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Market Questionnaire

This questionnaire is intended for customers on the Propcart Pro Standard Plan, but all customers are encouraged to work through this on their own.

tip

Start here! Make a copy of this Google Doc, fill it out, then share with [email protected].

The Google Doc is reproduced below:

Answer these questions so your webstore explains your unique value proposition clearly and succinctly.

Why are you starting a prop house?​

Besides "to make money."

Do you have domain expertise?​

  • I'm a set decorator, prop master or production designer
  • I worked in a prop house
  • I'm a stager and have my own staging furniture
  • I'm an event planner and have my events furniture

What type of props or services will you offer?​

  • Set dressing rentals
  • Cleared art rentals
  • Hand prop rentals
  • Picture car rentals
  • Prop truck rentals
  • Set element rentals
  • Greenery rentals
  • Prop fabrication
  • Graphic design and/or printing
  • Pickup & Delivery
  • Installation & Strike
  • Prop or set design

Who is your ideal customer?​

  • Set Decorators (TV, Commercial or Feature)
  • Prop Masters (TV, Commercial or Feature)
  • Prop Stylists
  • Emerging vs. Established (rookie vs. veteran)
  • Budget conscious vs. big budget
  • Age?
  • Gender?
  • Location?

Who are your competitors?​

  • Local prop houses
  • Online marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace)
  • Online retailers (Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Wayfair)

What is your unique value proposition?​

Why should a customer buy from you instead of your competitors?

Format: "Buy this product, and you will get this specific and unique benefit."

What other benefits do you offer?​

Why should customers buy from you instead of your competitors?

Do you have an unfair advantage over your competitors?

  • Location
  • Warehouse size
  • Staff experience
  • Customer service speed (staff availability and responsiveness)
  • Brand awareness
  • Rare items, curation, multiples
  • Trustworthiness and reputation
  • Marketing ability
  • Fast at repairing damaged props
  • Network
  • Quality guarantee
  • User-friendly webstore
  • All inventory items on the webstore

Do you have a disadvantage?​

  • Location
  • Warehouse size
  • Staff experience
  • Customer service speed (staff availability and responsiveness)
  • Brand awareness
  • Common items, no mulitiples
  • Trustworthiness and reputation
  • Marketing ability
  • Difficulty repairing damaged props
  • Network
  • Quality issues
  • No website
  • Not all inventory items are on the website

How should we address these disadvantages?​

Next Steps​

Now that you've defined your market, you're ready to start working on your Style Guide.