12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Segment: I chose the segment of people who would rather wash their hands often. The three people that I interviewed are people who were raised in different parts of the world but share the same beliefs.  Mone’ is the first person that I interviewed is a cosmetologist and a germophobic. Glenwood, a college student at USF raised in the south country parts of North Carolina. My mom, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago.

Interview 1: Mone’ was born and raised in Germany. Even though as a cosmetologist it requires plenty of sanitation, Mone’ has been obsessed with keeping her hands cleaned by washing them often. She stated that she washed her hands at least twice an hour. She hates using a bathroom and upon completion and during the washing of the hands, that there is no soap. She feels disgusted having to use just water and sanitizer. Mone’ feels as if she is dirty when she is unable to wash her hands without soap. Mone’ believes in germs and bacteria and feels like washing with soap is the only way to get rid of them. She stated that she keeps a bottle of dial in her purse just in case.

Interview 2:  Glenwood stated that since he was a little boy, his mom made him take a shower three times a day. He was monitored on the amount of times he washed his hands. It was a necessity for him to have clean hands and feet. So, today Glen still practices what was instilled in him. He says that every chance that he gets, he washes his hands to ensure he doesn’t get sick from the germs of someone else. He stated that he immediately washes his hands after he opens a door or shakes someone’s hands. He strongly believes that not everyone is clean.

Interview 3: My mother Says that washing your hands every 30 minutes helps keeps the germs away. She keeps a bottle of water and bottle of soap in her car just in case.  I asked her if she uses hand sanitizer and she said no.  She believes that sanitizer doesn’t get rid of the dirt it just smears it in the hand. She believes that every surface, doorknob, handle, and thing is germ infested and so washing your hands often is a great way to stay as safe as possible.

What I’ve Learned:

What I learned is that I underestimated how serious people take washing their hands. I thought that I was the only one who hated not having soap to wash my hands. Realistically, there are many others in the same boat as me. The idea of me creating the travel size mini soap would benefit the three people that I interviewed. Even though they didn’t voice a need because allergy concerns, the fact that they are interested in washing their hands often poses the need for my product.  Although these individual are from different parts of the