Weird and Whacky Business Ideas 2008

by Ann Andrews CSP

Did you hear about the restaurant in Japan who dealt with massive competition by having two monkey's wait on tables. The monkeys wear little waiter's jackets and have proved such a huge success that for the two hours the monkeys are allowed to work (government regulations) the restaurant is BUZZING and bookings flow in.

A German restaurant also came up with a point of difference. They use only blind waiters and waitresses; the restaurant is kept in total darkness and customers are treated to a food experience; they are encouraged to taste the food rather than see it. Saves on power too.

In Germany also, people are lining up to rent farm animals to help with the gardening as part of a new green scheme. Werner Kiwitt, who runs an ecological park in Schleswig-Holstein, is offering sheep to cut the grass and ducks to eat the slugs. He said: "You get free fertiliser provided by the animals as well, so it's not a bad deal." He was getting orders from all over the country after a plague of slugs nationwide following recent heavy rains and at NZ$60 per duck, that's not a bad little business.

How about turning your painting skiils into a spot of gourd painting. Apparently this is big in America. Go to www.paintingsbyhellen.com and see how this artist has turned painting gourds into an absolute art form - all gourds are for sale.

Or if you are looking for a new dinner set, what about purchasing your from www.faerumnesia - all products are lovingly made from cow dung.

If you are a safety conscious person, how about the car safety belt that won't let your car move at more than 10k per hour unless everyone is belted-in. www.thesmartbelt.com

Or the toilet that promises to be odour free. www.odorlesstoilets.com

And if you want to buy a gift for that person who has everything, how about a nice mouse hand warmer. www.igmproducts.com

Have a very, MERRY Christmas break.

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Filed under Business Growth and posted on 04 February 2009