What we set out to do?
DONUTS!!! Our entrepreneurial adventure began with a customizable donut topping business. We were completely gung ho on this "brilliant idea" until we came to the conclusion that this business idea was not really solving a particular pain that people had in their daily routines.
So we then set out to solve a real pain that average people deal with ever day. This particular pain was LOOSING LIGHTERS! There are many instances where people who drink also tend to smoke, so we decided on designing a koozie that integrated a lighter case on the side. We then realized that the product would not sell since several other groups were also pursuing a koozie idea. So we decided to discontinue our idea and continue on with solving a common CUSTOMER PAIN!......
COLD HANDS IN THE WINTER!!! We decided to resolve this problem by integrating a pocket inside a one size fits all glove to house the hot hand warmer packets. The pocket was sewed using soft, thin fabric to be used as a insulated barrier to protect the skin from the sometimes intense heat of the hot hand. It was then built into the inside of the gloves to keep the hot hands in place.
With no prior experience in sewing, we set out in hopes of finding someone who would be able to sew the pocket inside the gloves. We decided to drive around town to different dry cleaners and alteration businesses only to find out that it would be very expensive ($8) for each pair for the pocketn to be sewn to the inside of the glove. After our second round, we came to the conclusion that we would began sewing the pockets ourselves. So we went out and bought the materials needed to begin on our product (fabric, string, etc.)
Our Sewing & Applying Process
We began to create our product by cutting fabric, sewing the pouches to the same size as hot hands, and using Heat n Bond Iron on Adhesive to attach the pocket. After we ironed on the pocket to the inside of the glove with the Iron on Adhesive, the Heater Hands were ready to go! The sewing process required time and we were both very committed to completing our product.
What happened?
After finishing our product we made a sign to help promote our product and were off to selling our Heater Hands out on the Commons in the cold weather. Our business model of selling Heater Hand gloves in the cold weather turned out to work. As we sold the product to people we emphasized how warm and comfortable they really are and we did this by actually wearing a pair ourselves. There were students and even faculty of JMU who were willing to buy our wonderful product. Not only did we solve their pain, but we saved them a trip to the store. Our customers were satisfied with our product, they thought it was an AMAZING IDEA! We managed to sell 40 pairs of Heater Hands!
This concludes our entrepreneurial journey!
Advice for future entrepreneurial teams
1. Set weekly goals
2. Start working on your product early! Procrastination will be your worst enemy!
3. Do not get discouraged if your first few ideas do not go as planned.
4. Try not to think two hard about what product to create, keep it simple!!! The simple yet clever ideas are what is going to sell.
5. If you are targeting college students, keep the price LOW!!!
DONUTS!!! Our entrepreneurial adventure began with a customizable donut topping business. We were completely gung ho on this "brilliant idea" until we came to the conclusion that this business idea was not really solving a particular pain that people had in their daily routines.
So we then set out to solve a real pain that average people deal with ever day. This particular pain was LOOSING LIGHTERS! There are many instances where people who drink also tend to smoke, so we decided on designing a koozie that integrated a lighter case on the side. We then realized that the product would not sell since several other groups were also pursuing a koozie idea. So we decided to discontinue our idea and continue on with solving a common CUSTOMER PAIN!......
COLD HANDS IN THE WINTER!!! We decided to resolve this problem by integrating a pocket inside a one size fits all glove to house the hot hand warmer packets. The pocket was sewed using soft, thin fabric to be used as a insulated barrier to protect the skin from the sometimes intense heat of the hot hand. It was then built into the inside of the gloves to keep the hot hands in place.
With no prior experience in sewing, we set out in hopes of finding someone who would be able to sew the pocket inside the gloves. We decided to drive around town to different dry cleaners and alteration businesses only to find out that it would be very expensive ($8) for each pair for the pocketn to be sewn to the inside of the glove. After our second round, we came to the conclusion that we would began sewing the pockets ourselves. So we went out and bought the materials needed to begin on our product (fabric, string, etc.)
Our Sewing & Applying Process
We began to create our product by cutting fabric, sewing the pouches to the same size as hot hands, and using Heat n Bond Iron on Adhesive to attach the pocket. After we ironed on the pocket to the inside of the glove with the Iron on Adhesive, the Heater Hands were ready to go! The sewing process required time and we were both very committed to completing our product.
 |
| Finished product in hand! |
What happened?
 |
| Sign ready to go! |
This concludes our entrepreneurial journey!
Advice for future entrepreneurial teams
1. Set weekly goals
2. Start working on your product early! Procrastination will be your worst enemy!
3. Do not get discouraged if your first few ideas do not go as planned.
4. Try not to think two hard about what product to create, keep it simple!!! The simple yet clever ideas are what is going to sell.
5. If you are targeting college students, keep the price LOW!!!
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