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Grceri logogrceri - August 2017

Search Groceriesnot Supermarkets

hero
Company
Grceri
My Role
Founder
Timeline
3 years
Responsibilities
Outsourcing
Market Research
Development
Brand Design
Architecture Design
UX Design
UI Design
See it Live
Overview

My realization of the online grocery shopping trend opened my eyes to a significant market opportunity, fueled by evolving consumer behaviors and technological advancements. The ease of browsing and purchasing groceries online not only streamlined the shopping process but also inspired me to think about innovative search functionalities. Online shopping trend was increasing, but lack of grocery shopping provided a great opportunity.

Despite online shopping's surge in popularity, I noticed a clear lack of competition, revealed an extraordinary opportunity. I aimed to create a space where users can search for any product despite availability in a specific store and give me significant market share. I envisioned a business that could fill this niche, delivering unique services tailored to the dynamic needs and preferences of today's conscious consumers.

  • Angular
  • Node
  • Express
  • AzureDB
  • Stripe
  • Auth0
  • Font Awesome
  • Bootstrap
  • hammerjs
  • rxjs
  • chart.js

sad Spoiler Alert!

This is not a successful startup story. However, it highlights the importance of early Product Discovery in guiding startups to re-evaluate and pivot their strategies by addressing the right concerns.

High Level Goals

  1. Help local merchants boost their sales during the pandemic while providing customers a way to save more money when shopping.

  2. Conduct a comprehensive feasibility analysis to assess the market potential and viability of Nobolso as a sustainable cashback platform.

Initial Challenges

The challenge was locating specific grocery brands that I regularly enjoy and purchase. There was no single, consolidated website providing comprehensive information about various grocery items in one place.

Research & Discovery

I had a specific task to find a brand of pita bread she favored. Since it wasn't a domestic product, finding it was relatively challenging, leading to searches at multiple locations. Unfortunately, it was unavailable, so we had to settle for similar, readily available items from nearby stores.

Wasting hours of shopping, gave me an idea to save time and make it convenient for users facing the same issue. People usually shop for specific brands of foods out of necessity.

Idea Creation & Implementation

Developing a tool that caters to users who prefer specific brands and maintain grocery lists for convenient access to pricing and local availability seemed promising. It ambitiously aimed to aggregate and regularly update online data from all stores selling groceries, providing customers with comprehensive and current pricing information.

process
Competator Analysis
The online grocery shopping market is highly competitive, with key players focusing on convenience, pricing, and variety. Innovations in delivery logistics and user-friendly platforms are crucial. Trends show a growing demand for organic and local products, with an emphasis on mobile shopping and personalized experiences.
process
Requirements Gathering
Emphasizes user-friendly interfaces, diverse product range, and efficient delivery systems. Security, easy payment options, and robust customer support are critical. Preferences for personalized shopping experiences, mobile app accessibility, and sustainable packaging options are increasingly important to consumers.
process
Field Study
Field studies on online grocery shopping reveal increasing consumer preference for convenience and time-saving options. Users prioritize easy navigation, diverse product selections, and reliable delivery. The trend towards health-conscious and environmentally friendly products is notable. Customer service and responsive support systems significantly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty.
process
Analytics Review
Leading online retailers are capitalizing significantly on e-commerce for grocery delivery. Instakart, known for its wide range of grocery store partnerships, has become an extremely popular choice. Its rise to prominence in market research highlights the importance of availability, suggesting the necessity of offering such options online.

Branding Choices & Design

The online grocery shopping app, designed with a color palette of green and dark grey, offers a visually appealing and intuitive user experience. The primary color green, symbolic of freshness and organic produce, resonates with the app's focus on healthy, green groceries, creating a natural and vibrant aesthetic. Sleek and modern dark grey serves as the secondary color, providing a background that highlights and complements the green elements.

This color scheme not only reinforces the app’s commitment to fresh produce but also ensures an easy-to-navigate interface, enhancing the overall shopping experience for health-conscious and eco-friendly consumers.

Teal Green

CMYK: 76, 1, 69, 0
RGB: 36, 180, 126
Hex: #24b47e

Lime Green

CMYK: 74, 3, 85, 0
RGB: 61, 177, 96
Hex: #3db160

Light Grey

CMYK: 3, 2, 2, 0
RGB: 243, 243, 243
Hex: #f3f3f3

Medium Grey

CMYK: 43, 35, 35, 1
RGB: 153, 153, 153
Hex: #999999

Charcoal Grey

CMYK: 80, 73, 47, 43
RGB: 51, 54, 73
Hex: #333649
Glosa Display / Display

Grceri

Uppercase
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Lowercase
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Numbers
1234567890
Calibre / Body
Light
Search groceries before you go to a supermarket.
https://grceri-c3702.web.app/
brand
brand
brand

GrceriGrocery Search

Creating a tool for users who like to shop for specific brands and keep grocery lists for convienent pricing information on nearby availibily sounded like a good idea. Was really ambitious in scrapping all online data of all stores that sold groceries into one place and update that pricing regularly for customers.

The Consumer App

For consumers. I created a mobile app to save, scan, and create grocery lists of all your favorite groceries you have eaten before, but also search groceries to where they are available at stores near you.
The Consumer App
app
app
app
app
app
app

Phone integration

Create Lists - Save product lists for future use for any type of occasion.
Voice Search - Search products faster with your voice to find availability.
Scan Products - Able to scan and search for availability and use for future use.

Search availability

Consumers would visit grocery stores and be stuck to what ever is available, to save customers time, I created a web interface to search before you visit.
Create Lists - Save product lists for future use for any type of occasion.
Favorite Products - Filter and search for products you have saved and enjoyed previously.
Search Store Inventory - Look at any store for avilability in your area.
Price History - Look at analytics for product information, and other useful info.
website

The Outcome

Spending and release failures due to lack of oversight made me consider pulling the plug on this project. I had overspent, and the lack of private investment to continue this project was the ultimate decider. There were a few cost issues that could have been avoided, such as hosting expenses and excessive scraping frequency, which really escalated costs.

Another reason was the decision not to release a prototype to the user base for feedback and iteration. This, rather than waiting, would have been beneficial, especially as competitors were moving into this category.

Key Learnings

My journey through this project provided several key insights.
Importance of Early Product Discovery
Early product discovery is crucial in conserving resources and steering the project in the right direction. By interviewing potential users and partners early on, you gain valuable insights, challenge existing assumptions, and make well-informed decisions that align with market needs.
Critical Early Product Releases
Implementing early product releases is vital for gaining real-world feedback and iterating quickly. This proactive approach allows for more agile development, keeping pace with market demands and staying ahead of competitors.
Maintaining Costs & Budgets
Disciplined cost management is essential in project sustainability. By regularly monitoring expenses and adhering to budgets, you can avoid financial overruns and ensure efficient resource allocation.
Start & Build Small
Adopting a strategy to start small and move at a fast pace can be effective. Building organically allows for gradual scaling, reducing risks, and focusing on essential factors for sustainable growth.
Next Project

Third party legal entity creation, provider within USA.

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