posted
As part of my engineering design class, my group is required to do some "market research." Basically, we have to ask questions to see if our product might be viable. We're trying to design a better punch ladle. We need to find out what sort of things people like about ladles, and what they don't like, and what they might find useful.
In what circumstances would you use a ladle (in a professional culinary setting, at home, at a church or school event, etc.)?
How often do you use a punch ladle?
A few times a year A few times a month Once a week, or more
How much soreness do you have in your wrist after serving large amounts of punch?
None A little A moderate amount A great deal
Do you ever have to retrieve a ladle from the punch?
Never Sometimes Often Every time
Do you ever spill punch while pouring it into a cup?
Never Sometimes Often Every time
Are you left-handed?
How would you rate the ease of use of your current ladle?
Great Good Fair Poor
How much would you be willing to pay for a good ladle?
Less than $5 $5-15 $15-30 More than $30
How important is it for a ladle to last a long time without wearing out? (On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being very important and 1 being not important)
How important is it for a ladle to be fairly light? (On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being very important and 1 being not important)
How important are aesthetic considerations (color, shape)? (On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being very important and 1 being not important)
How important is ease of cleaning? (On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being very important and 1 being not important)
Do you care what material the ladle is made out of? If so, what do you prefer?
Metal Plastic Wood Other material No preference
What difficulties have you had with punch ladles?
What features of a punch ladle do you appreciate?
Also, if you have any anecdotes or other suggestions for the design of a better ladle, please share those as well...thanks in advance to everyone who take the survey!
posted
(By the end of that survey I was misreading "ladles" as "ladies" which led to some funny questions: "What difficulties have you had with punch ladies?" )
I would take your survey, but I've only used a punch ladle maybe twice in my life.
posted
shigosei I would answer to help you with your class, but I avoid punch ladles at all costs. Punch and I tend to dislike each other in ladling situations. Or even post-ladling situations when it's already been pourd into the miniscule styrofoam cup. The punch always seems to end up all over me. But I really doubt it's the ladle's fault.
posted
AJ, I tend to spill punch all over my hand when trying to pour it into a cup. It's one of the reasons I came up with an idea for (hopefully) eliminating or at least reducing this problem. Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
In what circumstances would you use a ladle (in a professional culinary setting, at home, at a church or school event, etc.)?
Home, church event, wedding, or other party.
How often do you use a punch ladle?
A few times a month (once or twice a month)
How much soreness do you have in your wrist after serving large amounts of punch?
N/A I've only served large amounts of punch maybe twice in my life and I don't remember.
Do you ever have to retrieve a ladle from the punch?
Never. I use big ladles. By the way, I use them to serve or portion out soups, curry, etc and not just for punch.
Do you ever spill punch while pouring it into a cup?
Often. Even with practice it's hard not to spill at least a little with every pour.
Are you left-handed? No.
How would you rate the ease of use of your current ladle?
Good
How much would you be willing to pay for a good ladle?
For daily use, less than $5. I have one that's stainless steel and beautiful that I got for $3.
For special, more than $30. I have this Portmeiron Botanic Garden soup tureen and ladle that I use for family dinners, parties, etc. The ladle was about $40 I think, but it's beautiful.
How important is it for a ladle to last a long time without wearing out?
4 Very important. I'm a "buy a good one once and use it forever" sort of girl.
How important is it for a ladle to be fairly light?
2 not very important. The 2 I have are both plenty light, and they're quite strong and large as well, so I don't think weight should be much of a limiting factor.
How important are aesthetic considerations (color, shape)?
4 very important. I wouldn't buy an ugly one at all.
How important is ease of cleaning? 4 very imoportant. If it doesn't go in the dishwasher in my household, it doesn't get used more than every other decade.
Do you care what material the ladle is made out of? If so, what do you prefer?
Metal (stainless steel) or porcelain. Plastic doesn't hold up well enough. Other metals besides stainless aren't washable or will rust or tarnish. Even gold or silver will transfer heat too easily.
What difficulties have you had with punch ladles? None that I can think of.
What features of a punch ladle do you appreciate? Capacity. It's nice to have at least 8 - 12 fluid ounces of volume.
Also, if you have any anecdotes or other suggestions for the design of a better ladle, please share those as well...thanks in advance to everyone who take the survey!
It's nice to have an eye in the end of the handle for hanging. The handle should be long enough not to easily fall into the bowl, as you seem to realize from your questions. If there is any sort of pouring spout, there should be one on both sides to accomodate both left and right handed people. Don't use conductive metals or else dishing up chili might get uncomfortable after the first few bowls. Have at least 8 ounce capacity in the ladle bowl. Make it dishwasherable and nearly indestructible. Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
Hehehe...I'd put that in my report, but I'm sure that would result in automatic failure, given the large percentage of the population that just doesn't appreciate puns.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
In what circumstances would you use a ladle at home, at a church or school event
How often do you use a punch ladle? About once a month
How much soreness do you have in your wrist after serving large amounts of punch? A little
Do you ever have to retrieve a ladle from the punch? Every time
Do you ever spill punch while pouring it into a cup? Often
Are you left-handed? Yes
How would you rate the ease of use of your current ladle? Fair
How much would you be willing to pay for a good ladle? $5-15
How important is it for a ladle to last a long time without wearing out? 3
How important is it for a ladle to be fairly light? 4
How important are aesthetic considerations (color, shape)? 4- how it looks is important at parties
How important is ease of cleaning? 4
Do you care what material the ladle is made out of? If so, what do you prefer? Metal Plastic
What difficulties have you had with punch ladles? falling in the bowl, too small in that I have to dip several times to fill one 8oz cup, spout in the front and not on sides.
What features of a punch ladle do you appreciate? spout on both sides
Posts: 862 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
In what circumstances would you use a ladle (in a professional culinary setting, at home, at a church or school event, etc.)? at home
How often do you use a punch ladle?
A few times a year
How much soreness do you have in your wrist after serving large amounts of punch?
None
Do you ever have to retrieve a ladle from the punch?
Sometimes
Do you ever spill punch while pouring it into a cup?
Sometimes
Are you left-handed? no
How would you rate the ease of use of your current ladle?
Good
How much would you be willing to pay for a good ladle?
Less than $5
How important is it for a ladle to last a long time without wearing out? 3
How important is it for a ladle to be fairly light? 3
How important are aesthetic considerations (color, shape)? 3
How important is ease of cleaning? 4
Do you care what material the ladle is made out of? If so, what do you prefer?
Metal
What difficulties have you had with punch ladles?
None
What features of a punch ladle do you appreciate? Good handle
Also, if you have any anecdotes or other suggestions for the design of a better ladle, please share those as well...thanks in advance to everyone who take the survey!
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Weirdness. i hardly ever use a punch bowl ladle, yet today I did.
How often do you use a punch ladle?
A few times a year
How much soreness do you have in your wrist after serving large amounts of punch?
None
Do you ever have to retrieve a ladle from the punch?
Sometimes
Do you ever spill punch while pouring it into a cup?
Often
Are you left-handed?
No
How would you rate the ease of use of your current ladle?
Do not own
How much would you be willing to pay for a good ladle?
Less than $5
How important is it for a ladle to last a long time without wearing out?
4
How important is it for a ladle to be fairly light?
2
How important are aesthetic considerations (color, shape)? (On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being very
4
How important is ease of cleaning?
1
Do you care what material the ladle is made out of? If so, what do you prefer?
Metal
What difficulties have you had with punch ladles?
I do not like punch, so rarely, if ever use one
What features of a punch ladle do you appreciate?
I like to be able to have the spout small enough to pour into a small cup
Also, if you have any anecdotes or other suggestions for the design of a better ladle, please share those as well...thanks in advance to everyone who take the survey!
Sometimes, I check to see if anyone is looking, and use one of the cups or glasses to pour with
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Okay, I've got enough information now. However, if anyone else would like to say something about the use of punch ladles, I'll take it into consideration in my group's project. We'll hopefully be trying to build an actual prototype in a few weeks.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
It's unlikely we'll actually ever make and sell the ladle, unfortunately. If the design works as planned, I'd love to have something like it. We'll see how it works.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
You know what would be a cool, spill-proof ladle?
A hollow handle ending in a hollow bulb. There is a spout-hole at the tip of the bulb, and a thumb-hole on the handle.
You submerge the bulb in the punch with your thumb off the thumb-hole, and the bulb fills. You slide your thumb over the thumb hole, and nothing spills. You can control the pour rate into the cup by partially occluding the thumb hole, so that the punch exits the spout in a controlled stream.
But, I guess this wouldn't work so well for a punch that has stuff like strawberries floating in it -- no way to scoop the berries. And it might be hard to clean.
But it sure would be a gee-whiz way to dip punch.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
One of my big problems with punch ladles is the bowl design. It needs to be designed to both get punch out of the bowl easily-- preferably with some way to keep out most of the stuff that's often floating in a punch bowl-- and get punch into a cup. Rarely have a found myself using one that did both efficiently.
Also, the angle of the handle needs to facilitate both punch scooping and punch pouring. Another problem.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I never use punch ladles- but I use them for soup. I almost always drop them in the pot. I prefer metal.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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