Methodology

Methodology

Method of Research

Our method to better market FreeMarketRI.com is to survey people around Rhode Island. We surveyed a total of 150 people. It was essential for us to survey a diverse array of people, to get a more accurate perception of our target user. This is why we surveyed people from a variety of locations including, local Rhode Island neighborhoods, colleges, grocery stores, department stores, and even the Bryant faculty. By surveying people in different locations we were able to cover a wide range of ages and lifestyles.


Survey

Our FreeMarketRI.com marketing strategy survey included the following questions:

Bryant University

1. Are you a resident of Rhode Island?        Yes                No

2. How old are you? ____________

3. Gender (circle one):  Male               Female

4. Have you ever heard of FreeMarketRI.com?
    Yes (go to question 5)       No (Read paragraph Free Market RI and skip to question 7)

5. Have you ever used it?                 Yes (go to question 8)       No (go to question 6)

6. What kept you from using it?        Time (go to question 8)     Ease of use (go to question8)

Free Market RI is a service provided by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation. Free Market RI provides a platform (online) for users to trade their unwanted goods, for free. Users list the items they wish to give away and others search the list for items they need. For example, I have an old computer that I don’t need but I also don’t want to throw out. I would then go FreeMarketRI.com and create a listing for that item. Someone else finds my listing contacts me and arranges to pickup the computer.


7. After reading the above paragraph would you ever use it?    Yes      No

8. How many times a year have you thrown away something that was still in good condition and could have been donated/ reused? (circle one)
a. 0-3 times
b. 4-5 times
c. 6+ times

9. Are you aware of the current problems affecting the landfill?       Yes          No

10. What type of marketing is most effective to you so that people can become more aware of FreeMarketRI.com? (Check off all that apply)

Flyers Radio ads Newspaper ads TV commercial
E-mails News articles Bumper stickers Online ads
Mail ads Billboards Others (please specify):__________________________
Free promotional items (i.e. t-shirts, water  bottles, gimmicks)

11. Would you be more inclined to use the service (FreeMarketRI.com) if the items you want to giveaway also went to hurricane Katrina victims? 
Yes                                                                      No