Project 2: Research/Concept Guide Questions

1. What is your app concept? Provide a brief summary of its purpose.
   An app design to provide listings of local/near by garage sales around the user, if you are a buyer you can search based on zip code, city/state, and or location.  If you are a seller you can create a listing with a brief description of items along with images.  When searching you can click on the listing and it will activate navigation system.
2. What problem is your app attempting to solve?
   Making garage sales more easily to find and convenient, rather than having to drive around and keeping an eye out for handmade signs with tiny little addresses written on them.  As well as an idea of what items you can expect to find there.
3. Define your target audience
   Target group is going to be people mid 20's - late 30's, college students, young adults, and couples starting their family.
4. How does your target audience currently solve this problem?
   As of now people simply drive around spot a hand made sign sticking out the ground and follow the signs leading to the house.  Another way and not as recommended is Craigslist... and well its Craigslist.
5. Research your competitors. Compile the following info for your top 3 competitors:
   a. Product / Service Name
   b. Summary of Product / Service
   c. Unique Features
   
   Letgo
   A way for users to sell/buy second hand items within their area.
   Allows you to upload images, prices and times for when to pick up.
   Clean modern look to it, user friendly interface.
   
   5Miles
   Listings of items for sale within 5 miles, from collectibles such as cards all the way to cars.
   Also provides classifieds, such as listings for apartments or job openings.
   Able to place bid via txt message.
   
   Garage Sales by Map
   Shows local listings from people having garage sales within distance provided.
   Also shows listings from websites such as gsalr.com oodle.com yardsales.net
   
6. Describe the current design style / direction used by your competitors?
   Mostly focused on featuring images of the items being sold, as well as price.  The next big thing they emphasize on is location, display of the map and distance from the user.  And how to get a hold of the seller such as address, email or phone number.
   
7. Individually they all attempt a modern look feel that resembles that of popular apps such as facebook, twitter and social media apps.  Allowing the user to view an image of something they are interested in and info/description related to that item.  Some are too complicated, overwhelming on what the user has as options, another is that they are not for all platforms. some only for apple others for google play and some are only available for cell phones and not tablets or ipads.
   
8. My app will bring a fresh feel to it, simple easy to use and simply do the basics you want when shopping at a garage sale.  Location, contact, items, price, bidding.  Allowing both buyers & sellers to be notified with alerts regarding the item.  Also being able to compare the used item to retail price or quality, allowing the buyer to see if it is damaged or it's missing parts.