Behind the News: Where Economics Meets People. Last Updated Often at the workshops, groups, consultations, planning sessions that we are involved with, we get asked the same kind of questions by small business people, clients and others. Generally these questions are either related to specific advice regarding an area of our expertise (for example, where should I locate my business?) or we are asked for our opinion on how economic issues, policies and political ideas etc. effect people. (For example, how does globalisation effect regional businesses or what difference will the recent industrial relations changes make to small business? ) Occasionally we actually get the time to put a pen to paper regarding these frequently asked questions and sometimes we just feel like having a rant! Current topics: Trend spotting If you are inspired by watching cutting-edge business trends, have a look at www.trendwatching.com. There is a wealth of information about trends large and small, how consumers are changing and creating whole new categories of in-demand goods and services, and how small businesses around the world are capitalising on them. Trendwatching has a companion site which is all about those niche small businesses around the world – the kind of things that makes you think “What a great idea, will they really make a dollar out of that?”. That site is www.springwise.com and they keep up to date by using a global network of springspotters – join up and let them know if you see something innovative! Here's a couple of ideas we spotted and submitted recently.
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For A$199 members of Australia's Wine Society cooperative can buy a 'Home Education Kit .. a great way for you to learn about with up to 9 of your friends or colleagues in the comfort of your home or office'. The kit includes a case of 12 bottles of wine 'individually wrapped in brown paper' (how thoughtful), instructions on how to host a blind tasting as well as booklets, cups and even pencils for participants and notes for the host. Sounds like 'How to Host a Murder' but with even more alcohol ... The kit helps turn in wine into an experience, looking at the role wine plays in our lives rather than just the taste of what’s in the bottle. On a similar theme, a dance studio in Canberra advertises by selling one of the reasons we dance rather than by selling us the technical skills to not trip over our partners. The tag line is ‘Fall in Love Again’ - with not a word about the technical competence of the instructors. Does that ring any bells for your business? What are your customers actually buying from you? Customised beer? Take the humble slab, for example. Despite our huge appetite for beer, the only part of the national market that's growing is the premium end. Overall we are drinking less, but spending more while we do. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on January 6 2006 that: And there is even a connection between premium and customised beers. There has been a bit of reporting lately about a company called Brewtopia, conceived by two IT guys on a golf course. The company's own brew, Blowfly, was designed through its online forums and Brewtopia allows clients to customise their own beer by designing labels and choosing packaging online. According to the Sydney Morning Herald on 3 Feb 2006 Brewtopia now has more than 40,000 customers in over 46 countries. Brewtopia claims to be "the only beer company built by the people for the people," and planned to list on the Newcastle Stock Exchange in March. It gives a whole new meaning to the idea of 'floating' on the stock exchange.... See www.brewtopia.com.au |
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