Testing It, Pt. 2
Interview 1: I first talked to one of my good friends who lives down the street from me. She would have the need because she dresses cute and shops online often. However, she says that overall, the quality of t-shirts isn't something that bothers her on a daily basis. She said that she is fine with lower quality goods as it ultimately fits her need.
Interview 2: Secondly, I interviewed another one of my good friends who I consider to be very stylish. I asked her if she felt that there was an unfilled need for better quality and affordable t-shirts. She said that she does feel like there is a need for this, but she wouldn't want to use an online retailer to find her clothes. She enjoys the experience of going to the thrift store and picking out the clothes herself. For her, going thrifting is a hobby and to have to shop using an online retailer takes away from that thrill.
Interview 3: My brother is obsessed with punk rock sorts of band tees, but he's very picky. When I interviewed him, I asked him how he would feel about an online retailer which specialized in quality and affordable tees. He said that he really doesn't care to purchase his tees online, he buys all his bands tees at the actual concert. For him, the shirts represent a memory of the fun time he had at a concert which meant a lot to him. Buying the shirts online wouldn't give him the same feeling as getting one from a concert.
Interview 4: I discussed the opportunity with my niece. She's thirteen and is just starting to develop her own sense of style. She said she likes the idea of having better quality shirts, but she wouldn't want a t-shirt because she doesn't want to spend money on them. She only really wears t-shirts to bed and doesn't care if they're trendy. She would rather purchase tank tops, rompers, dresses, and things of the sort instead of spending money on tees which she really never wears out of the house.
Interview 5: The last person I talked to was my neighbor. She said that she would probably be interested in purchasing a tee from a trendy retailer, but that it wouldn't be because of improved quality or price point. She said that, for the most part, if she finds an article of clothing she likes, she's going to buy is regardless of if it has a higher price point or is made of less than superb material.
Inside the Boundary:
Who is in: People who are really interested in style and trends. Also, people who wear t-shirts on a daily basis and don't require a meaning behind their clothing.
What the Need Is: Cool and trendy shirts that are easily accessible to those who don't want to have to deal with thrifting
Why the Need Exists: Due to socio-cultural changes, vintage looking and retro tees are in style right now. Many younger people want to purchase this look but either can't afford vintage or don't have parents to pass their clothes onto them. Furthermore, there are people who like the look of thrifted clothes but who don't actually enjoy the experience of thrifting.
Outside the Boundary:
Who is Not: Those who enjoy the experience of going to thrift store and physically searching for that perfect shirt. Also, those who might want some wort of meaning or memory behind their vintage piece, like my brother who liked tees from concerts he's been to.
What the Need is Not: It's not a replacement for thrift stores or actual vintage clothing. It's not a need to improve the shirts at Forever 21 or make a specific alternative to buying things from those stores. It's more of an alternative or another place consumers can go to.
Alternative Explanations: People enjoy alternatives to the need like actual stores or coinciding tees with a specific memory because it gives them a special experience or feeling that just preaching a tee online won't give them.
Summary:
I think the need still exists for better quality and affordable shirts. I don't think a new shirt store would solve this issue, but I think it would provide an alternative to the typical stores that sell shirts as well as another place besides thrift stores.
Interview 2: Secondly, I interviewed another one of my good friends who I consider to be very stylish. I asked her if she felt that there was an unfilled need for better quality and affordable t-shirts. She said that she does feel like there is a need for this, but she wouldn't want to use an online retailer to find her clothes. She enjoys the experience of going to the thrift store and picking out the clothes herself. For her, going thrifting is a hobby and to have to shop using an online retailer takes away from that thrill.
Interview 3: My brother is obsessed with punk rock sorts of band tees, but he's very picky. When I interviewed him, I asked him how he would feel about an online retailer which specialized in quality and affordable tees. He said that he really doesn't care to purchase his tees online, he buys all his bands tees at the actual concert. For him, the shirts represent a memory of the fun time he had at a concert which meant a lot to him. Buying the shirts online wouldn't give him the same feeling as getting one from a concert.
Interview 4: I discussed the opportunity with my niece. She's thirteen and is just starting to develop her own sense of style. She said she likes the idea of having better quality shirts, but she wouldn't want a t-shirt because she doesn't want to spend money on them. She only really wears t-shirts to bed and doesn't care if they're trendy. She would rather purchase tank tops, rompers, dresses, and things of the sort instead of spending money on tees which she really never wears out of the house.
Interview 5: The last person I talked to was my neighbor. She said that she would probably be interested in purchasing a tee from a trendy retailer, but that it wouldn't be because of improved quality or price point. She said that, for the most part, if she finds an article of clothing she likes, she's going to buy is regardless of if it has a higher price point or is made of less than superb material.
Inside the Boundary:
Who is in: People who are really interested in style and trends. Also, people who wear t-shirts on a daily basis and don't require a meaning behind their clothing.
Why the Need Exists: Due to socio-cultural changes, vintage looking and retro tees are in style right now. Many younger people want to purchase this look but either can't afford vintage or don't have parents to pass their clothes onto them. Furthermore, there are people who like the look of thrifted clothes but who don't actually enjoy the experience of thrifting.
Outside the Boundary:
Who is Not: Those who enjoy the experience of going to thrift store and physically searching for that perfect shirt. Also, those who might want some wort of meaning or memory behind their vintage piece, like my brother who liked tees from concerts he's been to.
What the Need is Not: It's not a replacement for thrift stores or actual vintage clothing. It's not a need to improve the shirts at Forever 21 or make a specific alternative to buying things from those stores. It's more of an alternative or another place consumers can go to.
Alternative Explanations: People enjoy alternatives to the need like actual stores or coinciding tees with a specific memory because it gives them a special experience or feeling that just preaching a tee online won't give them.
Summary:
I think the need still exists for better quality and affordable shirts. I don't think a new shirt store would solve this issue, but I think it would provide an alternative to the typical stores that sell shirts as well as another place besides thrift stores.
I agree with who is in and out of the boundary of the product. I mean its hard for me to believe that someone would not want to get a great deal on anything they buy, maybe its just me. With the increase in electronic retail markets and stores more people like this idea of shopping. Good job and keep up the good work!!
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea, and I can probably relate to it more than most people can because I ran an online eBay store where I sold new and gently used jeans. I would go thrifting and to garage sales and buy quality brands like American Eagle, Hollister, Levis, and other high-quality jeans for around $1 a pair and sell them online for $15 or $20. I tried t-shirts, and people tend to not pay as much for them because how varying the fit can be. If you can find a way to reliably convey the fit people may be more interested though!
ReplyDeleteThe need does and will always exist. It is extremely annoying and downright robbery for people to charge upwards of $25 and $30 for a t-shirt. That is more than most Americans make at an hour of work and they are trying to sell you a t-shirt that cost about $2 to produce for that. I think that the margins are there and can still be there for much less of a burden for the consumer.
ReplyDelete