Leftyz Are Right
I have found five people to interview who should have this unmet need but do not. I have interviewed one boy around the age of 13, two mothers, a young adult around the age of 21, and an adult around the age 33.
Who: There are left-handed individuals who have this unmet need but have learned to deal with this unmet need which has left them comfortable with using right handed products that cause a small amount of uncomfort when using them. They fall out of this boundary. Some children like the left handed boy I interviewed were okay with using scissors that didn’t cut well. He didn’t even know there are left-handed scissors for him and he was so excited and wanted a pair. He was taught to use right handed products with his left hand because his parents and teachers taught him. Therefore, some children fall out of this boundary as well. Young adults (like those I interviewed) are curious to use products made for their dominate hand but may find it uncomfortable because they are so used to using right-handed products growing up. Most companies have this unmet need but cater to the majority that gives them more of a profit which makes most companies fall outside of the boundary. Majority of right-handed will obviously fall out of this boundary. (except for right-handed parents)
What: Is being left-handed the same as having a learning or physical disability? Not exactly. Being left-handed and using right handed products forces your body to go against what it is naturally capable of doing. Having a form of a disability normally does not have always have an alternative. Left-handed individuals, especially children can have resources brought to them and given to them with a simple company that has reasonable prices.
Why: Right-handed individuals would not benefit from this company. Adults who are comfortable and are not willing to change out of their comfort zone will not benefit from this company. Some children who have adapted to this change may find it stranger using products made for their dominate hand because they have developed ways to use the opposite.
Inside the boundary
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Outside the boundary
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Who is In: Left-handed children, Some left-handed adults, and parents of left-handed kids
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Who is Not: right-handed individuals, some left-handed adults and children
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What the Need Is: left-handed products catered to them with an affordable price
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What the Need Is Not: This need does not mean it will cater to ALL left-handed individuals
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Why the Need Exists: Not enough left-handed products are on the market. The products that are, have a big difference in price compared to the same product but slightly made different.
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Alternative Explanations: find ways these left-handed individuals will benefit from this. See how right-handed people can become apart of this. The products will not be used by right-handed people but possibly may be bought by right-handed individuals to left-handed friends or family.
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Hey Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing your hypothesis and thinking it was very thoughtful and innovative. I still think that, but I'm glad that you were able to find naysayers in the lefty community. Glad because they essentially proved your point. You said the child got excited upon realizing that there were products out there just for him, and that most leftys who didn't care for the utilization of special products only felt that way because they'd been sort of beat into submission by a society well oriented around the needs of the rightys. I still believe your company could make a difference in the lives of people who need it, and I hope your passion for it hasn't dwindled.
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteAfter learning a lot about left handed people and their needs, I think you are doing a good job of covering everything there is to know about them. There are simply some people who have adjusted to using their right hand and people who are right handed and obviously do not care about fixing the problem with the left handed people. Seeing how right handed people could become apart of this is a great idea because that would increase the amount of customers a lot.
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be honest with you, before reading your post I never really realized the need for left-handed people to have their own supplies and their own market. It is exactly that type of thinking that created the gaps in the market, and I'm convinced that leftys that feel overlooked would most definitely benefit from your cause. Thanks for sharing!