February 16, 2022 • 31 mins
Agenda:
- A user finally showed up to our weekly user interview session! Zach Lambic from Al Dente, Wyoming
Takeaways:
- Kate to figure out if the server room’s sprinklers are going, hope the company isn’t destroyed, and hope she doesn’t have to pull Matt out of his therapy session
- Add “Wresting with Dog” as a human impact couch breaking test scenario
- Calathea and Zach to talk offline about paying for some sponsored content on Dominic the Mastiff’s Instagram account
Zach is played by Adal Rifai. Adal is an improviser, podcaster, producer and writer in Chicago. He is the creator and host of Hey Riddle Riddle and plays Chunt on the podcast Hello From the Magic Tavern. You can find him on Twitter @adalrifai
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ben (00:07):
welcome to this startup is being recorded.
This recording is improvisedfiction.
Similarities between it and thereal world are entirely
intentional.
Now enjoy the recording.
Kate (00:21):
Okay.
Uh, I've got the recordingstarted.
Um, so just as an overview, welike to record our user
interviews here at Metta market,our name for now.
Um, it's just important for usto be able to share this
feedback within the rest of ourcompany.
Um, have other employees, youknow, hear direct from the
customers.
Before we start let's just goahead and make sure we know
(00:44):
who's who's here.
So I'm Kate bandshell.
I'm the chief of staff, uh, toJohn, the CEO of Metta market,
the infamous Chon.
Thea (00:56):
the chief creatives are.
Eric (00:59):
hi, Eric, Troy Carter.
Chief product officer here atMetta market for now.
Kate (01:05):
Uh, and Zach, um, if you wouldn't mind just saying your
name yeah.
And then maybe explaining, um,how you found out about this
session.
Zach Lambic (01:13):
Yeah.
Awesome.
Uh, my name is Zach lambic.
Uh, I am, of course from aldenteWyoming.
Um, I bought one of your couchesand, um, yeah.
And after about like six monthsor so.
Uh, I was wrestling with my dog.
It's a big Mastiff and, uh, thecouch broken half and tucked
inside of my couch was thislittle gold token that said, um,
(01:36):
that said to be here at thistime that I had won some sort of
contest.
Um, so I'm thrilled to be here.
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm very excited to be, uh, tobe a part of this
Eric (01:47):
uh, I can't say how excited I am to see you here,
Zach.
Um, and I'm sure Kathy, you'reexcited to like this, this
program we designed to getpeople in for a focus.
It took months of planning andit's been nine months and you're
the first person to make it.
So
Zach Lambic (02:05):
Oh, that's amazing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I saw him.
Thea (02:08):
and I have bonded a lot with nobody showed up for these
sessions and it's just, we wereso thrilled to actually like,
have somebody walk through thedoor this time.
Zach Lambic (02:17):
Yeah.
Happy to be here.
I did see my token was numbered,uh, out of 75.
I assume there'd be 75 otherpeople here, but that token was
buried pretty deep in my county.
Eric (02:26):
Yeah.
Uh, we've, we've, uh, we've onlyheard of one other person
finding the token.
Uh, but they, uh, unfortunatelycalled us and said that they,
they weren't interested and theywere, they were skeptical of the
situation.
So.
Thank you for trusting us, uh,with your couch experience and
with your couch focus groupexperience.
Zach Lambic (02:45):
Oh my pleasure.
And I'm excited to get some ofmy ideas off the dome here.
Eric (02:49):
Oh, well, that's, that's wonderful.
We love, we love an eagerparticipant, so if it's okay
with everybody else, I, I, I'dlove to just jump in.
Um, I've got a few standardquestions, uh, but you know,
let's make this conversational,let's make this fun, you know,
we want to really get your,your, your, your deepest
thoughts about the couchexperience from end to end.
Zach Lambic (03:07):
Yeah, Mr.
Carter, can I just say I reallyenjoy, um, I think it's so nice
that you took the time to saylet's make this fun.
Cause you know, sometimes, youknow, sometimes, uh, it's hard
for fun to happen organically.
So I like that, you know, thisis, it's like when we, I used to
go on vacation with my parentsand my dad would say let's have
fun.
Right.
And it just kind of, it justkind of flips a switch in your
(03:27):
brain where you're like, uh,better, not, not have fun.
So I think that's a good placeto stem from.
Eric (03:32):
um, man, it's this is, this is outside the bounds of
the focus group, but I knowexactly what you mean.
And, you know, I used to growup, I would eat snowballs and
that was my little like cutetimed out fun now.
So, uh, that Pavlovian reactionis, is, is, is it's it's in
there.
Zach Lambic (03:51):
Oh yeah.
Any, anytime I hear a bell eatdog food.
I'm with you.
Eric (03:56):
Oh,
Kate (03:56):
Eric, we can't, we can't talk about snowballs for 10
minutes a day, though.
So,
Eric (04:01):
I'd love to.
Um, but uh, maybe afterwardslet's start, uh, you know, you,
you ordered the, the extralarge, uh, Che's lounge with an
extension recliner, um, scale ofone to five, one being, uh,
least comfortable to five beingmost comfortable.
How did you find your, yourexperience with the metal market
couch?
Zach Lambic (04:20):
Uh, I'm gonna go right in the middle of 2.5.
I think it was a verycomfortable, uh, chisel lounge.
And then when it broke, I feellike it was less comfortable.
So I feel like right in themiddle of 2.5,
Eric (04:30):
okay.
Great.
Great.
Um,
Thea (04:34):
Can
Kate (04:34):
Eric.
Thea (04:35):
a little bit
Eric (04:35):
please.
Yeah.
Thea (04:37):
some of the emotions you felt when it, when it happened,
that would be really helpful forus.
Zach Lambic (04:41):
Yeah, of course I was again, playing with my dog.
It's a big, massive, uh, hisname is, um, Dominic, uh, named
after a VIN diesel and fascinatfurious.
And so we're, we're wrestling onthe couch right in this couch
for the first six months.
This couch is.
Bread and butter.
This dog is sleeping on thecouch.
This dog is awake on the couch,I guess.
So those are the two things,but, uh, we are getting pretty
(05:03):
hot and heavy getting a really,you know, wrestling.
I have like a little rope and helikes to bite it and I tug at it
and he's like mine.
And I go, let me throw it toyou.
Um, and for whatever reason, I,you know, I yanked backwards and
he let his mouth open and I justtumbled backwards, uh, shoulders
first.
And I'm pretty broad shouldered.
And that just crack that couchin half.
(05:24):
Um, yeah.
And then after that it was likelooking at, it was like looking
at a club sandwich, like I sawevery layer of the couch.
Um, and that's where I saw thatlittle token.
I heard a little, I heard alittle clink and I said, was
that a screw?
Was that some sort of a metal,you know, a frame that broke
off, but no, it was a token.
So, um, yeah, that was, that wasmy experience with the breakage.
Kate (05:45):
Okay.
Um, Eric, just side note, I'mgoing to add shoulder first
falling into our set of tests,scenarios for, for couch
breaking due to human impact.
Eric (05:55):
You're way ahead of me.
Um, I'm interested to find out,you know, one that it was the
human that broke the cash andnot the dog.
And that, it sounds like ifcorrect me if I'm wrong, Zack,
but, uh, the primary user of thecouch was actually your dog,
Dominic.
Um, and, and I know we can'tspeak for animals, but I'm
curious if you had to guess whatyour dog would rate the comfort
level of the couch on a scale ofone to five, uh, what might,
(06:18):
what might that be?
Zach Lambic (06:20):
Oh boy.
Um, I w I'm going to say a fullon five out of five.
Eric (06:25):
Okay.
So, so the dog found the couchtwice as comfortable as you did.
Zach Lambic (06:29):
yeah.
Oh yeah.
being honest,
Kate (06:31):
a recliner?
I just, I
Eric (06:33):
Yeah.
Kate (06:34):
had issues with the recliner portions and.
Zach Lambic (06:38):
You know, Dominic would kind of swing his arm off
the side of the couch, uh, inthis kind of motion.
Um, he couldn't quite grab ontoit.
I don't, he doesn't haveopposable thumbs, but I would
get the gist of it and be like,oh, he's he wants me to pull on
the recliner.
Um, and he would go nuts.
What I did that in a, in a goodway.
So yeah, he would use therecliner.
Uh, he was a sort of, uh, uh,king of the roost.
Kate (07:00):
amazing.
Thea (07:01):
Question.
Does Dominic have an Instagram?
Zach Lambic (07:04):
Dominic does.
Yes.
Yeah.
Do you want, uh, yeah, it's uh,dominant, uh, it's uh, all one
word into Dominic of time onInstagram.
Thea (07:14):
Oh,
Zach Lambic (07:15):
And it's a lot of him dressing up.
We put them in like little, uh,if you're familiar with the
super Mario brothers three, weput them in a lot of like, to
Nikki costumes
Eric (07:23):
Oh, wow.
Zach Lambic (07:24):
frog costumes.
We put them under water, we putthem on top of a flagpole
sliding down.
Um, so when I can, I just say,when he found that little golden
coin, he went nuts because heloves Mario three.
Yeah.
So he was, uh, he was losing hismind.
Thea (07:39):
And now I'm seeing that video of the couch breaking that
you put the little Mario themesaga is amazing.
I mean, this is the kind ofcouch content we want.
Do you do, do you and Dominic doinfluencer
Zach Lambic (07:51):
that?
I'm not sure what that is.
I mean,
Thea (07:56):
like pay use for some promotional content?
I mean, by you, I mean, Dominic,if he would be open for that, I
don't know how he feels aboutpromoted content.
Zach Lambic (08:05):
Absolutely.
Uh, he doesn't have a checkingaccount or anything, but I'm
happy to hold the money for himor whatever you need, whatever
you need.
Thea (08:11):
Okay.
I mean, this is just a greatavenue.
I'm sorry, Eric.
I don't mean to take over yourmeeting, but this is like such a
rich, you know, just
Kate (08:19):
Yeah,
Thea (08:20):
uh, the ways that dogs could really spur, you know,
just in the ways that likechildren motivate, you know,
their parents' purchases.
Like if we got to the dogs?
Zach Lambic (08:30):
Oh, can I toss out an idea?
Is that.
Thea (08:32):
Yeah, of course.
Zach Lambic (08:34):
Uh, just, just, uh, uh, uh, Mrs.
Ms.
Neuroma.
Thea (08:40):
Uh, you can just say California, I think we're
familiar enough in this
Zach Lambic (08:45):
Okay.
Caleb's uh, just based off youtalking about children, I
thought it might be cool if I'mtalking about, you know, once or
needs in the couch, you know howthere are bunk beds, why aren't
there bunk couches.
So it's kind of one couch on topof another couch.
The kids go up top, causethey're lighter weight or even
my dog could go up top.
And then I sit on the bottom.
(09:06):
Uh, we're not fighting forspace, right?
We're not, uh, one person canlay down while the other is
comfortably seated or the other,or the other person could have.
But I feel like that's beenmissing in the furniture scene
for quite some time.
Eric (09:17):
I don't want to.
I'm going to do it.
We have been prototyping a bunkbed couch, and we've been really
stuck on where to place theladder.
Um, so I'm going to, I'm goingto show you three images, uh,
of, of these prototypes,
Zach Lambic (09:31):
Okay.
Eric (09:32):
Do you tell me which one resonates, you know, just gut
instinct, which one would be thebest bunk bed configuration from
your point of view?
So here's the first one.
Uh, you can see that the ladderis on the side, kind of where
the arm of the couch would be.
a recessed into the arm, asecond image.
You can see it's actuallystraight in the center.
It kind of splits the couch intotwo separate sections, almost
like to love seat size.
(09:53):
Uh, and then the third, as youcan see that the ladder is on
the back of the couch and youkind of have to climb the
ladder.
Uh, and enter from the top ofthe couch, into the seating
area.
Zach Lambic (10:03):
Okay.
I'm not a, I'm not aconstruction doctor, but, uh, is
there some way that you couldjust add like a little
trampoline with the couch?
Kate (10:14):
No, no.
Eric, I don't want you thinkingabout it.
Eric (10:18):
I've
Kate (10:18):
have trampolines in the warehouse, again, we're going to
have so many freaking liability.
Eric (10:24):
we can build a second fulfillment center.
That's trampoline only if that'swhat has to happen.
Kate (10:29):
No, we can't.
No, we can't.
Our insurance has specificallysaid that any trampolines will
completely X out our coveragefor the rest of.
Thea (10:38):
I mean, I think, uh, does Dominic use a trampoline because
I think this would help with theaccessibility to,
Zach Lambic (10:45):
Uh, he has not before, but he is, uh, he is
very eager to learn new tricks.
Thea (10:50):
Okay.
Okay.
Zach Lambic (10:51):
He's a new dog.
He's his new dog.
Thea (10:53):
I mean, this is, uh, this is a great possibility.
It could open us up, you know?
Eric (10:58):
yeah, kids markets, dog, and cat markets.
Like, uh, this is, this is verycompelling.
I, this, this is, this is, I'llbe honest.
I know we're only a portion ofthe way through the focus group.
This is the most valuable focusgroup
Zach Lambic (11:12):
Oh, oh, hell yeah.
And I don't, I don't mean to,um, I mean, hell I don't mean to
give away free, uh, free milkfrom the cow, but couch Helene.
Is that something.
Thea (11:24):
Oh, my goodness.
Yeah.
I, I feel, I feel culturally,
Zach Lambic (11:30):
it's kind of like,
Thea (11:30):
it's also, you could make some really elegant design to
it, you know?
Cause it sounds a little bitlike Madeline couch Aleem yeah.
Kate (11:41):
W what
Thea (11:41):
goodness.
Kate (11:43):
Maybe I'm missing
Zach Lambic (11:44):
a couch with a trampoline.
Eric (11:47):
Right.
Kate (11:47):
Okay.
Thea (11:48):
Right.
Kate (11:48):
on the trampoline.
We're still on the trampoline.
Eric (11:51):
yeah.
Kate (11:53):
Okay.
Eric (11:53):
And that doesn't even have to be for bunk bed couches.
That could be for it for a, astandalone couch.
And it's just a fun way to getinto the couch.
Kate (12:00):
Okay.
Let's let's compromise here.
What
Thea (12:02):
Yeah.
Kate (12:03):
those balls that people sit on at work or, um, what are
some other bouncy objects wecould add?
Like,
Zach Lambic (12:09):
who told you?
Who told you?
I sat on my balls at work, didHR.
I went to HR.
I accidentally sat on my ballsat work.
It was very painful.
I went to.
Eric (12:20):
right?
Kate (12:20):
uh,
Eric (12:22):
HR.
We don't.
Zach Lambic (12:24):
I paid a service ahead that wipe from the
internet, because I became ameme because Delores had her
camera on and caught this, thekale.
I don't wanna, I don't want to,if this is what that's about, I
don't want to interview.
Eric (12:37):
no, no, no.
Thea (12:38):
this.
That was amazing.
I included that meme myone-woman burlesque show of best
beams of 2019.
Zach Lambic (12:47):
pat was,
Thea (12:48):
I mean, And Sade and
Zach Lambic (12:52):
and just the, the way you rolled around
Thea (12:54):
the floor, trying to contort my body into those
shapes was difficult
Zach Lambic (13:00):
So the burlesque show meme, girls, that was you.
Cause I sent a cease and desist.
Thea (13:05):
oh yeah, we, I got a lot of cease and desist for that,
that, you know, show, um, know,I would, if it was a small means
only have a small lifespan.
Zach Lambic (13:16):
Okay.
Thea (13:16):
By the time your lawyers caught up with me, we had
already closed and moved out ofthat hobble in San Francisco.
Zach Lambic (13:22):
Okay.
I'm just not looking to make anass out of myself online.
Okay.
With these couches.
Eric (13:27):
Of course, Of course Um, let's, let's move on to the next
question.
Um, at curious how you found,uh, the checkout experience when
you purchased your couch, uh, ona scale of one to five, one
being least convenient and fivebeing most convenient.
Uh, how did, how did you definethe web checkout experience?
Zach Lambic (13:46):
Okay.
Uh, well, the website was prettyeasy to go to clicked, enter and
went straight there.
Uh, I feel like when I waslooking at the couches, there
was a lot of glare from the sun,uh, which was pretty annoying.
So maybe like a two do to due toa sort of annoyance.
Eric (14:02):
wow.
That's a, that's a very strongimpact from, from the glare.
I'm curious, you have that.
Kate (14:08):
is your computer?
Zach Lambic (14:11):
Uh, my computer does face, uh, the Eastern, uh,
area of the world in Wyoming.
So I don't know if you can, ifyou can tilt your website so
that it's maybe facing south ornorth.
So there's less of a glare.
Thea (14:24):
It's
Kate (14:24):
You know, a lot about Cardinal directions.
Um,
Zach Lambic (14:28):
No, I know how the Crow flies.
I don't know about Cardinals.
Kate (14:32):
perfect.
Um, Okay.
So you bought the couch in themorning.
We know that, um, what was theimpetus to buy the couch?
Was there an event that led upto like the moment where you
felt like you needed a new car?
Zach Lambic (14:46):
Yes.
Uh, my cousin was over mycousin, Darren and I had a
different couch.
I had a sleeper sofa and, uh, hechallenged me.
We got drunk and he challengedme to lift the sleeper sofa over
my head.
Now I got, um, one end, almostupright, uh, when I, uh,
Developed a hernia and had tolet go.
(15:08):
Uh, and the couch, uh, slammedto the ground.
The bed kind of fell out almostlike a tongue loling out of a
dead mouth.
And, uh, we could not get thebed back after that point.
So, uh, we thought about sort oftaking a saw and cutting the bed
off the couch and just usingthat.
But it turns out the bed wasproviding a lot of the
cushioning when it's doublefolded inside the couch.
(15:28):
So yeah, that, that, that led tome needing a new couch and
definitely not a sleeper sofa.
Kate (15:33):
Got it.
Well, I am happy to say thatthat exact scenario is being
tested on all of our couches.
So if you buy one again andhappened to go through that, um,
fear.
Zach Lambic (15:44):
Oh, so under-insurance, there's now
like a dares and bets category.
Eric (15:48):
It's it's actually, uh, it's a remix, uh, uh, policy
where if you have anyreconstruction, reconfiguration
of the couch, uh, those, thoseactions are covered under the
policy with some women stationsto the warranty.
Of course.
Zach Lambic (16:02):
Very cool.
I love good remix.
Very cool.
Sprite, Sprite.
Sprite does a good remix.
Kate (16:09):
Sprite
Zach Lambic (16:10):
Yeah, it's probably had a remix for
Eric (16:12):
oh, yes.
I remember this.
Yes.
Yes.
We might have to check legal onthat then.
Okay.
Um, can can you go into, I'msorry, go ahead.
Go ahead.
Get you have a you're you'reinspired by this.
Kate (16:23):
Yeah, no.
Your, your cousin's name again?
It was Darren Darren lambic.
Zach Lambic (16:29):
during lambic.
Kate (16:31):
Okay.
Um, class of class of 2000 for aaldente.
Um, I mean, just, just briefly,it was, it was a long time ago,
you know, we were on the Pacificcrest trail.
Um, I just, I never, I'm so gladto hear you baited out.
(16:55):
Um, I just.
Thea (17:02):
Yeah, Kate, what
Kate (17:05):
The last time I saw him, there was just like two
different grizzly bears that hadtriangulated him into the side
of a cliff.
Zach Lambic (17:13):
Um,
Kate (17:14):
He was using his water bottle at the time to squeeze it
them, which is highly unadvisedby pretty much all of the
Rangers in the area, because thewater actually attracts the
bear.
They think, oh, it's a stream,that's a salmon, you know?
And so the bears were justcoming closer and closer.
was in a tree.
I was trying to say, don't,don't squirt use your bear
(17:34):
spray.
It's the other bottle.
Uh, but Darren was persistentand honestly, at some point I
just had to leave.
I was on a schedule and I was, Iwas going to get picked up by
the bus the next day.
So,
Thea (17:48):
Did you
Kate (17:49):
frankly,
Thea (17:50):
you, did you know this person before.
Kate (17:54):
no, no.
We, we met on the trail.
We were trail buddies.
Um, I gave him a little trailmix.
He gave me a little bit of hishomemade jerky.
That was permanent animal thathe couldn't identify.
Um, and you
Zach Lambic (18:07):
Oh a new, it was nutria Turkey,
Eric (18:10):
Oh,
Zach Lambic (18:11):
rodents.
Uh, can I, can I'm Kate, can Iblow your mind?
Do you know what happened after?
Do you know what happened afteryou went?
Kate (18:19):
I mean, no.
Zach Lambic (18:21):
My cousin, Darren, he told me this, uh, w that day
of the bet, my cousin, Darrenthought he was as good as dead.
He almost jumped off the cliffafter those bears triangulated
to force him, uh, either to dieor jump as he was about to jump.
He turned around to take onefinal, look at the bears.
And, uh, just to kind of say,say his piece and, uh, wouldn't,
you know, it, the bears grabbedthe top of their head.
(18:43):
Pulled down unzip themselves.
And it was two of theimpractical jokers playing a
little prank.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So not only did he die, hebecame a national star on
impractical jokers and I assumegot some sort of a package, some
payment or severance?
Thea (19:00):
wait, wait.
He still does.
Zach Lambic (19:04):
Uh, no, he's still.
Thea (19:06):
Oh, okay.
Okay.
Zach Lambic (19:07):
Yeah,
Thea (19:08):
I'm sorry.
I just wanted to be clear aboutThat
Zach Lambic (19:10):
he has a dead I, yeah,
Thea (19:12):
story.
Zach Lambic (19:13):
yeah.
Yep, yep, yep.
Yep.
Kate (19:16):
I was this close to being on TV and I just, I just.
Zach Lambic (19:20):
Yeah.
Kate (19:21):
did I abandon my only friend that week four dead, but
I lost out on an opportunity tobe on a TV show.
Zach Lambic (19:28):
If you ever find that episode, you are actually
blurred out because you did notsign a release form.
Um, and when you leave theresort of like a sound effect that
plays so you are, uh, yeah.
Everyone calls you the runawayblur.
That's what the comment sectioncalls you.
Kate (19:47):
Yeah, that was my same nickname from high school.
I mean, for different reasons,but
Zach Lambic (19:53):
you, you left a blur concert early before they
played song number two.
Kate (19:58):
how did you know that?
Zach Lambic (20:00):
Well, I've done the same thing.
I went to a blur concert and theguy was like, we're going to
play our new stuff.
And I was like, play song numbertwo.
And he he's like, that's our,that's our Encore.
And I was like, not worth it.
And I left.
Kate (20:11):
Got you think after they would get the same request over
and over again, that they wouldfinally figure out the right
song order, but
Zach Lambic (20:17):
Mm.
Thea (20:18):
Okay, can we go back to the fact that your only friend
was a person that you met on atrail that David.
Kate (20:24):
what's
Thea (20:26):
you have other friends now?
Right?
Kate (20:28):
yes, you both.
Eric (20:31):
and your numerous roommates.
I hope.
Thea (20:33):
clear that we're not friends.
Kate (20:35):
Okay.
Fear.
I think that I can be a friendto you and you don't have to be
a friend to me.
Is that so impossible?
Okay, cool.
Thea (20:43):
take it up with my psychic.
Zach Lambic (20:46):
Can I just say, I think it's very brave to, you
know, out in the elements, innature where men are most likely
to kill someone.
I think it's really brave of youto befriend someone on a trail.
I think it's a bit of a trail,Mary, you know, it's a long
shot, but it worked out, youknow, so I think it's really
cool, really vulnerable that youput yourself out there when it
could have, uh, could have endedup pretty bad.
Kate (21:06):
Yeah, thanks.
I mean, I did have Barrett orDerek go through a bit of a
background check before Iallowed,
Zach Lambic (21:12):
Smart smart.
Kate (21:13):
ability for him to talk to me.
But, um, anyway,
Thea (21:16):
Th this now explains why you knew his high school in
class and it remembered at allthese.
Kate (21:22):
yeah, no, I, I keep all those things in a file and
regularly consult them in casethe name may ever come up again.
So
Zach Lambic (21:28):
Yeah.
And you probably found in yourback road, uh, check that Darren
does have a DUI.
Uh, of course, DUI and Wyomingstands for does unbelievable
amounts of iOS.
Thea (21:40):
Oh, I've been there.
Zach Lambic (21:42):
Yeah.
Thea (21:42):
I mean, in Wyoming doing iOS guides.
Zach Lambic (21:45):
yeah, yeah.
yeah.
Kate (21:51):
Oh man.
Eric (21:52):
got to say I was, I was skeptical that the effort we put
into this token process wasgoing to be worth it, but it's
clearly brought us the mostimportant and valuable focus
group members.
So
Zach Lambic (22:02):
Oh good.
Eric (22:03):
super excited about
Zach Lambic (22:04):
Oh.
Eric (22:07):
I do have one
Zach Lambic (22:08):
that's French where I'm flattered.
Eric (22:10):
today.
I learned, I did have one morequestion if that's okay.
Okay.
If we have, if we have time, um,
Zach Lambic (22:15):
Absolutely.
Eric (22:17):
Iterating on the design for the, uh, the tag that says
on it, not to pull this tag offthe couch.
And I'm curious, one, did youpull the tag off the couch?
Uh, and if not, how tempted wereyou to pull the tag off the
couch?
Zach Lambic (22:33):
Uh, I did pull it off.
Uh, here's the thing, I thinkjust the way I was raised maybe,
um, was to defy any sort ofauthority.
So, I mean, I gotta be honest.
I don't know if you're lookingto sort of a focus group or
workshop this idea, but if therewas a tag that said, please
pull.
Like please rip this off.
Like absolutely rip off beforeyou sit down.
(22:54):
I wouldn't touch it.
I wouldn't touch the dang thing.
I'd leave it as it were.
So I think what it is is peoplesee this, you know, people see
this couch, the couch got onhigh saying thou shall not rip
it.
And immediately they're like,who the hell are you?
This is my couch.
Eric (23:08):
Okay.
This is, this is, this isfascinating.
Thea (23:11):
are really aligned on this because we do want you to pull
that tag off.
In
Zach Lambic (23:14):
Oh,
Thea (23:15):
gone through a lot of testing to make that tag look
sick.
Eric (23:20):
Right.
And, and I was, I was notconvinced that the reverse
psychology approach was going towork.
I thought it was going to besomething that people is going
to see that I'll pull this tag.
Oh no, this is a trick that Ithink they would, they expect to
be deceived by the tag.
But you're saying that's exactlywhat you want to see is, is
that, is that open defiance andthe opportunity to dominate the
(23:42):
tag.
Zach Lambic (23:45):
If I could, if I could like dominate or even just
neg the tag, if I could it, Ithink that would be pretty cool.
Eric (23:52):
you think that would be useful in the, in the actual
checkout experience to start tounderstand your relationship to
the couch and the tag before itarrives?
Okay.
This is, this is, this is veryuseful.
Zach Lambic (24:02):
I think that's really interesting
Thea (24:04):
me ask you this.
Could you, how would you feelabout swiping through a couple
of different tags
Eric (24:10):
of tags.
Thea (24:11):
and choosing which attack you want?
Zach Lambic (24:14):
I think that'd be pretty cool.
I do like the idea of likealmost, um, discovering a
compatibility with a sort of atags attitude.
Right.
I think that's pretty cool.
Almost like I'd take a littleBuzzfeed quiz, learn
Thea (24:27):
Yeah.
Zach Lambic (24:28):
I am, and then partner me with that.
But yeah, shaped shaped doeslead to pull ability.
Can I just say shape?
Absolutely.
When you see, when you see acircular button and especially
if it's red and especially ifit's under glass, what do you
want to do?
You want to smash it?
Right.
But if I saw a button, it wassuper pointy and was forest
green and was surrounded bycandles.
(24:50):
I wouldn't want to touch it.
I'd think it was some sort ofwhich ceremony.
Thea (24:53):
Totally understand.
I mean, we really worked onhaving, just putting the right
curves in that tag to really,you know, encourage that poll
ability.
Zach Lambic (25:03):
voluptuous.
Yeah.
Kate (25:04):
So when we're talking about like red buttons and, uh,
you know, glass containers, Iknow you walked by, um, a few
rooms to get into this room.
Um, this isn't a real examplewhere you actually saw a red
button and actually smashed inand pushed anything.
Right.
Zach Lambic (25:21):
Oh, you better believe it.
I hit the hell out of thatbutton.
Kate (25:25):
guys, that's our, that's our only press in case the
servers are our fire.
Thea (25:31):
Oh,
Kate (25:33):
right now.
I think there's probably somesprinklers going off in our
server rooms.
Eric (25:37):
No, sir.
Surely it, it just, it justalerts mad, right?
He wouldn't.
Thea (25:41):
it just alerts and mats mats in a place where we can
alert him.
Right.
be
Zach Lambic (25:46):
Oh, they
Kate (25:47):
he's in a four hour long therapy session that he said, if
we disturb him again in themiddle of therapy, that he's
going to quit.
So.
Zach Lambic (25:54):
Oh my God, I feel terrible.
Can I give a half, half heartedapology?
Thea (25:59):
Yeah, of course.
Zach Lambic (26:00):
Oh, um,
Kate (26:01):
how far did apology undo the past and not bring down our
entire system?
Thea (26:06):
I said, I think Zach said, he's really sorry.
And you should just, just youknow, give Matt another text.
Just say Zach was sorry.
And like, you know, he'll figureit out later.
Kate (26:17):
He doesn't even know who sack is.
Zach Lambic (26:20):
Well, I was just to be, just to be clear, I was
going to say, um, if I upsetyou, I apologize, which I feel
like is not a full on, sorry.
I just want to say like, if, ifthat has upset you, I I'm sorry.
Thea (26:35):
This is the nodder overweight, you know, never
apologize for who you are.
Zach Lambic (26:38):
Hmm.
Thank you.
Kate (26:41):
being an obstinate person who presses buttons that they
shouldn't that clearly say don'tpressing bless, it's an
emergency.
And your mat.
Zach Lambic (26:49):
Kate.
Eric (26:49):
this has, this is feedback for Matt to make a less, uh,
pressable button.
I think.
Uh,
Zach Lambic (26:54):
I don't want to be negative or I'm sorry.
I don't mean to be negative orroot Kate.
I liked you a lot better in Lordof the rings.
I don't know what happened toyou.
I don't know when you went souron us, but I feel like you out
of everyone here, you've beenthe most rude.
Eric (27:09):
guess that's my answer to the next question.
Kate (27:13):
No KA band Chet band Chet.
It's a different, less, Nope,not bland.
Shut it.
The L is missing.
It's a totally different lastname.
Um, it's I get this a lot.
Uh, but, um,
Zach Lambic (27:26):
um,
Kate (27:28):
okay.
And also, Eric, not everythingis product feedback.
Some things are real emergenciesthat need to be done.
We can't just put this into abacklog format of like nice
potential changes to not ruinour entire company's operations
Eric (27:41):
be both.
It can be both every, every,every mistake is an opportunity.
Every mistake is feedback.
I'll update the 20 years roadmap.
Kate (27:49):
okay.
Great.
Well, let's, uh, we're prettymuch at time anyway.
And then we'll, we'll go aheadand give you a gift card of
either a Chipotle or best buy,um, If you want to, it's not
your choice.
It's just random based
Zach Lambic (28:04):
oh, cause I was going to say, damn, I would
prefer best buy.
Cause I love to over pay forelectronics at real quick,
before, or at a time a couch,you can drive a couch that does
your hair, a couch that, uh,knows your name, a couch with
memory foam, a couch, that's ablanket, uh, blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, a couch.
You can pet a couch that kissesyou back a couch.
Um, that's also, uh, has amemory picture.
Eric (28:29):
Okay, now that you've gotten all those pre-prepared
ideas out, what is the couchthat you really want?
Zach Lambic (28:34):
Ah, boy, if I had my druthers,
Eric (28:37):
Yeah.
Zach Lambic (28:38):
I would want a couch that tries to buck me off.
You ever go to Jackson hole, youget on one of those, uh, you
know, uh, rodeo horses, like thesort of mechanical bull.
Thea (28:49):
All the time.
Zach Lambic (28:50):
So much fun, so much fun, fun at parties
everyone's to come ride it.
Couch tries to throw you off.
I think that's at least for theWyoming demographic.
I think that's a, that's goingto be a big one.
Eric (29:01):
I think that's good for Iowa too, honestly.
Thea (29:03):
Yeah.
Eric (29:03):
and we need, we need it for the race out there, so thank
you for thinking we're beingvulnerable with that
Zach Lambic (29:08):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Thea (29:10):
just appreciate breaking your genius and your light into
this room.
I
Zach Lambic (29:13):
Wow.
Thea (29:13):
has been amazing.
Zach Lambic (29:15):
Thank you so much.
I am from the genius.
Mammalia
Kate (29:20):
um, okay.
And then I would ask that afterwe finish this, you do not leave
your seat until one of us isready to escort you out.
Did you drive or did you take a.
Zach Lambic (29:31):
here's your first mistake.
You told me don't leave my seat.
You heard my, you heard my pointof view on authority.
Kate (29:38):
Okay.
Well
Eric (29:39):
right.
Well, I guess that's okay.
Kate (29:41):
that's
Thea (29:42):
Um, do you go, all right, and he touched the
Zach Lambic (29:45):
the button again.
Thea (29:45):
just
Eric (29:46):
Yup.
Thea (29:46):
know
Kate (29:47):
no, these bursts of button wants doesn't really matter, but
I just hope he doesn't find
Eric (29:51):
it matters.
Kate (29:51):
buttons.
Zach Lambic (29:52):
It does
Eric (29:53):
Yeah.
Thea (29:55):
Kate.
Actually
Zach Lambic (29:55):
actually.
Thea (29:55):
find him, maybe give him an employment application.
He was
Zach Lambic (29:59):
It's really great.
Kate (30:00):
no, there was just a single room job that he could
possibly do here.
What?
Eric (30:06):
I see a lot of that.
I think he's trainable.
Kate (30:11):
Okay.
Well, hiring meeting on Fridayand we will discuss this, uh,
with the All right.
Anything else?
Or can I stop this recording andgo save her company?
Okay.
Ben (30:31):
This meeting has ended.
To subscribe to this startup isbeing recorded.
Go to the podcast player of yourchoice and tap a button that
likely says subscribe.
More content is on Twitter atstartup recorded, or shoot us an
email with ideas, feedback, oryour personal startup horror
story.
At hello@startuprecorded.com.
zach has played by Adal RifaiAdal is an improviser podcaster,
(30:54):
producer and writer in Chicago.
He's the creator and host of HeyRiddle Riddle and plays Chunt on
the popular podcast.
Hello, from the Magic Tavern,you can find him on Twitter at
@adalrifai
Kate is played by Valerie Garrison.
Valerie is a health tech productmanager and regularly plays with
the improv troupe letters tochicken online.
You can find her on Twitter atthe vulgaris Eric has played by
(31:15):
Barry.
Right Barry is a product managerat Spotify and a co-founder of
high-wire improv.
Find him by his name onLinkedIn, where he holds regular
office hoursor@highwireimprov.com Matt is
played by Martin Maguire Martyis a senior web engineer and
improviser in New York city.
You can find Marty's comedy codeand cats on his website at M M G
(31:36):
dot R E.
Califia is played by RobinStegman Robin is a digital
campaign manager for oceanConservancy and is a comedian
mostly found at Highwire improvYou can find her on all the
social medias And she does meanall at our steaky Thank you for
listening.
welcome to this startup is being recorded.
This recording is improvisedfiction.
Similarities between it and thereal world are entirely
intentional.
Now enjoy the recording.
Kate (00:21):
Okay.
Uh, I've got the recordingstarted.
Um, so just as an overview, welike to record our user
interviews here at Metta market,our name for now.
Um, it's just important for usto be able to share this
feedback within the rest of ourcompany.
Um, have other employees, youknow, hear direct from the
customers.
Before we start let's just goahead and make sure we know
(00:44):
who's who's here.
So I'm Kate bandshell.
I'm the chief of staff, uh, toJohn, the CEO of Metta market,
the infamous Chon.
Thea (00:56):
the chief creatives are.
Eric (00:59):
hi, Eric, Troy Carter.
Chief product officer here atMetta market for now.
Kate (01:05):
Uh, and Zach, um, if you wouldn't mind just saying your
name yeah.
And then maybe explaining, um,how you found out about this
session.
Zach Lambic (01:13):
Yeah.
Awesome.
Uh, my name is Zach lambic.
Uh, I am, of course from aldenteWyoming.
Um, I bought one of your couchesand, um, yeah.
And after about like six monthsor so.
Uh, I was wrestling with my dog.
It's a big Mastiff and, uh, thecouch broken half and tucked
inside of my couch was thislittle gold token that said, um,
(01:36):
that said to be here at thistime that I had won some sort of
contest.
Um, so I'm thrilled to be here.
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm very excited to be, uh, tobe a part of this
Eric (01:47):
uh, I can't say how excited I am to see you here,
Zach.
Um, and I'm sure Kathy, you'reexcited to like this, this
program we designed to getpeople in for a focus.
It took months of planning andit's been nine months and you're
the first person to make it.
So
Zach Lambic (02:05):
Oh, that's amazing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I saw him.
Thea (02:08):
and I have bonded a lot with nobody showed up for these
sessions and it's just, we wereso thrilled to actually like,
have somebody walk through thedoor this time.
Zach Lambic (02:17):
Yeah.
Happy to be here.
I did see my token was numbered,uh, out of 75.
I assume there'd be 75 otherpeople here, but that token was
buried pretty deep in my county.
Eric (02:26):
Yeah.
Uh, we've, we've, uh, we've onlyheard of one other person
finding the token.
Uh, but they, uh, unfortunatelycalled us and said that they,
they weren't interested and theywere, they were skeptical of the
situation.
So.
Thank you for trusting us, uh,with your couch experience and
with your couch focus groupexperience.
Zach Lambic (02:45):
Oh my pleasure.
And I'm excited to get some ofmy ideas off the dome here.
Eric (02:49):
Oh, well, that's, that's wonderful.
We love, we love an eagerparticipant, so if it's okay
with everybody else, I, I, I'dlove to just jump in.
Um, I've got a few standardquestions, uh, but you know,
let's make this conversational,let's make this fun, you know,
we want to really get your,your, your, your deepest
thoughts about the couchexperience from end to end.
Zach Lambic (03:07):
Yeah, Mr.
Carter, can I just say I reallyenjoy, um, I think it's so nice
that you took the time to saylet's make this fun.
Cause you know, sometimes, youknow, sometimes, uh, it's hard
for fun to happen organically.
So I like that, you know, thisis, it's like when we, I used to
go on vacation with my parentsand my dad would say let's have
fun.
Right.
And it just kind of, it justkind of flips a switch in your
(03:27):
brain where you're like, uh,better, not, not have fun.
So I think that's a good placeto stem from.
Eric (03:32):
um, man, it's this is, this is outside the bounds of
the focus group, but I knowexactly what you mean.
And, you know, I used to growup, I would eat snowballs and
that was my little like cutetimed out fun now.
So, uh, that Pavlovian reactionis, is, is, is it's it's in
there.
Zach Lambic (03:51):
Oh yeah.
Any, anytime I hear a bell eatdog food.
I'm with you.
Eric (03:56):
Oh,
Kate (03:56):
Eric, we can't, we can't talk about snowballs for 10
minutes a day, though.
So,
Eric (04:01):
I'd love to.
Um, but uh, maybe afterwardslet's start, uh, you know, you,
you ordered the, the extralarge, uh, Che's lounge with an
extension recliner, um, scale ofone to five, one being, uh,
least comfortable to five beingmost comfortable.
How did you find your, yourexperience with the metal market
couch?
Zach Lambic (04:20):
Uh, I'm gonna go right in the middle of 2.5.
I think it was a verycomfortable, uh, chisel lounge.
And then when it broke, I feellike it was less comfortable.
So I feel like right in themiddle of 2.5,
Eric (04:30):
okay.
Great.
Great.
Um,
Thea (04:34):
Can
Kate (04:34):
Eric.
Thea (04:35):
a little bit
Eric (04:35):
please.
Yeah.
Thea (04:37):
some of the emotions you felt when it, when it happened,
that would be really helpful forus.
Zach Lambic (04:41):
Yeah, of course I was again, playing with my dog.
It's a big, massive, uh, hisname is, um, Dominic, uh, named
after a VIN diesel and fascinatfurious.
And so we're, we're wrestling onthe couch right in this couch
for the first six months.
This couch is.
Bread and butter.
This dog is sleeping on thecouch.
This dog is awake on the couch,I guess.
So those are the two things,but, uh, we are getting pretty
(05:03):
hot and heavy getting a really,you know, wrestling.
I have like a little rope and helikes to bite it and I tug at it
and he's like mine.
And I go, let me throw it toyou.
Um, and for whatever reason, I,you know, I yanked backwards and
he let his mouth open and I justtumbled backwards, uh, shoulders
first.
And I'm pretty broad shouldered.
And that just crack that couchin half.
(05:24):
Um, yeah.
And then after that it was likelooking at, it was like looking
at a club sandwich, like I sawevery layer of the couch.
Um, and that's where I saw thatlittle token.
I heard a little, I heard alittle clink and I said, was
that a screw?
Was that some sort of a metal,you know, a frame that broke
off, but no, it was a token.
So, um, yeah, that was, that wasmy experience with the breakage.
Kate (05:45):
Okay.
Um, Eric, just side note, I'mgoing to add shoulder first
falling into our set of tests,scenarios for, for couch
breaking due to human impact.
Eric (05:55):
You're way ahead of me.
Um, I'm interested to find out,you know, one that it was the
human that broke the cash andnot the dog.
And that, it sounds like ifcorrect me if I'm wrong, Zack,
but, uh, the primary user of thecouch was actually your dog,
Dominic.
Um, and, and I know we can'tspeak for animals, but I'm
curious if you had to guess whatyour dog would rate the comfort
level of the couch on a scale ofone to five, uh, what might,
(06:18):
what might that be?
Zach Lambic (06:20):
Oh boy.
Um, I w I'm going to say a fullon five out of five.
Eric (06:25):
Okay.
So, so the dog found the couchtwice as comfortable as you did.
Zach Lambic (06:29):
yeah.
Oh yeah.
being honest,
Kate (06:31):
a recliner?
I just, I
Eric (06:33):
Yeah.
Kate (06:34):
had issues with the recliner portions and.
Zach Lambic (06:38):
You know, Dominic would kind of swing his arm off
the side of the couch, uh, inthis kind of motion.
Um, he couldn't quite grab ontoit.
I don't, he doesn't haveopposable thumbs, but I would
get the gist of it and be like,oh, he's he wants me to pull on
the recliner.
Um, and he would go nuts.
What I did that in a, in a goodway.
So yeah, he would use therecliner.
Uh, he was a sort of, uh, uh,king of the roost.
Kate (07:00):
amazing.
Thea (07:01):
Question.
Does Dominic have an Instagram?
Zach Lambic (07:04):
Dominic does.
Yes.
Yeah.
Do you want, uh, yeah, it's uh,dominant, uh, it's uh, all one
word into Dominic of time onInstagram.
Thea (07:14):
Oh,
Zach Lambic (07:15):
And it's a lot of him dressing up.
We put them in like little, uh,if you're familiar with the
super Mario brothers three, weput them in a lot of like, to
Nikki costumes
Eric (07:23):
Oh, wow.
Zach Lambic (07:24):
frog costumes.
We put them under water, we putthem on top of a flagpole
sliding down.
Um, so when I can, I just say,when he found that little golden
coin, he went nuts because heloves Mario three.
Yeah.
So he was, uh, he was losing hismind.
Thea (07:39):
And now I'm seeing that video of the couch breaking that
you put the little Mario themesaga is amazing.
I mean, this is the kind ofcouch content we want.
Do you do, do you and Dominic doinfluencer
Zach Lambic (07:51):
that?
I'm not sure what that is.
I mean,
Thea (07:56):
like pay use for some promotional content?
I mean, by you, I mean, Dominic,if he would be open for that, I
don't know how he feels aboutpromoted content.
Zach Lambic (08:05):
Absolutely.
Uh, he doesn't have a checkingaccount or anything, but I'm
happy to hold the money for himor whatever you need, whatever
you need.
Thea (08:11):
Okay.
I mean, this is just a greatavenue.
I'm sorry, Eric.
I don't mean to take over yourmeeting, but this is like such a
rich, you know, just
Kate (08:19):
Yeah,
Thea (08:20):
uh, the ways that dogs could really spur, you know,
just in the ways that likechildren motivate, you know,
their parents' purchases.
Like if we got to the dogs?
Zach Lambic (08:30):
Oh, can I toss out an idea?
Is that.
Thea (08:32):
Yeah, of course.
Zach Lambic (08:34):
Uh, just, just, uh, uh, uh, Mrs.
Ms.
Neuroma.
Thea (08:40):
Uh, you can just say California, I think we're
familiar enough in this
Zach Lambic (08:45):
Okay.
Caleb's uh, just based off youtalking about children, I
thought it might be cool if I'mtalking about, you know, once or
needs in the couch, you know howthere are bunk beds, why aren't
there bunk couches.
So it's kind of one couch on topof another couch.
The kids go up top, causethey're lighter weight or even
my dog could go up top.
And then I sit on the bottom.
(09:06):
Uh, we're not fighting forspace, right?
We're not, uh, one person canlay down while the other is
comfortably seated or the other,or the other person could have.
But I feel like that's beenmissing in the furniture scene
for quite some time.
Eric (09:17):
I don't want to.
I'm going to do it.
We have been prototyping a bunkbed couch, and we've been really
stuck on where to place theladder.
Um, so I'm going to, I'm goingto show you three images, uh,
of, of these prototypes,
Zach Lambic (09:31):
Okay.
Eric (09:32):
Do you tell me which one resonates, you know, just gut
instinct, which one would be thebest bunk bed configuration from
your point of view?
So here's the first one.
Uh, you can see that the ladderis on the side, kind of where
the arm of the couch would be.
a recessed into the arm, asecond image.
You can see it's actuallystraight in the center.
It kind of splits the couch intotwo separate sections, almost
like to love seat size.
(09:53):
Uh, and then the third, as youcan see that the ladder is on
the back of the couch and youkind of have to climb the
ladder.
Uh, and enter from the top ofthe couch, into the seating
area.
Zach Lambic (10:03):
Okay.
I'm not a, I'm not aconstruction doctor, but, uh, is
there some way that you couldjust add like a little
trampoline with the couch?
Kate (10:14):
No, no.
Eric, I don't want you thinkingabout it.
Eric (10:18):
I've
Kate (10:18):
have trampolines in the warehouse, again, we're going to
have so many freaking liability.
Eric (10:24):
we can build a second fulfillment center.
That's trampoline only if that'swhat has to happen.
Kate (10:29):
No, we can't.
No, we can't.
Our insurance has specificallysaid that any trampolines will
completely X out our coveragefor the rest of.
Thea (10:38):
I mean, I think, uh, does Dominic use a trampoline because
I think this would help with theaccessibility to,
Zach Lambic (10:45):
Uh, he has not before, but he is, uh, he is
very eager to learn new tricks.
Thea (10:50):
Okay.
Okay.
Zach Lambic (10:51):
He's a new dog.
He's his new dog.
Thea (10:53):
I mean, this is, uh, this is a great possibility.
It could open us up, you know?
Eric (10:58):
yeah, kids markets, dog, and cat markets.
Like, uh, this is, this is verycompelling.
I, this, this is, this is, I'llbe honest.
I know we're only a portion ofthe way through the focus group.
This is the most valuable focusgroup
Zach Lambic (11:12):
Oh, oh, hell yeah.
And I don't, I don't mean to,um, I mean, hell I don't mean to
give away free, uh, free milkfrom the cow, but couch Helene.
Is that something.
Thea (11:24):
Oh, my goodness.
Yeah.
I, I feel, I feel culturally,
Zach Lambic (11:30):
it's kind of like,
Thea (11:30):
it's also, you could make some really elegant design to
it, you know?
Cause it sounds a little bitlike Madeline couch Aleem yeah.
Kate (11:41):
W what
Thea (11:41):
goodness.
Kate (11:43):
Maybe I'm missing
Zach Lambic (11:44):
a couch with a trampoline.
Eric (11:47):
Right.
Kate (11:47):
Okay.
Thea (11:48):
Right.
Kate (11:48):
on the trampoline.
We're still on the trampoline.
Eric (11:51):
yeah.
Kate (11:53):
Okay.
Eric (11:53):
And that doesn't even have to be for bunk bed couches.
That could be for it for a, astandalone couch.
And it's just a fun way to getinto the couch.
Kate (12:00):
Okay.
Let's let's compromise here.
What
Thea (12:02):
Yeah.
Kate (12:03):
those balls that people sit on at work or, um, what are
some other bouncy objects wecould add?
Like,
Zach Lambic (12:09):
who told you?
Who told you?
I sat on my balls at work, didHR.
I went to HR.
I accidentally sat on my ballsat work.
It was very painful.
I went to.
Eric (12:20):
right?
Kate (12:20):
uh,
Eric (12:22):
HR.
We don't.
Zach Lambic (12:24):
I paid a service ahead that wipe from the
internet, because I became ameme because Delores had her
camera on and caught this, thekale.
I don't wanna, I don't want to,if this is what that's about, I
don't want to interview.
Eric (12:37):
no, no, no.
Thea (12:38):
this.
That was amazing.
I included that meme myone-woman burlesque show of best
beams of 2019.
Zach Lambic (12:47):
pat was,
Thea (12:48):
I mean, And Sade and
Zach Lambic (12:52):
and just the, the way you rolled around
Thea (12:54):
the floor, trying to contort my body into those
shapes was difficult
Zach Lambic (13:00):
So the burlesque show meme, girls, that was you.
Cause I sent a cease and desist.
Thea (13:05):
oh yeah, we, I got a lot of cease and desist for that,
that, you know, show, um, know,I would, if it was a small means
only have a small lifespan.
Zach Lambic (13:16):
Okay.
Thea (13:16):
By the time your lawyers caught up with me, we had
already closed and moved out ofthat hobble in San Francisco.
Zach Lambic (13:22):
Okay.
I'm just not looking to make anass out of myself online.
Okay.
With these couches.
Eric (13:27):
Of course, Of course Um, let's, let's move on to the next
question.
Um, at curious how you found,uh, the checkout experience when
you purchased your couch, uh, ona scale of one to five, one
being least convenient and fivebeing most convenient.
Uh, how did, how did you definethe web checkout experience?
Zach Lambic (13:46):
Okay.
Uh, well, the website was prettyeasy to go to clicked, enter and
went straight there.
Uh, I feel like when I waslooking at the couches, there
was a lot of glare from the sun,uh, which was pretty annoying.
So maybe like a two do to due toa sort of annoyance.
Eric (14:02):
wow.
That's a, that's a very strongimpact from, from the glare.
I'm curious, you have that.
Kate (14:08):
is your computer?
Zach Lambic (14:11):
Uh, my computer does face, uh, the Eastern, uh,
area of the world in Wyoming.
So I don't know if you can, ifyou can tilt your website so
that it's maybe facing south ornorth.
So there's less of a glare.
Thea (14:24):
It's
Kate (14:24):
You know, a lot about Cardinal directions.
Um,
Zach Lambic (14:28):
No, I know how the Crow flies.
I don't know about Cardinals.
Kate (14:32):
perfect.
Um, Okay.
So you bought the couch in themorning.
We know that, um, what was theimpetus to buy the couch?
Was there an event that led upto like the moment where you
felt like you needed a new car?
Zach Lambic (14:46):
Yes.
Uh, my cousin was over mycousin, Darren and I had a
different couch.
I had a sleeper sofa and, uh, hechallenged me.
We got drunk and he challengedme to lift the sleeper sofa over
my head.
Now I got, um, one end, almostupright, uh, when I, uh,
Developed a hernia and had tolet go.
(15:08):
Uh, and the couch, uh, slammedto the ground.
The bed kind of fell out almostlike a tongue loling out of a
dead mouth.
And, uh, we could not get thebed back after that point.
So, uh, we thought about sort oftaking a saw and cutting the bed
off the couch and just usingthat.
But it turns out the bed wasproviding a lot of the
cushioning when it's doublefolded inside the couch.
(15:28):
So yeah, that, that, that led tome needing a new couch and
definitely not a sleeper sofa.
Kate (15:33):
Got it.
Well, I am happy to say thatthat exact scenario is being
tested on all of our couches.
So if you buy one again andhappened to go through that, um,
fear.
Zach Lambic (15:44):
Oh, so under-insurance, there's now
like a dares and bets category.
Eric (15:48):
It's it's actually, uh, it's a remix, uh, uh, policy
where if you have anyreconstruction, reconfiguration
of the couch, uh, those, thoseactions are covered under the
policy with some women stationsto the warranty.
Of course.
Zach Lambic (16:02):
Very cool.
I love good remix.
Very cool.
Sprite, Sprite.
Sprite does a good remix.
Kate (16:09):
Sprite
Zach Lambic (16:10):
Yeah, it's probably had a remix for
Eric (16:12):
oh, yes.
I remember this.
Yes.
Yes.
We might have to check legal onthat then.
Okay.
Um, can can you go into, I'msorry, go ahead.
Go ahead.
Get you have a you're you'reinspired by this.
Kate (16:23):
Yeah, no.
Your, your cousin's name again?
It was Darren Darren lambic.
Zach Lambic (16:29):
during lambic.
Kate (16:31):
Okay.
Um, class of class of 2000 for aaldente.
Um, I mean, just, just briefly,it was, it was a long time ago,
you know, we were on the Pacificcrest trail.
Um, I just, I never, I'm so gladto hear you baited out.
(16:55):
Um, I just.
Thea (17:02):
Yeah, Kate, what
Kate (17:05):
The last time I saw him, there was just like two
different grizzly bears that hadtriangulated him into the side
of a cliff.
Zach Lambic (17:13):
Um,
Kate (17:14):
He was using his water bottle at the time to squeeze it
them, which is highly unadvisedby pretty much all of the
Rangers in the area, because thewater actually attracts the
bear.
They think, oh, it's a stream,that's a salmon, you know?
And so the bears were justcoming closer and closer.
was in a tree.
I was trying to say, don't,don't squirt use your bear
(17:34):
spray.
It's the other bottle.
Uh, but Darren was persistentand honestly, at some point I
just had to leave.
I was on a schedule and I was, Iwas going to get picked up by
the bus the next day.
So,
Thea (17:48):
Did you
Kate (17:49):
frankly,
Thea (17:50):
you, did you know this person before.
Kate (17:54):
no, no.
We, we met on the trail.
We were trail buddies.
Um, I gave him a little trailmix.
He gave me a little bit of hishomemade jerky.
That was permanent animal thathe couldn't identify.
Um, and you
Zach Lambic (18:07):
Oh a new, it was nutria Turkey,
Eric (18:10):
Oh,
Zach Lambic (18:11):
rodents.
Uh, can I, can I'm Kate, can Iblow your mind?
Do you know what happened after?
Do you know what happened afteryou went?
Kate (18:19):
I mean, no.
Zach Lambic (18:21):
My cousin, Darren, he told me this, uh, w that day
of the bet, my cousin, Darrenthought he was as good as dead.
He almost jumped off the cliffafter those bears triangulated
to force him, uh, either to dieor jump as he was about to jump.
He turned around to take onefinal, look at the bears.
And, uh, just to kind of say,say his piece and, uh, wouldn't,
you know, it, the bears grabbedthe top of their head.
(18:43):
Pulled down unzip themselves.
And it was two of theimpractical jokers playing a
little prank.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So not only did he die, hebecame a national star on
impractical jokers and I assumegot some sort of a package, some
payment or severance?
Thea (19:00):
wait, wait.
He still does.
Zach Lambic (19:04):
Uh, no, he's still.
Thea (19:06):
Oh, okay.
Okay.
Zach Lambic (19:07):
Yeah,
Thea (19:08):
I'm sorry.
I just wanted to be clear aboutThat
Zach Lambic (19:10):
he has a dead I, yeah,
Thea (19:12):
story.
Zach Lambic (19:13):
yeah.
Yep, yep, yep.
Yep.
Kate (19:16):
I was this close to being on TV and I just, I just.
Zach Lambic (19:20):
Yeah.
Kate (19:21):
did I abandon my only friend that week four dead, but
I lost out on an opportunity tobe on a TV show.
Zach Lambic (19:28):
If you ever find that episode, you are actually
blurred out because you did notsign a release form.
Um, and when you leave theresort of like a sound effect that
plays so you are, uh, yeah.
Everyone calls you the runawayblur.
That's what the comment sectioncalls you.
Kate (19:47):
Yeah, that was my same nickname from high school.
I mean, for different reasons,but
Zach Lambic (19:53):
you, you left a blur concert early before they
played song number two.
Kate (19:58):
how did you know that?
Zach Lambic (20:00):
Well, I've done the same thing.
I went to a blur concert and theguy was like, we're going to
play our new stuff.
And I was like, play song numbertwo.
And he he's like, that's our,that's our Encore.
And I was like, not worth it.
And I left.
Kate (20:11):
Got you think after they would get the same request over
and over again, that they wouldfinally figure out the right
song order, but
Zach Lambic (20:17):
Mm.
Thea (20:18):
Okay, can we go back to the fact that your only friend
was a person that you met on atrail that David.
Kate (20:24):
what's
Thea (20:26):
you have other friends now?
Right?
Kate (20:28):
yes, you both.
Eric (20:31):
and your numerous roommates.
I hope.
Thea (20:33):
clear that we're not friends.
Kate (20:35):
Okay.
Fear.
I think that I can be a friendto you and you don't have to be
a friend to me.
Is that so impossible?
Okay, cool.
Thea (20:43):
take it up with my psychic.
Zach Lambic (20:46):
Can I just say, I think it's very brave to, you
know, out in the elements, innature where men are most likely
to kill someone.
I think it's really brave of youto befriend someone on a trail.
I think it's a bit of a trail,Mary, you know, it's a long
shot, but it worked out, youknow, so I think it's really
cool, really vulnerable that youput yourself out there when it
could have, uh, could have endedup pretty bad.
Kate (21:06):
Yeah, thanks.
I mean, I did have Barrett orDerek go through a bit of a
background check before Iallowed,
Zach Lambic (21:12):
Smart smart.
Kate (21:13):
ability for him to talk to me.
But, um, anyway,
Thea (21:16):
Th this now explains why you knew his high school in
class and it remembered at allthese.
Kate (21:22):
yeah, no, I, I keep all those things in a file and
regularly consult them in casethe name may ever come up again.
So
Zach Lambic (21:28):
Yeah.
And you probably found in yourback road, uh, check that Darren
does have a DUI.
Uh, of course, DUI and Wyomingstands for does unbelievable
amounts of iOS.
Thea (21:40):
Oh, I've been there.
Zach Lambic (21:42):
Yeah.
Thea (21:42):
I mean, in Wyoming doing iOS guides.
Zach Lambic (21:45):
yeah, yeah.
yeah.
Kate (21:51):
Oh man.
Eric (21:52):
got to say I was, I was skeptical that the effort we put
into this token process wasgoing to be worth it, but it's
clearly brought us the mostimportant and valuable focus
group members.
So
Zach Lambic (22:02):
Oh good.
Eric (22:03):
super excited about
Zach Lambic (22:04):
Oh.
Eric (22:07):
I do have one
Zach Lambic (22:08):
that's French where I'm flattered.
Eric (22:10):
today.
I learned, I did have one morequestion if that's okay.
Okay.
If we have, if we have time, um,
Zach Lambic (22:15):
Absolutely.
Eric (22:17):
Iterating on the design for the, uh, the tag that says
on it, not to pull this tag offthe couch.
And I'm curious, one, did youpull the tag off the couch?
Uh, and if not, how tempted wereyou to pull the tag off the
couch?
Zach Lambic (22:33):
Uh, I did pull it off.
Uh, here's the thing, I thinkjust the way I was raised maybe,
um, was to defy any sort ofauthority.
So, I mean, I gotta be honest.
I don't know if you're lookingto sort of a focus group or
workshop this idea, but if therewas a tag that said, please
pull.
Like please rip this off.
Like absolutely rip off beforeyou sit down.
(22:54):
I wouldn't touch it.
I wouldn't touch the dang thing.
I'd leave it as it were.
So I think what it is is peoplesee this, you know, people see
this couch, the couch got onhigh saying thou shall not rip
it.
And immediately they're like,who the hell are you?
This is my couch.
Eric (23:08):
Okay.
This is, this is, this isfascinating.
Thea (23:11):
are really aligned on this because we do want you to pull
that tag off.
In
Zach Lambic (23:14):
Oh,
Thea (23:15):
gone through a lot of testing to make that tag look
sick.
Eric (23:20):
Right.
And, and I was, I was notconvinced that the reverse
psychology approach was going towork.
I thought it was going to besomething that people is going
to see that I'll pull this tag.
Oh no, this is a trick that Ithink they would, they expect to
be deceived by the tag.
But you're saying that's exactlywhat you want to see is, is
that, is that open defiance andthe opportunity to dominate the
(23:42):
tag.
Zach Lambic (23:45):
If I could, if I could like dominate or even just
neg the tag, if I could it, Ithink that would be pretty cool.
Eric (23:52):
you think that would be useful in the, in the actual
checkout experience to start tounderstand your relationship to
the couch and the tag before itarrives?
Okay.
This is, this is, this is veryuseful.
Zach Lambic (24:02):
I think that's really interesting
Thea (24:04):
me ask you this.
Could you, how would you feelabout swiping through a couple
of different tags
Eric (24:10):
of tags.
Thea (24:11):
and choosing which attack you want?
Zach Lambic (24:14):
I think that'd be pretty cool.
I do like the idea of likealmost, um, discovering a
compatibility with a sort of atags attitude.
Right.
I think that's pretty cool.
Almost like I'd take a littleBuzzfeed quiz, learn
Thea (24:27):
Yeah.
Zach Lambic (24:28):
I am, and then partner me with that.
But yeah, shaped shaped doeslead to pull ability.
Can I just say shape?
Absolutely.
When you see, when you see acircular button and especially
if it's red and especially ifit's under glass, what do you
want to do?
You want to smash it?
Right.
But if I saw a button, it wassuper pointy and was forest
green and was surrounded bycandles.
(24:50):
I wouldn't want to touch it.
I'd think it was some sort ofwhich ceremony.
Thea (24:53):
Totally understand.
I mean, we really worked onhaving, just putting the right
curves in that tag to really,you know, encourage that poll
ability.
Zach Lambic (25:03):
voluptuous.
Yeah.
Kate (25:04):
So when we're talking about like red buttons and, uh,
you know, glass containers, Iknow you walked by, um, a few
rooms to get into this room.
Um, this isn't a real examplewhere you actually saw a red
button and actually smashed inand pushed anything.
Right.
Zach Lambic (25:21):
Oh, you better believe it.
I hit the hell out of thatbutton.
Kate (25:25):
guys, that's our, that's our only press in case the
servers are our fire.
Thea (25:31):
Oh,
Kate (25:33):
right now.
I think there's probably somesprinklers going off in our
server rooms.
Eric (25:37):
No, sir.
Surely it, it just, it justalerts mad, right?
He wouldn't.
Thea (25:41):
it just alerts and mats mats in a place where we can
alert him.
Right.
be
Zach Lambic (25:46):
Oh, they
Kate (25:47):
he's in a four hour long therapy session that he said, if
we disturb him again in themiddle of therapy, that he's
going to quit.
So.
Zach Lambic (25:54):
Oh my God, I feel terrible.
Can I give a half, half heartedapology?
Thea (25:59):
Yeah, of course.
Zach Lambic (26:00):
Oh, um,
Kate (26:01):
how far did apology undo the past and not bring down our
entire system?
Thea (26:06):
I said, I think Zach said, he's really sorry.
And you should just, just youknow, give Matt another text.
Just say Zach was sorry.
And like, you know, he'll figureit out later.
Kate (26:17):
He doesn't even know who sack is.
Zach Lambic (26:20):
Well, I was just to be, just to be clear, I was
going to say, um, if I upsetyou, I apologize, which I feel
like is not a full on, sorry.
I just want to say like, if, ifthat has upset you, I I'm sorry.
Thea (26:35):
This is the nodder overweight, you know, never
apologize for who you are.
Zach Lambic (26:38):
Hmm.
Thank you.
Kate (26:41):
being an obstinate person who presses buttons that they
shouldn't that clearly say don'tpressing bless, it's an
emergency.
And your mat.
Zach Lambic (26:49):
Kate.
Eric (26:49):
this has, this is feedback for Matt to make a less, uh,
pressable button.
I think.
Uh,
Zach Lambic (26:54):
I don't want to be negative or I'm sorry.
I don't mean to be negative orroot Kate.
I liked you a lot better in Lordof the rings.
I don't know what happened toyou.
I don't know when you went souron us, but I feel like you out
of everyone here, you've beenthe most rude.
Eric (27:09):
guess that's my answer to the next question.
Kate (27:13):
No KA band Chet band Chet.
It's a different, less, Nope,not bland.
Shut it.
The L is missing.
It's a totally different lastname.
Um, it's I get this a lot.
Uh, but, um,
Zach Lambic (27:26):
um,
Kate (27:28):
okay.
And also, Eric, not everythingis product feedback.
Some things are real emergenciesthat need to be done.
We can't just put this into abacklog format of like nice
potential changes to not ruinour entire company's operations
Eric (27:41):
be both.
It can be both every, every,every mistake is an opportunity.
Every mistake is feedback.
I'll update the 20 years roadmap.
Kate (27:49):
okay.
Great.
Well, let's, uh, we're prettymuch at time anyway.
And then we'll, we'll go aheadand give you a gift card of
either a Chipotle or best buy,um, If you want to, it's not
your choice.
It's just random based
Zach Lambic (28:04):
oh, cause I was going to say, damn, I would
prefer best buy.
Cause I love to over pay forelectronics at real quick,
before, or at a time a couch,you can drive a couch that does
your hair, a couch that, uh,knows your name, a couch with
memory foam, a couch, that's ablanket, uh, blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, a couch.
You can pet a couch that kissesyou back a couch.
Um, that's also, uh, has amemory picture.
Eric (28:29):
Okay, now that you've gotten all those pre-prepared
ideas out, what is the couchthat you really want?
Zach Lambic (28:34):
Ah, boy, if I had my druthers,
Eric (28:37):
Yeah.
Zach Lambic (28:38):
I would want a couch that tries to buck me off.
You ever go to Jackson hole, youget on one of those, uh, you
know, uh, rodeo horses, like thesort of mechanical bull.
Thea (28:49):
All the time.
Zach Lambic (28:50):
So much fun, so much fun, fun at parties
everyone's to come ride it.
Couch tries to throw you off.
I think that's at least for theWyoming demographic.
I think that's a, that's goingto be a big one.
Eric (29:01):
I think that's good for Iowa too, honestly.
Thea (29:03):
Yeah.
Eric (29:03):
and we need, we need it for the race out there, so thank
you for thinking we're beingvulnerable with that
Zach Lambic (29:08):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Thea (29:10):
just appreciate breaking your genius and your light into
this room.
I
Zach Lambic (29:13):
Wow.
Thea (29:13):
has been amazing.
Zach Lambic (29:15):
Thank you so much.
I am from the genius.
Mammalia
Kate (29:20):
um, okay.
And then I would ask that afterwe finish this, you do not leave
your seat until one of us isready to escort you out.
Did you drive or did you take a.
Zach Lambic (29:31):
here's your first mistake.
You told me don't leave my seat.
You heard my, you heard my pointof view on authority.
Kate (29:38):
Okay.
Well
Eric (29:39):
right.
Well, I guess that's okay.
Kate (29:41):
that's
Thea (29:42):
Um, do you go, all right, and he touched the
Zach Lambic (29:45):
the button again.
Thea (29:45):
just
Eric (29:46):
Yup.
Thea (29:46):
know
Kate (29:47):
no, these bursts of button wants doesn't really matter, but
I just hope he doesn't find
Eric (29:51):
it matters.
Kate (29:51):
buttons.
Zach Lambic (29:52):
It does
Eric (29:53):
Yeah.
Thea (29:55):
Kate.
Actually
Zach Lambic (29:55):
actually.
Thea (29:55):
find him, maybe give him an employment application.
He was
Zach Lambic (29:59):
It's really great.
Kate (30:00):
no, there was just a single room job that he could
possibly do here.
What?
Eric (30:06):
I see a lot of that.
I think he's trainable.
Kate (30:11):
Okay.
Well, hiring meeting on Fridayand we will discuss this, uh,
with the All right.
Anything else?
Or can I stop this recording andgo save her company?
Okay.
Ben (30:31):
This meeting has ended.
To subscribe to this startup isbeing recorded.
Go to the podcast player of yourchoice and tap a button that
likely says subscribe.
More content is on Twitter atstartup recorded, or shoot us an
email with ideas, feedback, oryour personal startup horror
story.
At hello@startuprecorded.com.
zach has played by Adal RifaiAdal is an improviser podcaster,
(30:54):
producer and writer in Chicago.
He's the creator and host of HeyRiddle Riddle and plays Chunt on
the popular podcast.
Hello, from the Magic Tavern,you can find him on Twitter at
@adalrifai
Kate is played by Valerie Garrison.
Valerie is a health tech productmanager and regularly plays with
the improv troupe letters tochicken online.
You can find her on Twitter atthe vulgaris Eric has played by
(31:15):
Barry.
Right Barry is a product managerat Spotify and a co-founder of
high-wire improv.
Find him by his name onLinkedIn, where he holds regular
office hoursor@highwireimprov.com Matt is
played by Martin Maguire Martyis a senior web engineer and
improviser in New York city.
You can find Marty's comedy codeand cats on his website at M M G
(31:36):
dot R E.
Califia is played by RobinStegman Robin is a digital
campaign manager for oceanConservancy and is a comedian
mostly found at Highwire improvYou can find her on all the
social medias And she does meanall at our steaky Thank you for
listening.
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