9A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Who: This product has a wide spectrum of people that fall outside the boundary. This would be the elderly and the poor. The elderly fall outside the boundary because they are not tech-savvy. I interviewed some people over the age of 65 and none of them knew what subscription boxes were. Once I explained what they were, they showed little interest. They also have minimal knowledge of using the internet, so having this “customizable” box where the customer logs on to the internet each month and selects products doesn’t really appeal to someone who doesn’t really know how to use the internet. The others that I interviewed would be considered “living in poverty”. They do not have very much disposable income. While they all knew what subscription boxes were none of them would be willing to sign up for one. They declined for similar reasons, essentially all being "because I live paycheck to paycheck". Although $20-$30 doesn’t seem like much to the majority of us, it is to them. To them that’s a full gas tank, or a few meals for their families.

What: The need I identified differs from all other needs. It is not the same as a “true” need. You do not need a subscription box to survive, like you need food and water. It is more of a desire. A desire to have entertainment or a desire to have the latest fashion. This sort of goes in hand with what I previously discussed in the who. With lower class populations they wouldn’t be willing to spend their money on a desire over a need.

Why: The underlying cause of the outsiders’ need differs from people who are inside the boundary because like I have already stated, they need housing, food, water, and transportation over a subscription box. The elderly may have their needs met if they selected food items or other needs to be shipped to them in their subscription boxes, but again I would have to figure out how to get past the obstacle of them not being tech savvy.

INSIDE THE BOUNDARY	OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY
Who is in? Millennials, middle-aged consumers, and teenagers that are above poverty level.	Who is not? Lower class and elderly
What the need is? Fashion, entertainment, food.	What the need is not: A true need such as water, food, and housing at a cheap price.
Why the need exists: For personal gain and happiness. Right now, it also offers a safe alternative to going shopping during COVID.	Alternative explanations: Saving money, only buying things needed and necessary, going to the physical store to purchase items that are more affordable.