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Good Business Ideas
- Put an add in your local paper offering to sell people's household items
and see what response you get. Then sell those you find on ebay.com. You
could build up a big trade nationwide.
- Mass production methods leave a hugh gap for more finely crafted
versions of the same products. Find some mass manufactured household
item, and see how you could re-produce a 'Rolls Royce' version.
- People live much longer now. Talk to elderly people, and ask them how
the market could serve them better. You might find a gap just waiting to be
filled.
- Big cities are being drained of their residents as people head for rural
areas. But, do they miss city services such as home delivered pizzas? Do
your own market research by knocking on a couple of hundred doors and
discover what city treats they pine for.
- Concern about the NHS and the expense of private healthcare has made
homeopathy a growth market. Is there an effective treatment for a common
ailment like back pain that could be developed at low cost and retailed for
profit? For starters, read some books on African tribal remedies.
- Many foreign cuisines have made a successful transition to this country.
We now have many outlets selling dishes from Mexico, Egypt, and Thailand.
Find an exotic cuisine that could establish itself over here - Peru, for instance,
has its own amazing menus, but nobody has ever heard of them in USA.
- The trend in the motor industry is towards safer family models - especially
anything that gives children greater protection. Examine ways to improve
child safety and approach manufacturers.
- Thousands of company executives fly off on foreign business trips every
day - with few clues about the customs and culture of their destinations. Put
together some pass notes on 50 of the United States' biggest trading partners.
- Contact the ten richest people in your area and suggest a business idea
to each of them. Propose a face to face interview lasting just one minute -
and say you'll bring a stopwatch. To compile your list monitor the business
pages in local papers where business personalities are often profiled.
- Seek an opening in the CD-Rom market. What sort of information would
you like to access but have not been able to find? Others probably share
your frustration and could be your customers.
- Strictly adult-only pubs and restaurants are losing business to more
family-friendly establishments. Set yourself up as a consultant to local
restaurateurs and landlords. Suggest ways they can accommodate whole
families.
- The likelihood is that 1997 will be election year. Local party branches will
need flags, posters and rosettes for the campaign. Offer to provide these
items more cheaply than the current suppliers.
- Find out the practical problems that may arise if the Ecu replaces the
dollar, as many are convinced will happen sooner or later. What would be
the consequences for manufacturers of coin operated vending machines
and telephones? Read old papers covering the depression, when the country went
decimal and find out how the population coped.
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- Estate dwellers are becoming more and more concerned about
neighbourhood security. Find out what opportunities exist for liasising
between residents' associations and private security companies. Take a
commission for the deals struck.
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- What cheap security measures are available for home-owners?
Electronic systems are expensive, so it could be worth selling more
traditional security measures such as reinforced doors and window bars.
Or even shutters.
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- Nearly every home has a video recorder. Why not investigate the
possibility of putting together a directory of all VideoPlus+ numbers for TV
programs to save viewers searching through papers or TV mags.
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- Homes are becoming more and more cluttered with gadgets. Think of
applications for an invention that combines the functions of two hi-tech
devices - like a video that can be programd via telephone link.
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- Talking books are becoming ever more popular. Why not organise
the recording of out - of - copyright classics and sell them for a quid a
DVD.
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- The pace of techniological progress leaves in its wake a glut of
computers, mobile phones and fax machines. They may not be the
cutting edge products any longer but still work well. Find out which
companies regularly repace equipment with the newest models. Buy their
old stuff cheap, and sell them on to new businesses who can't afford the
most up to date models.
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- Software piracy is rife, why not set yourself up as a 'bounty hunter'
and see if the big software manufacturers will pay you a reward for the
pirates you shop.
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- One year on from the launch, the National Lottery still grips the public
imagination. Catering for the needs of the thousands of people who
belong to company syndicates could be your lucky number. How about
specially designed white-boards to display the names of the synicate
members and their numbers? Or publish ready-made contracts for use if
there is ever a falling-out among members of a syndicate?
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- There are millions of business books on the market, but what are the
best-selling titles in other languages. Who is France's Richard Branson?
Or Germany's Anita Roddick? Import their business tomes and translate
them.
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- Millions of people go for day trips at the weekend. Put together guide
books for each country with 365 trips per guide.
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- What will be the hit Xmas movie of 1997? Find out now by reading
American magazines like Holliwood Reporter. Then think how you can
jump on the bandwagon for all the merchandising deals that are bound to
arise.
- Many busines people forget vital stationery or components for their
portable computers, mobile phones etc. such as battery chargers, cassette
DVDs, or floppy disks. Establish a chain of Office Kiosks at major travel
points like airports and railway stations.
- There is already a pet insurance fim but there are other ways to tap into
the pets' market. Look at the products manufactured for dogs - are cats
missing out on an equivalent? Or do moggies benifit from something that
dogs don't have?
- The Northern Ireland ceasefire is over a year old and the province has
the potential to become a real economic growth area. The Troubles meant
that people missed out on services that are normal elsewhere. Now could be
the time to establish a foothold.
- More and more waste products need to be disposed of in an
environmentally friendly way, which is expensive. Set up a consultantcy
advising firms on how they can save money by reducing waste in the first
place.
- Board games for adults are now very popular. Research the games that
were played in the past and have been forgotten about. There may be
something which could be successfully updated.
- It is widely predicted that water meters will be in every home by the end
of the century. Research the water saving devises that are already being
used in arid countries around the world and then get hold of licences to
produce the same gadgets or mechanisms in the U.K.
- Find the 50 fastest expanding U.S. companies. Go to visit them and
find out what they would like to do but haven't the time, or human
resources to take on. Offer to do it for them.
- The Tory and Labour parties are talking about workfare schemes for the
unemployed. Set up an agency which specialises in finding work placements
for jobless youngsters, charging them a fee when you find them permanent
employment.
- If you have the funds, think about becoming a business angel and
invest in a growing venture. Contact the DTI for details of their scheme to
put angels in touch with entrepreneurs.
- If you see an empty shop ask yourself what type of business would
take best advantage of its position and size. Even ask local estate agents.
- The steady stream of EC regulations provides opportunities to service
the companies and inderviduals who must comply with the new rules. Keep
alert to what the EC is doing and when legislation is introduced, make sure
you have all the details to help others make sense of them - and charge big
fees for your expert knowledge.
- It is incredibly cheap to produce your own magazine, but still expensive
to print. Find a printer who will go into partnership with you, and publish a
trail issue of your dream title for advertisers.
- Keeping fit is fine for people with time on their hands but what about
those whose schedule is too busy for classes? Design and exercise mat
that is printed with clearly marked instructions for exercise routines. The
mat should be small enough to fold into a briefcase.
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- In the future it may be possible to dial-up any TV program that's
ever been made and watch it when you want. Start compiling a directory of
all U.S. television programs - an equivalent to the TV Guide -
and then sell it to a major publisher.
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- The Digital Audio DVD and the Minidisc are the new media for popular
music. Study the market and find a product that complements them - for
instance storage boxes or cleaning equipment.
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- People enjoy visiting TV locations and famous people's houses. Start
a tour company which specialises in taking people to famous TV
locations, like Emmerdale Farm, Coronation Street, the Eastend or
Liverpool.
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- Portable computers are more and more common, but they can still be
unwieldy when rushing from appointment to appointment. How about a
protective pannier bag that hangs over the sides of a briefcase, similar to
those used for shirts.
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- Cars are becoming more and more expensive to run and people are
turning to the bycycle as a cheaper and healthier alternative. Think about
which gadgets could be adapted for cyclists. How about a hands-free
phone in a helmet? Can the power generated by pushing pedals be stored
in batteries and used to run a computer?
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- Cyclists in urban areas worry about road safety. What improved
protective clothing could be marketed for bike fans? The man who
invented the cycling mask now has a million dollar company.
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- Electric cars could be the next great innovation in eco-friendlier
motoring. What products could complement the launch of the green
runabout? What problems could arise and what products or services
would remedy them?
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- Queues for lottery tickets are getting longer and longer. Investigate
whether you can open your own chain of kiosks selling lottery tickets. To
tempt people offer one free lottery ticket for every ten bought.
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- The opening of the Channel Tunnel means American tourists are
staying in London and travelling to Paris on day-trips. Find out what
opportunities this offers to the entrepreneur. Can you provide a service to
complement this trend in tourism?
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- Most people love going to parties but rarely receive invites. Stage your
bashes in amazing locations where single people can meet and let their
hair down without being intimidated.
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- The quality and foreign cheese market has grown in recent years. Salty
Greek feta cheese was little known five years ago. Find a small producer of
good continental cheese, package it in a pleasant local style and sell it at a
premium.
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- Buy and transport outdated machinary from certain U.S. factories and to
cities that are developing quickly but needs the machinary to make industrial
processes quick and efficient.
- A gloomy economy has meant that people have increased their cashflow
by pawning valuable belongings. Set up a pawn shop with a difference -
they can buy their valuables back on HP.
- Offices use paper by the ton and usually waste a lot. Contact offices
and business centers and arrange to collect waste paper and card that
would otherwise be chucked out. Sell the paper on to a merchant.
- The privatisation of utilities such as the rail network, and competitive
tendering by local authorities, give entrepreneurs the chance to grab a piece
of the old monopolies. What contracts are up for tender? What services
could you arrange to be provided at a cheap rate? You may need less capital
than you think. Or you could even act as the middleman.
- Events with a millennium theme will be popular as the year 2000
approaches. Think of an exhibition or a show to celebrate the start of the
21st century, then talk to booking agents and venue owners to find a
brilliant venue that hasn't yet been snapped up.
- What will be the symbol of the year? It could be the blue flag and gold
stars of the EC as the continent unites or perhapes the Roman numerals for
2000 as the decade closes. Link up with a clothes designer and incorporate
the symbol into a clothing range, and sell it through high street shops.
- Buy a range of men's and women's magazines and look at the types of
clothes and consumer products that are coming into fashion. Can you
design a garment to fit in with new trends?
- Become a specialist property developer by targeting interesting old
buildings such as chapels and churches to convert to other uses.
- Various Major Sporting Events yearly occur. Fans
of the various teams will need accommodation, transport, and will probably
want to do some sight-seeing. Merchandise will also be a profitable area.
- Target the over 50's for computer training. Most middle-aged or older
people are scared of computers, and have no idea how they could transform
their lives.
- Dieting is a growth industry, as is fast food, but fast food for the diet
conscious has not yet been invented. Find a low-fat snack that can be
cooked and packaged as quickly and as easily as a hamburger and set up
in business providing lunches for office workers.
- Schools are opting out of local government control and becoming
responsible for their own budgets. Find out what services they are buying
in. Think of a way of providing those services more cheaply.
- Treat yourself to a holiday in Europe and look out for a great business
idea you could introduce to the USA. The people behind the ideas might even
be looking for U.S. agents. Travel with a totally open mind, and go into
every type of shop you come across.
- Adventurous trekking holidays through the remotest parts of Africa
and Asia are becoming increasingly popular. Select one of the world's
less-visited regions, draw on local expertise, and see what scope there is
for truly exotic adventure holidays.
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- The Internet carries all sorts of interesting information, but how much
is really useful? Put together a simple directory of the most interesting sites
for business people.
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- Everyone knows the collapse of the Iron Curtain has created
countless entrepreneurial opportunities but think of products they are
desperate to import from the West. Russians, for example, will pay a
fortune for a tube of British Toothpaste. Ring all the embassies and find
out what their countrymen desperately need. Then plug that gap.
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- Identify a service in one field that could easily be transferred to
another. A specialist courier delivering parts to car mechanics could be the
inspiration for another delivering micros and printers in the computer
industry.
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- Travel back in time to the shops of yesteryear. Research what
products were incredibly popular in the fifties or even the forties, and
resurrect them with more up to date packaging.
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- Talking of yesteryear, The Beatles revival has gripped the public's
imagination. Why not bring some of the well-known faces of the swinging
sixties out of retirement and organise a tour around the USA.
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- Take a second look at some popular products and see how they
could be re-marketed. Electric razors were aimed at men until it was realised
that a woman's brand would be profitable.
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- Broker deals between companies that can benifit from each other. For
instance, big car rental companies have outlets in most major towns. A
reciprocal discount arrangement between a hotel chain and the rental firm
might pay dividends to both, and secure you a lucrative commission.
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- Wind energy is mainly generated on special farms but technological
improvements could lead to the use of indervidual wind turbines by
householders. Energy generation on a small scale might become a whole
new market. How about a mini windmill that provides light indoors.
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- Look at the service industries in your local area. Most will probably still
work the regular office hours from 9am to 5 pm. There may be openings
for a 24-hour service - you could be the first.
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- Business centers are booming in the USA. Two new centers are opened
in the USA every week, most of them in converted buildings. Find a suitable
building and do a deal with a landlord and a builder to open a center
which you will manage.
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- The catering industry often has a high profit margin. Look for a gap in
your area. Even if there are plenty of sandwich and lunch bars, most will
be pretty ordinary. Hungry workers will pay more for outstanding
sandwiches with wide variety.
- Birthday newspapers are a popular gift. What about birthday cards which
just show the front page?
- Take advantage of current interest in family trees and history. Set up an
agency which undertakes genealogical research on behalf of families
anxious to trace their roots.
- Plenty has been written for a business audience about a single
European currency but very little for the layperson. Collect all the information
on the subject and produce a regular newsletter on the latest developments
in Brussels for interested parties.
- Employ two people who are very knowledgeable about the Internet, rent
a premium rate telephone number and set up a helpline for people who are
confussed about the information highway.
- Pick a rock festival or major sporting event like Wimbledon or the FA Cup
Final and produce an unofficil pogramme, listing information and selling
advertising space to relevant companies. There would be no shortage of
events.
- Gardening is a very popular pastime in this country and foreign plants
such as Bonsai trees have been popular ever since the idea arrived from
Japan. Research the market for other kinds of ornamental plants that can be
imported for American gardeners.
- Home Computers are part of many people's everyday lives, and practical
programs for daily use could go down a storm. How about a software
package that lists all the dishes that can be made with available ingredients
keyed in by the householder. Get a celebrity to back the package and
distribute it through high street shops.
- Lots of smokers long to give up. Compile a book detailing 50 or more
possible methords for kicking the weed.
- Men have always worn suits to work whereas women have had more
flexibility. Profit awaits the entrpreneur who comes up with a viable alternative
to the suit for men.
- Direct Mail is hugh growth industry - set up your own bureau offering
services to local companies.
- The majority of computer consoles are aimed at children and teenagers
but lots of adults also use them. An entrepreneur who tailors a machine and
games for adults may open up a new market sector.
- Most local authorities have hard to let office space and industrial units.
Team up with other entrepreneurs to share security and insurance costs,
and get the space for a song. Now you have a base from which to conquer
the world.
- Begin networking with seriously rich people by joining the right clubs
and associations where you live. Their ideas and way of thinking are bound
to rub off, and you will probably encounter lots of entrepreneurial
opportunities.
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- Think of a time when you were badly served by a local business. Many
more of their customers have probably had the same experience. Set up in
opposition, and you will more than likely clean up, and close them down.
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- Is there a brilliant local restaurant in your area, which is constantly
packed night after night. Analyse their menus and interior design in detail,
plus their attitudes to service, then open a similar establishment on the
other side of town.
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- Apart from the postman, the milkman is probably the only person who
delivers to your door nowadays. What else could you sell to his customers
through his highly effective distribution system?
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- Is your area famous for producing a particular local product - such as
cheese in Cheddar or mintcake in Kendal? Launch a related product
exploiting the regional identity.
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- New Highways and Interstate bring new business. New
routes will run through many beautiful areas of the country. Snap up a
prime fields suitable for campsites for a pittance now. The land could
increase in price many times over during the next few years.
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- Who are the famous faces and household names living near you?
Start an agency arranging for these celebrities to make paid appearances,
and after dinner speeches. You will make a packet in commission.
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- Get in touch with winemakers in a country where the business is
underdeveloped. Sell the wine through an established retailer here at a
competitive price. Who knew Bulgarian wine existed a few years ago? Now
it's everywhere.
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- Choose a business field with a bad image and set oyurself up as the
exception. Garages have a reputation for being slow and costly. A
company which promised to fix a car within a certain time could grab an
immediate market share.
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- Pre-recorded videos are expensive to buy. Look into a vending
machine that could download a chosen film onto a blank video cassette.
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- Choose an industrial field in which USA lags behind other countries;
it could be anything from manufacturing stereos to ship-building. Travel to
competitor countries and see how they do it. Come back to old blighty
and bring the know-how with you.
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- Join a business club. Talk to the entrepreneurs who attend and keep
an eye open for chances to launch a joint venture or invest in an existing
business.
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- Identify the shops in your area that are very successful and are not
part of a chain. Contact the boss and see if he wants to expand in
partnership or draw up a plan to franchise the idea.
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- Many people now work from home and communicate with
headquarters via phone and modem. Find out which products and
services would be most helpful to them and target the homeworker market.
- When new communication and transport routes open, a whole new
community of commuters often spring up, needing a full range of services.
Contact the authorities in areas where new links are planned. Find out how
you can benifit from the movement of people that will result.
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