CoolBusinessIdeas Newsletter Issue 8

CoolBusinessIdeas Newsletter Issue 8: 23/12/04 – 02/01/05
New Business Ideas/Opportunities Featured In This Issue:
HEALTH
The Thinhaler
The Thinhaler is a new invention that could make asthmatics’ lives a lot easier.
Easy Climb
Easy Climb is an incline anti-rollback system for wheelchairs, developed to fill a need for manually-operated wheelchairs to negotiate inclines without roll-back.
Multisensory Relief With Snoezelen
From autism to Alzheimer’s, patients are finding some multisensory relief in Rompa’s Snoezelen (SNOO-ze-len). It has sensory stimuli that turns agitation into calm and confusion into comfort.
AUTOMOBILES
Roadside Message Board
The Roadside Message Board is the latest in road safety and protection. It is invented to aid motorists when a vehicle needs to be left unattended and also has a thousand other uses.
ARTS
Art Basel Miami Beach Show
The hot art market is behind the art hotel phenomenon, now that luxury is back in vogue. What other “mall” lets you buy a Picasso for $13 million?
MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
The Rush to Mobile Advertising
Idle cell-phone users are being encouraged via big-screen TV, or video scoreboard, to text messages to one another, answer trivia questions, or enter sweepstakes.
Tasteful Marketing
Coca-Cola placed 2 million edible tattoos on a Hi-C advertisement in a double Teen People magazine issue this year.
BRANDING
Inspiring Quotes, on Starbucks Cups
Starbucks will begin printing quotes from various contributors beginning early next year. It hopes to generate discussions among its customers and baristas with the comment-bearing coffee cups.
SERVICES
Wing Women
With a wing woman, aspiring players get by with some help from their lady friends – even if they don’t have any. A feminine take on the “Wing Man,” these pickup chicks go out with guys masquerading as friends or coworkers.
DESIGN
More Sega PC USB Controllers
Sega has released more USB controllers for PCs, available in a variety of new colors, including the always sassy pink.
LIFESTYLE
Need a Pet?
Perfect Petzzz is a better choice for anyone who’s been begging for a puppy but may not be ready to actually care for one.
My Home is a Hotel!
Make your home feel like a stay away, with lush pillows, plush furnishings, room service from your nearest takeout place, and more luxuries.
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Self-cleaning Glass, for Lazy Bums
Thank you, nanotechnology for bringing us the windows that clean themselves!
RETAIL
Customized Gift Cards
It’s just the thing for holiday procrastinators: customized gift cards that don’t look last-minute.
The Business of Renting Out Christmas Trees
For environmentally conscious consumers like de Garmo, a venture that rents out living Christmas trees is filling a void.
China, The Toy-buying Country
China is the toy-making capital of the world, sending $10 billion worth of toys around the world each year. Now, China is also becoming a toy-buying country.
M&Ms, With Your Name On Them
The folks at Mars have now made it possible to print (nearly) anything on your M&Ms!
WIRELESS
Vodafone To Encourage Customers To Shift To 3G Handsets
Vodafone KK President Shiro Tsuda said Wednesday the Japanese unit of British cell phone service company Vodafone Group PLC will encourage its customers to shift to third-generation handsets for faster data communications.
GADGETS
MP3 Player for Swimmers
The gadget of your wet dreams (nyuk nyuk) already has its toes in the water: SwiMP3.
TRENDS & INSIGHTS
Top Technology Trends for 2005
By the guys at Red Herring; read the full list to see where technology is headed in 2005.
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