1) Find a business owner and talk to them about their customers.
Who do they think their target customers are?
I spoke with Mr. Jerry Davis, owner and founder of Dry First Inc. His customers are insurance claim customers.
Where do they find their customers?
The customers come to Mr. Davis through Yellow Pages or from hearing about it from another source to help restore their property.
What are their customer's demographics?
It ranges and doesn't target a specific customer demographic.
Who do they think their target customers are?
I spoke with Mr. Jerry Davis, owner and founder of Dry First Inc. His customers are insurance claim customers.
Where do they find their customers?
The customers come to Mr. Davis through Yellow Pages or from hearing about it from another source to help restore their property.
What are their customer's demographics?
It ranges and doesn't target a specific customer demographic.
What are their customers' problems?
They need their home to be restored after insurance claims.
What are customers currently doing to fix their problems?
They contact either Dry First or another insurance restoration company.
How big, on a scale of 1-10, is this problem in their customers' lives?
A 10 because if your house floods or burns down you loose your home and belongings.
What are some of the bigger problems their customers are dealing with?
Hurricane winds and flooding, house burning down, smoke restoration, etc.
Do their customers have a budget allocated to fix this problem?
No it's paid for by their insurance deductible.
They need their home to be restored after insurance claims.
What are customers currently doing to fix their problems?
They contact either Dry First or another insurance restoration company.
How big, on a scale of 1-10, is this problem in their customers' lives?
A 10 because if your house floods or burns down you loose your home and belongings.
What are some of the bigger problems their customers are dealing with?
Hurricane winds and flooding, house burning down, smoke restoration, etc.
Do their customers have a budget allocated to fix this problem?
No it's paid for by their insurance deductible.
2) Next, go and talk to 3 'target customers' -- using the demographics/psychographics the entrepreneur described.
My customers preferred not to be interviewed when I gave them the option so below I typed out their responses to the proposed questions below:
Interview #1: After discussing Mr. Davis' business with my interviewee, I proceeded to ask the same questions as above.
-His customers are insurance claim customers.
-Insurance restoration is an as soon as possible need and therefore his customers are those in need of repair or fixing.
-I don't believe there are any specific demographics that he targets with his company, just those with a need.
-The customers problems are most likely a need for home or personal property restoration.
-The customers immediately contact insurance companies like Dry First to repair their damages.
-A 9 because damaged personal property or a burnt down home is very sever but not deathly.
-Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc. as well as incidents such as car accident or house fire etc.
-I don't believe so, most insurance is paid with a deductible.
Interview #2:
-The customers are those with damages to their personal belongings and in need of a company to quickly resolve their issues.
-Probably the newspaper or online or work of mouth.
-It ranges their are no specific demographics for the targeted customers.
-Damaged property, home, etc.
-Using temporary measures to live until the problem or issue at hand is resolved.
-An 8. Losing your house to a natural disaster or incident is costly and a nuisance.
-Hurricanes, flooding, damage to personal property.
-Not sure payment is probably divided up between personal funds and insurance deductibles.
Interview #3:
-Those in need of insurance assistance.
-Mr. Davis is able to find his customers after natural disasters and property damage.
-No specific demographics.
-Damaged property.
-Contacting an insurance restoration company to repair their damaged property.
-10 depending on the severity; damaged property effects daily life functions.
-Loss of personal belongings in house fire, destruction of roofs due to strong winds, etc.
-Insurance deductibles should cover most of the expenses.
My customers preferred not to be interviewed when I gave them the option so below I typed out their responses to the proposed questions below:
Interview #1: After discussing Mr. Davis' business with my interviewee, I proceeded to ask the same questions as above.
-His customers are insurance claim customers.
-Insurance restoration is an as soon as possible need and therefore his customers are those in need of repair or fixing.
-I don't believe there are any specific demographics that he targets with his company, just those with a need.
-The customers problems are most likely a need for home or personal property restoration.
-The customers immediately contact insurance companies like Dry First to repair their damages.
-A 9 because damaged personal property or a burnt down home is very sever but not deathly.
-Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc. as well as incidents such as car accident or house fire etc.
-I don't believe so, most insurance is paid with a deductible.
Interview #2:
-The customers are those with damages to their personal belongings and in need of a company to quickly resolve their issues.
-Probably the newspaper or online or work of mouth.
-It ranges their are no specific demographics for the targeted customers.
-Damaged property, home, etc.
-Using temporary measures to live until the problem or issue at hand is resolved.
-An 8. Losing your house to a natural disaster or incident is costly and a nuisance.
-Hurricanes, flooding, damage to personal property.
-Not sure payment is probably divided up between personal funds and insurance deductibles.
Interview #3:
-Those in need of insurance assistance.
-Mr. Davis is able to find his customers after natural disasters and property damage.
-No specific demographics.
-Damaged property.
-Contacting an insurance restoration company to repair their damaged property.
-10 depending on the severity; damaged property effects daily life functions.
-Loss of personal belongings in house fire, destruction of roofs due to strong winds, etc.
-Insurance deductibles should cover most of the expenses.
3) Reflect. Does the entrepreneur adequately understand their customers' problems? Where are the differences? Why might these differences exist.
Yes I believe Mr. Davis understands his customers' problems and demands. Mr. Davis is a very personable businessman and likes to establish a relationship with those he works with. Mr. Davis was able to start up Dry First and grow it into one of the largest insurance restoration companies in South Florida. The main difference in perception from the customer to the businessman is that Mr. Davis does not like dealing with being paid by insurance deductibles; however, customers like deductibles so the costs and fees are not as abrupt.
Yes I believe Mr. Davis understands his customers' problems and demands. Mr. Davis is a very personable businessman and likes to establish a relationship with those he works with. Mr. Davis was able to start up Dry First and grow it into one of the largest insurance restoration companies in South Florida. The main difference in perception from the customer to the businessman is that Mr. Davis does not like dealing with being paid by insurance deductibles; however, customers like deductibles so the costs and fees are not as abrupt.
Greg,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your interview. I really enjoyed reading about Dry First because it really puts the reader into the mindset of what it's like to be in that kind of field. It shows that there are so many different factors to think over, and Mr. Davis is indeed an entrepreneur for being able to push through all odds and start up Dry First and, just like you said, grow it into the largest insurance restoration companies in South Florida. I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you for the cool blog post.
If you're interested in reading mine, check out this:
http://laurenent3003.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-twenty-percent.html
Hey Greg! I enjoyed reading about your interview. I think that Dry First is an interesting company. It seems like the business owner you interviewed has a firm grip on his company. He understands his targeted consumers. He also understands their problems and demands. Good job on this assignment and I think you would enjoy checking mine out! http://cambent.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-twenty-percent.html
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