Finding a Need and Filling it...Airport Security Style

We hear it on a semester basis - that one of the keys to successful product implementation is to find a need and fill it. Sometimes marketers can create a need and fill it, but some only need to be creative enough to find a need in the market and then do something about. Marc Carey is one such individual who has done this.

During the holiday season, a time of air high travel for Americans, scanners considered intrusive by some travelers were set up at airports while at the same time a more thorough pat-down was approved for TSA members to use. This created a stir all over the radio waves, television, newspapers, social media...some argued that other forms of security could be used, that some should not have to take part in either one of the security options, that this was violating the rights of travelers, and some even said that it would hurt the air travel industry. Instead of joining in on the speculations and complaints of new security procedures, Mr. Carey decided to take action and create a product that would allow travelers to pass through the scanner while still retaining a form of privacy. Thus entered Scannershirts into the market.

These Scannershirts have a special ink printed onto the shirts in areas that flying travelers want to keep to themselves. When they pass through the scanner, the areas on the product where the ink has been printed will show up as blurred on the monitors that TSA members review. According to Scannershirt's website, TSA is okay with certain areas of the body being blurred.

The demand for this product skyrocketed as people began to hear more and more about this choice in the privacy of traveling. Marc Carey didn't just create a product that fit a need though, he chose to create his product solely in the United States in order to create more jobs. In addition, 20% of his net profit from sales will be going to the children effected by the 9/11 attacks. Mr. Carey realized there was an open market for his scannershirts and combined with his American patriotism, created a product that helps other Americans and also protects the privacy of travelers who fly.

While this product may seem trivial to some, to others it gives a deeper sense of security. Travelers can now fly free of the worry of someone peering too deeply into their screened image while knowing that their physical safety is being protected on a higher level. Considering the amount of travel I do and the hours of business learning I have done, I found this product to be innovative, creative, and one that fills the demand of protection for personal rights while still maintaining a high level of security during air travel.