It's Winter in Australia. (In six months or less, it will be Winter in the US and Europe and the UK.)

And in this week's local paper - June 12 edition - there are seven people selling firewood. In the May 8 edition there are only two firewood sellers. In the April 10 edition there is one. And before that there are none.

Previously, I've mentioned how the number of cleaners' ads drop off in the cooler months and pick up in the warmer, 'spring cleaning' months.

The firewood sellers and the cleaners are two examples of trends that are around us every day and which repeat year after year after year.

There is no reason why a person - maybe you - couldn't be a cleaner in the Spring and Summer and sell firewood in the Fall (Autumn) and Winter.

And if that doesn't float your boat, pick one of the other yearly trends to be a part of...

July 4, Christmas, Easter, Passover, Ramadhan, Hannuka, Queens Birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Secretary's Day, Red Nose Day, Walpurgisnacht, Halloween, Equinox, Solstice, SuchAndSuch Day or Week, etc., etc., etc.

And what about locally?

Surely there are yearly goings on in your suburb or city. Or a suburb or city you know of.

Look at Roswell. Classic example of sponging off of an event.

Okay, so we all can't have alien space craft maybe crash in our backyard. But hey, surely there is something in your area.

And if not, remember what the seasons bring... firewood and cleaning are only two small examples. There are plenty of others.

Do a bit of thinking. Sit down with a pen and paper and figure out what people will most likely be buying in the months ahead.

Whatever it is, get hold of some NOW while people do not want it (while demand is low) and hold on to it for a few months until people do want it (when demand is high). Or find a source NOW and get ready to market when the time is right.

Michael Ross.


The time is right for success.