What would you do? What do you think would be successful in this economy?

8/22/2011 9:50:27 AM

I would like to start my own full scale athletic training and rehab facility. Complete with full track, football field, baseball field, soccer field, basketball gym, gymnastics and wrestling gym, indoor pool and diving, and a regular full service gym with free weights and cardio. I would be able to cater to general physical therapy patients on up through putting on speed , agility, and strength clinics for athletes from high school and college to offseason workout for professionals.



With the right funding, staffing, and location, I believe it could be successful.




[Edited on August 22, 2011 at 9:57 AM. Reason : edit]

8/22/2011 9:56:34 AM

A bed and breakfast with an italian bakery attachment on the side that sells tiramisu, cannolis, and panna cotta

8/22/2011 10:00:37 AM

i'd start a company doing home additions, cause nobody is buying new homes. they're just adding on to what they got.

8/22/2011 10:14:32 AM

I would like to open a bar with a 2 way mirror floor so the bar attendies could look at my performance shop below with dueling dynos and a drag race simulation.

[Edited on August 22, 2011 at 10:17 AM. Reason : .]

8/22/2011 10:17:04 AM

A garage that restores and retrofits cars built in the last 20-25 years for people that don't want to deal with all the chunky styling, overweight designs and electronic nannies that come with most new cars available today.

8/22/2011 10:17:06 AM

I'm starting my own business right now. I'm planning on using tww to help me with product testing once I get things going


hope you like ice cream

8/22/2011 10:24:17 AM

cornbread hotdog buns

8/22/2011 10:25:09 AM

Already started my own law firm that's going pretty well.

If I did anything different it would be a wine/specialty cocktail/tapas bar (not one of the three...but all three together). I've managed a wine bar and I've helped open up and/or consulted on several other bars (putting together drink menus/wine lists, created cocktail lists, designed bar setup, etc.). I say tapas because the kitchen is the one area I haven't had a ton of experience in and I don't want to run a large restaurant. I know enough chefs around town that could easily run a small kitchen and I don't like high labor costs.

Those are the only two good things I'm good at.

8/22/2011 10:36:01 AM

a cell phone battery that charged by movement

8/22/2011 10:38:03 AM

Very tasteful porn studio specializing in only the highest quality talent with immaculate production value.

Or a commercial talent agency specializing in local car commercials that didn't look like they were shot for $50 with a camera from 1993 held by someone with Parkinsons.

Those are the only two good things I'm good at.

8/22/2011 10:40:34 AM

This guy just graduated and is trying to be an entrepreneur

I think he just likes writing blogs

http://thegwo.blogspot.com/

8/22/2011 10:40:41 AM

1 - Job-shadow GeniuSxBoY
2 - Do the exact opposite
3 - ???????????
4 - Profit

[Edited on August 22, 2011 at 11:13 AM. Reason : ]

8/22/2011 11:11:13 AM

Im going to get some rich guy to put me in his will, then hire a hitman to knock him off after I force some idiot to rob a bank for me so I can pay the hitman.

Oh wait...

8/22/2011 11:22:25 AM

I'm not letting you steal my idea.

8/22/2011 11:23:32 AM

I'd like to start a pizza "restaurant" in Virginia. I plan to stand out from the crowd by having beer. Success!

8/22/2011 11:27:30 AM

Something involving alcohol. Alcohol will always be successful in any economy. If I had the chemistry knowledge or the education of a chemical engineer, I would start a local brewery, using locally grown ingredients. With the fluctuation in food prices, and the fact that i've been hearing predictions of food contamination being the next problem for us in this recession, I think this business would be a great idea if you've got the knowledge.

8/24/2011 12:29:34 AM

I'd create a website where users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information. Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature. They can also create and join interest groups and "like pages," some of which are maintained by organizations as a means of advertising.

8/24/2011 12:38:05 AM

Only Gr3g Hy3r could give us the internet marketing tools we need to bring in customers.

8/24/2011 12:43:48 AM

i'd cultivate success in outside sales and relay my hard-hitting insider analysis to users of tww

8/24/2011 12:56:01 AM

I'd start a wrestling promotion.

It's what I know.

8/24/2011 12:56:27 AM

My own Kayaking/bike/snorkeling/scuba/sail shop.

With as many tourist yes. Plus I'd get to do this everyday.

8/24/2011 1:04:11 AM

bakery/ice cream shop + genetic counseling practice


because everyone loves baked goods and ice cream when they're really sad or wanting to celebrate

8/24/2011 1:10:31 AM

A salvage yard. No one's going to be buying too many new cars. People will be holding on to their old ones and repairing them with recycled parts.

8/24/2011 1:28:47 AM

I'd sell really fucking good Chicken drizzled with honey for like $20 with a couple sides and a drink.

8/24/2011 1:35:24 AM

medicinal marijuana i don't think there exists an economic climate so bad people wouldn't buy weed

8/24/2011 1:42:21 AM

Garage door repair and installation. I just like doing it...and there are like a million garage doors in and around the raleigh area

8/24/2011 8:51:21 AM

I would open a night club for women to dance on a stage while men come in and sit down to watch. I would provide a VIP area for those women that like to dance in a more private setting. Since this will be a VIP section I will have furniture that is much more comfortable for the men that chose to become VIPs.

I do agree with the alcohol statement, though at my night club I will not sell alcohol. I will instead let customers bring in what ever beer they prefer. I will even hold that beer for them and keep it icy cold. I will charge a small fee though for this service to help pay for the refrigeration and staff that I will require to monitor the beer.

8/24/2011 9:08:32 AM

I would do something that had reasonable revenue prospects and didn't require a retarded amount of capital like everything else in this thread.

8/24/2011 9:09:41 AM

Quote :

"I would do something that had reasonable revenue prospects and didn't require a retarded amount of capital like everything else in this thread."

Food Truck!!

8/24/2011 9:12:09 AM

i would start a cleaning business because it has reasonable revenue prospects and doesn't require a retarded amount of capital like everything else in this thread


oh wait...

8/24/2011 9:21:05 AM

Quote :

"Did I tell you I'm gonna open my own gay bar when I get back home? It's gonna be called The Golden Stream, and it's gonna be like this big urinal, right? And there's gonna be this two-way mirror that everybody pisses against. That way when you're sitting at the bar having drinks, there's like all these big fucking giant cocks just pissing right at you.""

8/24/2011 9:48:49 AM

I'm in the start-up phase of a business right now. It's a pretty unique concept, but it should do well even in this economy. We've been written about a few times at NCSU and are going to be featured in some Entrepreneurship Initiative publications (http://ei.ncsu.edu/).

http://www.ncsu.edu/features/2010/11/strumming-up-business/
http://www.leivastrings.com (please excuse the shitty web page...I'm redoing it)

We're at the fundraising step right now and approaching a bunch of VC's and Angel groups, but everybody seems to want Bio, Tech, or BioTech businesses to invest in.

I'm going to be asking TWW for some poll skewing favors in a few months, so hopefully you guys can help.

In a nutshell, multi-colored strings for guitars and other stringed instruments depicting the 7 natural notes (A thru G) and colored sheet music to correspond with the strings.

Oh...and a cool idea would be a Roomba-esque automatic dog walker that walks your dog around the neighborhood and picks up poop too.

[Edited on August 24, 2011 at 10:20 AM. Reason : ]

8/24/2011 9:58:38 AM

I'd open up a chain of Chair/Lunch/Dinners across the street from all Bed and Breakfasts. You gotta have somewhere to go after breakfast and before bedtime.

8/24/2011 10:45:36 AM

i really think if tww were to try we could out funny college humor.

8/24/2011 11:05:15 AM

Quote :

"A garage that restores and retrofits cars built in the last 20-25 years for people that don't want to deal with all the chunky styling, overweight designs and electronic nannies that come with most new cars available today."

This would be cool.

8/24/2011 11:10:02 AM

I'd move some place like CA or CO and start growing weed (and a bunch of garden veggies). Sell, smoke, troll

8/24/2011 11:12:12 AM

Quote :

""Did I tell you I'm gonna open my own voyeur bar when I get back home? It's gonna be called "What's up, peeps" And there's gonna be this two-way mirror that everybody dances on. That way when you're sitting at the bar having drinks downstairs, you can see up the skirts of all the girls dancing."""

8/24/2011 11:35:03 AM

i started a commercial construction business 2 years ago. it has been very challenging, but we are starting to see our efforts pay off.

8/24/2011 11:36:34 AM

How many of you guys have been in a broke down car and you couldn't get it fixed because the shop was closed and/or the parts store was closed?

Nevermore! I'd make a wal-mart style car-part warehouse that offers 24 hour car-repair. We'd have the monopoly between 9pm and 3am. We wouldn't have to rely on auto part stores to get our parts, so we'd be able to fix virtually every car, quick and fast. It'll be a 1-stop shop like wal-mart that has to do with every thing about cars. We'd have custom designers to help you with paint design, we'll have upholsters to reupholster, and even fix your busted windshield!

[Edited on August 24, 2011 at 11:48 AM. Reason : .]

8/24/2011 11:47:45 AM

I screen print t-shirts and other items for a hobby and for a little extra money. I'm actually thinking about doing it more seriously.

8/24/2011 11:57:36 AM

TKE Teg....i want to do that as well. My first thought revolved around a 96 or older Bronco, but basically making it new, and there are tons of other examples.

Genious,...how would you not have to rely on auto parts stores? there is no way you could have every part for every car so that you could fix it on the spot at 3 am at every location. That would be tremendous overhead. and a tremendously large building.

[Edited on August 24, 2011 at 2:49 PM. Reason : asd]

8/24/2011 2:47:47 PM

8/24/2011 2:51:02 PM

Quote :

"How many of you guys have been in a broke down car and you couldn't get it fixed because the shop was closed and/or the parts store was closed? Nevermore! I'd make a wal-mart style car-part warehouse that offers 24 hour car-repair. We'd have the monopoly between 9pm and 3am. We wouldn't have to rely on auto part stores to get our parts, so we'd be able to fix virtually every car, quick and fast. It'll be a 1-stop shop like wal-mart that has to do with every thing about cars. We'd have custom designers to help you with paint design, we'll have upholsters to reupholster, and even fix your busted windshield! "

Like Pep Boys, like AAA, or like a car repair shop?

I would get a bare-bones location, have a major website and advertising and masquerade like it was actually bigger, and get most of the revenue from desperate people paying you to do simple repairs on the road.

8/24/2011 3:06:15 PM

Quote :

"Genious,...how would you not have to rely on auto parts stores? there is no way you could have every part for every car so that you could fix it on the spot at 3 am at every location. That would be tremendous overhead. and a tremendously large building"

Why not? They have 3-D printers now

8/24/2011 3:58:49 PM

you can use a 3D printer to create usable tires, batteries, and waterpumps for every car on the road?

8/24/2011 4:08:08 PM

Hey if they can do it on Star Trek... Okay yeah it might be a while.

8/24/2011 4:12:20 PM

I realize this thread is about starting your own business....which I have not done. Hear me out, maybe I can offer some insight.

I am in outside sales, which is currently salary+commission, but will move into straight commission starting at the beginning of July 2012. I have been in this position since July 2009. I have competition from several direct manufacturing sales reps, large distributors, and local distributors. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each:

Direct Advantages: Immediate knowledge of new technology, no middle man mark up, one shipping bill (paid by manufacturer or buyer of goods), access to larger range of non-commodity items, control inventory, have access to many distributors that can effectively sell their goods which increases market share, and set prices of commodity they manufacture.

Direct disadvantages: Typically have 1-3 sales reps per region (i.e. southeast, mid-atlantic, northeast, etc.) limiting the number of accounts they can successfully manage/cold-call, lack physical customer service or physical technical service available to or affordable for smaller users or altogether, are sometimes not trustworthy because they will go in behind their distributors that sell their commodity to one account in large quantities (i.e. they missed a big account, and have found out about it through a distributor selling their particular product) which leads to the distributor not selling their product anymore, have too many distributors selling the product ultimately driving the set price down through deviations, possibly rely on distributors to actually sell the product, and competition from other direct sources.

Large distributor advantages: have access to other commodities that go hand in hand with other manufacturers (poor example- grocery stores sell milk as well as cereal), get direct pricing, many locations regionally or nationally easing the shipping burden of buyers with multiple locations, personal service either customer or technical, many sales reps that are able to cover a broader territory, access to multiple manufacturers of the same commodity allowing to keep prices in check, service programs that smaller companies can't offer and direct providers can't match in price or value, and experts of many many commodities as opposed to one or a few.

Large distributor disadvantages: smaller local distributors creating price wars (think Michael Scott Paper Co vs Dunder-Mifflin), direct mfg's going in behind and stealing business, limited access to all of the mfg's (you won't find Harris Teeter name brands in Food Lion and visa versa), can't truly set prices because it's based on both supply and demand, territory management, and tough growth prospects in slower economies (this is true for direct as well really)

Local distributor advantages: Typically a good ol' boy setting where the seller and the buyer know each other for years (this does happen at all levels, but mostly at the local level), local folks are right down the street and can be used in emergencies, if the local guy buys at high enough volumes then there is no shipping charge to the end user, and access to both direct mfg's and large distributors.

Local distributor disadvantages: easily beaten in price, array of commodities, array of technology, lack of trained staff, low cash flow, etc etc etc.

This is what I have noticed in my six months, I am sure there are plenty more that need mentioning. The way I am setting myself apart as a sales person is this: I go after the big accounts right now while I am new. The big accounts, if I land them, will take care of me while I am new and building a customer base. The money made off of those allows me to focus free time on smaller accounts that get me higher margins. I build up big accounts, I would like to have 5-10 of these, then get 20-30 medium accounts. If I lose 1 or 2 big accounts, the 20-30 medium accounts keep me afloat while I go after new big accounts. I don't really waste time on small accounts simply because they basically pay for breakfast or something really small.

I will say this, if you can't get a big account in the first 6-8 months (assuming you have cash flow that you can ride this long) you could be in a world of trouble. If you can get one, it will really make going after the others a lot more enjoyable and less stressful. It's simply just very exhausting wasting any time on anything other than big accounts in the very beginning. You work just as hard on the medium sized accounts and see 1/3 to 1/36 of the money in my situation.

If you have any other questions, you can PM me. I hope this helps in the slightest!

8/24/2011 4:34:50 PM

I'd open a full production sail loft in Annapolis. I currently am the lead sail consultant/sales rep/marketer/etc at one here, but it's owned by a completely incompetent business man. As m any locals put it, this place is the most successful business failure ever. I'm hamstrung by his policies, and as such probably lose 75% of the sales I could make if I ran it myself.

He's very much the cut-his-own-nose off kind of guy.

8/24/2011 4:46:48 PM

I'd get additional pilot ratings and open up a sky taxi service that takes people to smaller airports using small single engine planes. Most people don't realize how many tiny airfields there are all over the place that cater to general aviation but are way too small for commercial airliners.

8/24/2011 5:14:29 PM