Own business is not only an opportunity to improve financial well-being. Entrepreneurs get a great chance to improve the world and give others new perspectives. Many believe that the modern world offers fewer and fewer opportunities to start, all niches are occupied, and spheres of influence are distributed. The era of making profits by only meeting the minimum requirements in terms of customer satisfaction is indeed over. The consumer really has the right to receive the best services and goods. But also each of us is looking forward to something new. Customers, like children, want to be surprised and pampered with new “toys”. The world is evolving and new needs are emerging. Their satisfaction, fresh and original ideas become the basis of successful business projects. We will introduce you to these ideas.
“Fresh and good ideas for trading”
Shop that pays to enter
In the small Australian town of Kurparu, there is a shop that specializes in selling gluten-free products called Celiac Supplies. Recently, the store has become famous, and its name began to flash even in the headlines of foreign publications. The reason is an innovation invented by the hostess. Customers pay for the right to enter the store. The price of the entrance ticket is low and is 5 Australian dollars. Pensioners, people with disabilities and children are exempt from payment. A visitor who buys a product in a store receives a discount that is equal to the amount paid for entry.
The owner of the store, Georgina, explains the essence of the innovation in a very reasonable way: “People come in, look at products and prices, go out and buy the same products in another store. Why should I waste my time and energy and work for free?” Georgina is trying to convey a simple concept - there are things in the world that are free (sun, air, birdsong), but someone else's work should be appreciated with dignity.
The innovative approach to trading was met with mixed reviews. Many criticize the entrepreneur, someone openly ridicules her. On the shop page on Facebook, there is a serious debate about the appropriateness of such approaches.
But Georgina nevertheless achieved a certain result. Although there was no tangible increase in profits, there were much fewer thefts and idle onlookers in the store. But in terms of advertising, Georgina has achieved an outstanding result.
What is the essence of this Australian store example? Look for non-standard approaches to attract customers. Ads with offers of "the best" or "lowest" prices are rather boring and do not attract the expected influx of visitors. Promotional poster that reads “We are the greediest salespeople in town. We are so insolent that we demand money for entry!” will produce the effect of an exploding bomb and will attract many new customers to your store. They will come to you only for the sake of watching and having fun. And be sure to buy at least some trifle.
Without packaging
The lack of packaging significantly reduces the cost of any product. This technique does not always work, but in some situations it brings additional income. This principle is used in the work of Bulk Barn (Canada). The network of trading establishments has installed special glass vending machines in which customers can choose various goods. More than four thousand items are sold without packaging: loose tea and coffee beans, cereals, flour, spices, nuts, dried fruits, sweets and many others. In addition to a pleasant price, the network is developing a new direction to refuse plastic packaging materials that pollute the planet. It is worth noting that the idea works and brings huge profits to the owners of the company.
We sell muesli
This business idea was awarded the title of the best young enterprise in Germany in 2013. The business was created by three friends from the city of Passau. Young entrepreneurs managed to meet the starting capital of 3,500 euros.
The essence of the idea is simple and ingenious. The guys created an online store selling muesli. Buyers are given the opportunity to choose a variety of, but always only organic ingredients and mix them at their discretion. The assortment includes several types of cereal bases, a huge variety of fruit additives, nuts. The store also offers high-quality varieties of tea, fresh juices, healthy cereals, coffee.
In 2007, when the business was just being created, it consisted of one outlet and an online store. Now it is a developed network with about 200 employees.
Master class on the correct sale of men's jeans
It is generally accepted that shopping is an exclusively female occupation. For most men, any trip to the market or to the store turns into a real torture. Standard shelves, on which various items of clothing are laid out in piles in several rows, cause melancholy and despondency in men. Most of them consider finding and trying on the right size a waste of time.
Nadya Shurabura, who created the innovative Hointer jeans store in the American city of Seattle, made a wise decision to take into account the peculiarities of male psychology and create the most comfortable conditions for customers.
The store sells only men's jeans, flocks of ladies chirping and choosing goods do not distract or embarrass the representatives of the stronger sex. There are no endless racks with folded jeans. Only hangers located on the beams. The product is facing the buyer with the front. Each model is presented in the hall in only one size, although all options are in stock.
Customers are offered a convenient application for a mobile device. With it, you can scan the QR code of the model you like and specify your size. Literally within a few seconds, a notification arrives on the buyer’s device indicating in which of the fitting rooms the ordered jeans are waiting for him. The model that you like and fit is paid at the checkout. Everything that does not satisfy the buyer is sent to a special hole in the fitting room.
Men will agree that such shopping conditions can be considered ideal.
Freeosk - a special tasting machine
The very first devices of this type were created by the German confectionery company Stollwerck in 1887. Customers were offered the opportunity to try sweets before buying. Since 2013, Chicago supermarkets have revived this tradition and installed special Freeosk machines. To install a free tasting machine, it is important to choose the right location and place for the maximum concentration of the target audience.
The benefit of customers is obvious - the opportunity to try new products for free. The benefit of the supermarket is less obvious to the uninitiated layman - cheap marketing research of the interests and tastes of buyers. It is not worth talking about how much the positive image of the trading network rises.
Delivery of purchases to the airport
The popular Australian retail store Woolworths offers its customers a new service - the ability to order and pay for goods through a mobile application. The purchase is delivered to the airport and handed over to the client after the aircraft has landed.
This service aroused great enthusiasm among business people and tourists and immediately began to be in great demand. A tired traveler upon arrival in the city no longer needs to head to the store to fill an empty refrigerator with food. Everything can be ordered in advance and received at the exit from the airport.
“Ideas for restaurant business”
Entrance with pre-purchased tickets
The owner of the Chicago restaurant Nextrestaurant Grant Achatz spied this idea from the airlines. You can enter the territory of the airport only with a plane ticket purchased using an online service. A similar system works in this restaurant. It is simply unrealistic for a visitor "from the street" to get into it. Entrance is allowed only for those who have paid in advance for a certain menu in advance through the system of applications on the Internet.
The innovation was liked by the visitors, who now do not need to wait for a vacant table and order fulfillment. Menu prices depend on the day of the week and time of day. The most expensive option is Saturday evening, on weekdays and at lunch the cost of the order is much lower.
The menu of the restaurant changes drastically at least once every 3 months. The previous option is never repeated. The restaurant offers dishes of different national cuisines and has an immense supply of ideas. The institution is extremely popular, there are no free tables here.
Creative from Blockbuster
While watching a movie in cinemas, they offer a standard set: drinks, popcorn and other snacks. While at home, many people like to eat well with a good movie.
Entrepreneurs catering to patrons at a Toronto film festival had the perfect idea to offer restaurant guests food from movies that are featured in movies today.
A restaurant that counts calories consumed
Restaurant Hitzberger (Switzerland) offers guests an original service. The waiter brings the bill, which indicates not only the prices, but also the number of calories in each portion eaten.
This idea can be developed. For example, offer a low-fat or low-carb menu. Protein options are available for those who monitor weight and care about health. You can arrange contests and reward customers who consumed the most calories.
The idea is a success, because most of the catering establishments offer very high-calorie and unhealthy food. An additional opportunity to control the composition of dishes and their impact on health is the gratitude of the guests.
A restaurant where guests create their own drinks
A simple and very cool idea was offered to visitors by the owners of the Japanese bar Logbar. Here the client is given the opportunity to create new cocktails by mixing different ingredients. Be sure to come up with the original name of the drink, which is included in the bar menu and offered to other guests.
If a drink is successful, its creator makes good money. Under the terms of the project, part of the bar's profits is offered to the creator of the cocktail.
“Ideas for the hotel business”
Twitter hotel
On the island of Mallorca, there is an interesting hotel SolWave, which is used to attract guests to this super-popular social network. Each guest is given the opportunity to download a branded application and get access to original entertainment. The corporate social network allows you to participate in contests, communicate with other guests and make appointments at hotel parties, get to know each other and flirt.
The hotel also has original rooms. In one of them, a huge mirror with painted luxurious mustaches hangs on the wall. You can instantly send a funny photo with your reflection in this mirror to your friends. Using special hashtags, you can order drinks to the administrator.
"Earnings on the Internet"
Online dining
Sociability, attractiveness and the ability to cook are characteristic features of many girls. Seo-Yun Park from South Korea, that these underestimated talents can make good money. The girl quit her boring office job, bought a camera and started broadcasting her lunches online. From a cool hobby, a worthy source of income has developed. From ads and views, Seo-Yun earns about $10,000 every month.
The secret of this show's popularity is simple. In developed countries, the number of single people who are entirely focused on their careers is noticeably increasing. For them, lunch with a virtual interlocutor becomes a real find, brings the joy of communication and brightens up loneliness. The girl also helps those who are forced to go on a diet, but are not ready to give up the traditional dinner in society and a pleasant conversation.