4A- Forming An Opportunity Belief

Whenever I go to the beach I leave covered in sand.  From swimming in the ocean, tanning, and building a sand castle the element of sand is always a factor which cannot go away.  I know that the residue of sand after leaving the beach is something that irritates many people and sometimes stops people from going to the beach.  There are showers that wash away some of the sand but for the most part sand is left on one’s skin and can be very irritating.  Creating a type of spray that would repel sand from sticking to the skin could prevent the irritation factor that sand has.  Incorporating this spray concept with sunscreen could create a spray that protects from the UV light of the sun and the irritation of sand.  This could encourage people to use this spray has a multipurpose.

The prototypical customer for this opportunity would be someone who goes to the beach frequently or enough to use a product like this.

I spoke to one of my residents, Tanner Ropp, who often takes day trips to the beach during the summer.  Living in Gainesville, St. Augustine beach is about an hour and a half drive.  Tanner said that the sand factor when going to the beach can be very annoying especially when the day is done and the sand that sticks on one’s skin ends up getting all over the car.  Tanner said that he loves the beach but wishes the sand could be removed.  Tanner also said that as annoying as sand could be it can be dealt with.  Tanner uses showers available at the beach and towels to wipe away as much sand as possible when leaving the beach.  However, Tanner was able to recall an instance in which he went to Blue Springs and the lack of shower availability created a very annoying sand experience. 

My discussion with Tanner reassured me that the sand factor when going to the beach can be very annoying.  I agree that using a shower or towel are for the most part can be used in removing sand but there is a need for something that does this when showers are not always available.  I was surprised that Tanner said that sand getting in the car is something he always considers when leaving the beach.  I always considered the sand on the skin most annoying, but I also see that sand getting in the car is also annoying.

One of my friends Andrew said he rarely goes to the beach because of how much he hates the sand.  Andrew said the sand sticks to his skin and does not come out easy.   Andrew also said that he hates when the sand gets on his flip flops and on his towel.  Andrew said that using the showers at the beach does not do a good enough job getting the sand off his body.  Every time he goes to the beach thinking about the best way to come home with as little sand as possible is considered.  However, Andrew noted that he only feels like sand is an issue when he drives to the beach.  The sand that gets in the car can be very irritating to clean.  Andrew feels that living close enough to walk to the beach would make the issue of sand not that big of a deal.

My discussion with Andrew was very interesting. I was surprised that Andrew only sees sand as an issue when he drives to the beach not so much when he walks to the beach.  This exemplifies that Andrew feels hat cleaning the car filled with sand is a hassle and he is not as much bothered by the sand irritating his skin.

I talked to Adam who lives in Sarasota, Florida and is about a five-minute drive to the beach.  Living so close to the beach Adam often went a couple times a month.  Initially, Adam said does not have an issue with sand which kind of perplexed me.  However, diving deeper in the conversation Adam said that the one thing he does not like about sand is that it makes him feel dirty.  No matter how much he tries to get the sand off while leaving he can feel the residue of the sand when putting on his clothes.  Adam said that it is not until after he showers at home that he feels clean and no longer dirty.

I was surprised to learn that the sand did not bother Adam as much as I anticipated.  This may be due to him attending the beach very often or just because it never bothered him.  This shows me that not everyone is as irritated with sand which could make me consider if there is a need to address it.

My conversation with my three friends provided me with different perspectives on the way sand can be irritating.  Tanner and Andrew do not like when sand is left in the car while Adam feels the sand makes him feel dirty.  I feel that I fall in the middle because I do not like when sand is in the car and the dirtiness I feel.  I feel like there is still an opportunity and a need to make the factor of sand less annoying when attending the beach.  My idea of what to do to solve this has changed because everyone has a different reason the sand is annoying.  Additionally, there are some people who are not as bothered by the sand while some people refuse from going to the beach because of the sand.  I think getting feedback on opportunities is a great way to discover if the need exists and if it is a major problem or not.