As our sister company TRENDWATCHING.COM's SACHET MARKETING trend shows, less can be more. So, after reporting on everything from breath strips to sachet shampoo, we were not completely surprised by Dutch SoapUnltd's Laundry Leafz and Pure Soap Leafz, even though they do have a first in this industry. Soap Leafz consist of sheets of pure soap (available in 6 swanky colors and 4 fragrances), while Laundry Leafz come in a compact case filled with leaves of detergent that dissolve instantly in warm water. Convenient for use in teeny tiny washing basins, while traveling etc.

Prices? When bought in bulk, a compact case holding 50 leaves of pure soap or 10 Laundry Leafz costs EUR 1.50 (USD 1.80 / GBP 1.00), while a compact card, which fits 15 Pure Soap Leafz or 6 Laundry Leafz, is EUR 1.

SoapUnltd has already nailed clients in the travel industry, personal care industry and even clothing manufacturers. What's more: they can customize any of their packages with company logos and messages, pegging the service as "it will keep your name to 'hand' for days and weeks." Talk about leaving lasting impressions.

Opportunities

Consumers who live on the go, who travel often, who want to cut through the clutter, who believe less is more, will no doubt snap up these laundry and soap leaves. Are you going to snap THEM up, inking a deal with SoapUnltd? Or even better, will you come up with the next big thing in miniaturization (think portability or sex-appeal or usability or variation)? From the Nano to coffee pods to soap strips; small IS the new big!

Previously, we reported on art sold in discount supermarkets and art popping out of vending machines. This month we bring you artists, designers and minipreneurs who no longer need publicists or advertising, but would rather score themselves hot retail space, renting it by the shelf.

In Hamburg, Germany, consumers can score authentic works of art at miniature prices from over forty national and international artists who rent a shelf at Yokozuna, a 15 square meter high-in-demand retail hotspot. For a mere EUR 5 per month, young artists, designers and hobby enthusiasts can exhibit and sell their work, with a third of the retail price going to Yokozuna. Hot items currently on sale are a milk carton radio at a reasonable EUR 10.34, a computer key etched with 'panic' priced at EUR 3.45, and a house fly magnet for EUR 4.

In New York, young designers are lining up for a space in EMERGE*nyc. Open since August, this 3,500 square ft space houses 26 independent stalls, or mini-boutiques. Here, up and coming designers run their stalls, interact with customers and sell their collections of clothes, bags, and other accessories. Available on a month to month basis, the spaces, sized from 50 to 150 square ft, go for USD 1,400 to USD 2,500 a month. Alternatively, merchants can rent a simple counter space for USD 450 (EUR 375 / GBP 250). With such high demand for a space in this bustling part of downtown New York, owners of EMERGE*nyc do some heavy curating, carefully selecting designers that fit the profile and aesthetic of the entire space.

In San Francisco, a similar service, though less costly, is offered by the Residents Apparel Gallery, a boutique/gallery/co-op, where Bay Area clothing and accessory designers rent their own rack and display their biography in a gallery-like space. R.A.G. currently showcases 40+ designers and rotates in a few new designers monthly. Designers pay a modest fee per month (USD 30-50), and keep up to 70% of profits.

Opportunities

In a world of millions of new minipreneurs and a swelling GENERATION C, shelf space, big or small, could well turn out to be the new currency. In the offline world, renting just a tiny part of a retail store like Yokozuna is a pretty cool business idea, while in the online world, the concept of many-stores-in-a-store, in which merchants do their own online upkeep, is a success story waiting to happen. What's really new here? Think curator meets shopkeeper meets real estate agent, all in one go. Unlike eBay, which is mainly about enabling listings, or traditional galleries, where the curator gets to decide everything and content is pretty static, the Yokozunas, R.A.G.s and Emerges of this world are offering a glimpse of new distribution channels for new content. It's a win-win: consumers get direct access to truly original goods, services and experiences, while designers can just get started: no contracts, utility bills or advertising strategies necessary.

Dutch bank the Postbank is offering customized ATM cards. Customers can upload a photo, edit it in the paskamer (fitting room) and receive their personalized, working bank card within six days.

Soft launch for now: no advertising and lots of blog coverage. For a limited time only, the cards are free; they'll be EUR 9,75 after the trial period. Creating a "My Postbank Card" automatically enters the cardholder into a contest. The winning card not only bags its creator a trip to New York, but will also be used in national billboards promoting the service.

Allowing consumers to flaunt their adorable infant, prize-winning hamster or best holiday snapshot -- in short, appealing to their gravanity, this should be an instant hit.

Update | December 2005

A month later, over 100,000 Postbank customers in The Netherlands have ordered their own customized cards. Are you letting your customers get personal and creative?