Janina Urbach from the Hansgrohe Group shares how they developed a dog shower through customer interviews, pretotyping, 3D printing, and data-driven decisions. They learned from mistakes like over-engineering the MVP and applied their learnings to new projects.
Identified unexpected market gap through customer interviews, desk research, and industry validation.
Utilized pretotyping, 3D printing, and data-driven decisions to iterate and optimize product features.
Deep dives
Identification of the Dog Shower Market Gap
The idea of the dog shower emerged unexpectedly during interviews focusing on a different topic, with a customer highlighting the struggle of showering dogs. This gap in the market was further supported by desk research indicating a growing market for pet hygiene products and specific customer requests for dog showers, particularly in the US, where pet owner enthusiasm is high. Through interviews with dog owners, groomers, and psychologists, it became evident that the need for an improved dog shower was widespread, not limited to individual cases.
Lean Approach to Prototype Testing
To validate assumptions and test the viability of the dog shower concept, a lean approach was adopted. Various shower attachments were benchmarked and tested for functionality, with a key emphasis on a unique brush-like shower attachment that allowed direct cleaning of the dog's fur. Through rough prototypes and 3D printing, the team iterated on features and key functionalities to ensure the product met customer needs, especially focusing on addressing issues like allergies and skin irritations in dogs.
Presales and A/B Testing for Market Validation
The team utilized social media campaigns, website presales, and A/B testing to validate the market interest and fine-tune product features. By creating a test brand 'FERLY' for the dog shower, presales were conducted, providing real customer interactions and feedback. A/B testing was instrumental in optimizing pricing, color variants, and product images based on customer preferences and willingness to pay, leading to valuable insights for product positioning.
Lessons Learned and Future Applications
Reflecting on the dog shower project, key insights were gained on the importance of backing decisions with data, prioritizing user feedback, and involving cross-functional teams. Misteps were acknowledged, including over-engineering MVPs and neglecting internal customer considerations. The experience has influenced a focus on sustainability projects post-dog shower, with collaborative partnerships seen as essential for filling expertise gaps and driving scalability in new ventures.
In this conversation, Janina Urbach from the Hansgrohe Group shares the story of how they developed a dog shower as a new product.
The idea came from a customer interview and they validated the need through desk research and conversations with dog owners and groomers.
They used pretotyping and 3D printing to test and iterate the product.
They also used data to make decisions, including A/B testing and pre-sales. They learned from missteps, such as over-engineering the MVP, and applied their learnings to new projects.
Janina recommends using customer profiles and value proposition canvases to manage experiments.
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