Amazon Whisperer

• Describe the revenue drivers you currently include in your business concept for this class. Revenue drivers are the different ways you make money. 

My revenue drivers are volunteer trip payments, sponsorships, and fundraising. I think that fundraising and volunteer trip payments are the most important revenue drivers for BLUE.

• Describe what kind of product offering you believe should be next. What's the next thing your customers want?

Since BLUE is essentially a service-based product, I think it would be a good idea to use this assignment to highlight a complimentary product that makes the overall BLUE service trip experience better. BLUE trips are very exhausting and I want to be able to provide the volunteers with their basic comfort necessities to enhance their experience.

• Describe how this "next" thing will enhance your existing product/service offering. Does it improve the user experience, does it increase customer switching costs, does it foster customer loyalty, etc.?

My idea is to provide volunteers with the option to purchase a sleeping cot for their trip. On my BLUE trips, the cots became our favorite place to relax and rest after a long day of work. I even kept my cot after my most recent trip and used it a few times again freshman year. Surprisingly, the cots are extremely comfortable. They are sort of a cross between a sleeping bag and a hammock. This complimentary product would enhance the volunteers experience and energy level.

• Go to Amazon and try to find a product that is similar to the one you want to offer next. Describe the product. Include a picture of the product.

• Lightweight and portable camping bed is perfect for the outdoors
• No assembly required
• Comes with lightweight carrying case, and bed folds in half to maximize portability
• Affordable price ranging from $39-$99
• comes in a variety of color options

http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Innovations-Aluminum-Portable-Folding/dp/B009S3BA4K/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1459106776&sr=8-13&keywords=sleeping+cot

• What are the customer reviews for the product? What, exactly, do customers not like about the product? What do they like about it?

Customers really enjoyed how it was high off the ground to avoid insects and how the cots are large and firm but still comfortable. A good summative comment follows: 

"The taught canvas gives good support. It is long enough for a very tall person. If used for camping, you will be far enough from the ground to avoid dampness and crawly things. The cot is high enough to sit on, without your knees hitting your chin. It is easy to assemble and comes with carry/storage canvas bag. A great buy."

It seems as though some customer's cots broke with only light weight on them. This is definitely a worrisome issue that I would take steps (like back-up cots) to avoid. These customers clearly did not have as good of an experience:

"After one night of sleeping on the cot, I woke up to find the frame kinked and bent in multiple places. Putting it back in the bag to ship back only damaged the fragile cot sooner. I am thankful for the return policy."

• Describe what design/usability changes you'd make to the product. 

I would change the weight limit and try to make the product able to support more weight. I would also probably include more specific instructions for assembly because it is a bit confusing the first time.

• Describe why you think this product would make a good addition to your current product/service offering.

One of the most important things when you are in a new environment is to try to be as well rested as possible. It inevitably enhances your overall experience and output no matter what the situation. I think these sleeping cots were a very subtle, yet important part of why my BLUE trips have been so enjoyable and impactful on me in the past. The goal of this assignment is to create customer value, creativity, and opportunity assessment and I believe that this complimentary product helps me achieve those things.

My Unfair Advantage

1) Sponsorships

VRIN: Sponsorships are valuable because they help reduce certain costs that the organization would have to cover otherwise. Sponsorships are not easy to get but are definitely obtainable. I am proud that I was able to get BLUE a sponsorship with Nestle water for a recent fundraiser and hope to continue the partnership in the future. Sponsorships are imitable and substitutable since many organizations try to get them some way or another.

2) Manual Labor Skills

VRIN: Manual labor skills are essential on our service trips because most or even all of the terrain on some trips can't be reached by machinery or vehicles. BLUE has prioritized finding employees with knowledge and skills relevant to our water projects. This resource is very inimitable and non-substitutable at our desired cost.

3) Prior Experience

VRIN: This is extremely valuable because it gives our customers/volunteers a sense of comfort and reliability.I have led BLUE trips myself and the organization has grown steadily in recent years. This isn't necessarily a rare or inimitable resource but it surely is a valuable one. My prior experience is substitutable but it would take time and effort.

4) Cultural Enrichment Experience

VRIN: Although the VRIN may not show it, I think that this is one of our biggest distinguishing resources. BLUE at UF provide an extremely valuable cultural experience for many volunteer students who are not exposed to other ways of daily life. It is rare to have a cultural immersion experience often in the US but many universities are now beginning to offer cultural immersion programs or trips for their students.

5) Networking

VRIN: My networking, as far as BLUE goes, both in the US and in the DR is pretty good. I think that this is important for someone who wants to start an organization at their University like I do. Networking is obviously not rare but the networking that we at BLUE have developed is basically inimitable and non-substitutable because we have developed a niche in the local community there and a system back here at headquarters in Miami.

6) Team-oriented, Informal Culture

VRIN: This is valuable because it is an attractive aspect of our trips for college students. BLUE has an exceptionally laid-back and friendly approach to community service. Friendships are made on BLUE trips in addition to all of the great service work that we do. I have never been a part of a more inclusive and approachable service organization so I also believe it would be hard to imitate or substitute BLUEs organizational culture.

7) Affordability

VRIN: Money rules everything in today's society. Thus, a more affordable service trip would be attractive for college students. BLUEs UF trip would be extremely fair-priced and would include two home-cooked meals per day with local flavor. This resource is relatively rare because service trips have been increasing exponentially in prices in recent years. It is technically imitable and substitutable but when you think about what BLUE offers from both a cultural and financial perspective, it is truly hard to match.

8) Bilngualism

VRIN: I am fluent in both english and spanish. As a BLUE leader/volunteer, it is helpful to be able to communicate with the locals in spanish. I also find it very fulfilling to translate between the two languages. Having the ability to speak two or more languages is definitely rare and I am proud of it. However, it is imitable and substitutable with practice.

9) Social Media 

VRIN: BLUE maximizes social media to help spread our vision. It is probably our most valuable medium of communication with our supporters and volunteers. Social media is very common, imitable, and substitutable for modern organizations. Nonetheless, social media has opened many doors for BLUE in recent years. We now have a website, facebook and instagram page.

10) Supplies

VRIN: BLUE is able to purchase affordable shovels, PVC pipes, industrial glue, and water faucets from local stores. This is very valuable because it saves money. This is not necessarily rare but it is at the given prices. It is not imitable or substitutable at this time.

The top resource is the cultural enrichment experience that BLUE can offer a college student. This is what stood out the most for me on my first BLUE trip and what will surely stand out for my fellow gators when they go on their first trip!