Business Opportunities Weblog

March 10, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 2 Comments

Tim Kehoe believes that there isn’t always one right answer when making something new, reports the Redwood Gazette.

Kehoe, an author and inventor, has been inventing toys for 20 years, and his inventions have been successful enough that he now talks to students about how they, too, can be creative.

Kehoe has also written a book, “The Unu-sual Mind of Vincent Shadow,” that helps encourage that kind of creativity.

“Whether you are making toys or writing a story, the process is the same,” said Kehoe.

Kehoe spoke this past Wednesday morning ot a group of Kindergarten and first grade students asking them a simple question. How can one take an already good idea and make it better.

For example, how could a sucker be made better.

One student suggested adding more sugar, while another though putting lemonade in the middle might be good. Another suggested adding carrots.

Kehoe said it is in that process of brainstorming when some of his best ideas come.

“I like to go to my kids’ toy box and look at what is in there,” he said, adding then he tries to come up with some new twist on an old idea.

In Creativity, Inventors, Kids | 2 Comments

March 10, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 3 Comments

Virgin Media and Enterprise UK have joined together to launch Virgin Media Pioneers, states UTalkMarketing.com. This creative new community will help connect young entrepreneurs with business experts.

By connecting young entrepreneurial talent to a network of peer support, entrepreneurial contacts and expert business advice, Virgin Media Pioneers aims to help build better businesses and close the gap between the number of young people with a great idea and those who are able to make it happen.

Virgin Media Pioneers will enable young entrepreneurs to share experiences and connect with other entrepreneurial people by posting video blogs, questions, comments and updates. Other community members can then add their feedback, through videos and text, and help turn young people into confident entrepreneurs.

Neil Berkett, chief executive at Virgin Media, said: ““The digital world can open up new opportunities and experiences for people from all backgrounds and, as a brand founded in entrepreneurial ambition, our partnership with Enterprise UK will help create an online environment that supports the needs of all potential entrepreneurs.”

Scott Cain, deputy chief executive of Enterprise UK, said: “Taking the support network online makes it accessible wherever aspiring entrepreneurs are and whenever they need it.

Screenshot from Virgin Media.

In Entrepreneurs, Networking | 3 Comments

March 10, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 2 Comments

According to Sign On San Diego, a survey states that pessimism has risen among small businesses during the past month.

The fallback in confidence is occurring even as the economy seems to have bottomed out, with retail sales picking up nationwide and an increasing number of small businesses preparing to add workers.

“News about the economy is for the most part improving and therefore is an unlikely source of small-business uncertainty and declining optimism,” said William Dunkelberg, the federation’s chief economist. Instead, he said, small businesses are more skeptical of how politicians are handling the economy.

Yesterday’s survey showed that confidence among small businesses dipped 1.3 percent in February, back to December’s level.

But the poll also found that over the next six months, 13 percent of small businesses plan to create new jobs, up three points from January, and 8 percent plan to lay off workers, down two points from the previous month.

“Small businesses are seeing big banks getting bailed out and they’re not getting the same help and don’t have access to capital,” DeNoble said. “And small businesses that rely on consumers buying their products with discretionary dollars are in a fix because consumer spending is tight. There’s a lot of competition out there and the cost of keeping the doors open is very high. That doesn’t make for a happy environment.”

Photo by TheLandOfKarlalot

In Recession, Small Biz | 2 Comments

March 10, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 8 Comments

At a time when pampering ourselves seems to be more of a necessity than a special treat, Ayanna Williams has put the fun back into the spa experience by selling a kid-friendly version, reports Business First of Buffalo.

Williams created the business to pamper little girls, with all natural sweet treatments, from chocolate facials to banana pedicures. The children’s spa just opened on Niagara Falls Boulevard near Kenmore Ave., not far from the University at Buffalo south campus. Williams says she came up with the idea for the business after her daughter, Annaya, asked for her own special treatment after seeing Mommy at the “grown up spa.” Williams gave her a spa treatment at home and a business was born. “We totally loved it,” Williams said. “She went to school and told all her girlfriends. We started doing it in our basement and then started doing mobile parties at home and six months later, we’re here.”

Candyland Spa is purely decorative and for entertainment purposes, so Williams says she didn’t need a special license. She says she did work with the BERC and MWBE programs for minority and women businesses, to get started, but thanks to support from family and friends, it wasn’t necessary to take out a business loan. Instead, she says she purchased the space on Niagara Falls Boulevard at a cheap price and renovated all of it by hand, even designing three pedicure stations. Williams says it took two years to get the business off the ground, but the idea is paying off. She opened the spa in January and was surprised by the enormous turnout at her first open house and by the initial foot traffic at her business.

Screenshot from Candyland Spa

In Children, Entertainment, Mompreneur | 8 Comments

March 9, 2010 by Chuck Huckaby | 4 Comments

Need inspiration? Need mechanical knowledge for a project? Want money making ideas? 137 years of Popular Mechanics are now freely available online here.

In Free, Ideas | 4 Comments

March 9, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 3 Comments

Like peanut butter and chocolate, many different services from very different business go well together. Could you team up with another entrepreneur, like the two women in this story and combine your products into something completely new?

Daily Commercial:

Mud pies and pizza pies — two things kids love to get their hands on.

Throw in a few party hats and you’ve got the makings of a great little birthday celebration.

Thanks to two local Mount Dora businesses, it’s more than a concept. The idea was born of generosity and promises to grow because it makes sound business sense.

Popular restaurant PizzAmore and custom earthenware studio Yada Yada Pottery were approached by the Montessori school in Mount Dora about donating to this year’s Red Carpet Fundraiser. But instead of separate contributions, the two businesses teamed to create the Birthday Party Package.

“Basically we do a lot of cross promotion with each other and we’re fans of each other’s stores,” said Yada Yada Pottery owner Juliette Davis. “I’ve always had birthday parties and it’s very often that the people want pizza during their time, so we finally decided to join up and make a package.”

Photo by pinksherbet.

In Partners | 3 Comments

March 9, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 10 Comments

Whether you’ve lost weight, gained it, or you’re somewhere in between, I’m willing to bet that you’ve experienced ill-fitting pants at least once in your life. Short of wearing a bulky belt or having them tailored to fit you, there isn’t much that you can do. For Dana Contey the temporary fix to loose jeans was safety pins.

She’d just had her third child and she found herself wrestling with her loose fitting pants daily. She soon found that belts were too bulky and, while they did provide a temporary fix, she was often poked by the safety pins she used to tighten the waist band. Eventually she created her own solution, the Instant Button.

Tell us a little about the Instant Button® and what inspired your product.

Instant Button® is the original patent pending removable and reusable button that allows you to add or reduce your jeans and pants size instantly for that tailored fit, without requiring a belt or an alteration. I designed the Instant Button® to solve the common problems that most of us have (weight gained, weight lost, in-between sizes, gapping in the back, and missing button) that can impact the waistline and therefore, the fit of a pair of pants/jeans.

The idea for Instant Button® started after my third child. I was constantly adjusting the waistband of my favorite jeans’ because I was stuck in-between sizes. I tried using belts to secure my jeans, but it was bulky and added another layer of thickness to my waist. Then, I tried using safety pins to shrink the waistband. After months of poking my fingers and body with the pins, I knew that I was on a mission to find a solution.

Continue reading Instantly Adjust Your Jeans Using A Simple Button

In Clothing, Entrepreneurs, Interview, Inventions | 10 Comments

March 8, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 7 Comments

Who needs months of planning to start a business? According to Vindy.com, not Maria Elena Ibanez. The decision to start Intermark Foods even came to her quickly, on a Saturday while she was at the beauty parlor.

Ibanez had already built two successful international computer distribution companies, selling the second one just before the tech bubble burst. So in 2002, after failing at her second try at retirement — she was bored — Ibanez knew she wanted to start a low-tech company where her tech skills would be a competitive advantage. Her goal: to compete on authenticity and quality, not price.

The fragmented domestic Hispanic food industry, with its promising growth potential, was a logical choice.

That was it. No business plan in the beginning; no extensive research. Though this may not be the best route for every entrepreneur, Ibanez has always launched her companies quickly, spurred on by belief in herself and her nose for opportunity.

Ibanez launched her brand, El Latino, with just four cheeses, and the first year she brought in $1 million in sales.

Now she carries 256 products. Though the industry has been growing on average 8 percent to 9 percent annually, Ibanez’s revenues have been zipping along at 30 percent year over year, she said.

Photo by soundfromwayout

In Entrepreneurs, Food, Success | 7 Comments

March 8, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 5 Comments

He may not have the power that Ben Bernanke wields or the kind of money that Donald Trump has, but the advice Bill McKown shares with business owners can mean the difference between surviving the recession and closing their doors forever, says Tampa Bay Online.

“Due to current economic conditions, many businesses are looking for help. Their needs revolve around two basic areas: technical assistance and financial assistance. The SBDC specializes in providing technical assistance to small business,” said McKown, whose wide smile and approachable demeanor reflect his certifications in training and facilitation.

An entrepreneur since young adulthood, McKown dabbled in several business opportunities, including coin-operated vending machines and logistics management of freight transportation. Most of his career, however, was spent as retail vice president for a petroleum marketing company.

While his professional time is spent working at the SBDC and adjunct teaching for SFCC, he still owns a convenience store in Lake Placid.

Why did he want to become a businessman over some other career move? McKown’s face lit up as he answered the question with one word: “Entrepreneurship!”

Were there any hard knocks in his career as an entrepreneur? “You don’t have that much time,” McKown laughed.

But he admitted that there is a recurring theme among most entrepreneurs who want to start a business. “They have a big idea, but they don’t always take the time to do the research to find out if it’s a real business opportunity.

To be a real business opportunity, it has to have market feasibility and financial feasibility,” said McKown.

Photo by mark i geo

In Advice, Entrepreneurs, Experts | 5 Comments

March 8, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 2 Comments

Approximately 2 years ago Brian Ohnemus create a boat rack that would carry his boat so he could still pull his camper. The idea worked so well that he decided to turn it into a business, reports the Quincy Herald Whig.

“While getting all the gear ready for a weekend family camping trip, I realized I had a problem,” he said. “Skyrocketing fuel prices had made it unrealistic to continue taking two separate vehicles to pull the camper and boat. I was forced to leave the boat.”

During that weekend, Ohnemus began working on the boat rack idea that has since proved so popular.

Admittedly, there was quite a bit of trial and error, but the end result was worth the headaches.

“It took me about six months to redesign the rack to make it suitable for mass production,” he said. “I also had to get all of the legal work, insurance and corporate paperwork in line. In January, we were finally ready to market the ‘Powerrack’ to the masses.”

Ohnemus said things began to happen quickly. He said at least three major manufacturers have contacted him about licensing and mass manufacturing the product. He said there has been especially strong interest from the West Coast.

Ohnemus, who said all parts used in the racks are produced locally, emphasized that he is learning as he goes.

“Designing and building is the easy part,” he said. “The business end is all new to me.”

Photo from Powerrack

In Inventions, Inventors, Travel | 2 Comments

March 8, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 6 Comments

Anthony Ghattas has the life that many dream about; great wine, beautiful art, and friends in high places, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

In only six years, this serial entrepreneur has managed to build up a successful lifestyle brand United Lifestyle Group – including two galleries in Perth and Sydney and a burgeoning wine group – at a time when many galleries and wine outfits have crumbled under the financial pressure.

However, his business wasn’t without casualty. When the GFC hit, his horse breeding business bit the dust; fortunately, the wine business sailed forth with a 42 per cent growth in revenue in 2009, given that people were prepared to buy more wine, and eat out less.

“We still went through our ups and downs too; the uncertainty was hard,” Mr Ghattas said.

Back in growth mode, Ghattas has recently linked up with another young gun – Sam Kennard – of the Kennard Storage family, to launch a bespoke cellaring business in which the Kennards clients access wine advice and winemakers while Ghattas hopes his clients get a good deal on expanding or starting a cellar.

United Wines recently ran a wine treasure hunt with winemakers at one of the Sydney Kennard sites, and plans to unfold the event in 12 Kennard locations through the year.

“Sam and I are of the same spirit, and roughly the same age,” Mr Ghattas said.

“Kennards is a big business, still a family run business…and of course, I’m after a good deal on storage; he’s probably the same when it comes to wine and art.”

Photo by paulaloe

In Entrepreneurs, Success, art | 6 Comments

March 8, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 16 Comments

When Jennifer Dowler was looking for the perfect birth announcement to tell the world about the birth of her son, what she found was less than inspiring. As he got older and she went in search for the right birthday card, she soon found that her choices were just as thin as they were when he was born. The next announcement she made became the one for her business, reports the Calgary Herald.

She searched stores and online websites, but was only able to find American companies that made custom announcements, and the cost to ship to Canada was more than she was willing to spend. Dowler decided to make her own cards and invitations for Matthew’s milestones and was so pleased with the result she launched Blue Ink Designs ( blueinkdesigns.ca)in 2007.

It was a simple case of disappointment turning into a business opportunity.

A hobby scrapbooker, Dowler transferred her design skill from albums to a digital environment, and made a go of business through word-of-mouth referrals, advertising on Kijiji, and most recently her web-site, which she designed herself.

“I don’t know where I found the time, but I found it,” says the busy stay-at-home mom, whose second son Marcus is 10 months old (Matthew is now almost three).

Dowler fills client orders during nap time or in the evenings and on weekends. She creates everything from baby shower announcements to family Christmas cards. Clients can go online and browse various designs, then send Dowler text and pictures to personalize their card. Dowler can take care of the printing or send clients a digital copy to handle the printing on their own. Blue Ink Design pricing starts at $15 for design.

In an era where everything from birth announcements to party invitations has gone digital, Dowler is not worried that her business is on the brink of extinction before it even takes off.

“I think there’s still a lot of occasions that deserve more. The birth of your first baby deserves more than a Facebook.”

Image from Blue Ink Designs

In Creations, Creativity, Ecommerce, Mompreneur | 16 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 9 Comments

For Jane Grant, creating the perfect dog bowl meant not only making her dog happy but helping dogs all over the world, according to her article on Sky News.

Travelling worldwide with work, I searched in vain for a bowl that would make it easy for my family dog to eat with less mess and less noise.

So I created one from a pet’s perspective, investing my own cash alongside a grant from Invest NI.

Working out designs with the University of Ulster and TrufflePig, we had a brainwave. Why not create a stand that tilts the bowl at the best angle for feeding?

The bowl “hugx” the floor eliminating normal mess. It can be used even if pets are wearing a veterinary collar.

Hugx bowls are clean, hygienic and assist owners tackling pet obesity by allowing owners to change the depth of the bowl.

Finance is a big issue when you’re starting up a company. My marketing budget was small, so I only sold online and then went out to trade shows in Germany with Invest NI and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

We were getting feedback online from Germany, Japan and America, so we started looking at trade shows in those areas. Within seven months, Dubai Duty Free and Bahrain Duty free were stocking our products.

In the same trip, we revisited a trade show in the USA and scored sales and secured a distributor.

Now we export to USA, Japan, Germany, France, Egypt, Canada, Dubai and Bahrain and we’re in discussions with Portugal and Russia.

Photo from Hugx

In Animals, Innovation, Inventors, Pets | 9 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 5 Comments

Associated Press:

There wasn’t a bottle of Oxiclean or a ShamWow anywhere. But there was Dawn Stephens’ nifty new, all-in-one toilet-bowl-cleaning brush.

“We don’t have to look for the cleaning liquid and the brush. The cleaning liquid is right inside the brush!” the chirpy, singsongy Stephens shouted in delight as she pitched her invention Wednesday to a panel of judges that included infomercial king AJ Khubani.

Khubani, founder of the Telebrands “As Seen on TV” products company, has made a fortune hawking products like the Ped Egg (to trim calluses off your feet) and has spent the better part of three decades looking for the next hot thing to sell to insomniacs hooked on late-night TV.

But in this era of endless reality TV and get-rich-and-famous-quick schemes, Khubani is changing his entrepreneurial approach. Instead of trotting the globe looking for the next Thighmaster or inviting inventors to his New Jersey headquarters to show him a next-generation Clapper that he can sell for a cut of the profits, he’s assembled an “American Idol”-like panel of judges and taken them on the road.

The group plans stops at several other, still-to-be-determined cities, and it is unclear how many inventors they will pick to promote. There is no reality show yet, but television cameras are filming — in case Khubani strikes a television deal.

Photo by michale

In Inventors, Television | 5 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 2 Comments

Jean-Jacques Velkeniers lives in Belgium and since he was a little boy he wanted to go into space. Now that Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is selling seats on their spaceship for rides into space for only $200,000, Jean-Jacques can finally go.

There’s only one problem: he doesn’t have $200 grand. But proving that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Belgium, Jean-Jacques has figured out a way to get other people to fund his ride. For a donation of $2 on his site SendMe2Space.com he’s offering a lucky person a one in 200,000 chance to go into space with him. If 200,000 people enter his contest, he’ll have enough money to buy a ticket for himself and for the winner!

I’m not sure if it’s legal or anything, but it’s a neat idea!

In Contest, Space | 2 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 7 Comments

Karen Wildman and Lisa Holmes were constantly battling malfunctioning electronics due to moisture and water damage. The sisters set out to invent a solution. and they did! Their new product, Bheestie Bag, is designed to ‘dry out’ electronic devices: cell phones, iPods, etc. We previously mentioned them here.

Here’s how it works. You simply take the electronic device, turn it off, drop it in the Bheestie Bag and zip seal it tight. You can do it overnight, or immediately after an ‘accident.’ It contains powerful water absorbing beads that physically bond with the water, holding it inside of them. It pulls the moisture out! The bag can last up to a year for everyday use or less if used for extreme soaking.

I recently had a chance to ask the sisters some questions.

Where’d the idea come from?

Karen had the initial idea. Her son’s Gameboy got wet and she had some experience with trying to keep her hearing aids dry (she has a hearing loss). She applied that knowledge to the gameboy and that was the beginning of Bheestie. We both grew up in Oregon – skiing, water sports and general outdoor activity was a huge part of our family’s life. Lisa’s married, 2 children, a triathlete and her education/work background is in business/accounting. Karen is married, 3 children, and is a nurse. We both love exploring new innovative solutions to everyday problems.

Where can you buy the Bheestie Bag?

Bheestie has been available online for about 2 years now. We sell it on our website bheestie.com for $20. Its also available in REI, online and in their stores. We are in other retail stores via our distributor.

In Inventions, Profiles | 7 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 6 Comments

At first glance Cindy Reed’s kitchen seems normal, however it is anything but that. For starters, the staff from ‘Throwdown with Bobby Flay’ walked through this very same kitchen at one point, reports MyFoxHouston.com.

Wilkins is the only person to win back to back Terlingua International Chili Championships. She is also the woman who challenged iron chef Bobby Flay in a televised Throwdown to see who makes the best chili. So who won?

“I am the only tie of all the episodes,” said Wilkins

And yet, its here in the kitchen of her Meyerland-area home, that Wilkins perfects her craft.

Five years ago, the former marketing and sales manager quit her job and start selling her championship chili mix.

“It’s a family business- family owned and operated,” she said. “My mom helps with shows and festivals and taking internet sales orders.”

An old bedroom serves as company headquarters, where Wilkins takes, fills and ships internet orders. This is also where she donates her “ready made chili” to soldiers overseas.

“We send this over to the troops as well, it makes a great MRE.”

Photo from Cin Chili & Company

In Family, Food | 6 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 7 Comments

Are you a florist? Do you need a product to differentiate you from all of the other flower shops in your community? Have you heard about rainbow roses?

Rainbow roses, the brainchild of Dutch flower shop owner Peter Van de Werken, are colorful roses that are made by injecting die into the stem of the roses while they are still growing. This results in the color being drawn up and absorbed by the petals of the flower.

Video after the jump.

Continue reading Niche: Rainbow Roses

In Featured, Flowers, Niche | 7 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 5 Comments

Nostalgia for the 1980s has never disappeared and Retrofitness, a 1980’s themed gym is riding the Spandex waves:

How did you hit on this concept?

I had owned two other licensed fitness centers, and I wasn’t happy with how they were operated. So I spent a couple of nights sitting in a rocking chair, jotting down notes. I felt there was a niche for a low-cost provider that gave a high-end experience. I did the raw math and figured I could be better and attract more customers at $19.99 a month than clubs charging $39 or $49 a month. I could build a cheap gym where you didn’t need a tetanus shot when you left.

Was it a hard sell?

I was all about putting on a show–but vendors bought into my pitch and they sold me equipment at a much higher discount rate. I laugh now because I exceeded even what I told them. I said we’d have 10 clubs the first year; we had 15. I said 30 in Year 2, and we had 40.

Why the ’80s?

We knew Generation X would be a big part of our customer base. I thought, “How can we attract and entertain them?” Eighties movies and ’80s music just make you feel good; when you drop a marketing piece with an Atari joystick on it or Vans sneakers, people say, “I remember that.” And actually, even younger people listen to hair bands. I have kids I coach on a football team who told me they’re going to a Whitesnake concert!

In Biz Ops, Exercise | 5 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 2 Comments

One of the often overlooked sections of this website is our directory. Over 2300 different bizops, franchises, dealerships and online opportunities are listed there.

Here are the new companies from this week:

Business Opportunities

• Neighborhood Cleaners

Franchises

• 1-800 Pack-Rat
• American Prosperity Group
• Cox & Kings
• CruiseOne
• Disciple’s Directory
• Kiddie Academy Child Care Learning Centers
• Mr. Clean Carwash
• Tide Dry Cleaners
• zpizza

In Administrivia | 2 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 2 Comments

Curtis Desselles is a sucker for science, according to ArkLaTexhomepage.com.

His latest and greatest work comes in the form of a three millimeter chip. He calls it the “Eddy Current Analyzer.”…which blends old technology with new innovation.

“If I can use this and look at the changes in the medal and voltage changes, I can make a picture of what’s underneath inside the medal. Something like an MRI or cat scan of medals.

For example, engravings were once on this 17th century sterling silver coupon. Over time, the markings were wiped off and eventually lost. Desselles system was able to recover the markings and come up with the words.

Such work has caught the eye of colleagues around the country.

Desselles invention has helped crack cases in Chicago, St. Louis…and maybe soon Wisconsin.

Photo from Terry Wha

In Crime, Invention, Inventors | 2 Comments

March 5, 2010 by Angela Shupe | 6 Comments

When her marriage ended Alicia Kavon decided to go to school and finish her bachelors degree. With a major in dance and a minor in fine arts, she fully intended to become a dance instructor when she graduated. However, with a little nudging from her friend, she became a Pilates instructor instead, reports The Commercial Appeal.

Now in her fifth year as a successful business owner of Pilates Central on York Avenue, she feels she can breathe more easily. Business is steady and her job allows her the flexibility to be a mom first.

Kavon and daughter, Sophia, 13, spend free time riding bikes through their Cooper-Young neighborhood, reading and looking for books at Burke’s Bookstore, taking their dog to the park, baking cakes from a Julia Child cookbook and cooking meals together. The mother-daughter team, who opt not to own a TV, are planning a trip to Paris for the late spring or summer. They look forward to visiting the art museums, exploring the city on foot and stopping by the boutiques on the Champs-Elysees to window shop.

Photo by khatawat

In Exercise, Mompreneur | 6 Comments

March 4, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 6 Comments

@robertpartridge: VIDEO: After his idea to sell used VHS tapes went somewhat under the radar, Todd’s back with a new business idea: http://o.business-opportunities.biz/l/84

@SOHOBusiness: Money Making Small Home Business Idea:- Rent your Pet

@JoeHankin: New business idea: Pool hall/bar-arcade called “Superfun Site”.

@hilibanjo: Haha Ditto! RT @adapolla: OK I can’t decide if this is a smart business idea, just funny, or plain weird: http://o.business-opportunities.biz/l/85

@Idea_flurry: IDEA: The New Business Idea: 5-Step Process to Run a Thriving Interior Design Business http://o.business-opportunities.biz/l/86

@SeaStefan: Came up with awesome business idea. I can’t tell you about it yet, but it does involve a zip-line!

@SaaSApps: Money Making Small Home Business Idea:- Repair bikes

@Idea_flurry: IDEA: Got a new business idea? Watch this video and take the test to see if its going to work http://o.business-opportunities.biz/l/87

@thomcummings: Guiltvault: A brilliant business idea that I’m giving away http://o.business-opportunities.biz/l/88

Follow us on Twitter as @danec.

In Ideas | 6 Comments

March 4, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 3 Comments

photo credit: fotoosvanrobin

Two graduates of UC Berkley’s Business School think that they can turn used coffee grounds into high-profit mushrooms:

What do mushrooms and a pile of used coffee grounds have in common?

“Mushrooms biologically grow really well in hardwoods, and so, coffee acts like a hardwood biologically, and we can grow them pretty well in that,” said BTTR Ventures co-founder Nikhill Arora.

The mushrooms aren’t caffeinated produce, they just absorb all the coffee grounds’ nutrients. So, why in the world are two new graduates from UC Berkeley’s Business School, Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, growing mushrooms for a living?

…

Seeded by a $5,000 social innovation grant from Cal, they researched and launched a for-profit social venture called BTTR Ventures; BTTR stands for “Back To The Roots.” The goal is to be a sustainable company focused on social responsibility. They’re accomplishing this by diverting one of America’s largest waste streams out of Bay Area landfills.

Video after the jump.

Continue reading Biz Idea: Mushrooms from Used Coffee

In Agriculture | 3 Comments

March 4, 2010 by Dane Carlson | 6 Comments

As the owners of Water Impressions found out, the bottle is worth more than the water:

The company, originally called Tennessee Branch Water, started out as a five-gallon bottle and cooler service that they purchased from its retiring owner. The Grahams had been customers of the water service for several years. They decided to buy the distribution rights from the owners, but they realized within a year that they could fill a niche in custom-labeled, half-liter bottles.

“We thought, ‘Well shoot, if we can put our label on it, we can put anybody’s logo and label on it,’” Debbi Graham said.

They now estimate that nearly 80 percent of their annual revenue is generated from the sales of cases of bottled water printed with a company or organization’s logo.

What is custom labeling? They explain:

Custom labeling with Water Impressions allows businesses and organizations to advertise through a high-quality product that increases their public exposure and explores alternative revenue sources. You provide the logo and color scheme and our designers will quickly create a custom label for your company or organization. Some businesses offer the water as a complimentary gift to clients while others sell the water to immediately increase revenues. Either way, custom labeling with Water Impressions is a valuable, innovative advertising opportunity.

If your company already offers bottled water, why sell water with someone else’s logo? For just a few more pennies, or in some cases for the same amount, you can sell water with your logo and business information. Many businesses that offer bottled water that is not selling well have found their bottled water business skyrockets with custom labeling.

In Profiles | 6 Comments