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We've spotted another varied batch of new business ideas for you this week: from clothes shopping by webcam and health care by SMS, to personalised wedding runners and a marketplace for home-cooked meals. Our next edition is due on 1 July 2009. In the meantime, check out our daily posts on www.springwise.com. If you've spotted or started a concept we should cover, don't be shy: please send us your tips.
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As is true in so many business decisions, companies in need of banner ads typically face the choice between creating their own or hiring a professional to create it for them. Many do-it-yourself sites use templates, however—which can result in a cookie-cutter look—while using professionals can be expensive and time-consuming. Aiming to offer a third alternative, PointBanner promises custom-created banners in just 48 hours for USD 49. Customers submit a banner request with New York-based PointBanner in three simple steps: they upload their logo, enter their desired text and URL, and then pick a size. Eschewing templates, the company's design team works on each banner individually, guaranteeing a result for USD 49 within 48 hours. Three free revisions are included for each banner, and an assortment of multi-banner packages are also available with per-banner pricing as low as USD 11. Much like Inkd, which offers a third alternative in the realm of graphic (print) design, PointBanner seems like a natural next step in the evolution of web advertising, making professional quality more accessible to all. One to adapt locally—or, more broadly, find another area where the niche between cookie-cutter and professional approaches is currently unfilled, and offer a middle ground of your own! Website: www.pointbanner.com |
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A midnight snack in 140 characters? Guests at a new Maastricht hotel won't have to leave their Twitter stream if they're feeling peckish—they can just tweet their requests to the front desk, @townhousehotels. (Correction: It turns out that the hotel doesn't offer room service, but serves breakfast, soup and light snacks for guests who are unwilling to make their way to one of the city's many restaurants.) Offering Twitter as an in-hotel communication tool is just one of the innovative elements at the Townhouse Hotel Maastricht, which is set to open in September. We previously covered the venture when it was still mysteriously known as Hotel X and piqued our curiosity by buying armchairs and alarm clocks from consumers. Building and decoration are still in progress, but the hotel's identity is taking shape, and it appears to be a timely combination of technology, affordability and personality. As boutique hotels have become near-ubiquitous, the appeal of their polished design is losing its lustre. No surprise, then, that a counter-trend is building: hotels are aiming for a more memorable stay by combining style with personality. As indicated by how it sourced vintage furniture from local homes and attics, the Townhouse Hotel is choosing idiosyncratic charm and playfulness over showroom finesse, while keeping the technological perks that travellers have grown accustomed to. Adding to its sense of realness, Townhouse Hotel will recruit 'citizen models' for their premier ad campaign. Like the similarly quirky Mama Shelter in Paris, Townhouse Hotel Maastricht is priced for high occupancy rates: prices at the 69-room hotel will start at EUR 75. Website: www.townhousehotels.nl |
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When Singapore creative agency Kult launched a self-titled art magazine earlier this month, it didn't just produce print and online editions, as most publishers might. Rather, the group also created a touring, 3D version of the magazine crafted out of a vintage arcade machine. With a premier issue focused on the theme of "trust," Kult Magazine aims to visualize its topics through the work of young artists from Asia and around the world. Emphasizing photography, illustration, graphic design and other visual arts, Kult hopes to use the free publication to "blur boundaries and encourage the viewer to participate in a visual dialogue with the works," in its own words. Toward that end, the Kult ArtCade is a roaming, vintage arcade machine that serves as a 3D version of the magazine. Instead of a traditional control panel, the ArtCade features a selection of art, illustration, photography and personal vignettes on the magazine's current theme. Indeed, if magazines can be published on bottles or reconceptualized as objets d'art, why not a vintage arcade machine, which stands just as much chance of surprising and delighting consumers while the publishing industry recrafts itself? One to be inspired by! (Related: Smoking is bad, art is good.) Website: www.kult.com.sg |
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Cell phones may have changed the way people communicate in the developed world, but in developing countries they're going far beyond simple communication to bring new opportunities to areas that sorely need them. Case in point: FrontlineSMS:Medic, a new initiative to improve health care in poor, rural villages. Due to a global shortage of some 4.4 million healthcare professionals, as estimated by the World Health Organization, many rural health centers in poor regions depend largely on community health workers who travel among clinics and villages. Such health workers typically record patient interactions on paper and then bring those records to a central clinic for further instruction. Many travel on foot, however, and—because they serve such large areas—often don't get back to the clinic more than once a month. The result: some patients remain untreated for far too long. Launched in February, FrontlineSMS:Medic aims to improve matters using FrontlineSMS, a free, open-source software program that enables large-scale, two-way text messaging using only a laptop, a GSM modem and cell phones. Working with donations collected through Hope Phones, the initiative places a laptop running FrontlineSMS in a central clinic and then distributes cell phones to community health workers. Workers are trained in sending text messages to hospital staff to request drug dosing information or treatment instruction, for example, or provide status updates on a particular patient. Modified camera phones, meanwhile, can be used to analyze blood and sputum samples and perform critical diagnostics for conditions including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. In a recent, 6-month pilot test of the system at a hospital in Malawi, 150 patients received emergency care, community health workers saved 1,000 hours of travel time—allowing them to visit more patients—the number of people being treated for tuberculosis doubled, and the hospital saved USD 3,500 worth of fuel, freeing up funds to purchase more medication. Operating the system, meanwhile, requires an investment of just USD 500, according to an article in the Guardian. Since the Malawi pilot, California-based FrontlineSMS:Medic has launched numerous other projects throughout Africa and beyond through partnerships with global health organizations. High-tech, health care and socially focused entrepreneurs: one to get involved in? (Related: Microfinancing and mentoring via mobile phones — Quick tasks via SMS for phone users in the developing world.) Website: medic.frontlinesms.com |
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Brides-to-be the world over have long dreamt of their walk down a red-carpeted aisle. A new Irish company, however, has found a way to do the traditional floor covering one better: personalised, hand-woven wedding runners. Printed and hand-painted wedding runners have been around at least in the US for some time now, but WeddingRunner.com takes the personalization a notch higher by actually weaving a couple's names, initials and/or date right into the rug itself. Couples begin by choosing a design they like from the range of those offered on the site, along with specifying what they'd like to be woven into the rug and where. They then choose the colours they'd like for the rug's background, text and borders, and specify the length of rug they need for their wedding venue. All runners are a standard one meter wide and are sold by the running foot; pricing is EUR 19 per ft. Because each runner is custom made, delivery takes about 12 weeks. Bespoke runners with fully customised designs are available as well for an extra cost; delivery then takes about 20 weeks. Either way, after the wedding the rugs can be cut and sewn for use as a doormat, wall hanging or keepsake to be handed down through the generations. All of which leads us to repeat a favourite refrain: everything—everything—everything can be upgraded! Even items that are luxuries already or have been upgraded before. Whether it's a handmade baby blanket or a carpet for a momentous day, there will be consumers out there willing to pay a little more for the extra touches and premium details that will stroke their gravanity and impress their friends. Time to put on your premium hat and start looking around! ;-) Website: www.weddingrunner.com |
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Europcar is teaming up with Nissan to offer electric vehicles for hire. Low emission rental vehicles are nothing new for Europcar (or many other rental agencies, for that matter); models such as the Toyota Prius have been part of its 225,000 strong fleet for years. However, it seems to be the first time that a rental company and car manufacturer are jointly offering a design that’s not just low emission, but no emission. After introducing electric versions of existing models, Nissan plans to develop entirely new models that will be made available through Europcar. The company hopes to offer a wide range of zero-emission vehicles at all the usual rental locations like airports, train stations and local kiosks by the end of 2010. Besides helping Europcar stand apart from other rental companies and providing Nissan with a guaranteed market for a large number of electric vehicles, the alliance will give consumers the opportunity to try out an unfamiliar product in a real-world setting. (Related: Europcar lists CO2 emissions on customer invoices.) Website: www.europcar.com Spotted by: Raymond Kollau |
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Two years ago, we covered a few mobile services that help users find the nearest public restroom. Focusing instead on when to go, RunPee is a web-based service and soon-to-be mobile app that maps out loo-break moments for popular movies. Users can choose from an extensive list of movies currently in theatres, and a few classics like Aliens and Star Wars. A time graph of the film indicates when it's safe to disappear for a minute or two. The website lists a cue line to listen for, and the approximate amount of time before something important happens. For those who want to find out what they missed, a box of scrambled text can be clicked on to reveal what was missed. The site will also note if there's a scene after the credits, so movie-goers don't run out of the cinema before the film is actually over. Anyone can contribute suggested break times to the listed films, which as they say, makes RunPee a Wiki-pee-dia of sorts. (Sorry…) An iPhone application is currently awaiting approval from Apple, meaning weak-bladdered users will soon be able to check in from the theatre. Which is, of course, where the concept shines. One for drinks manufacturers to sponsor, encouraging sales of 48-ounce colas? Website: www.runpee.com Spotted by: Susanna Haynie |
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Product life stories can be used to demonstrate sustainability—as in the case of Made-By, which we just recently covered—but they also simply make new products more interesting. Such authenticity-boosting status stories are at the heart of the Daily Grommet, a curated marketplace that highlights one such tale every day. Currently in beta, Massachusetts-based Daily Grommet releases a profile of one new product each day at noon Eastern US time. Products chosen for inclusion on the site range from household products to kids' items to simple indulgences; most are from small, independent producers and are selected for their combination of craft, utility, invention and style. Many products are submitted by visitors to the site; others are discovered through team members' own research. On Tuesday of this week, for example, the product profiled was "Arghand hand-crafted soap pebbles from Afghanistan," complete with video, social and environmental context, and specific product details. Subscribers to the Daily Grommet can comment online about a particular day's profile as well as buying products online; widgets are also available for publishers, with revenue opportunities through shared sales or click-throughs. Combining thoughtful curation, status stories and a pinch of planned scarcity, the Daily Grommet is attempting to go a step beyond Etsy and other online marketplaces with its up-close focus on product origins. Artists, craftsmen and manufacturers around the globe are no doubt lining up for consideration even as we speak; for all others, one to emulate with a niche or regional approach...? (Related: Upscale vending machine sells curated luxury goods — Top 3 choices for shoppers — Ranking Ranqueen — A deal a day.) Website: www.dailygrommet.com |
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Regular Springwise readers may remember LocoMatrix, the location-based game we covered last year that kids play outside using GPS-enabled cell phones. Along similar lines, a new iPhone-specific counterpart aims to take kids on an eco-minded adventure through the park. Released early this month by Australian developer Bulpadok, The Hidden Park is a computer game for young families that makes the most of the iPhone's features as it leads children into a fantasy world of trolls, fairies and genies. Families begin by downloading the app from Apple’s App Store for USD 6.99 and then heading to a nearby park—currently, the game supports a select group of parks in nine major cities around the world, including New York, London, Tokyo and Sydney. From there, children navigate their way through the real park by following a magical map that reveals where mystical creatures live. As kids move past landmarks in the park, the map tells them where to go next, with puzzles and riddles to solve in order to save the park from greedy developers. Children also take photos of various landmarks—and of the magical creatures who are said to live nearby—and can store those photos in a gallery for an album of their adventure that day. Taking full advantage of Apple's technology, the Hidden Park uses the iPhone’s A-GPS feature to accurately pinpoint each player’s movements within the park and plot them against the interactive map that forms the heart of the game, for example. Through Location Based Services (LBS) technology, the game triggers particular animations and tasks as the user reaches key points along their journey. The phone's accelerometer, meanwhile, allows users to shake the device to scatter mystical characters over any photographed image. The Hidden Park was created in collaboration with WSP Environmental. And while the game is currently focused on a set of key major parks, it can be adapted to others—in fact, the company is now working on a park builder that will allow parents to set up the game in their local park and share it with other parents. In the meantime, Bulpadok is also accepting nominations for additional parks to support in the game. As developed nations around the globe fight childhood obesity, there's no doubt games like this will be welcomed with open arms; improving mobile technologies, meanwhile, are making more and more possible. How could *you* put the iPhone to work to slim down and entertain the world's kids...? (Related: Gyms for kids use gaming to keep them hooked.) Website: www.thehiddenpark.com Spotted by: Judy McRae |
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By taking out a mortgage with ING, Dutch borrowers can now help families in Bangladesh and India build homes of their own. Through its new Huis voor een huis (Home for a home) program, ING's clients are given the option of donating EUR 300 when they sign for their mortgage, an amount the bank doubles to EUR 600. To maximize the impact of those donations, ING has partnered with Dutch non-profit Wereldfoundation. Instead of simply handing out the money, the foundation provides microfinancing; borrowers who have previously taken out a business loan and have shown that they're financially responsible, are eligible for a home loan. As the microloans are paid back, the money can be made available to more borrowers, with the goal of helping entire villages build new homes. At a time when banks are seen as epicenters of avarice and incompetence, it's a well-considered approach to being generous. For many more examples of branded benevolence, check out trendwatching.com's Generation G briefing. (Related: Buy one house, give one free — Matching program doubles Kiva loans — Shoes for good.) Website: www.ing.nl/huisvooreenhuis |
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Consumers who lack the time, energy or skills to prepare delicious home-cooked meals themselves already have semi-cooking options to help them along—including shopping and delivery services such as I Love Mother—as well as meal prep stores, with or without instruction. When even those are too much, however, BookOfCooks is a new online marketplace that can help consumers find local foodies who are willing to cook for them. Professional and amateur chefs around the world can use BookOfCooks to set up an online restaurant or bakery that showcases their cooking talents with menus, prices, licenses and videos. Using BookOfCooks is free both for those in search of food and for those who prepare it. Consumers then can search BookOfCooks by city for the dish or food type they're craving, or they can browse the site's online Google maps and archives for links to local cooks and food aficionados, including ratings and reviews. When they find one that sounds good, they can place an order with the cook for pickup, delivery or even in-home preparation. Meals purchased this way are frequently less expensive than what one would pay in a restaurant, BookOfCooks says, and can also make it easier to find less common cuisines such as vegan or gluten-free. For cooks, meanwhile, BookOfCooks provides a free way to establish a consistent clientèle, whether as a full-time business or—meshing nicely with what our sister site would call the sellsumer trend—for a little extra money on the side. There are, of course, legal issues to be navigated when preparing food for the consumption of others—and the related question of how many consumers will be willing to buy food from amateurs. Nevertheless, with ratings and reviews providing at least a small measure of protection, it seems possible this could spark a recession-inspired anti-restaurant trend. (Related: Roaming 'anti-restaurant' hand-picks its guests.) Website: www.bookofcooks.com
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Showing customers the environmental impact of driving, French car rental company Europcar now lists CO2 emissions for its rental cars. The information can be found both on the company’s website, and on customer invoices, allowing conscientious drivers to take emissions into account when choosing a rental car, as well as reminding them after the fact. Customers are also offered the chance to offset their emissions via a collaboration with Climate Care. Instead of planting trees, Climate Care assists with the development of renewable fuel sources and more efficient systems—arguably a more effective way of tackling carbon emissions than planting trees. Europcar’s CO2 information is currently available to customers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, with Australia to follow soon. An easy improvement would be to add a quick guide to help users put those emission numbers into context. As consumers become more aware of their impact on the environment, they’ll increasingly demand information that will help them make better choices. More on that from our sister-site trendwatching.com—check out their thoughts on eco intel. Website: www.europcar.com/CO2-Emissions Spotted by: Raymond Kollau |
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For the hordes of people camping out at music festivals this summer, recharging their mobile phones no longer has to be an issue. If they have access to an Orange Power Pump, a minute of physical exercise is all it takes to juice up their phone. Mobile network operator Orange has teamed up with renewable energy experts GotWind, who have created a tiny wind turbine that can be hooked up to a standard airbed footpump, enabling users to pump juice back into their phones. The turbine is no bigger than a pack of wet wipes, and can generate enough energy to power 5 minutes of call time in about 60 seconds of foot pumping. And good thinking on incorporating a standard piece of camping equipment. Lets just hope the chargers will be re-used for other festivals and camping trips; manufacturing alternative power generators is far from green if they're only used once or twice. ;-) Website: web.orange.co.uk/p/web_glastonbury/ |
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Clothes shopping may be a source of joy for many women, but the same is rarely true for men; in fact, many men would rather do just about anything else. With that in mind, the Trunk Club now offers men the services of a personal shopper from the convenience of their own office or home. Based in Oregon, the Trunk Club assigns each of its clients a personal clothing expert to recommend, find and deliver clothing and accessories that complement their own personal style. Men begin by filling out an application for a free membership on the site. They then have a 15-minute or so introductory, webcam-enabled session from home or office with their personal shopper, who then sends out an initial shipment of name-brand clothes. Customers pay just retail price for the clothes they decide to keep—no minimum purchase is required—and the Trunk Club covers shipping both ways. After that clients can connect with their shopper as often as they want in person or via the company's Skype-based webcam platform—no visits to retail stores are ever required. The Trunk Club's personal shoppers work on commission, according to TechCrunch; the company's revenue derives from retail markups on clothes bought from partner manufacturers at wholesale prices, with no minimum inventory required. The Trunk Club officially launched just two weeks ago, and it's currently looking for entrepreneurs who can work virtually on its behalf with members around the world. One to get in on early...? Website: www.trunkclub.com |
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We've already written about several city governments' technology-enabled efforts to keep in touch with citizens, including Love Lewisham, Derby Kidz Talk and Neighbourhood Fix-It. Such web-, MMS- and 311-based efforts may have since become more common, but San Francisco is the first city we've seen to accept citizen complaints and reports via Twitter. Early this month San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom announced that San Francisco residents can now send messages to the city government via Twitter by directing them to @SF311. Customer service representatives are available 24/7, 365 days a year, for help with such matters as the need for street cleaning, graffiti removal, potholes, abandoned vehicles and garbage can maintenance. Users simply sign up to follow SF311, which will automatically result in a reciprocal follow connection. Photos and links to illustrate the subjects of complaint are encouraged, and the city also plans to send updates about planned and unplanned local events using the platform. San Francisco is using Twitter business platform CoTweet to track its Twitter-based conversations, according to TechCrunch. It's good to see governments catching up with the communication preferences of their citizens. More to follow soon, we have no doubt! ;-) Website: sftwitter.sfgov.org/twitter Spotted by: TechCrunch |
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