There’s no doubt that markets are becoming more confusing than ever, with the consumer faced with a bewildering range of options. This overwhelming choice has opened up an opportunity for anyone who can cut through the fog, and guide consumers in the right direction.

Few markets are more confusing than the one for beauty products. For $10 a month, Brooklyn based Birchbox send their subscribers a specially selected box of sample products each month. Subscribers can then buy full sized versions of anything they like at the companies website, and get their $10 credited from the price. All this is backed up by advice and tips from experts, who post articles and videos on the companies website.

This is something that could be adapted to other markets. Which other groups of consumers would appreciate receiving specially selected samples each month, supported by information and support from experts in the field? The health food and supplement market seems an obvious one for this. I’m sure there are plenty more. Time to think how it might apply to your own market. 

Quote Of The Day

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what your not.”

Andre Gide

Alternative Quote Of The Day

“They say cheese gives you nightmares. Ridiculous! I’m not scared of cheese.”

Ross Noble

The Bones Of An Idea

I’d hesitate to say you can make a profitable business out of anything, but the range of possibilities open to you is probably wider than you might imagine. Who would have thought that an expertise in anthropology could lead to a profitable business, but that’s precisely what happened to a lecturer from Teeside University, who now makes an extra income analysing the human remains found by police and other authorities around the world.

Dr Tim Thompson started his Anthronomics business to cope with demand, and the work has taken him as far afield as Thailand where he was involved in identifying Tsunami victims and Kosovo where he was called upon to help identify bodies in mass graves. 

I’m not suggesting that identifying bone fragments is a viable opportunity for you, but what I am suggesting is that there may be opportunities to make extra money hidden away in your own expertise or profession. Perhaps it’s time to give some thought to what may be right under your nose.

Today’s National Day

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE DAY!

PUBLISHERS NOTICE

Dear Streewise Customer,

 A few weeks ago, I received an email from a guy making an astonishing claim. He claimed to be making £3,000-£6,000 a month using a gambling system which, when used correctly, could never lose!

Needless to say, there were all sorts of questions flying around my head…

       . Is there really no risk?

       . Did he have proof?

       . Can anyone do it?

       . How is it done exactly?


  For the answers take a look here:

http://www.streetwisenews.com/Glatrad/

I’ve seen detailed video evidence of this being done and it’s no exaggeration  to say that this is the holy grail. If you hate losing, you’re going to love this.

Take a look now. 

Kind Regards

John Harrison 

  P.S I’ve arranged for you to try this out risk free for the next 90 days.
       Once you’ve learned how to do this, you can use it for life.

There’s no doubt that cycling is on the up. You only have to be out on the roads in summer to realise that the number of recreational cyclists has multiplied. And the number of people using their bikes to commute has grown too. I might even be tempted to join them were it not for one thing – I don’t want to arrive at work sweaty, and then spend the day feeling scruffy. Commuters in Sao Paolo, Brazil have the perfect solution.

Café and bicycle repair shop Aro 27 offers commuters showering facilities as well as a place to safely park their bike. Aro 27 functions not only as a restaurant, but also a shop to buy cycling equipment and a repair centre and workshop to fix punctures or more serious problems. Visitors are able to park their bike in Aro 27’s secure storage and even enjoy a shower to freshen up before they hit the road again.

Might commuters in UK cities be prepared to pay to park their bike and shower before going off to work? Certainly, I know that many large firms already offer these facilities, but there must be many smaller ones that don’t. Something to research if your interested.

Quote Of The Day

“Life takes us on different pathes…It’s not up to us to evaluate or judge them, merely respect and embrace them.”

Sophia Kinsella

Alternative Quote Of The Day

“To the man on crutches, dressed in camouflage, who stole my wallet…you can hide but you can’t run.”

Milton Jones

Smashburger

We’ve discussed before how direct sales organisations like Avon are enjoying a boom in sales and a big rise in the number of agents. Further evidence of the trend is supplied via Mary Kay cosmetics in the United States who signed up a record 165,000 new freelance sales reps.

This seems to be a change precipitated by the economic downturn – people are looking for a low-hassle way to make some extra money and companies like these provide it. From the companies point of view, it’s also good news. They get a company representative who doesn’t earn a penny until they sell, plus access to all their contacts. 

Might the direct sales agent business model be applicable to your business, venture or idea. If so, then now would be a good time to put it to the test.

Today’s National Day

NATIONAL KICK BUTT DAY!

PUBLISHERS NOTICE

Dear Streewise Customer,

 A few weeks ago, I received an email from a guy making an astonishing claim. He claimed to be making £3,000-£6,000 a month using a gambling system which, when used correctly, could never lose!

Needless to say, there were all sorts of questions flying around my
head…

       . Is there really no risk?

       . Did he have proof?

       . Can anyone do it?

       . How is it done exactly?


  For the answers take a look here:

http://www.streetwisenews.com/Glatrad/

I’ve seen detailed video evidence of this being done and it’s no exaggeration  to say that this is the holy grail. If you hate losing, you’re going to love this.

Take a look now. 

Kind Regards

John Harrison 

  P.S I’ve arranged for you to try this out risk free for the next 90 days.
       Once you’ve learned how to do this, you can use it for life.

October already! Harrison Murray Estate Agency and the Nottingham Estate Agency have issued a seasonal reminder and some hints and tips on how to keep your property safe. 

‘Lighting. Consider installing motion-sensitive lighting fixtures above front doors, porches, garage doors and entrances to back gardens. Fit timers to indoor lights when you are out for the evening or going on holiday.’

‘Codes. If you are moving into a new property, familiarise yourself with the alarm and set a new passcode. And above all, don’t forget to use it!’

‘Locks. Securely bolt or padlock side/back gates. Fit window locks to all downstairs windows, and to easily accessible upstairs windows. Remove any ladders that could be used to gain access through upstairs windows or a flat roof.’

‘Be letterbox aware. As vehicle theft becomes more sophisticated, and often to order, thieves turn to letterboxes to obtain keys. Make sure you put these and other valuables out of easy reach and sight of the front door.’

‘Valuables. Put your mark on valuables with a UV pen – a discreet way to identify your items if they are stolen.’

‘Sheds. Many sheds are used to store cycles, garden equipment and tools. Ensure you have a sturdy padlock on your shed door. The same goes for your garage.’

‘Vision. If possible, don’t allow the front of your home to be obscured by trees or hedges that may provide hiding places for thieves.’

‘Opportunist thieves often turn to Facebook and Twitter to target unsuspecting victims, so don’t divulge information regarding your whereabouts. And never reveal that your property is empty.’

‘Neighbourhood Watch. Be a good neighbour and join the local Neighbourhood Watch group. If you are new to the area, this is also a great way of getting to know your neighbourhood and meeting new people.’

Quote Of The Day

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

Marilyn Monroe

Alternative Quote Of The Day

“An overweight guy went to the doctor who advised him to try a keep fit DVD. But the guy said he couldn’t be bothered.”Well” suggested the doctor, ‘try something that leaves you a little short of breath.” So the guy took up smoking.”  

Jo Brand

Smashburger

There can be few markets more ‘mature’ than the one for fast food – and hamburgers in particular. With companies like Macdonalds, Burger King and dozens of others, firmly established in the market, it seems pretty unlikely that a newcomer could come along and prosper. And yet Smashburger have done just that in the US, opening over 200 restaurants in the past 5 years. They describe their strategy as a simple one – build a better burger.

I wouldn’t recommend starting a hamburger chain, unless you have very deep pockets, but the success of Smashburger proves something important – there’s always room in any market for individuals  or companies who are prepared to go the extra mile, and sneak up on the sleepy or complacent, established competition.

Today’s National Day

NATIONAL INNER BEAUTY DAY!

PUBLISHERS NOTICE

Dear Streewise Customer,

 A few weeks ago, I received an email from a guy making an astonishing claim. He claimed to be making £3,000-£6,000 a month using a gambling system which, when used correctly, could never lose!

Needless to say, there were all sorts of questions flying around my
head…

       . Is there really no risk?

       . Did he have proof?

       . Can anyone do it?

       . How is it done exactly?


  For the answers take a look here:

http://www.streetwisenews.com/Glatrad/

I’ve seen detailed video evidence of this being done and it’s no exaggeration  to say that this is the holy grail. If you hate losing, you’re going to love this.

Take a look now. 

Kind Regards

John Harrison 

  P.S I’ve arranged for you to try this out risk free for the next 90 days.
       Once you’ve learned how to do this, you can use it for life.

NAEA Propertymark has revealed the worst devaluers of a property.

‘Installing solar panels. The problem with technology is that it ages quickly, and it can be expensive to upgrade. Solar panels can also appear as unsightly and unattractive.’

‘Swimming pools. Although great fun for a weekend or two in the summer, swimming pools in Britain aren’t usually considered an attractive house feature. They’re expensive to maintain and use up a lot of space.’

‘Over personalisation. If your taste is particularly colourful or bold, it might be worth re-decorating before you start to market your home. Typically, modestly decorated homes are most desirable.’

‘Planning permission and building regulations. If you have had any works carried out while you’ve been living in the property, such as extensions or conversions, make sure you obtained appropriate planning permission and building regulations, and have access to these documents.’

‘Darkened rooms. If you have two identical properties, and one is bright and airy while the other is dark and dingy, nine times out of the ten, the brighter one will be worth more, because it’s more desirable.’

Quote Of The Day

“Whatever you’re going through in your life, don’t ever give up.”

Mariah Carey

Alternative Quote Of The Day

“25 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Cash, no Hope and no Jobs. Please don’t let Kevin Bacon die.”

Kevin Bacon

Upcycling Profits

If you watch the Apprentice, you may have seen an example of upcycling – the process of reusing unwanted items by converting them into something better. In this case, it was old clothes, scarves and ties which were transformed into new garments which sold at eye watering prices.

Upcycling is something of a trend, appealing as it does to the modern pre-occupation with environmental issues and reducing waste. We recently came across Dutch company Dead jeans who have taken this on board. They recognised that people can grow quite attached to their old jeans and that when they wear out, not all the garment is useless. With that in mind, if you carefully cut out the back pocket of your beloved denims, the company will fashion it into a felt lined phone sock. Price is a far from frugal 30 Euros. Not bad for the company when you figure out that someone else provided the materials!

So…could you bring a pair of old denims back to life in some way or other, which would yield a profit. Or could you upcycle some other garment? We’d love to hear how you get on with this, although anyone who decides to try something with old underpants will be excluded from the newsletter without warning!

Today’s National Day

NATIONAL GET FUNKY DAY!

PUBLISHERS NOTICE

Dear Streewise Customer,

 A few weeks ago, I received an email from a guy making an astonishing claim. He claimed to be making £3,000-£6,000 a month using a gambling system which, when used correctly, could never lose!

Needless to say, there were all sorts of questions flying around my
head…

       . Is there really no risk?

       . Did he have proof?

       . Can anyone do it?

       . How is it done exactly?


  For the answers take a look here:

http://www.streetwisenews.com/Glatrad/

I’ve seen detailed video evidence of this being done and it’s no exaggeration  to say that this is the holy grail. If you hate losing, you’re going to love this.

Take a look now. 

Kind Regards

John Harrison 

  P.S I’ve arranged for you to try this out risk free for the next 90 days.
       Once you’ve learned how to do this, you can use it for life.