Uni Project: Innovative Business start-up
Discussion
Hi all,
As part of my final year, within a group we are prepare a presentation for a new business venture concept.
We are currently brain-storming ideas....this is where you come in, hopefully!
Thus far we have 3 main ideas we are looking into further, yet any other ideas will be appreciated!!
Idea 1: Adverts on cars, something similar to www.freecars.items4free.com yet not such a scam! Perhaps taking custom away from fixed billboards? Pros: Low start-up costs? Cons: Finding the target market?
Idea 2: Professional e-bay trader! Drop in centre, commission on items sold. For those to lazy to sell themselves.
Idea 3: Maintenance service for student-let accommodation. E.g. clearing, removal, etc.
For property owners who are unable to reach accommodation easily.
Marks are also going to be given on how innovative the idea is :-S
Further ideas/opinions would be greatly appreciated.
As part of my final year, within a group we are prepare a presentation for a new business venture concept.
We are currently brain-storming ideas....this is where you come in, hopefully!
Thus far we have 3 main ideas we are looking into further, yet any other ideas will be appreciated!!
Idea 1: Adverts on cars, something similar to www.freecars.items4free.com yet not such a scam! Perhaps taking custom away from fixed billboards? Pros: Low start-up costs? Cons: Finding the target market?
Idea 2: Professional e-bay trader! Drop in centre, commission on items sold. For those to lazy to sell themselves.
Idea 3: Maintenance service for student-let accommodation. E.g. clearing, removal, etc.
For property owners who are unable to reach accommodation easily.
Marks are also going to be given on how innovative the idea is :-S
Further ideas/opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Idea 1 is already common on taxis. If it became too common a feature on "normal" cars, I am sure planning legislation regarding advertising in public places would be expanded to restrict or even stop the practice. Would you like a residential street full of parked cars to look like one giant advertising hoarding?
Presumably 'new' means new to you, because the ideas certainly aren't novel or unique...
1. already being done - www.adsoncars.com/gallery.asp
2. already being done - ebay trading assistants do this. Most don't bother with a drop-in service (which is an angle I suppose), they just arrange collection from the seller and delivery to the buyer, use email to communicate between assistant and seller (for descriptions, photos etc), and charge for the service
3. already being done - there's hundreds of cleaning businesses doing this
Not pissing on your chips, but your marks for innovation won't be high
But if your brief is to just look at simply setting up a venture, there's plenty of raw material available.
1. already being done - www.adsoncars.com/gallery.asp
2. already being done - ebay trading assistants do this. Most don't bother with a drop-in service (which is an angle I suppose), they just arrange collection from the seller and delivery to the buyer, use email to communicate between assistant and seller (for descriptions, photos etc), and charge for the service
3. already being done - there's hundreds of cleaning businesses doing this
Not pissing on your chips, but your marks for innovation won't be high
But if your brief is to just look at simply setting up a venture, there's plenty of raw material available. Thanks for the responses.
The idea itself doesn't need to be unique; I think they are looking for something that avoids us presenting a 'simple' business start-up (although if that had an usp then I expect we can get away with it).
For example, last year I wrote a business plan for a gym start-up in my local town - this year I don't believe it would be suitable unless I could bring in a unique edge...perhaps a gym for homosexuals? I guess that has also been done, but not one in Nottingham that I know of.
I say Nottingham as that's where I am based, likely to be easier to gather market/property info.
Looks like we are dropping idea 2 - spoke with the group today and apparently others on the course are claiming the idea as there's.....looks like they watched the film too!
The idea itself doesn't need to be unique; I think they are looking for something that avoids us presenting a 'simple' business start-up (although if that had an usp then I expect we can get away with it).
For example, last year I wrote a business plan for a gym start-up in my local town - this year I don't believe it would be suitable unless I could bring in a unique edge...perhaps a gym for homosexuals? I guess that has also been done, but not one in Nottingham that I know of.
I say Nottingham as that's where I am based, likely to be easier to gather market/property info.
Looks like we are dropping idea 2 - spoke with the group today and apparently others on the course are claiming the idea as there's.....looks like they watched the film too!
hmm...i have a couple of outline business plans im too busy to do anything about. both are arguably a bit more unique than these, though again they're hardly rocket science.
The onyl problem is they're both potentially very profitable so giving them away to Uni students might be a bit much....though having them worked up by a dedicated and intelligent team has definite appeal
will try and think of other ideas I havent done yet!
The onyl problem is they're both potentially very profitable so giving them away to Uni students might be a bit much....though having them worked up by a dedicated and intelligent team has definite appeal
will try and think of other ideas I havent done yet!
nightmare said:
though having them worked up by a dedicated and intelligent team has definite appeal
Very kind words, yet I would expect that's not us!
Your plans sound like just the thing that we would be looking for, however I do expect that sound business ideas may be stolen by the uni and/or others on the course :-(
However, on the other hand if you or anyone else were to provide us with a feasible idea, I’m sure the group would be more than happy to send you a copy of the plan/presentation. I wouldn't be able to guarantee the standard of work (as I know for some in the group it is a smaller proportion of the total year’s marks), however it would definately provided a different insight to any idea.
leftie said:
What about developing a system which stops people putting petrol in a diesel car - trust me, I've been there!! For example, a sensor which detects pertol vapour and sets of an alarm?
cost me half a days work, £30 of diesel and £100 to fix.
actually a simple 'this is diesel' chip in the nozzle detected by a sensor near the filler and a 3 second delay on the pump would help.
leftie said:
What about developing a system which stops people putting petrol in a diesel car - trust me, I've been there!! For example, a sensor which detects pertol vapour and sets of an alarm?
It cost me £389 + £50 fuel. Plus I was late. Plus everyone on PH was laughing at me. Plus I was waiting for the AA for over two hours in a freezing car.
Did anybody see that 'lost your keys' company?
They kept copies of your car and house keys (anonimiosed with a code so they didn't have your address).
When you get locked out you call a number, give a password and they send your keys to meet you in a cab at a location a short distance from your house/car (so that they can never know where you live).
People pay a registration/holding fee and then a call out fee for the times they use it. Money for old rope.
They kept copies of your car and house keys (anonimiosed with a code so they didn't have your address).
When you get locked out you call a number, give a password and they send your keys to meet you in a cab at a location a short distance from your house/car (so that they can never know where you live).
People pay a registration/holding fee and then a call out fee for the times they use it. Money for old rope.
Carrera2 said:
I have a couple of amazing business ideas.
But they would need HUUUUUUUUGE capital to start em up and the probably wouldnt turn a profit either.
To be fair - that's hardly amazing. That's just being crap.
Whats crap about having some fun with other peoples investment
Caveat Emptor.
Short term I admit.
srebbe64 - I remember seeing something similar on Top Gear a few years ago...basically a small speaker fitted under the petrol cap that worked of a light-dependant-resistor, repeating "fill with pertrol/diesel" - verdict: very annoying & made you look like a prat, saying that if it saves you "half a days work, £30 of diesel and £100" to fix may well be worth it.
Project update:
The majority of the group want to stick with the 'Advercar' idea.
Largest problem - how to work out the pricing/fee structure :| & how we are going to mointor where are 'added' cars are.
Taxi firms would use a GPS system to track their cars?
Project update:
The majority of the group want to stick with the 'Advercar' idea.
Largest problem - how to work out the pricing/fee structure :| & how we are going to mointor where are 'added' cars are.
Taxi firms would use a GPS system to track their cars?
Willjt said:
Taxi firms would use a GPS system to track their cars?
Not as far as I'm aware - GPS is a "one way" system, so you can use it to find your own position, but it can't report back your position to anywhere else.
There are devices which will report back a GPS location of a vehicle, and some security couriers use them but they are seriously pricey - certainly you'd be having to charge your clients a lot of money per vehicle.
Most taxi companies I know rely on the drivers reporting where they are using the radio, but there's more incentive for a taxi driver to report their location (while they're not carrying a fare they don't get money).
You need to work out your business model, what you want to promise to the client and how much you're going to charge before you come up with a method of tracking vehicles. You might find that threatening "spot checks" on vehicles is sufficient to keep people honest, even if you never actually do them...
Rob.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff