critical assumption

3/10/2009

March 4th 2009 | This week's most start-worthy new business ideas

Posted by amckinnis |

Always good to see people stretching their imaginations. Good times, bad times - does not matter, ideas have to stay in motion - they are energy and energy never dies and never sleeps. So keep going folks - keep the ideas flowing and the innovation coming. Enjoy.

Vending machine dispenses free samples
Marketing & advertising

A new variation on the sampling and tryvertising theme: a vending
machine controlled by text messages and designed specifically to
give the goods away.

Travel company invites clients on planning trips
Tourism & travel

A Spanish travel company not only solicits past customers' input
when it plans new trips, it actually invites them to come along and
help refine them before it offers the trips to the public at large.

English lessons and eyelash extensions
Education / Fashion & beauty

While plenty of makeup studios offer lessons in applying cosmetics,
language classes generally aren't part of the deal. Which is why the
ESL Makeup Course at MikaOlivia caught our eye.

Self-serve parking bay for bikes
Transportation

As with cars, parking bikes safely remains a challenge. That's where
the Biceberg comes in, providing a protected and secure place for
urban bicyclists to leave their bikes.

You, sculpted in precious metals and gems
Style & design

For the common man, gravanity can mean ordering a doll in one's
likeness or using a bank card that bears a photo of one's kids. Not so
the ultra rich.

Loews Hotels adopt local farmers
Food & beverage / Tourism & travel / Eco & sustainability

Loews Hotels recently announced a new 'Adopt-a-Farmer' initiative,
aiming to support local farmers while providing customers with
locally-sourced, organic and sustainable food.

Meal prep & cooking classes, this time by Jamie Oliver
Food & beverage / Retail / Education

The concept of a combination upscale takeaway and on-site cooking
school seems to be catching on. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver just
opened one in London.

In-hospital spa services for new moms
Lifestyle & leisure / Fashion & beauty

By transforming hospital stays into a moment of relaxation and
rejuvenation, Go Home Gorgeous hopes to better equip new mothers
for the sleepless times ahead.

Short-term mall space for startups and minipreneurs
Retail

The Oakland Mall in Troy, Mich., is offering small startups and
minipreneurs special leasing rates that make it easier for them to
test the waters at the mall without entering into a long-term contract.

Internet-connected pill reminder caps
Life hacks

GlowCaps fit on standard medication vials, and glow and play a
melody at medication time. What's even more interesting, is the next
version of the line, dubbed GlowCaps Connect.

App turns iPhone into a credit card terminal
Telecom & mobile / Financial services

As if phones didn't already do enough, one of the latest mobile apps
transforms iPhones and iPod Touches into portable charge card
terminals.

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2/12/2009

Springwise | Top Business Trends [right now]

Posted by amckinnis |

Looking through the list - what first jumped out at me was the feeling that creativity does not stop, even in tough economic times. There are people trying out new ideas and concepts to either start their business, expand it or take it into a new directions. If nothing else, we are a resilient lot. I really like the fictional brand ball cap idea and am impressed with Sears venturing into a new way retail area. Enjoy!

Caps for fans of fictional brands
Fashion & beauty / Entertainment

Lucky Seven makes custom caps that bear the logos of fictional
companies featured in cult films and television shows, immediately
recognizable only to likeminded fans.

Hotel perks for Mercedes drivers
Automotive / Travel & tourism

Through Mercedes' Destinations program, Merc drivers are entitled
to exclusive benefits at partner hotels, including complimentary use
of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, welcome gifts and room upgrades.

Building green habits, one step at a time
Eco & sustainability / Lifehacks

Green Groove aims to help consumers create and stick to a plan to
eliminate their unsustainable ways and embrace new, greener
habits.

Pay-what-you-want hotel in Singapore
Travel & tourism / Marketing & advertising

The new Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen hotel just last week launched
a promotion that lets guests choose the rate they want to pay for a
night's stay.

Pre-cut decorations for IKEA furniture
Homes & housing

Sydney-based Grippiks sells adhesive sheets in a variety of bright
colours and patterns for use on the surfaces of many models of IKEA
furniture.

Group buying for new parents
Retail

Regular readers are already familiar with the benefits consumers
can enjoy when they team up and buy as a crowd. A new site brings
those advantages to buyers of baby and children's goods.

Tracking one's sex life online
Lifestyle & leisure

An entirely personal application, Bedpost is a way for consumers to
keep track of the sexual encounters they've had by logging in and
entering some key details after each one.

Hotel uses tech perks to draw youthful travellers
Travel & tourism

Technology-enabled hotels seem to be popping up all around the
globe, and recently one of our spotters alerted us to one in Germany
that's aimed specifically at budget-oriented youthful travellers.

Industry community for kids' products
Retail / Media & publishing

Based in New Zealand, Skout Trade Fair is an online community that
aims to help those in the children's products industry find each other
and connect.

Helping media buyers find sellers of alt advertising
Marketing & advertising

DOmedia bills itself as a matchmaking service for media buyers and
sellers. Listed in its database are opportunities to advertise on college
student notebooks, on phone kiosks, on golf carts and in restrooms.

Jackets and bags made to be handed down
Fashion & beauty / Eco & sustainability

Countering the forces of "fast fashion", British brand Howies is
focusing on the long-lasting quality of its newest clothing line,
appropriately named Hand-Me-Down.

Sears blends online & off in new retail experiments
Retail / Lifehacks

MyGofer is a new, warehouse-style retail concept that aims to offer
both the convenience and selection of an online store and the
immediacy and low prices of a discount retailer.

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2/07/2009

OpenZine | When a blog is just not enough

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, ideas, Online, user created content

The title for the post was inspired by a tweet I received from Humby Valdes one of the founder of OpenZine [btw, he started OpenZine with his brother Kiki] - when I asked what he meant, he replied with the following:

"think of a blog as a newspaper (what is new right now) and OpenZine is a magazine (360 view of what happened)"

Now, I've had this blog for awhile - don't remember exactly when I started it, but a while back. And I have played around with blogs since at least 2001 in various open source formats. The blog premise is primarily a steam of conscientiousness - a diary - or as the as the name implies, it's a "log" file. Blogs are not necessarily fancy [although they have gotten that way] and their basic function is to create a time-stamped entry. Few people that will dig through the archives of a blog, because as Humby stated "its about right now".

Magazines are different - people collect magazines. They are less about now and more about the experience - the beauty of something or the complexity of something. They are topical, informative and many have a shelf life of years. Does that translate to the internet? Can you truly make a magazine come alive online - or is it only defined by the tactal feeling of paper?

Here what they say about themselves...

OpenZine began as an idea in 1993 to create a publication that was open to ideas from different perspectives and multiple sources. As it grew, readers would send in letters, articles & pictures that were often included in issues. OpenZine would later become one of the most acclaimed Zine’s of it’s time.

Back then, the heart of OpenZine was heavily based on layout and graphics.
Aside from its initial success, OpenZine hit hard times. Then later Kiki went off to college. Humby fell into deep depression thinking his life’s passion was dead. All was lost! OpenZine would never publish another issue, so he thought…

Seven years later, on a drive up to Tallahassee to visit Humby’s daughter, lighting hit! Print is dead but OpenZine can live again! In 2008 that original idea from 1993 advanced to allow everyone to create their very own version of OpenZine. Giving users all the possible tools they'll need to discover, create and socially share information.

I like the concept and agree that blogs can take you only so far, but for a few, what's needed is more expression - and more beauty. Below are example magazines available through OpenZine...

Metro Station is the best band ever, so you are wonder what are there name well Trace Cyrus is Miley Cyrus brother and Mason Musso is Michal Musso brother Blake Healy and Anthony Improgo famous for his YouTube show AntCam, Trace Cyrus is 19 years old and from tennessee Mason Musso is 19 and from Texas Blake Healy is 27 and from michigan and Anthony Improgo is 19 and from Seattle, They only have one album called "Metro Station"

HumbyZine's Review...Business success using social media is the future of business. Joel Postman lays out a clear path to keeping your customers happy and talking about your brand.

The Art of ZARUM...I am an Artist with an understanding of what my Art is and where it's destiny lies. It is, like anything worthwhile in my life, a passion which must be satisfied. My work is for sale and select commissions are considered. In my art, I address everyone who dares to see beauty in creation, anyone who allows themselves to be inspired about freedom, all who believe in tenderness, In this publication I want to share my thoughts, expressions, art, and more about the Artist.

I think the web has evolved to the point where we need to be more creative - move beyond single "entries" and begin thinking about creating something lasting. OpenZine looks like a place to do that - to step beyond the moment of "now".

So if you believe you need something more than a blog, then why not a OpenZine? The implementation seems straight forward and what you can create something "more". Good luck to OpenZine - Humby and Kiki - we need something more than blogs and this is just the place to do it.

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2/05/2009

Springwise | This week's brightest new business ideas

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, ideas, Springwise

Looking through the list below, I decided that we do live in both scary and exciting times. It's scary because we now know just how fragile our financial world really is - but exciting because out of chaos there's opportunity. And if you're looking for ideas - either to purchase or start a business - this list is a great place to start. Enjoy!

Online practice dispenses self-help physio advice
Lifestyle & leisure

Patients can often self-manage their recovery with the help of some
expert advice. That's the premise behind a new physiotherapy practice
that focuses purely on dispensing self-help guidance online.

More low-impact branding from Curb: snow tagging
Marketing & advertising

Curb -- the media agency that specializes in campaigns using natural
materials -- called to let us know that they'd added another novel
medium to their offerings: snow tagging.

Restaurant lets patrons reserve a specific table
Food & beverage

Madrid restaurant chain Wagaboo is following the lead of airlines
and theatres, allowing customers to pick and reserve a specific table
online.

Mini loans in minutes
Financial services

Technology makes the world move ever faster, and a British startup
aims to bring that velocity to the world of financing: Wonga offers tiny,
instant loans through online-only applications.

Touch-screen Coke machine for interactive vending
Food & beverage / Marketing & advertising

Developed in conjunction with Sapient, Samsung's uVending touch-
screen technology brings a whole new level of consumer interaction
to automatic vending.

Tuning into a personalized radio tribute
Lifestyle & leisure / Entertainment

Launched in November 2008 by two British radio presenters,
Fauxshow creates personalized radio shows that put a recipient in the
spotlight.

Media agency focuses on low-impact advertising
Marketing & advertising / Eco & sustainability

Curb creates branded sand sculptures of all sizes; burns patterns and
logos into wood using magnifying glasses; and offers a 'logrow'
service to cut logos as big as 30m wide into turf.

High-five the panda to connect online
Lifestyle & leisure

After meeting and greeting in the real world, users who want to
connect online can whip out their Poken keyrings and 'high five' them
to exchange details by RFID.

Wind-energy mapping tool now covers the world
Eco & sustainability

When we last wrote about the FirstLook mapping tool for new-energy
entrepreneurs, it covered only the United States. Now, the wind-
mapping service has expanded to cover the whole world.

ING application for G1 phone points to nearest ATM
Financial services / Telecom & mobile

ING's Wegwijzer tool for finding ATMs is the (Google) phone equivalent
of asking a human for directions and having them point to what you're
looking for. No map-reading necessary.

Bixi brings urban bike-sharing to North America
Transportation

Bixi follows the standard bike sharing principles: users take a bike
from a stand, ride it to where they want to go, and drop it at another
stand when they're done.

Music by Groove Armada, distribution by Bacardi
Entertainment / Marketing & advertising

Six weeks before Groove Armada will release their new EP through
traditional download stores, the first track appeared Bacardi B-Live,
where registered users can download it for free.

Blogger helps connect consumers and brands
Media & publishing / Marketing & advertising

Partner manufacturers will send samples of their latest products to
Brand Girl, who will review them on her blog, getting readers involved
through contests, giveaways, etc.

Favour-granting site helps friends help each other
Life hacks

People seeking a babysitter, job referral or help moving a couch, to
name just a few examples, can all use FriendlyFavor to ask for help,
as can people with favours to offer.

The nutritional low-down on fast-food restaurants
Food & beverage / Telecom & mobile

For each of the fast-food restaurants on Fatburgr, the site lists the
calories, fat, carbs and fibre content for each menu item, and users
can sort the list by any of those criteria.

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1/18/2009

Springwise | Business Trends Happening Right Now

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, ideas, Springwise

Wow - after looking through the list, I've got to say this may be the best list I've seen in a while. Interesting Ides from "getting your rock fantasy fix" to "the zero thrills hotel" - what a great list. It reminds me of the theories of "Blue Oceans" about product development - that you add/subtract/modify/multiply to products and services to create new products and services. See what you think. Are these companies competing or "creating"? Enjoy!

Matching would-be gardeners with arable land
Food & beverage / Eco & sustainability

A new campaign in the UK aims to match unused plots of land with
keen would-be gardeners, with the goal of using more arable land to
grow fresh fruit and veggies.

Music and coaching for runners
Lifestyle & leisure / Entertainment

Online services are popping up to offer music mixed with coaching,
for runners who need a bit of extra inspiration. For music-loving
entrepreneurs, it's a nice little niche with low start-up costs.

Service exchanges unwanted gift cards for cash
Financial services / Life hacks / Retail

GiftCardRescue buys and exchanges unwanted gift cards, allowing
consumers to trade them in for cash or gift cards from their favourite
stores.

Free Obama-themed coffee love for UK consumers
Food & beverage / Marketing & advertising

As the inauguration of Barack Obama draws near, global fascination
with the US president-elect is reaching a fever pitch. Across the Atlantic,
Krispy Kreme UK is joining in by giving out free Americano coffees.

A simpler way to make a doctor's appointment
Lifestyle & leisure / Marketing & advertising

ZocDoc offers New Yorkers a simple, fuss-free way to make dentist and
doctor appointments online, as well as the opportunity to rate and review
medical practitioners.

More mixers for babysitters & moms
Life hacks

Sitter-seeking parents and fully screened babysitters have the opportunity
to meet and mingle at Sitter Soirees networking events, which enable both
families and sitters to find a good match.

Reusable lunch box napkins
Eco & sustainability / Food & beverage

Founded by a mompreneur, Happikins are reusable napkins designed
to cut down on the waste associated with kids' school lunches. One to
launch locally?

A public incentive to stick to one's goals
Lifestyle & leisure / Non-profit, social cause

Pledgehammer gives resolution-makers a way to make a public
commitment to their goals. Users pledge to donate money to charity
should they fail to keep their promise.

Apple rolls out star-studded music tutorials
Education / Entertainment

Apple has added Artist Lessons to its popular GarageBand application,
with tutorials by performers such as Sting, Norah Jones and Sarah
McLachlan.

League lets amateurs join a rock band for 10 weeks
Entertainment / Lifestyle & leisure

League of Rock, a new music-based community, lets hobbyist rock
musicians join a band for 10-week sessions, without having to give up
their day jobs.

Preheatable dining stones keep dinner warm
Food & beverage

Preheated in the microwave and placed under a diner's plate, Dining
Stones' precision-cut granite stone discs keep meals steamy until the
last bite.

Online community offers DIY fashion for tweens
Fashion & beauty

A new community and design studio gives tweens an online canvas
along with a set of tools to create, share and buy their own T-shirt
designs.

Green-minded font uses less ink
Travel & tourism / Marketing & advertising

Eco-conscious consumers can now download a free font that uses up
to 20 percent less ink than traditional fonts, thus reducing consumption
of ink cartridges and toner.

Swiss bomb shelter becomes 'zero star' hotel
Food & beverage

A new Swiss hotel offers budget barracks-style accommodation in a
shared underground room. There are no windows or heating, but guests
will have a great story to tell ;-)

Appealing to gravanity of smokers who plan to quit
Life hacks

Pfizer is giving would-be quitters the chance to have their photo posted on the
Reuters or NASDAQ billboards in the heart of New York City's Times
Square, to share their no-smoking resolution with the world.

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1/18/2009

Critical Assumption | Back to the beginning

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... blogging, ideas

I've had this blog for ... [I can't really remember, will need to look at the archives] - and it started because like most blogs, a way to organize my thoughts and interests. What I've noticed is that over the past year, I've meandered from topic to topic - rather than apply focus to the posts. It's time to come back and focus - so, it's back to basics and focus.

Here's the topics I will focus on going forward...

Business Trends and Ideas - I like seeing what others are doing in the market and new/emerging business trends. This is a very broad category, but it's really more about people starting their own business, rather than "big" business trying something new. Examples including Springwise and the weekly newsletter they put out. I like re-posting it, first, it's got a nice look - but it also concise with a very broad stroke across lots of business types and geographies. So, more trendspotting and my personal comments around these new trends and ideas.
Emerging Technology Services - my day job is within the technology world, so I see lots of "new" models to delivery technology services. These include such topics as Software-as-a-Service - but also includes the underlying business purpose of these technology services. Again, this is a broad category - but not as big as just "technology" - because there is plenty of tech that I could care less about.
And Finally...a dove tail topic to the two preceding is the World of "Service" management and marketing. This will have a technology focus, but possibly could cross over into other industries - but expect it to be about technology service management/marketing - once again, that's what I do for a paycheck and feel I've got something to say on the topic [which is why you put yourself out there in the first place - because you have something to say].

This blog is called "Critical Assumption" and the tag line is "The difference between flying in blue sky or hitting rock bottom" - because it is our assumptions that make the difference between success and failure. All the research in the world, getting all the smartest people in a single room, having lots of money - none of those things are guarantee success - they are only assumptions of success. Our world is currently being turned upside down - what we believed was "true" may not be true. We are navigating in uncharted water right now - the "facts" that drove our decisions [based upon our assumptions] are really not facts at all.

2009 is going to be an exciting year - with the possibility of changing our view and therefore our assumptions.

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1/07/2009

Springwise | Our picks for 10 industries, plus your faves

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, ideas, Springwise

This is an interesting look at some of the top trends out there right now, by taking a look back at 2008. You gotta love Springwise for their dedicated to bringing up the best of the best ideas and trends. Thanks!

10 x 10 | OUR SELECTION OF TOP 10 IDEAS FOR 10 INDUSTRIES

This week we're sharing an overview of the best new business ideas we covered
over the last 12 months. These innovative concepts will continue to provide
entrepreneurs with plenty of inspiration and opportunities in 2009, whether by
partnering with one of the featured businesses, bringing a concept to local
markets, or being inspired to add similar offerings to an existing brand.

Check out our top 10 picks for 10 industries, from food & beverage to
marketing & advertising >>

YOUR FAVES | TEN MOST VIEWED IDEAS ON SPRINGWISE IN 2008

MOST RECENT | FIVE NEW VENTURES FEATURED THIS WEEK

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12/26/2008

Change | Maybe it's time for us think differently

Posted by amckinnis | tags..... business, ideas

I was presented with a link this morning with Twitter, it was to an OpEd page on the NY Times and I read the following paragraph...

"To top it off, we’ve fallen into a trend of diverting and rewarding the best of our collective I.Q. to people doing financial engineering rather than real engineering. These rocket scientists and engineers were designing complex financial instruments to make money out of money — rather than designing cars, phones, computers, teaching tools, Internet programs and medical equipment that could improve the lives and productivity of millions."

From the NY Times Op Ed Page - by By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

It's interesting reading this statement, because I've wondered the same thing from time to time. Why is it that the brightest people, those that could do the most good, that have the best "minds" - or even those with "not so great" minds choose their path. Is it all about money? Because there's plenty of money within the world that's not financial related. I don't know, but it's interesting - maybe this new round of problems will change some minds - move people in a different direction.

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