***11/25: Survey people asking them what kind of vinyl would they  prefer to buy for themselves or for family/friends as gifts (use pictures in case people are not sure what vinyl figures are) and analyze survey data.

I surveyed 30 people—friends, family, and classmates. I explained to them that I wanted to eventually create my own series of vinyl toys, which are pieces of art you could collect and display in your home or give as gifts to kids and adults alike.

I decided to focus on one main question:

“Would you prefer to purchase a “blind box” and be surprised at the piece of art you are getting or would you prefer to know which vinyl you are getting from the beginning?”

When you purchase a blind box you do not know which item you are going to get. What you do know are the various options you could end up with if you get that specific product series.

Here is an example of what a blind box looks like:

Here is an example of what a series that is available up front looks like:

I actually was not expecting the results I did. I hypothesized that the majority of people would rather know which vinyl figure they were getting in advance.

I found out that about 60% of the 30 people I surveyed (17 people) said they would choose not to know, meaning about 40% would rather know upfront. The main reason, after I asked why, was because they felt it would get them more excited to open it and see which one they got.

Personally, I do not mind either. Sometimes I like not knowing since the act of surprise brings a sense of suspense and intensity right before opening it like others said while other moments I know which one I want already. Also not knowing, will mean you might not get the ones you originally wanted, but you will go back for more in order to get the one you want and before you know it you have a collection. This is good news for me because I have been thinking that I want to do a blind box series but, who know, I might do both.

I did ask one follow up question which I did not plan on asking in advance but did just out of curiosity. I asked whether they have bought a vinyl toy before. Of the 30 people I found out that only 4 of them ever bought a vinyl figure before and 7 others had one gifted to them or gifted one to someone.