Growing Your Social Capital

Domain Expert:

1.     Who they are, what their background is

·      Rigoberto Menendez, he is a technical expert in not only many types of firearms but in gun safes and gun locks as well.

2.     How this person is a “domain expert”

·      He is a domain expert because he has a lot of technical expertise in not only guns but gun locks as well, which will help since he not only specializes in my product but the product I am making my product for as well.

3.     How I found and contacted this person

·      He was a friend’s father and I got his contact information from him

4.     Nature of exchange

·      I basically explained to him my idea and why I believed that it would solve many problems that current versions still have. I asked if he believed that my product could be a viable substitute.

5.     How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity

·      By including Rigoberto, I would not only have a much better technical understanding of the design of current gun locks but also of my potential gun lock. He also knows a good amount about buying and selling firearms in stores and conventions.

Market Expert:

1.     Who they are, what their background is

·      Greg Lopez, he is a parent and owns multiple guns

2.     How this person is a “market expert”

·      I chose to pick someone who would represent a large part of my market: a parent who owns guns and keeps them in the house

3.     How I found and contacted this person

·      He is a friend of my father and I was able to get his contact information from him

4.     Nature of exchange

·      I asked him if he was getting more concerned about gun safety with all of the recent shootings happening around the US. I also asked him if he felt that if the current gun lock he has was secure enough to keep his small children from accidentally getting access.

5.     How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity

·      This will enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity because now I have even more information about my potential customers and what their unmet needs exactly are.

Supplier Expert:

1.     Who they are, what their background is

·      Michael O’Brien, he is the general manager of the Bass Pro Shops here in Gainesville. They sell not only different types of guns at Bass Pro Shops but all sorts of other gun related products including gun locks.

2.     How this person is an “industry expert”

·      Michael is an industry expert because he manages a major Bass Pro Shops which sells guns and gun related products (which is what I would be producing) to the general public.

3.     How I found and contacted this person

·      I found him by searching up the Bass Pro Shops here in Gainesville. I then got his information and was able to email him.

4.     Nature of exchange

·      I emailed him asking if gun locks were sold often at the Bass Pro Shops he managed and if he believed that they could be improved. I also asked if he thought a new type of gun lock would sell well.

5.     How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity

·      Including him could help me exploit an opportunity in a big way. If my product ever gets ready to go to market, knowing someone like Mr. O’Brien would be great because I could speak with him and begin to get my product into stores.

Reflect:

This experience will give me confidence when I participate in my next networking activity. I really had no idea that it would be this easy to network. I found all three people surprisingly easy and I found many more while searching as well. This was really my first true networking experience, as I have never had to do something like this before. Overall, this activity helped me gain confidence for the next time I have to network.