Idea Napkin No.2

1. You
Like I told you before, I am a perfectionist. I like everything to be a certain way, and I like everything I do to reflect me positively. So that means doing it well, paying attention to quality and not rushing to get something done if I don't back it up 100%. My experience relating to my business is the fact that I'm an avid iced coffee drinker (I sometimes dabble in the hot coffee realm, but not often). I know the exact frustration of having a great cup of coffee ruined by melted ice. I envision my customers walking down the freezer aisle in their grocery store and finding Coffee Cubes. I can see this business playing a role in my life because I don't think it is limited to only Coffee. The idea of flavored cubes of any sort being added to a drink to avoid the melted ice situation is honestly endless. I would however like to remain focused on Coffee Cubes because I love coffee, I drink it all the time, and I hate melted ice. This has become a problem in my life that I can't seem to avoid anymore and I'm ready to fix it.
2. What are you offering to customers?
I would be offering customers my brand Coffee Cubes and the line would consist of a variety of different flavors of cubes that they could add to whatever corresponding iced coffee drink they were getting. For example, we could have traditional brewed coffee cubes. These cubes could be different roast levels as well, light, medium, and dark. There could also be decaf, espresso, cream (I would also offer flavored creams and a nondairy version of each as well).
3.Who are you offering it to?
My people, the iced coffee drinkers of the world.
4. Why do they care?
They care because they dislike melted ice in their drink just as much as I do.
5. What are your core competencies?
What sets me apart from others, is that I hope to expand this idea from your conventional coffee shops and encourage people to make their own iced coffee concoctions and add the perfect base to any iced coffee drink, Coffee Cubes. People can customize their coffee with whatever Coffee Cube flavors they wish. The flavors are endless, seasonal, and yummy.


Feedback:
The feedback I received was all really positive and helpful. One question I got was how much they would cost. I did some research and found out that if you're brewing a cup of coffee at home it's going to cost you somewhere between 16 and 18 cents. Buying coffee on the other hand, you're looking at anywhere from $1 to $10 depending on how extravagant you take your cup of Joe. I would say, if I was selling a bag of cubes with 12 cubes and the serving size was 2 cubes per cup, you would be getting 6 servings so I think I would price a bag of Coffee Cubes at around $5.99. I'm not really sure if that's good or bad but I think it seems fair. 

Elevator Pitch No. 2

Coffee Cubes Pitch

Create a Customer Avatar

My Customer
What kind of hobbies does your customer have?
They like to be outside, travel to different places, meet new people, and go to farmers markets.
What kind of car do they tend to drive? What color?
My customer has a green Prius, or some other car that's eco-friendly.
What TV shows do they watch?
The Food Network
Do they have children?
No, maybe, if they do they have less than three.
How old are they?
30
Do they stay active?
Yes, they enjoy being outside.
What time do they wake up usually?
6:30, the early bird gets the worm.
How often do they eat out?
Four times a week.
Do they frequent coffee shops or make it themselves?
A mixture of both, but coffee shops more often than not.
How do they prefer their cup of joe?
Iced or hot?
Iced
Do you get light, regular, or  extra ice?
Light ice
With cream and sugar or just black?
Almond mylk

What do we have in common? 

We like our coffee the same way and we eat out the same amount. 

I like the fact that we have things in common and like the same coffee. 

What's Your Secret Sauce?

I'm a perfectionist, so I like to do everything right and well and if I feel like something could be better, I'll most definitely go out of my way to fix it.
I think I'm a pretty good listener.
I'm really organized and like to keep things in line and looking neat.
I think I'm pretty good at interacting with people.
I also really like to learn, and keep learning even if I think I know most there is to know about something.



I think that the things I said about myself and the things that my interviewee's said were pretty similar. One thing that was said about me that I didn't mention myself is someone said I'm creative. I wouldn't have immediately said that about myself to begin with, but I will give myself some credit for not being totally bland. Maybe what causes the differences is the way we perceive ourselves and sometimes we miss qualities that we have and have them without even realizing. 

Buyer Behavior No. 2

Interviewee No 1.
The alternative products to coffee cubes I offered to my customers included: traditional ice cubes, plastic ice cubes, and lukewarm coffee.
Interviewee No. 1 preferred the traditional ice cubes out of all of the options. He said that the plastic ice cubes took up too much space in his drink. He said he had dealt with the same issue of the ice melting and giving his coffee a bad taste. He said if he were to buy any kind of ice cube product, it would be from the grocery store. When buying a product, he said he likes to make sure he got his money worth and is using something he enjoys. He said when determining whether to buy something and whether it is a good or bad purchase, he envisions himself either using or not using the product on at least a weekly basis, and if so, he goes ahead and makes the purchase. Interviewee No. 1 said that out of all the alternatives he would stick to traditional ice cubes, however at the end of our conversation he did say he would be intrigued to try out coffee cubes.
The conclusions I came to when talking with Interviewee No.1 is that I might have a hard time converting people from the traditional ice cube over to the coffee cube.

Interviewee No. 2
The alternative products to coffee cubes I offered to my customers included: traditional ice cubes, plastic ice cubes, and lukewarm coffee.
Interviewee No. 2 had a chance to test out all of the offered alternatives and after pondering, she decided she liked the plastic ice cubes the best. What she liked was the fact that they were reusable. I asked her what about the plastic ice cubes she liked, regarding the style and price, and she commented on the colors that the plastic ice cubes came in. The plastic ice cubes we had displayed were pink, blue, and clear. She also asked about the price of plastic ice cubes, and you can get around 36 cubes for only 11.99. She liked that they were so inexpensive, but she said she had never seen them in store before and wished she had. She says she prefers to do her shopping in person. Interviewee No. 2 said that when deciding on whether to purchase something or not and if it is a good or bad purchase she usually calls on someone close to her for a second opinion. Regarding whether she knows if it is a good or bad idea. she said that if she likes it and will use it then it's usually a hit. Interviewee No 2 also said that if she buys something and forgets about it the next day then it was a bad purchase.
The conclusions I came to are that the appealing aspect of the plastic ice cubes is a lot to do with how they look, so I might consider colorful packaging for the coffee cubes. Also the price of the plastic reusable ice cubes is decent, so noting that. I have to find a way to make coffee cubes as much as a staple as coffee creamer in order to satisfy these customer's idea of a "good" purchase.

Interviewee No. 3
The alternative products to coffee cubes I offered to my customers included: traditional ice cubes, plastic ice cubes, and lukewarm coffee.
Interviewee No. 3 said she far preferred the traditional ice cubes to any of the other options. She said that the plastic ice cubes made her coffee taste weird and took up too much space in her cup for not even being that cold. Interviewee No 3. said that the appearance of the ice cube didn't matter to her at all as long as it kept her drink cold. She did like the fact that the plastic ice cubes never melted however, and did voice some annoyance that her ice had melted in her drink before she got through with it. I asked where she would be most inclined to buy any kind of ice cube product from, and she said that either Amazon or her local grocery store would probably be where she would look. Interviewee No. 3 said that when purchasing things she imagines herself using it the following day and if she can then she goes ahead and makes the purchase, and if not. then no purchase. Also she know's when something is a bad purchase if she feels guilty when purchasing.
The conclusions I found with Interviewee No. 3 is that I need to find a way to make sure that the coffee cubes stay long enough to keep the cold significantly cold before the beverage starts to release.

Halfway Reflection

1. Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used or developed to keep up with the requirements of this course? 
You definitely have to be on top of your time management. This class requires that you are always on time and keep up with your work. Since the assignments go together, you must complete the first parts to do the sequential parts, so time management here is key.
2. Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up". What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude in the past two months? What experience most contributed to this?
There were for sure moments when I had forgotten the noon due date and been scrambling to get it in on time. That moment I felt like giving up, but I knew that it would be more worth it to just push through then to just give up. I do feel like that moment where I felt like giving up contributed to my tenacious attitude throughout this course. It helped me recognize that putting in the work is always the best option. 
3. Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about fostering the skills that support tenacity and developing the "tenacious mindset"?
Tip No. 1: Time management, like I said before super important.
Tip No. 2: Creativity, the class is way more exciting when you have fun with it and get creative.
Tip No. 3: Organization, setting up a schedule for yourself to help organize exactly what days you should do your work is the best way to go about this class.

Reading Reflection

1.  I chose to read about Coco Chanel and her journey as an entrepreneur. 
1. What surprised you the most? 
1. Coco Chanel actually began her journey as a fashion designer from abject poverty. She was raised in an orphanage and it was their that she was taught to sew. She worked her way to the glamorous brand we know today.  
2. What about the entrepreneur did you admire most? 
1. I admired her revolutionary styles and bold aspirations for the time she was working with. The attention she payed to detail and quality is why her reputation is quite impeccable. 
3. What about the entrepreneur did you least admire? 
1. Nothing. 
4. Did the entrepreneur  encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it? 
1. After the orphanage, one of the adversity's she had to face, she moved onto a different career.  She was a singer, which is where she got her nickname "Coco" from. 
2. What competencies did you notice the entrepreneur exhibited? 
1. Chanel was an expert at her craft, the timeless shapes, colors, and designs made her extremely popular. She spent so much time tending to even the smallest of details, down to the inner lining of jackets and the bottoms of shoes. 
3. Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you? 
1. Pretty straight forward. 
4. If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur what would you ask? 
1. Did you expect the fashion trends to be anywhere similar to what they are now? 
2. What is your favorite item of clothing? 
5. What do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
1. I expect that Chanel's opinion of hard work was to always persevere and pay attention to quality.  

Buyer Behavior

1. Iced Coffee Drinkers
All three of the people I chose to interview drink iced coffee regularly.

2. Interviews

Interview No. 1
How often do you drink iced coffee?
"At least 3 times a week. "
Do you normally make it for yourself or go out and buy it?
"I usually make it for myself half of the time and the other half I'll go out to a near by coffee place.
Do you normally put ice in your coffee you make at home? Normally, but when I go out I ask for light ice."
Why do you ask for light ice when at coffee shops?
"They usually overcrowd the cup with ice and I don't care for the bitter taste of watered down coffee."
When?
 When does the need come up for Coffee Cubes, an alternative to standard ice cubes. There are different options to choose from, espresso shot cubes, cream cubes, or even decaf cubes. They incorporate more flavor back into your coffee as they start to melt.
"I think that when I go out to buy coffee, if there was the option for Coffee Cubes, I would certainly  ask for them in my drink."
Would you ever buy them at a grocery store if you saw them in the freezer aisle?
"Yes"
Would you ever buy them at a grocery store if you saw them in the freezer aisle?
"Well, I've tried to order those silicon ice cubes from Amazon, but I didn't like them, I had to clean them and remember about them, it was too much for me."
Have you ever voiced your frustrations about this to anyone you know?
"Maybe my husband, once or twice, I'm not really sure."

Interview No. 2
How often do you drink iced coffee?
"Every single morning."
Do you normally make it for yourself or buy it somewhere?
"I make it for myself every time."
Do you normally put ice in your coffee when you make it for yourself?
"Maybe one or two cubes, but I put my coffee in a Yeti so I can avoid using ice."
Why would you rather avoid using ice?
"I don't ant my coffee to be watery, I need my caffeine strong."
When?
 When does the need come up for Coffee Cubes, an alternative to standard ice cubes. There are different options to choose from, espresso shot cubes, cream cubes, or even decaf cubes. They incorporate more flavor back into your coffee as they start to melt.
"I'd put that in my coffee every morning if it meant there was more caffeine."
Would you ever buy them at a grocery store if you saw them in the freezer aisle?
"Definitely"
How would you normally solve the issue of having watery coffee?
"Well I used to just stop drinking it at that point, but now I avoid it by not putting any ice in my coffee, I just store my coffee in the fridge the night before."
Have you ever voiced your frustrations about this to anyone you know?
"No, I don't think so."

Interview No. 3
How often do you drink iced coffee?
"Probably every weekday so about 5 days out of the week"
Do you normally make it for yourself or buy it somewhere?
"Kinda both"
Do you normally put ice in your coffee when you make it for yourself?
"No, since the coffee I use, I store in the fridge anyway."
Do you order your iced coffee with regular, light, or extra ice when your out at coffee shops?
"Always light ice."
Why is that?
"No one likes watered down coffee, plus we live in Florida so it'll end up melting pretty soon if you don't have a cup to keep it cold with you."
When?
 When does the need come up for Coffee Cubes, an alternative to standard ice cubes. There are different options to choose from, espresso shot cubes, cream cubes, or even decaf cubes. They incorporate more flavor back into your coffee as they start to melt.
"I would for sure put that in my coffee when I make it for myself if it meant my drink wouldn't be watered down."
Would you buy them at a grocery store if you saw them in the freezer aisle?
"Most definitely"
How would you normally solve the issue of watered down coffee?
"By avoiding ice cubes"
Have you ever voiced your frustrations about this to anyone you know?
"100% my roommates."

3. Findings and Conclusion
So, basically I heard similar things from every iced coffee drinker I interviewed. They said that the major issue with traditional ice cubes is that they water down the coffee, and no one seemed to like that. They also all said that they would buy the Coffee Cubes if they saw them in the freezer aisle at the store, so that is good. I think that the need is obviously there, because there is a problem with normal ice cubes. The solution I have come up with seems to meet everyone's needs, without interfering with their preferences in any way.

Idea Napkin

1. You
I'm seriously a perfectionist and if something isn't how I intended it to be or better, then I'm redoing it. I try to never only give 50% but to strive to always give 100%.
I'm super organized, definitely more organized than the average person, and maybe even too organized sometimes.
I love to be in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking and experimenting with different things in the kitchen.
I hope that my product, Coffee Cubes, will help me to save money on the coffee I'm wasting by not finishing my drink everyday, and make my drinking experience more pleasurable.

2. My product is Coffee Cubes, an alternative to normal bland ice cubes.
These Coffee Cubes do not water down your coffee, bur rather slowly melt more coffee back into your drink.
My idea for these Cubes was to have multiple options available for customers.
Examples include:
Medium roast cubes
Dark roast cubes
Blonde roast cubes
Espresso shot cubes
Decaf cubes
Assorted cream flavored cubes (caramel, vanilla, mocha, etc..)

3. Customers
My customers would obviously be coffee drinkers, specifically iced coffee drinkers. That is a lot of people in this world, trust me.
Men and women would both enjoy these coffee cubes because there is never any discrimination when drinking coffee.
Anyone looking to reduce wastefulness, finally finish their iced coffee, and have a more flavorful, bang for your buck cup of Joe in the morning.

4. Why you may ask?
Well for one, everyone I spoke to that also had my same issue of never finishing their iced coffee because of the ice melting to fast, said that they also experienced the bad taste that the coffee had once the ice had melted. By introducing Coffee Cubes into iced coffee drinkers daily routine, they would be eliminating the waste created by the melted ice fiasco, while at the same time tailoring their iced coffee to exactly their wants. Whether they want their coffee to get creamier over time, or be more intensely caffeinated, that is up to the customer to decide. Why not save your coffee with Coffee Cubes?

5.
No major coffee chain or any grocery stores that I have been to and researched has coffee ice cubes available to their customers. I have been to two local places, one in Fort Lauderdale and one here in Gainesville, that were making and selling their own coffee cubes. I've never seen anyone market solely the Coffee Cubes, separate from the drink itself. I think that giving people the option to be able to buy coffee cubes in a grocery store and then take them home, stick them in the freezer, the add them into their coffee drink in the morning would set my product apart. I envision walking down the freezer section in a grocery store and picking up a bag of frozen coffee cubes, just like i would frozen fruit, and taking them home with me.