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DEW2023 - Taipei

Yukigassen as a business opportunity for HotSnow® – Team 5

Introduction to the case

The company HotSnow® has invented an artificial and eco friendly snow made of salt and high molecular polymer.

It is:

  • The 1st artificial snow in the world that can be used for skiing, not only decorating
  • Stored in normal temperature, not melting even in Summer
  • Safe for children if they accidentally eat snow when playing
  • Economic benefit with Low investment, operation and maintenance cost (no need much power and water)
  • outdoor and indoor usable

Today they built small indoor ski slopes in big malls for children. The company provide everything from the ramp and the special equipment to the artificial snow that is adapted to be good for skiing purposes.


The Task

Research and identify a potential new market for HOTSNOW’s artificial snow product. The market can be in any country or region worldwide.

  • Originality and creativity of the business idea.
  • Feasibility of the business idea, including financial viability and market potential.
  • Sustainability of the business idea, taking into consideration the environmental impact of the product and the business operations.
  • Quality of the marketing plan, including branding and promotional tactics.
  • The creative design of the product.
  • Service innovation, design, business model and technology are a consistent concept. 
  • The quality of the implemented technical prototype. 
  • Quality of the presentation and ability to answer questions.
  • Bonus points can be awarded to groups demonstrating exceptional creativity, outstanding technical implementations or incorporating innovative sustainability measures into their business plan and/or into the prototypes. 

Our Group

🇩🇪Felix, 🇲🇾Pui Yan Loo, 🇹🇼Sandy, 🇮🇩Annisa, 🇹🇼Eunice and 🇩🇪Tobias

Different ideas

Replace traditional snow in skiing halls in Europe

Europe has very high prices for electricity

In Europe is a big discussion ongoing how the values written down in the Paris Agreement can be reached until 2030

Idea Exchange snow in traditional skiing halls with HotSnow®

Example calculation: 13,500 tons needed

Investment of 1,260,000,000 TWD or 37,800,000 €

Pressed HotSnow® for carving sculptures

Sell pressed HotSnow® directly to end customers like artists with different sizes as another possibility to make snow look alike sculpture even in hot environments

Prepare normal skiing slopes with HotSnow®

Use long plastic tube tents like in Spain for agriculture to secure normal skiing slopes from rain for HotSnow® and have a clear view on the mountains for the possibility of taking nice social media pictures.

Have fun with snowball battles

Make snowball battles with HotSnow® popular in Taiwan to push the popularity of the brand and sell more profitable HotSnow® to wider market.


The Idea

Introduce a Yukigassen like league made with special HotSnow® that is stickier than normal HotSnow® in Taiwan. Later on populate it to more Asian markets.
Make own Yukigassen like rules that are adapted to the behaviour of HotSnow®. Provide everything for Yukigassen games through an online shop directly to the customers. This shop should be owned by HotSnow® or a distribution partner.


Yukigassen in other Countries

Yukigassen is a unique winter sport that has gained popularity in recent years. It originated in Japan in the early 1980s as a fun activity for children during the winter months, but it has since evolved into a competitive sport with organized leagues and tournaments.

The word “yukigassen” translates to “snow battle” in English, and that’s precisely what the sport is all about. It involves two teams of seven players each, battling it out on a rectangular court divided into three zones. The objective of the game is to eliminate all players of the opposing team by hitting them with snowballs. The team with the last player standing wins the match.

Yukigassen requires a combination of strategy, skill, and athleticism, making it a thrilling spectator sport. Players must strategize and communicate with their teammates to outmaneuver and eliminate their opponents. They must also possess the hand-eye coordination and throwing accuracy needed to hit their targets with snowballs.

The popularity of Yukigassen has led to the formation of various leagues and tournaments worldwide. The World Yukigassen Championship, held annually in Japan, attracts teams from around the world to compete for the title of world champion. Other notable tournaments include the European and North American Championships.

In addition to the organized tournaments, many communities and schools around the world have adopted Yukigassen as a winter sport, providing an exciting alternative to traditional winter activities like skiing and ice skating.

Overall, Yukigassen is an exciting and entertaining winter sport that combines athleticism, strategy, and fun. Its global popularity is a testament to its appeal, and it continues to grow as more people discover the thrill of the snow battle.


Targetgroup Personas

Anyone who enjoys outdoor activities and sports, especially those that require strategy, athleticism, and teamwork, could potentially be interested in playing Yukigassen.

In general, Taiwanese people tend to be active and enjoy outdoor activities, so those who are looking for a unique and exciting sport to try may find Yukigassen appealing. Additionally, Taiwan is a multicultural society, so people from different backgrounds and with diverse interests may be attracted to the sport.

Students

Name: David

Age: 16

Occupation: High School Student

Interests: David loves playing video games and hanging out with his friends. He also enjoys playing sports and being active outdoors. In his free time, he likes to skateboard, bike, and play basketball.

Personality: David is a fun-loving and energetic person who enjoys trying new things. He is very social and enjoys spending time with his friends. He is also competitive and loves to win, but always emphasizes the importance of good sportsmanship.

Goals: David is interested in the International Snow Ball Battle League because he thinks it would be a fun and exciting way to challenge himself and his friends. He hopes to form a team of his own and to improve his skills while having fun and making new friends.

Name: Emily

Age: 18

Occupation: College Student

Interests: Emily is a tech-savvy person who loves gaming and staying active. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and playing sports with her friends.

Personality: Emily is a logical and analytical person who enjoys solving complex problems. She is also very competitive and enjoys pushing herself to new limits. She is a team player and enjoys collaborating with others to achieve common goals.

Goals: Emily is interested in the International Snow Ball Battle League because she thinks it would be a fun and challenging way to test her strategic thinking and teamwork skills. She hopes to join a team of like-minded individuals who share her passion for gaming and competition.

Name: Kevin

Age: 21

Occupation: College Student

Interests: Kevin is a passionate cook who loves experimenting with new recipes and techniques. He also enjoys staying active and loves to play sports. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and playing games with his friends.

Personality: Kevin is a creative and artistic person who enjoys expressing himself through his cooking. He is also very competitive and enjoys the challenge of perfecting his skills. He is a team player and enjoys collaborating with others to achieve common goals.

Goals: Kevin is interested in the International Snow Ball Battle League because he thinks it would be a fun and unique way to showcase his competitive spirit and creativity. He hopes to form a team of fellow food enthusiasts who share his passion for cooking and competition, and to come up with a unique and delicious strategy to win the championship.

Young Taiwanese Citizens

Name: Jenny

Age: 25

Occupation: Marketing Specialist

Interests: Jenny loves trying out new things and staying active. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and playing sports with her friends. She is also a music enthusiast and loves attending concerts and festivals.

Personality: Jenny is a friendly and outgoing person who enjoys meeting new people. She is also competitive and enjoys the challenge of pushing herself to new limits. She is a team player and enjoys collaborating with others to achieve common goals.

Goals: Jenny is interested in the International Snow Ball Battle League because she thinks it would be a fun and exciting way to challenge herself and make new friends. She hopes to join a team of like-minded individuals who share her passion for competition and adventure.

Name: Michael

Age: 32

Occupation: Software Developer

Interests: Michael is a tech-savvy person who enjoys coding and working on projects. He also enjoys staying active and loves to play sports. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and playing games with his friends.

Personality: Michael is a logical and analytical person who enjoys solving complex problems. He is also very competitive and enjoys pushing himself to new limits. He is a team player and enjoys collaborating with others to achieve common goals.

Goals: Michael is interested in the International Snow Ball Battle League because he thinks it would be a fun and challenging way to test his strategic thinking and teamwork skills. He hopes to join a team of like-minded individuals who share his passion for competition and technology.

Name: Wei

Age: 28

Occupation: Business Consultant

Interests: Wei is a passionate traveler who loves exploring new cultures and cuisines. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and playing sports with his friends. He is also an avid reader and enjoys learning new things.

Personality: Wei is an adventurous and curious person who enjoys stepping out of his comfort zone. He is also competitive and enjoys pushing himself to new limits. He is a team player and enjoys collaborating with others to achieve common goals.

Goals: Wei is interested in the International Snow Ball Battle League because he thinks it would be a fun and unique way to challenge himself and make new friends. He hopes to join a team of like-minded individuals who share his passion for competition and adventure.


The Prototypes

Snowball Maker

For feasibility study we decided to print and open source 3D snowball maker model from the internet to test if HotSnow® snow is capable to form a snowball with theses tools. We printed this on a 3D printer from MCUT and the help of Phạm Tuấn, an industrial design student from MCUT. But as it was finished, we realised that it is by far too big for Yukigassen. We decided to shrink the design and cut off the handle and integrate some branding to fit our needs for Yukigassen. At the end our snowballs have a diameter of 6.6cm and a weight of 180-200g. This should be the optimal ratio between size, weight and therefor also cost.

Ticket selling APP draft

During the design thinking process we reflect about how to sell tickets in a modern and attractive way. Because of these thoughts we ended up with a draft of a simple ticket selling app.


The Business Opportunities

  • Make the brand HotSnow® more popular so even a profitable B2C market is possible.
  • Reach new target groups from teenager to young adults
  • Sell complete Yukigassen sets to the possible players or even “professional” Yukigassen player for training during summer.

Business Canvas


Marketing Strategy

  • Make an introductory campaign with a Yukigassen playground in a famous public place.
  • Create advertisements on social media, TV and make use of publicity of already known YouTubers.
  • Take partnership with the “Chinese Taipei Ski Association”.
  • Introduce a Yukigasse league in corporation with the “Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee”.

Example advertisement drafts

Side note: these examples are translated to mandarin because of the taiwanese target group.


Sustainability

One of our main tasks was to create a business model which encourage two or more UN Sustainability goals.

In our mind we ware able to create a business model that encourages goal 3, 10, 12.

  • 3: Yukigassen is a team sport. Therefore, the players get healthy exercise because of sport and there are also additional social aspects that are served.
  • 10: We make it possible to play Yukigassen also in regions on earth where traditionally is no snow. The price for a Yukigassen game is deliberately kept low so that families and poorer people can also play.
  • 12: We do not fill the whole playground with HotSnow. We only provide snowballs for Yukigassen. After a match the snow would be 99% recycled for new snowballs. Therefor we only use as much snow as it must be.

Files and links:

HotSnow® Yukigassen Ruleset for new Players