A new product idea

ICE2014

For a project in our college, a group of four students have come together and brainstormed a new product idea. Our idea consists of hand bags made for people who suffer from arthritis. Hand bags can cause a lot of difficulty for these people as the openings may be too small to retrieve their belongings out of the bags or simply the zips are a nuisance to hold on to as they are too small. Our product provides bags with larger zips, a wider bag opening and wider straps for ease of use.
Could our idea be potentially successful and is there any changes you think we should make? From you as customers, we would like feedback and your thoughts on our product.

D3PO

Maybe, but a lot of changes need to be made

Im not so sure such an idea is all that new. There are oodles over oversized handbags on the market that whilst not marketed for the reason you are suggesting do have the same effect.

Id also add that marketing a bag that way would alienate a lot of potential buyers, an "arthritis bag" isnt a very trendy thing for somebody to buy and a target market of females suffering from arthritis of the hands / arms (most of whom would be 50 plus and not really that concerned with handbags (generalisation but a good onoe) mean the chances of success of such a product at least in my mind is slim.

dudara

Threads merged and moved to "Surveys & Non-Media Research"

dudara

keithclancy

I think people that have difficulty carrying stuff just use a wheely bag.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Maybe, but a lot of changes need to be made

Masses of large opening bags out there and someone with arthritic problems would be less inclined to carry much about in a bag anyway.
Sounds like just another attempt at a handy college project.

ICE2014

No, no one would buy it

Thank you for your feedback. We have taken your comments on board. We hope to aim our product at 30-60 year olds so we don't think wheely bags would be appropriate. We agree with the suggestion of not alienating our product to 'arthritis people'.

3_BOoYA_X

There is a lot of oversized bags on the market, but many of these tend to cater of the style conscious/ younger generation, whereas many arthritis suffers are in an older age bracket. From experience, many people of this age category use neat, tidy, often leather handbags which are more discreet.

- my mother likes to use fidgety penny coin purses for loose change and she can't even reach into it, yet she still use it.
- An area that might be worth looking at; is there a subconscious worry among older people re the safety concern of using a prominent bag.
- If prototyping, cover your knuckles with Sellotape to help gain user empathy.