Identifying Local Opportunities

1. 

Title: Why Gainesville’s Pier 1 store is closing 

Link: https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/business-industry/why-gainesvilles-pier-1-store-is-closing/ 

Description of the story: Many Pier 1 stores are closing due to the business’ shift away from traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Specifically, Gainesville’s Pier 1 location will be closing very soon. Over 450 stores nationwide will be closing relatively soon and the Gainesville location is just one of many. 

Description of the problem: Many workers will be losing their jobs due to the closing. For example, the branch manager will be losing his job. None of the workers can even work at a different branch of Pier 1 because those that aren’t closing are all fully staffed already.  

Who has the problem: The citizens of Alachua county who will be missing out on a Pier 1 and the employees who are losing their jobs. 

2. 

Title: Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar to close  

Link: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190513/rockeys-dueling-piano-bar-to-close 

Description of the story: Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar, a Gainesville staple for 10 years, recently closed. The building is now under new ownership as a totally different bar. The previous owners of Rockeys have decided to open a new seafood restaurant in Celebration Pointe called The Keys. 

Description of the problem: People of Gainesville now do not have a large karaoke venue to perform and have a good time at. This staple of Gainesville is now gone and people are really upset at the sudden closing of a Gainesville favorite spot.  

Who has the problem: The people of Gainesville. 

3. 

Title: Publix Doesn’t Want Its Customers To Openly Carry Guns In Stores 

Link: https://mycbs4.com/news/local/publix-doesnt-want-its-customers-to-openly-carry-guns-in-stores 

Description of the story: After the shooting in Parkland, Florida, Publix donated to a Florida candidate who was associated with the National Rifle Association. Many Floridians were very upset with the Publix corporation after this action. Now, Publix has made a statement saying they no longer want citizens to carry guns in Publix, only law enforcement should do so.  

Description of the problem: Publix was under scrutiny for donating to a pro-NRA candidate so they made a statement not allowing regular citizens to hold guns in their stores.  

Who has the problem: Publix, gun holders, and people who felt strongly about Publix being pro or against guns.  

4. 

Title: Out of service? Food trucks, health department clash over permitting at NoFo Brew Co.  

Link: https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/life/food-drink/out-service-food-trucks-health-dept-clash-over-permitting-nofo-brew-coi/ 

Description of the story: The owners of NoFo Brewing Company have been working on their food trucks and business for a long time here in Gainesville. They have had the dream of building their company their own way for a long time. But, they have been facing difficulty with receiving and maintaining permits from the health department for quite a while.  

Description of the problem: The owners of NoFo Brewing Company are struggling to maintain their business because of their struggles to maintain and obtain permits from the health department.  

Who has the problem: The owners of NoFo Brewing Company and excited potential customers. 

5.  

Title:  ‘Next thing you know I’m addicted’: The effect of new vaping laws in Gainesville 

Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/next-thing-you-know-i-m-addicted-the-effect-of/article_9be7c44e-fc59-11e9-837a-979e20880935.html 

Description of the story: Juuling has been an upcoming trend, especially for college students, and it is a dangerous habit. In the past few months, the legal age to buy nicotine has been raised to 21 years old. This change has decreased nicotine sales in Gainesville, which is a really positive thing.  

Description of the problem: Businesses that sell nicotine are making less sales and nicotine users may be angry.  

Forming An Opportunity Belief

1. I would say there is an opportunity to prevent many car accidents by reducing distracted driving. 
2. Driving a far distance can get boring, especially if you are alone. Often, people, especially teenagers, resort to scrolling through Instagram, responding to texts, changing the music, and many other tasks on their phones and around them while driving. This distracted driving often keeps drivers’ eyes off the road and focused on other things. This can cause accidents, and even could really hurt pedestrians or other drivers. This is not a problem that occurs all of the time, but I do think it happens pretty often. I have reminded my friends countless times to get off their phones while driving, I can only imagine how often they are on them when I am not in the car. While there are a few actions that have already been taken, such as certain cars displaying a warning message when drivers tap on the dashboard screen while the car is in motion, and apps that turn off phone capabilities when driving, more can be done to prevent distracted driving. I am 100% positive that this problem exists and there is an unmet need. 
3. Prototypical Customers: 17 year old boy, 52 year old mom, 22 year old female student 
4. What is the exact nature of the need? 

        a. I think this is a pretty serious issue. Most of my friends do it honestly. 
         b. I try to set a good example by driving carefully and focusing on the road in front of my kids. I will admit that I have done it a few times but I work hard not to.  
         c.  I feel like a lot of people already know not to do stuff on their phone while driving. I don’t really do it. 
 
Do you think there is currently a way to prevent this need? 
         a. Don’t they have like an app or something? I don’t know people who use it. 
         b. I think that just talking about the dangers is a good want to prevent it. 
         c. Not really. 
 
How are you currently addressing this need yourself? 
         a. I usually put my phone in the cup holder of my car. It kinda helps. 
         b. I rarely look at my phone while I drive. I use the buttons on my steering wheel to answer calls if I think it’s an emergency. 
         c. I just don’t look at my phone when I drive.  
 
How long do you think you've had the need to solve this? 
         a. I mean I’ve had my phone and car since I was 16 so since then. 
         b. About the past 5 to 10 years. The use of phones has changed so much. We don’t even realize how often we are on them. 
         c. For a while, since I’ve had my car at least. 
 
Would you be happy if there was a permanent solution to this need? 
         a. Happy? Maybe. I would probably feel safer. 
         b. Yes! I think there needs to be a solution as soon as possible. 
         c. Yes but I don’t know if there can be a solution. 

5. Reflection: I was slightly surprised by the reactions I received. I thought that someone would say a great way to prevent this problem, but there are none currently. The overall attitude of all three people I interviewed was that there was a problem but not a viable or applicable solution yet. This further proves the idea that preventing distracted driving is an unmet need. 

6. I understand that there are a few minor solutions, such as lockdown apps and placing your phone in a hidden place, but every current solution has to be self-enforced. I believe the problem of distracted driving affects enough people that there should be a universal solution to save lives and prevent accidents. Therefore, I believe the original opportunity is still 90% there. This solution may not be a business idea, it could be an app or a law or combination of all three. I believe that the accidents caused by distracted driving raise awareness, but I am unsure if people will adapt on their own.