Getting started with and discussion of part A of the case

In this section we initiate a multi-part case study on "Fashnear" to practice decision-making using the case method.

Introduction to the Case Study

The session begins a three-part case study on "Fashnear" with a focus on Part A. The goal is to apply the Lean method principles and practice decision-making by stepping into the shoes of the protagonists, Vidhith and Sanjeev, the co-founders of Fashionyear.

Discussion of Fashionyear - Part A

1. Who is the Customer?

• Identified Customers: Two primary customer segments are identified:
  • Digitally connected consumers of unbranded apparel.
  • Unorganized retailers selling unbranded products.
• Rationale for Retailers as Customers: The retailers are considered customers because they are also seeking a platform to connect digitally with consumers, and existing e-commerce platforms primarily focus on branded products, leaving a gap for unbranded retailers.

2. What is the Specific Problem Being Solved?

• For Digitally Connected Consumers:
  • The inconvenience and effort involved in traditional in-person clothes shopping (e.g., founders' own experience of disliking going to stores).
  • Challenges like finding parking or limited display items in physical stores.
  • Lack of online presence for local, unbranded apparel.
• For Unorganized Retailers:
  • Difficulty in establishing an online presence to reach more customers.

3. What is the Solution?

• Core Offering: A mobile app that provides users easy access to unbranded apparel products.
• Key Features/Process:
  • Discovery: The app facilitates the discovery of unbranded products.
  • Offline Element (Home Trials): Retailers can sign up to the app, then visit customers' homes to showcase products and allow home trials before purchase. This brings a "mall experience" to the convenience of the home.
  • Physical Interaction: There's a planned physical interaction between the store (or its representative) and the end consumer to enable trying on garments.

Next Steps: Filling Out the Lean Canvas

Given the identified customers, problems, and solutions, the participants are tasked with populating a Lean Canvas for Fashionyear at this initial stage of the venture, capturing its core business model in a concise format. This exercise aims to apply the theoretical knowledge of the Lean Canvas to a practical case.