Capstone: Research
This post is part four of a project documentation series starting with the post: What is Capstone? That post will give you a lot of context on this project and the series. Through these posts, I will be documenting the process of my Senior Year Capstone course.
As I continue refining my idea, I took the next step of the process and started to research. The research I did was focused on the competitors in the industry that are already solidified. Looking at the competition helps to see what’s out there, who is trying to solve a similar problem, and how they are solving it. It also helps to research competition as I can look for any holes in the system which could be used to improve my idea.
Here are three different competitors I researched and my conclusions based on their brand.
I selected this brand as they are the highest-rated plant subscription service and they have a very engaging website with a user-friendly experience. One thing that I think I could improve upon after seeing this brand is the curated experience. Their experience is very clean and organized, but I would add more options such as the customer's climate, lighting options, commitment level, personal preferences regarding the looks, etc…
One way my project could be unique when compared to this brand is by not just sending care cards, but sending an attractive poster/postcard of the plant you’re receiving. This would help to continue decorating your space and lead to a more productive area. One thing I have taken note of to consider in my project is the overall clean look of their website and the professional photography.
I selected this brand because of the style and high ratings. One thing I think I can improve upon is the overall site cleanliness. There are many options and I feel as though there are ways to make the home page easier to navigate.
My project could be unique when it comes to the subscription service options as there are only a few options and they are somewhat generic. I would make generic options, but also more of a curated experience. One thing I noticed that I will take as inspiration in my project is the branding — their logo and packaging are very well done and match the overall vision I have. Their look is minimal and clean.
After seeing Lively Root, I feel as though my project could be unique when compared as it would have more of a personal feel. This brand feels more corporate. One thing I have noted to use as inspiration in my project is their idea of “One Plant Pick For A Purpose = One Tree Planted.” I like how this gives a meaningful incentive to buy from them. One common trend I have identified in this industry is having an Easy-Care and Pet-Friendly option.
Overall, this research has helped me to continue refining my idea and see how to move forward in the process. I am excited to continue and flesh out more of this idea as I move along. I hope you will continue to follow along with me!
