The Task
- To establish whether any or all of the prototypes meet the expectations of the carpenter community
- To determine whether the carpenters are ready to pay a premium for these Sofa Foams
- To collect detailed feedback on the performance, functionality and overall quality of the foam prototypes
The Method
- Feedback from carpenters across different cities
- Each prototype was evaluated one at a time –sequential monadic assessment
- This assessment was basis an overall touch and feel but the true test is in the actual making. That finally determines what is considered ‘good’ versus ‘passable’ by the makers.
- This was done through a process where a few carpenters made sofas using the prototypes. Researchers observed different steps and got feedback in detail at each step and at the overall level
The Challenges
At first glance, it seemed like a straightforward product testing study. But here’s what made it tricky:
- Carpenters’ feedback is often experiential or tactile, not easily quantified—researchers had to interpret subjective comments on things like comfort, bounce, and ease of work
- Identifying and bringing in skilled, relevant carpenters who were willing to invest time in a hands-on sofa-making task wasn’t easy
- Researchers had to stay constantly in touch with carpenters throughout the process—understanding their challenges in real time, checking in on progress, and capturing feedback while the sofa was being built. This meant on-ground coordination and real-time problem-solving.
How the Client benefited
- This helped the client decide on which prototype to go ahead with
- Clear tangible monetary benefits were established for the carpenters along with what are drivers for good quality experience for the customers
- Provided directions on what should be highlighted to the broader carpenter community to gain acceptance
- All this to have an impactful sales process at the launch stage of the product