Swine flu or AH1N1 virus continues to spread claiming more claiming more lives. The urgent need for face mask has created a shortage in the market thus increasing the price. Malaysian government has decided to step in making it a controlled item.
The current face mask that is being used are the typical blue surgical-style face mask. Therefore, it is not a surprise that top designers are offering high fashion alternatives to the common face mask. For example, Louis Vuitton is offering facemasks with his trademark print. The masks are made of Italian leather, Egyptian cotton, and the finest Kentucky charcoal.
In Japan, designer face mask is already very popular. So for all fashion enthusiast out there, maybe this is an opportunity for you to make some money. An added value is that for those with acne problems, you can use the face mask to cover up your problems instead of using Pronexin.
The future of public transportation is here. What if there is an aircraft that is capable of taking off and landing in short distances?
Introducing “The Jetpod” the future of air travel. Jetpod is a Very Quiet Short Take-Off and Landing (VQSTOL) light twin-jet aircraft which can cruise at 300 knots (350 mph, 550 kmh) and requires just 125 metres to take-off or land using a combination of horizontal and vertical thrust. There’s room for eight people and the cabin height is 1.82 metres throughout while the cabin width is 1.55m which also extends throughout.
This vehicle is still going through a trial test but if this is a success, it will make way for a new kind of air travel.
Not too long ago I blogged about Sarah’s Smash Shack, which was conceived to relieve people who are stressed-out by allowing customers to break stuff in a safe environment. The shack has actually helped quite a few customers to vent their frustrations out thus releasing tension. The only think wrong with this idea is that the act of smashing up items can be wasteful.
My idea is a slight modification of the Smash Shack. Everywhere you go, you will see houses undergoing renovation. Where there is renovation going on, there is bound to have something that needs to be hacked or removed e.g. kitchen cabinets, brick walls and sanitary wares. Why not partner up with a contractor to allow customers to go in to smash things up for free? From the way I look at it, its a win-win situation. The contractor can get things done quicker and the customers get to relieve their stress. Make sure you don’t do this to a new home or else your home insurance will not cover for the damages.
Getting employees feedback and suggestions is no easy task. Companies have been trying to get their people to contribute ideas to the company as most employees have great ideas but do not necessarily has the channel to do so.
The come along Idea Exchange, an idea management software. On Idea Exchange, participants can easily publish ideas, read the ideas and buy shares in them. Idea Exchange engages employees in your company’s innovation in a fun and relevant way. Participants can publish their ideas online. However the uniqueness is that the software lets users support other’s ideas by purchasing shares in them making them more popular such as blue chip stocks.
Doesn’t matter what services your companies offer e.g. building material, life insurance quote, or online retail, this software might come in handy for you to get constructive feedback from employees and even customers.
How about offering eco-friendly moving service. Traditional movers used cardboard moving boxes but FROGBOX, an Canadian based company offers a low environmental impact alternative. Statistics has shown that cardboard and paper waste make up a high percentage of landfill material. Instead of using cardboard, FROGBOX uses reusable plastic moving containers.
Frogboxes are green, industrial-strength plastic containers that are available in standard and wardrobe sizes. Consumers simply order the boxes they need, and Frogbox drops them off at their home using its biodiesel delivery truck. The company picks the boxes up once the moving is all done.
This is a simple but yet powerful marketing message that might just give you the extra edge. By engaging call center services providers, you can help to service your customers even better.
The mobile business concept is really catching on fast. This is due to many reasons but primarily driven by its cost effectiveness (rental is getting more expensive) and market reach (ability to cover more places with less money).
So it is not surprising that a mobile spa will be introduced to the market too. Canadian Clean Earth Design came up with The Spa Suite which is an eco-friendly, transportable spa facility that’s designed to refresh body, beauty and mind. They offer a variety of packages including massages, manicures, facials and relaxation treatments.
Imagine this, this temporary spa can be transported to anywhere e.g. parties, events and entertainment venues. This is a relatively easy set-up especially for those who are already running a spa center. Best part of all, you do not need a medical assisting certification to open up one.
In times of economic crisis, businesses have to be smart in re-inventing themselves either for survival or to capture more market share which has significant shrunk due to everyone tightening their budget. A salon in Massachusetts has set the bar higher by launching a new service offering 15-minute video consultations.
Prior to an appointment, customers can get styling advices and options without wasting time on a journey to the salon only to find out that it is not what they want. What is more interesting is that these consultations are set up over Skype. Customers request a date and time using a form on the website.
This is such a simple but genius way to offer added value services at relatively low cost. All you need is a Sony Vaio and internet connection and you are ready to go.
You may heard of caffeine-packed energy drink such as Red Bull or Livita. How about offering something that is a total opposite of that? Slow Cow, a new drink from Canada offers just that.
For those who are looking for a quick relaxation fix, Slow Cow can actually help people to de-stress. Due to its content which is made up off theanine, chamomile, valerian, passiflora and etc, the drink delivers a calming effect to the drinker. The beverage is meant to increase mental awareness while improving relaxation.
I must say after a long day of heavy shopping looking out for best buy, a Slow Cow will definitely be therapeutic.
There are many people out there such as students and expats who needs furniture but may not be looking to buy them but instead they are looking to rent. These means there are lots of opportunities out there.
Consider Evolving Vox. Set up by two students at Dartmouth College, their company rents out furniture to students, enabling them to go through college without having to make large purchases for their rooms. Student do not have to worry about hauling heavy furniture and appliances around. Everything is dropped off and picked up.
Evolving Vox offers everything from electrical goods, furniture, outdoor furniture covers, and etc. all at affordable prices. For students out there. Maybe this is a business you can get yourself into while getting yourself a degree.
For those who have been to a public toilet or taken a ride on a lift, it is inevitable that you will see graffiti on the walls. This graffiti can be rather annoying and a sore eye but good use of it can be a great advertising tool.
However, this street art is experiencing a change. Introducing YrWall, an interactive virtual graffiti wall. It is basically graffiti with a can that contains no paint, only a button and IR light source which is tracked using a computer vision system. A pop-out interface is provided which enables the user to work with digital paint to create their own digital graffiti art. No more swapping paint cans to change colour or having to wear a face mask and gloves, this is totally environmentally friendly and accessible by anyone without any prior computer or graffiti skills.
Whether you are selling furniture or life insurance, YrWall can be quite an eye catcher.
