Curves International, Which Was Founded in 1992 by Gary Heavin

Multiple Choice

Curves International, which was founded in 1992 by Gary Heavin, is a fitness center just for women. At the time Curves was founded, most fitness centers targeted fitness enthusiasts and included a number of amenities, ranging from showers and towel service to swimming pools. Rather than competing head-to-head against these centers, Heavin opened a fitness center targeted towards what he felt was an ignored part of the marketplace: women who wanted to lose weight. The best way to describe how Heavin's business idea was recognized is:

A) brainstorming
B) talking to consumers
C) reading industry reports
D) observing trends
E) finding a gap in the marketplace