Quirky Case Study International Management

Quirky

Case Study – 2.2

Lilly Poppett

July 18, 2015

Florida Tech University

EMK3320 – Entrepreneurial Marketing

Professor Janis McFaul

1. In what ways was Ben Kaufman the ideal person to start Quirky?

Ben Kaufman was the ideal person to start Quirky as he is motivated by innovation, has the energy needed to be creative and has a strong desire to help others get their ideas turned into products. Kaufman appears to be good at problem solving, seeing the potential in others, while recognizing the value of an untapped mind. If you were an investor in Quirky, would you have any concerns about his qualifications moving forward? If I were an investor in Quirky, I would not have any concerns in regards to Kaufman’s qualifications. Kaufman’s resume is proof that he has the ability to turn ideas into actual successes, in his product ideas and companies that he has created.

2. Do you think Quirky’s basic business model, described in the eight steps shown previously, is sound and fair? If you could suggest any changes, what would they be? I do believe that Quirky’s basic business model is sound and fair. The company has put reason behind each of its eight steps. The free membership registration to get started is certainly fair. The $10 fee per submission is to prevent getting multiple ideas submitted and wasting the time of the Quirky community, again certainly fair as Quirky wants to know that you are serious about the ideas you are submitting and no one is wasting the others time. All eight steps are to ensure that its company makes the best decisions and making the best use of their resources. After all, it is Quirky footing the bill. I do not have any suggestions on changes at this time.

3. Do you think the concern that Quirky will systematically attract novice inventors, who are likely to submit the least promising ideas, rather than experienced inventors and product designers, who are likely to submit the most promising ideas, because...