Hi,

What follows is a surprise gift for:
Ron Ruiz (if he hasn't reported it already),
Don Alm (if he haven't tried something like this in his home town)
Rick Smith (for his super-guerrilla product development),
Dien Rice (to remind him that super fast profit models are on the open shelves, not behind closed doors),
Mark Nolan (who was fascinated by a sellable book with blank pages).
Gordon Alexander (his "singing telegram" business illustrates the most powerfil business principle: "nothing is always something".

Enjoy.

Simon
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Invisible Jim Proves That
Even Nothing Can Sell

By CASSELL BRYAN-LOW
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ever wondered how to make money out of thin air?
Meet "Invisible Jim," the toy no one can see. As Jim's box describes
him, he is "completely devoid of darting eyes" and boasts non-gripping
hands "as not seen on TV." And of course, "camouflage suit sold
separately."
Dreamed up by a reclusive Australian designer, the non-doll is being
distributed by Hurst Marler Ltd. in the United Kingdom (not
"What-if-Atlas-got-an-itchy-bum" Corp., as detailed on the box). Pitched as
an alternative greeting card, the item's retail price is about $3. The
packaging -- printed cardboard wrapped in a clear plastic cover -- costs about 10 cents to make.
Of course, the notion of paying something for nothing has "taken a
minute to catch the imagination," says Christopher Marler, head of Hurst
Marler, and also purveyor of the "Misfortune Cookie," which holds frank messages such as: "You are not a hottie." Since introducing the toy late
last year, the company has fielded calls from customers complaining the
doll was missing from their box. But interest recently has taken off, says
Mr. Marler, as increased media attention has helped improve Invisible Jim's
visibility.
In the U.S., the toy is being distributed by New York wholesaler
Streamline Inc. to novelty gift shops nationwide. Invisible Jim is set to
appear, or not, at U.S. gift shows this summer.