Beginning Point and Description of My Belief
This semester, I have classes from 9:35 a.m. until 3:50 p.m. with an hour break from 12:55-1:55. Being human, I often get hungry during this time. Now, I like to save as much money as possible, so I bring snacks to tide me over until I get home; but sometimes, I just really want a hot meal. Just today, I met a friend at the Starbucks in Library West and it took all the discipline and strength in me to not purchase one of those pesto and mozzarella ciabatta sandwiches. I settled for the Chex Mix snack bag that I had packed before class instead.
I know that I am not the only student who craves a hot meal between classes but is too poor to buy one every day. This got me thinking: there ought to be a self-serve station in many buildings throughout campus where students who packed a lunch are able to heat it up and enjoy a nutritious, filling meal conveniently and for free. This station should consist of a microwave, toaster oven, and access to boiling water (for ramen, obviously). This need is prevalent on pretty much all campuses and even in some work places. I believe that it is a need that exists all the time because, on a campus of 50,000 students, there is bound to be at least 1 who wishes they were eating the macaroni and cheese they made the night before instead of the less-than-satisfying granola bar they munch on now. I am 100% certain that many students have this need and would be grateful to see that need met. As of now, I see nothing being done to satiate this need unless there is a monetary gain for the school (cafeterias and coffee shops exist, but only for those willing to pay extra).
Prototypical Customer
I interviewed three students who attend classes on the UF campus. Here's what they had to say:
1. Shannon C. said that, while she plans meals around her class schedule, she still does get hungry and often sticks it out until she is able to go home to eat. She said that having a self-serve station would be very helpful and convenient for long study hours at the library. While she wasn't aware of a problem because she plans her meals in advance, Shannon would like to see something like heating stations on campus.
2. Hannah F. says that she ate cold spaghetti from home just this afternoon due to the lack of heating stations on campus. She said she has recently become more aware of this problem because she began to realize just how much she was spending on eating out - thus, the lunch of cold spaghetti, a solution she is not entirely happy with. She believes that the University of Florida should provide a heating station in every library. To cover the cost, perhaps it would be a good idea to also have a frozen-foods vending machine right next to the microwaves so that students who long for a hot meal but didn't bring a lunch with them can enjoy their meals too.
3. Marianne H. says that she does not usually need or want a hot meal during the day while she's on campus. She prefers hot meals in the morning and night, so she eats those at her apartment before and after classes of the day, so this is not an important need for her.
Reflection
All three of my prototypical customers agreed that they do not experience this need all the time - if they experience it at all - but that it would be a very convenient to have on campus. Hannah even took this opportunity a step further and proposed an additional idea: a frozen foods vending machine. I was surprised that not all students like hot meals, but that is to be expected since there are 50,000 students on-campus and not all of them will have the same preferences as I do.
My original opportunity still stands in full and I believe that it is more accurate now than when I started. I believe that entrepreneurs ought to take customer surveys into account, but only to a certain extent. Entrepreneurs should be flexible enough to adapt, but firm enough to stick to their beliefs.
This semester, I have classes from 9:35 a.m. until 3:50 p.m. with an hour break from 12:55-1:55. Being human, I often get hungry during this time. Now, I like to save as much money as possible, so I bring snacks to tide me over until I get home; but sometimes, I just really want a hot meal. Just today, I met a friend at the Starbucks in Library West and it took all the discipline and strength in me to not purchase one of those pesto and mozzarella ciabatta sandwiches. I settled for the Chex Mix snack bag that I had packed before class instead.
I know that I am not the only student who craves a hot meal between classes but is too poor to buy one every day. This got me thinking: there ought to be a self-serve station in many buildings throughout campus where students who packed a lunch are able to heat it up and enjoy a nutritious, filling meal conveniently and for free. This station should consist of a microwave, toaster oven, and access to boiling water (for ramen, obviously). This need is prevalent on pretty much all campuses and even in some work places. I believe that it is a need that exists all the time because, on a campus of 50,000 students, there is bound to be at least 1 who wishes they were eating the macaroni and cheese they made the night before instead of the less-than-satisfying granola bar they munch on now. I am 100% certain that many students have this need and would be grateful to see that need met. As of now, I see nothing being done to satiate this need unless there is a monetary gain for the school (cafeterias and coffee shops exist, but only for those willing to pay extra).
Prototypical Customer
I interviewed three students who attend classes on the UF campus. Here's what they had to say:
1. Shannon C. said that, while she plans meals around her class schedule, she still does get hungry and often sticks it out until she is able to go home to eat. She said that having a self-serve station would be very helpful and convenient for long study hours at the library. While she wasn't aware of a problem because she plans her meals in advance, Shannon would like to see something like heating stations on campus.
2. Hannah F. says that she ate cold spaghetti from home just this afternoon due to the lack of heating stations on campus. She said she has recently become more aware of this problem because she began to realize just how much she was spending on eating out - thus, the lunch of cold spaghetti, a solution she is not entirely happy with. She believes that the University of Florida should provide a heating station in every library. To cover the cost, perhaps it would be a good idea to also have a frozen-foods vending machine right next to the microwaves so that students who long for a hot meal but didn't bring a lunch with them can enjoy their meals too.
3. Marianne H. says that she does not usually need or want a hot meal during the day while she's on campus. She prefers hot meals in the morning and night, so she eats those at her apartment before and after classes of the day, so this is not an important need for her.
Reflection
All three of my prototypical customers agreed that they do not experience this need all the time - if they experience it at all - but that it would be a very convenient to have on campus. Hannah even took this opportunity a step further and proposed an additional idea: a frozen foods vending machine. I was surprised that not all students like hot meals, but that is to be expected since there are 50,000 students on-campus and not all of them will have the same preferences as I do.
My original opportunity still stands in full and I believe that it is more accurate now than when I started. I believe that entrepreneurs ought to take customer surveys into account, but only to a certain extent. Entrepreneurs should be flexible enough to adapt, but firm enough to stick to their beliefs.
Great idea, Rana! I think so many students would benefit from something like this, seeing that it's so difficult to get home and eat in between classes. I also really liked Hannah F.'s idea about the frozen-foods vending machine; it's a great idea to cover the cost and it would be super convenient for students to get a hot meal instead of an unsatisfying snack from the vending machine. I personally don't have a lot of class on campus since I'm in the business school and most of the classes are online, but I know many people who would love this idea and take advantage of it for sure!
ReplyDeleteI really like this idea and think it could benefit many students with busy class schedules. I think that many of the people you spoke to had wise words to say and you had a good solution to the problem.
ReplyDeleteRana, this is a great idea. I, like yourself, also struggle to go thru my class schedule without getting hungry. A self-serve station would help me, and so many other students get thru our busy days. I also liked hearing from the people you interviewed. I felt their insight was very pro your idea, and while they don't need it all the time, it still helps.
ReplyDeleteRana, your idea for the heating stations around campus sounds like a great idea. They maybe able to come up with an easier solution to this problem by having heating stations at the UF dining buildings like Broward or Gator Corner and maybe also in the Reitz. That way you can heat meals where others on campus buy food and eat so you can eat with friends who do eat out.
ReplyDelete