Canine Condiments and had them select their top choice for their dog and explain their thought process. The set of alternatives I had the interviewees' select from were:

• Nutri-Cal, a high calorie, dietary puppy supplement, costs between $8-$11 for a 4.25 oz. tube, can be purchased at pet supply stores or online. 
• Add gravy to their food in order to encourage the dog to eat, costs between $1-$3 for a 12 oz jar of gravy, can be purchased at any grocery store or online.
• Try a different type of dry dog food, typically costs $30-$40 for a 30 lb bag, available at pet stores, online, or grocery stores.
• Try a different type of wet dog food (or mix wet food into dry food), typically costs $25-$35 for 12 12.5 oz cans (or, $1.50-$3 per can), available at pet stores, online, or grocery stores.
• Cook for your dog (typically rice, chicken, sweet potato, beef, eggs, etc), the costs of this varies, as it depends what you prefer to cook for your dog, can find the food at grocery stores.

Interviews:

     -Tracy's pick: mixing wet dog food with dry dog food. She picked this alternative because of convenience of being able to find wet dog foods as well as price. She also mentioned how the wet food could add nutrition to her dog's food.

     -Matt's pick: Matt also picked to mix wet food with his dog's dry food. Matt picked this option because he saw the most overall value; wet dog food is not super expensive while you can easily evaluate the nutritional value of the wet food. He mentioned how he would have picked gravy, but he felt he would have been overlooking the nutritional aspect, while focusing more on the savings.

     -Macy's pick: Macy explained how she would cook for her dog. She told me how she already will cook chicken breast in her air fryer for Abby, and add it to her food. Additionally, she will occasionally add bacon bits or egg. She picked this alternative because she enjoys cooking for her dog, and she thinks it is the healthiest method. What she did not like about this option is how expensive it can get, especially with potential meat shortages.

3) How/where they buy: 

• Tracy:
• Prefers to buy online as much as she can, as she works six days a week and finds it most convenient.
• When buying online, she uses her credit card.
• She is the main decision maker in purchases.
• Matt:
• Prefers to buy in-person when possible. 
• Uses cash or debit card when purchasing for his dog.
• Matt is typically the decision maker, but his girlfriend, Ella, is also involved.
• Macy:
• Prefers to buy in-person because she likes to get out of the house and does not like to pay for shipping.
• Prefers to use debit card when buying items.
• She is the main decision maker in purchases.

4) Post purchase evaluation: The people I interviewed unanimously said that they evaluate purchases for their dog based on if their dog actually likes it and if it works for the intended purpose. They think their purchase was a bad idea when they end up wasting money because their dog does not like it or it does not work for their need. 

5) Summary: Overall, it seems people are more concerned with nutritional value and cost. When picking an alternative, the people I interviewed went with options that have been around for some time, rather than new products. Also, I found it interesting how the adult in their mid 50's decided to shop online, and the younger adults decided to shop in-person. How accessible the product is was also an important factor when deciding on an alternative. 

6) Conclusions: This segment is concerned with value and the effectiveness of the product. They all are concerned for their dog's health and want to find a healthy option to get their dog excited to eat. This segment also judges their purchase based on overall effectiveness and practicality. This segment also seems to prefer paying up-front, rather than putting on a credit card, so cost in important.

     

14A- Halfway Reflection

I am currently watching Kim Possible on Disney+, so I thought it would be appropriate to include this very tenacious character.

1. So far, I really enjoy this course; I have been able to tap into my creative side while still learning valuable tools. That being said, this class is very fun, but it is vital to stay up to date with the many assignments/lectures. To keep up with the course requirements, I have had to get more disciplined. In order to do so, I dedicated Monday-Wednesday to the course assignments; I complete one on Monday, another Tuesday, and the last one on Wednesday. I also use Monday-Wednesday to watch the video lectures and take notes, so I am prepared for the cupcake quizzes. Finally, I aim to get peer reviews and the cupcake completed before Saturday, as I reserve Saturdays for myself to relax. I have found splitting up the work, rather than doing it all in one day, keeps me engaged in assignments and helps me produce meaningful work. Previously, I was a huge procrastinator, but I have really been more diligent with this course.
2. During week three of class, I was very close to not doing the "Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends" assignment. I felt like giving up when I faced this assignment because it was the first assignment that required a little bit of extra time, in order to research current trends. Also, I initially struggled to think of opportunities to exploit, so I began to think I was just not going to turn any post in for the assignment. What pulled me through was continuing to research until something inspired me; I continued the night looking at news articles about the economy/new regulations until I came up with a starting point. I feel like I have been able to develop my tenacious attitude over the past two months; as I mentioned before, I have become much more diligent from this class and it is very motivating. When I finally got on a schedule that worked for my attention span and deadline, I finally felt motivated to work hard in this course. 
3. The tips I would give to a student next semester would be:
• In order to foster tenacity, create a list every morning of what you would like to complete that day. This helps motivate individuals far beyond classes, but it does help with finishing assignments. I have started doing this when I drink my morning coffee, and a list helps you stay on track, and make tasks seem not as big. In turn, you feel more accomplished and will (hopefully) continue the feeling into the next day.
• When developing your opportunity/product/service, consider coming up with an idea you are actually passionate about. In this class, you are constantly building off of one idea (creating elevator pitch, figuring out customer behavior, etc), so it would motivate you more to product quality work if the product/service/idea is one you actually care about. Not to mention, doing this also makes the classwork much more enjoyable.
• In order to develop the 'tenacious mindset,' try to not let fear or the fear of failing take control. I often times do assignments, not knowing if I am doing them 100% correctly. The good thing about at least completing the assignments is that in peer reviews, your peers can help you get back on track. Essentially, just do not get discouraged because that is how you grow, and develop the drive to keep moving forward.

13A- Reading Reflection No. 1

I read Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life by Lisa Chaney.

• What surprised you the most?
• What surprised me the most about Gabrielle's (Coco's) life was that she pioneered several aspects of timeless style and fashion. Coco was "the first woman to make suntan fashionable" (Chaney 103). Prior to this breakthrough, having a tan implied that you worked outside and were in a lower social class, but on a picnic with Arthur (her original lover), Coco would glamorize having a tan. Also, Coco invented the little black dress, more commonly known as the LBD. The author refers to the LBD as, "Perhaps the most legendary of Gabrielle's designs" (Chaney 233). To this day, the LBD is a staple in every women's closet.
• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
• Though there is much to admire about Coco Chanel, what I admire most is her ability to stick to her roots, while changing the standards of fashion and beauty. For the time, Coco's designs were different, and almost masculine. She had an unconventional lifestyle (being a live-in mistress), and her abnormality shined through her clothing and designs. Moreover, Coco changed the fashion norms when she "attached a rabbit, the most plebeian of furs, to many of her outfits" (Chaney 108). Attaching such an undesired fur to a garment allowed Coco to pay respects to her poor upbringing, and she also displayed how humble she was.  Coco never tried to be someone she was not, a trait that is most admirable. 
• What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
• What I admired least about Coco was how many affairs she had. Though she grew up in a time where mistresses and affairs were very normalized, I could barley keep track of which man she was which, and why they stoped seeing each other. At first, she left Etienne for his friend, Arthur, who was a war hero and Coco's true love. Then, Coco went more for artistic men, then I began to loose track of which man she was with. I feel as if I would admire her that much more if she was not as promiscuous, though I recognize the time period she was in.
• Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
• Yes, from a very early age, Coco was faced with hardship. She grew up with an almost nonexistent father and eventually found her siblings and herself to be orphans. This upbringing alone presents several barriers for Coco. Not coming from status or money, Coco faced adversity. Also, there were several times where Coco tried to take up other arts, such as singing and dancing. Coco failed and her dance teacher, Elise, said, "She just wasn't right for the stage" (Chaney 84). This failure drove Coco to put more of herself into her designs. 
• What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?
• Perhaps Coco's most obvious competencies was her confidence. Though her confidence could sometimes come off as prideful, this trait was large in-part responsible for her success. One instance where Coco's confidence and strength stands out is when the author describes Coco as her lover's (Arthur's) equal: "Her outstanding natural intelligence was clearly a match for Arthur's. Gabrielle was the only woman he had ever met who appeared to be his equal" (Chaney 116/117).  This is important, because in the early 1900's, it was unheard of for a woman (especially a mistress) to be considered equal or even threatening to men.
• Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.
• One part of the reading that confused me was that I did not understand why Coco did not take credit for any of the costumes she created. Often, Coco would create costumes for plays of the time, but it was rumored that she never came to the performances, nor hardly referring to her association with these works. I would think that putting her name on these costumes would only get her more exposure, which leads to the confusion. Perhaps she was not pleased with the work she put out, or maybe she did not want people to see that side of her designs. 
• If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
• The first question I would ask Coco would be, "If you were gaining such success with your fashion empire, why did you continuously try to take up other art forms (dancing/singing)?" I would ask her this because this fact confuses me. I would like to know her intentions with wanting to divide her energy between fashion and preforming arts. I also would ask her, "Was it worth loosing Arthur to make yourself more independent and free?" I would ask her this because even through her success, Coco still longed for her original love, Arthur.
• What do you think was the entrepreneur's opinion of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
• The author made it very clear from the beginning of the book that hard work was Coco's life; in fact, her work has consumed her life (Chaney 3). That being said, I think Coco's opinion of hard work is that it is vital in pursuing your dreams. I believe that Coco used work as her escape, because in her mind, she never was going to be independent unless she worked hard to break through to a new social class. I agree with her opinion of hard work, as I believe I am a very hard worker. Like Coco, I do not get discouraged by obstacles, instead I adapt to overcome them. 

12A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Just to refresh everyone's memory, the product I am focusing on is Canine Condiments. Canine Condiments is a line of sauces made for dogs, almost as a gravy for their food. This product would help underweight dogs gain weight/develop an appetite and help older dogs taste their food better and eat more frequently.

1) The market segment I chose to focus on is people with elderly dogs.

2) From networking with friends, I was able to identify three people to interview who fit my identified segment:

• Interview 1: I will be interviewing Allie Perkner, a 21 year-old college student who has a 14 year old Australian shepherd
• Interview 2: I will be interviewing Bernard Neret, a college graduate who is responsible for his family's 14 year-old schnauzer
• Interview 3: I will be interviewing Tara Berry, the owner of a local pizza shop who has a 12 year old lab, who is currently in very bad shape. 

3) Need awareness:

• Interview 1
• When did you first notice a change in your dog's appetite/ eating patterns?
• "I'm not sure of the exact date, but when Tilly was probably around 12 she stopped eating as much as she used to. Around the same time her agility began to go, my family and I noticed he go from eating two full meals a day to one meal a day, and now she just grazes and has trouble finishing one full bowl."
• How often and in what fashion is the changed patterns brought to your attention?
• "Now, it is a daily battle I have with Tilly, so this issue is brought to my attention all the time. I notice the issue whenever I put food in her bowl and she will sniff it, and then walk away."
• Where do you notice this issue when it arises? 
• "Typically I am at the home when she does not eat. If I'm not home, then I am usually at my parents' house."
• Interview 2
• When did you first notice a change in your dog's appetite/ eating patterns?
• "Duke never has been a huge eater; he used to be pretty dainty with food, but at the same time he would still finish his meals. Duke started to not finish his food probably about two summers ago, maybe a little more than that. We switched him to wet food at that point and he eventually began to not like that too much either, but he still will eat it if we mix some deli meat in it."
• How often and in what fashion is the changed patterns brought to your attention?
• "I notice the irregular eating at least a few times a week. It is brought to my attention because I will put his food down, go do something around the house or go somewhere, come back and the food is still sitting there."
• Where do you notice this issue when it arises? 
• "As I mentioned before, I notice it at the house. Occasionally I'll notice it if we go to the vet or something and he doesn't have any interest in treats."
• Interview 3
• When did you first notice a change in your dog's appetite/ eating patterns?
• "I know this sounds terrible but I honestly didn't notice the eating was an issue until I began to see his ribs and bones popping out of his skin. Having three dogs, I am sure one of the other dogs was eating Logan's food, so I assumed that he had been eating it. When I saw how skinny he was getting, I payed closer attention to it and turns out he just isn't eating! This could be a health thing because of his cancer or the fact he is just getting too old."
• How often and in what fashion is the changed patterns brought to your attention?
• "Well now I notice it everyday, I know we're going to have to put him down soon and seeing him not eat just reminds me. I notice because we began feeding him in our bedroom, away from the other dogs, and he just lays there instead of eating."
• Where do you notice this issue when it arises? 
• "Like I said, I notice it at the house; basically whenever the kids or I am spending time with him."

4) Information search:

• Interview 1
• When you first became aware of this problem, what was the first thing you did to find a solution?
• "The very first thing I did was bring it up to my parents; they suggested I buy her some ground beef and cook it up, and mix it in her food so that she gets some calories in her. I quickly made a vet appointment for Tilly so I could get a professional opinion."
• What sources of information did you seek out/look for?
• "I was looking for someone who was credible, so I went to the vet. I have had some issues with my vet in the past, so I also went to some forums online written by credible people for advice moving forward, because Tilly is my first dog."
• What did your Google searches look like?
• "I googled phrases like: my dog stopped eating; 12 year old dog eating; elderly dog care"
• Who did you talk to for advice?
• I talked to my vet, parents, and friends who had dogs. A lot of people my age have younger dogs, and I am the minority with an older dog, so I did not find much information from them."
• Interview 2
• When you first became aware of this problem, what was the first thing you did to find a solution?
• "The first thing I did was try Duke on a different brand of food. I thought maybe switching to a wet food would make him feel encouraged to eat more regular. It worked for a little, but soon he got bored of the new food."
• What sources of information did you seek out/look for?
• "I utilized the internet for a potential solution, as most would do in today's day and age. I also asked my parents, as they have had a few dogs before Duke and wanted to see if this was normal or not."
• What did your Google searches look like?
• "Dog starting to eat less, help dog is not eating, how does age affect appetite in dogs."
• Who did you talk to for advice?
• "I went to my parents. I was going to talk to my vet, but my parents informed me that this is normal for dogs to loose appetite with age." 
• Interview 3
• When you first became aware of this problem, what was the first thing you did to find a solution?
• "Well when I first noticed the weight Logan had lost, I immediately had to go to the vet because I was so shocked. After we learned the Logan had cancer, I began to actually cook for him; chicken breast and rice."
• What sources of information did you seek out/look for?
• "I went to the vet and the internet. I was just looking for someone who had had to deal with something similar so I could get their advice."
• What did your Google searches look like?
• "I searched stuff like: dog sudden weight loss, how to make older dog gain weight, labs, diet, and aging, and cancer and diet for dogs."
• Who did you talk to for advice?
• "I mainly kept in close contact with the vet. I also got advice from my girlfriends, because they have been through similar stuff."

5) From the interviews I was able to gather some information. First off, I noticed that it is common for people to seek out information from their veterinarian when they notice changes in their dog's eating pattern. This brings me to believe it would be beneficial to run studies involving veterinarians and to potentially sell Canine Condiments in line with vet offices. I also learned that google is a common avenue for people to reach out to when trying to find a solution, with commonly searched words among the people I interviewed. It also seems as though the people I interviewed were not educated on what happens to dogs and their appetite as they age. Finally, I noticed people tend to change their pet's diet all together when they noticed their dog was not eating, rather than seek out additives for their food.

6) Based on the information I gathered from the interviews conducted, I would describe this segment as very aware of the need at hand. Each person interviewed explained that they are and have been aware of the issue for a bit of time, and they are reminded of it frequently. In terms of information search, I think this segment could reach out to other outlets, like pet stores, to get information. Also, they seem to all be online, which could open an opportunity to potentially sell direct to consumer, on our company's website. Overall, this segment is aware of the need, but it seems they could have an easier time in the information search if there was a direct solution for their problem, rather than relying on trial and error.

11A- Idea Napkin No. 1

1) Being a fourth year business administration student at UF, I have been able discover my passion for business. More specifically, the part of business I enjoy most is any aspect where I get to work and communicate with clients and customers. I am talented with numbers and math (not so much reading and writing). I am also a talented runner; I have a one-year-old dog who is my running buddy. I have been in the service industry for five years now, so I am very comfortable communicating with customers and networking. Being a server for so many years, I have been able to master the skill of working under pressure/ in a chaotic environment. My aspirations for myself after graduation are to secure a job with a company I believe in, and from there work my way up. I plan on saving and investing as much money as I can early in my career, so I can retire early and be financially independent. If I were to start my business idea (Canine Condiments, sauces for picky dogs), I could see my life having both more stress and flexibility; more stress because I would be responsible for the company's success and employees' well being and more flexible because I would be my own boss.

2) The unmet need I intend to solve is a way for dog owners, vets, etc. to encourage their underweight/ elderly dogs to eat. For several breeds, the dogs are so hyper that eating is too boring; they would much rather be playing or seeing what their master is up to. In the long-run, this causes the dog to be underweight; this happened with me when I got my puppy. On the other hand, elderly dogs loose their sense of appetite and taste, so they tend to loose weight easily or not gain the nutrients in their food. I would like to create a condiment for these dogs' wet or dry food that would get them excited to eat. I would call this product Canine Condiments and all the customer does is add some of the product to their dogs food and mix. With different flavors, the dogs will think of their food more as a treat, rather than the same boring kibble everyday. Canine Condiments also would be heavily tested to assure the nutritional value is evident. The product will not only encourage dogs to eat, but also help them gain an appetite over a period of time.

3) Ideally, customers would be the parents of underweight or elderly dogs. Nearly 47% of dogs are underweight, so the market is definitely there. Also, one of our b2b customers would be pet stores and veterinary offices. Selling to pet stores and vets will allow us to have our ideal customer in the end, while going through a different channel to reach them. Also, we could sell directly to the humane society and animal shelters; this would allow for new rescues to put on weight in needed. Psychologically, our customers would be caring and driven to help their animals.

4) The customers care because, in general, people will pay large sums of money if it will benefit their pet. People love their pets. Canine Condiments would be over the counter, so it would be accessible to all pet owners. Previously, per owners would be encouraged to try their pets on different food until they find something the animal will eat. I had to do this for my dog and it ended up being expensive and wasteful, as I ended up with several bags of dog food my dog refused to eat. Canine Condiments would be cheaper than buying bags and bags of dog food, while having different flavors to appeal to customers.

5) What sets us apart from everyone else is that we are made from all organically sources ingredients, unlike competitors. Additionally, Canine Condiments would be the first food additive for dogs that is specifically focused on weight/appetite gain. Something that we have that nobody else has is our secret, human-grade, recipe. This recipe would give confidence to owners that their dog is only ingesting the highest quality ingredients.

I believe that these elements fir together, for the most part. I think my business has a large market of potential customers, that would be willing to spend money on their pet (especially if there was a medical concern for their weight). I would like to improve the business's core competencies. I believe we can further stand out from our competitors, in order to make us the superior product. We can do this by gathering data from potential customers and finding out what appeals to them. Other than this, all of the elements fit and flow together nicely.

10A- Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A- Solving the Hypothesis, Part 2

Interview #1- Penny Parks, my roommate's mother, owns 1 dog

• Penny has a four year old french bulldog named Bean. She explains that Bean never has had any issues with food, and that she actually is overweight for her age. She goes on to explain that she is a fan of small/ toy sized dogs, so it is very easy for them to get overweight. Though penny thinks Bean gets the proper vitamins and minerals, Bean could exercise more to live a healthier life. Penny explained she would not buy the product for her dog, as Bean is actively trying to loose weight.

Interview #2- Alex Pippins, college student, owns 1 dog

• Alex has a one year old lab named Mojo. He explained that his dog is at perfect weight, and he can even eat as much as he wants because he will burn it off with all of his energy. Alex goes on to explain that his dog gets all of the nutrient he needs because he strictly eats food and treats made for dogs (no human food). Finally, Alex would not buy this product because his dog eats anything anyway, so it does not make sense to buy more for him.

Interview #3- Lainey Harris, college student, owns 2 dogs

• Lainey rescued her one-year-old lab/doberman puppy from the Jacksonville Humane Society. She stated that Bella is at a healthy weight and is on a daily eating schedule, so she is on a strict routine with food. She also believed her dog get all of the necessary nutrients, but she mentions supplements are always a solution if that is a problem. Finally, Lainey would not buy the product because her dog's weight is exactly where it should be. She goes on to explain she would not buy it because she would not want her dog to become overweight.

Interview #4- Evy Hines, relator, owns 1 dog

• Evy has a 14 year old pug named Gurd. She explains that Gurd has no trouble with being underweight, she is actually more on the obese side for dogs. Next, Evy described Gurd's diet as being home-cooked (ex- boiled chicken, rice, etc), so she believes that Gurd gets all the nutrients to live a healthy life. Evy would not buy the product, because she explains she puts chicken bouillon in her dog's food, and it acts as seasoning. 

Interview #5- Maddie Silva, mutual friend, owns 2 dogs

• Maddie has two labs, Sadie and Bowe. Both of her dogs devour food as soon as it is put down for them, so they eat a lot. She explains that they seem to be at a good weight, but if anything could loose a little but because of how many treats they get. She explains they are on a very high quality dog food with clean ingredients, so she believes they get enough vitamins and minerals. Maddie decided she would pass on the product, because her dogs will eat the same, bland food every day and be happy about it. 

Who: People who fall out the boundary are those whose dogs are a healthy weight/ overweight. This is because these owners do not have any reason to spend extra money on a weight gain product for their already overweight pet. Also, I found that people with small dogs are out of the boundary. This is because small dogs gain weight easier. For example, if you give a small dog and a large dog the same sized bone, the small dog will gain more weight from it. Also, outsiders are people who do not own dogs/ do not have any relationship to dogs. 

What: The need I identified differs from another need on a case-by-case basis. Though this need can apply to any dog, young or old, it really boils down to the overall health of the dog. Those who did see a need for my product had relationships with dogs who struggle with either eating or their weight. Those who would not buy the product all have dogs who are at a healthy weight or overweight. Though it can vary wether an owner needs this product, all vets, groomers, and pet stores can benefit by carrying a product similar to mine. 

Why: As mentioned before, the underlying cause of the outsiders' need compared to those inside the boundary is the overall health of the specific dog. If the dog is overweight, it makes no sense buying this product. This product is intended for dogs that are underweight or older dogs who have lost their appetite, not dogs who eat everything in sight.

Inside the boundary		Outside the boundary
Who is in:	Dog owners whose dogs are elderly or underweight; veterinarians; pet store managers; groomers	Who is not:	People who do not own dogs; people whose dogs are overweight or at a healthy weight
What the need is:	An all natural and healthy food additive that encourages dogs to develop an appetite and put on weight	What the need is not:	The need is not finding a new treat to bring to market or contributing to the pet-obesity crisis
Why the need exists?	The need exists because some animals have trouble developing an appetite (for example, too busy to eat) and older dogs have trouble tasting as they age.	Alternative explanation:	Each dog has specific needs to their journey with food. They could try a different food instead of an additive to their food.

8A- Solving the Problem

Touched on in my previous post, there are several dog owners, veterinarians, and pet store owners/managers who interact with underweight dogs. Puppies and adult dogs can become underweight due to several factors, for example, insufficient diet, issues with nutrient retention, or they get too distracted to eat the same boring food everyday. Additionally, as dogs age, they begin to loose their sense of taste and appetite, making it difficult to assure older dogs are getting a proper nutrient-dense diet. All dogs, both young and old, with an insufficient weight/diet need an easy way to get the canines excited to eat, proposing an evident opportunity to exploit.

My solution for this problem is to formulate a sauce/condiment for dog food, both wet or dry, that supplies necessary vitamins and minerals for our four legged friends. Instead of acting as a pet food replacement, the product would act as a supplement. Ideally, the formula of the sauce would be made of all organic and naturally found ingredients, so it most likely would have to be refrigerated after opening. Flavors could be sweet, like peanut butter and banana, or savory, like ground beef with parmesan. This product would ideally be available for purchase in pet stores, form the vet, or online in order to make eating more exciting for any dog.

What inspired me for this idea was my own dog, Mable. She is a one year old labradoodle who gets extremely fluffy. Back in November, I took her to get her first shave and when I picked her up she looked so skinny and unhealthy. I realized that the fluff was hiding how skinny she was; you could see every rib in her body. She never has been denied access to food, but always has been a picky eater. Since then, I have tried several ways for her to gain an appetite. I tried mixing her dry food with wet food, adding gravy to her food, and even cooking fresh veggies and protein for her. Since then, we have gotten a handle on her weight and I found she prefers that her food flavors are mixed up from time to time, but I really wish this product was on the market when I needed it.