7A Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1.     My opportunity is a mint that dissolves into/releases a fluid that cleans teeth and freshens breath. I think this will be a quick, portable solution to personal hygiene.

2.     Who: Anyone who wants to improve their personal hygiene, but mainly people with busy schedules, especially college students

What: No option for quick, on-the-go personal hygiene

Why: Many people are constantly moving and have no healthy way to clean their teeth/freshen breath at varying times during the day

3.             Testing the who: After conducting several interviews, I found that many college students want to have an affordable solution for on-the-go personal hygiene.

Testing the what: There aren’t specific boundaries of the need, as technically everyone could use it, but it is mainly for very busy people.

Testing the why: There is a great variety in the why. Some people need it because they are busy in the mornings, and some because they stay out very late at night. This product would satisfy a demand for an enjoyable-to-use health solution.

4.             Interview 1: The first person thought that the mints were a good idea because they go out a lot at night and want a way to freshen up before and after they go out without spending the time to do their dental routine.

Interview 2: The second person thought the idea was good, but thought that it might not become popular because people simply prefer to spend the time brushing their teeth. This person simply thought people would not take the extra step.

Interview 3: The third person liked the idea because he had a lot of early classes and thought it would help him get out of his room quicker. Because he didn't have to do an entire routine in the morning, he could just eat the mint on his walk to class.

Interview 4: The fourth person actually had an interesting perspective, stating that the product might actually serve a good purpose in dental offices, as a fun way for kids to clean their teeth.

Interview 5: The fifth person I interviewed suggested that selling the product may be difficult if it is packaged and sold like a mint. He stressed the fact that I would need to emphasize, in some way (maybe packaging), that the product was not just a regular old mint and that it has other features.

5.              I now know that the product has several other markets in which it might succeed, each of these to serve a different purpose to a unique group.