Just ask why is that? Innovations Lessons from "live" markets
So here is the deal, I need to buy a new car because – well - because my lifestyle is forcing me to. I have to have a car in order to survive in the suburbia-induced car culture that I have created for myself and family. It does not help that public transportation in Northern Virginia is as rare as a bicyclist hitting a bear and survives to tell about it. This actually happened in Montana yesterday. You don't believe me? Check it out:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/custom/offbeat/sns-ap-odd-bicyclist-vs-bear,0,26902.story
The car that I have chosen to purchase is a Honda Fit, an environmentally-aware car responsive to the new world order consisting of high prices, a warming environment and immature politicians. It is actually a ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle) car rapped in a small, sporty and utilitarian package. And, but of course, it is a Honda, a car of supreme quality.
If you want to read about the car, click here:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/budget_rides/2009_honda_fit_first_drive_review
So, highly motivated to make a positive impact on the world and actually give a boost to our flailing economy, I boldly make a call to my local dealership in order to check out the new 2009 Fit. Low and behold there is a waiting list for it….
Huh? A waiting list?
Ok, so I know everyone is suffering from high prices and I know there is a shortage of economical and safe small cars out there. But a waiting list...during a recession?
Being intrigued by this, I did a little research and here is deal. (Like they say, there are always hidden lessons for those willing to seek for answers.)
The Fit was originality built as an “entry” level car to replace the Honda Civic, which has become bigger and more expensive. The Fit was designed to be a more exciting entry level car that would appeal to the young, digitally enabled, MPEG driven crowds. It turns out, however, that the Fit appears to be a hit with another market; those looking to “downsize.” (A lot of this going on right now in our beloved economy).
So, Honda got a hold of this fact with what I surmise was great customer research, and updated the car to accommodate this market. They made it a tad bigger, added a tad softer suspension, refined the seats and the interior a bit and, well, here I am on a waiting list. Now the digital set + the downsizing set wants one. Everyone wants one!
The innovation lesson here is the following: What adjacent markets are out there that could be easily served by tweaking a product a bit here and there?
Another revolutionary example of this is the Nintendo Wii; a product that was born from asking the question: how do we serve the non-gamers?
A very simple lesson that perhaps is not so evident until you: 1) Ask the questions, 2) keep in deep touch with your customers and 3) perform a little research
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/custom/offbeat/sns-ap-odd-bicyclist-vs-bear,0,26902.story
The car that I have chosen to purchase is a Honda Fit, an environmentally-aware car responsive to the new world order consisting of high prices, a warming environment and immature politicians. It is actually a ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle) car rapped in a small, sporty and utilitarian package. And, but of course, it is a Honda, a car of supreme quality.
If you want to read about the car, click here:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/budget_rides/2009_honda_fit_first_drive_review
So, highly motivated to make a positive impact on the world and actually give a boost to our flailing economy, I boldly make a call to my local dealership in order to check out the new 2009 Fit. Low and behold there is a waiting list for it….
Huh? A waiting list?
Ok, so I know everyone is suffering from high prices and I know there is a shortage of economical and safe small cars out there. But a waiting list...during a recession?
Being intrigued by this, I did a little research and here is deal. (Like they say, there are always hidden lessons for those willing to seek for answers.)
The Fit was originality built as an “entry” level car to replace the Honda Civic, which has become bigger and more expensive. The Fit was designed to be a more exciting entry level car that would appeal to the young, digitally enabled, MPEG driven crowds. It turns out, however, that the Fit appears to be a hit with another market; those looking to “downsize.” (A lot of this going on right now in our beloved economy).
So, Honda got a hold of this fact with what I surmise was great customer research, and updated the car to accommodate this market. They made it a tad bigger, added a tad softer suspension, refined the seats and the interior a bit and, well, here I am on a waiting list. Now the digital set + the downsizing set wants one. Everyone wants one!
The innovation lesson here is the following: What adjacent markets are out there that could be easily served by tweaking a product a bit here and there?
Another revolutionary example of this is the Nintendo Wii; a product that was born from asking the question: how do we serve the non-gamers?
A very simple lesson that perhaps is not so evident until you: 1) Ask the questions, 2) keep in deep touch with your customers and 3) perform a little research
Comments