The relaunch of Greet Yourself

The Leadership & Innovation course is designed to be flexible and work around the participants’ various skills and interests. This proved to be true; the class was given the opportunity to run a “side hustle”. I chose to combine this with my Passion Project as I enjoy the side hustle, and also because it maximized the time I was given.

Fuelled by success from selling previously, I was keen to continue my greeting card business. This year, however, the start up cost was $50, which meant more flexibility, but most importantly, more stock.

In order to determine whether there was demand, I needed validation. This would minimize unnecessary spending and allow me to connect with my audience. Additionally, I would also get real-world data so I could tailor my product accordingly.  Hence, before selling at the larger Wanju Community Christmas Market, the class decided to use the September Runway Market as a product validation. In particular, I wanted feedback on my pricing. Before the outdoor market, I got a vague idea about what people thought through asking my class.

To organize ourselves for this, the class was introduced to the Microsoft Planner. Bearing similarities to Trello, the planner was like an online scrum. I used it to track task completion.

At the validation, I needed a prototype and a means to obtain feedback. Before I could make a prototype, I needed materials. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to maximise my loan, finding the most valuable material options. This was eventually whittled down to a few key materials. Utilizing the school’s laser cutter and spray adhesive, I successfully created 2 prototypes, one of each design.

While sorting out my finances, I also projected my profit with my previous prices. Last year, the product was sold for $5 (laser cut) and $1.50 (printed). This year, I wanted to sell my product for a price that people would be willing to pay, but that I would also be happy to accept.

After considering my options, I settled on using a survey, conducted through Microsoft Forms. I also created advertisements to draw people in. On the day, I used sweets to lure people so they would give me feedback. This turned out to be a useful tactic, as many were willing to stop by, if only for a mint.

The product validation provided many insights. Apart from learning about how to bait potential customers, I was able to gain a rough idea about pricing, as well as who my target audience was. I deduced that people thought highly of my product and that my target audience was mainly girls, specifically those in Junior School. In the process, I experienced the importance of peer feedback. All things considered, I have benefitted from this course and gained valuable feedback.