Valentines Day Money Ideas?

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Tyronewilliams

Hello everyone, im Tyrone Williams and im new here.

Valentines Day is this Saturday and I don't have a Valentine but I would like to make some money?.. Does anyone have any ideas how to make some money on this day? Im pretty sure I can do just about anything.

Hi Tyrone,

Don gave you some good ideas... Selling flowers has to be a winner in the build-up to Valentine's Day, and it's a good "cash in hand" business!

Anyway, I got my brain gear box in motion, to see what I could come up with...

One interesting idea, I thought of, is - what about the SINGLE PEOPLE on Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is a day that many single people love to hate. We've all been there at some point... It's a day when you feel like you're "missing out," and nobody cares about you, either - not even the advertisers! All the focus is on those blasted "lovey dovey" couples!

So, what could you do for this neglected group - single people, on Valentine's Day?

One idea could be to organize and throw a Valentine's Day singles party! That is, a party for singles only (probably in a specific age range), where people would pay to enter. You'd have to keep track of the genders of those who bought tickets, so the male to female ratio would be around half/half.

Of course, it's probably too late for this year, but I do think it is a viable idea. Realistically, you would want a minimum of a month to promote it (and two months would be even better, to make sure you get the word out). However, you could still do it next year...

If I were doing it, I would organize it in conjunction with an existing venue, and we'd share in the profits somehow. They would be in charge of the food and beverages, and I (you) could be in charge of the marketing/promoting. I'd probably send out a few early media releases, to give news outlets a different "angle" to write or talk about in relation to Valentine's Day.

If I were a single person, I would certainly consider going to a fun "singles night" - rather than moping at home watching a stupid DVD or YouTube videos, while slowly eating a big tub of chocolate ice cream, feeling sorry for myself, and being at risk of drunkenly calling my old girlfriend who I had the bad breakup with last year...

Best wishes!

Dien

OK.....I dug this out of my Archives. Maybe it will give someone some motivation;

A guy I knew asked if I knew a way to make some "quick bux". (Same as Tyrone) He worked construction labor and I knew he had NO sales experience however.....he did NOT want to do any Manual Labor stuff (although he could have knocked on doors offering to take stuff to the dump for a fee)

So.....I had just come from a visit to our local Dollar Store and I noticed the HUGE selection of Valentine's Day Balloons (it was 2 days b4 Feb 14, same as today) So....I told him to hop into his Van and drive me over to the Dollar Store.

We went in and bought 20 "Heart" Balloons for a buck ea.....put them in the van and went over to my Copy Place and I asked Monica if she could make me up 2 - 11x17 Posters that said; "VALENTINE DAY BALLOONS FOR YOUR SWEETIE.....$5" in big letters. She printed it out on heavy card stock and drove over to the Town Post Office.....parked the van across the street and grabbed 10 balloons each and went and stood in front of the PO....placing the signs where they could be seen.

Folks were walking in and one guy stopped...looked at the sign...looked at the balloons and hand me a fiver and chose a balloon. Others also stopped on their way out and BOUGHT a balloon for a fin.

Windup....in about an hour all 20 were sold.....so, we went back to the Dollar Store for another "$20 investment". We were "netting" $80 per load and managed to get 6 loads of 20 ($480 cash) When we went back the next day, a postal employee gave us a hassle about "permission". I simply pointed to the "HomeLess Guy" sitting on the sidewalk with a piece of carboard that said; "ANYTHING WILL HELP....GOD BLESS" and asked if HE had a permit to "Solicit Funds" from Postal Patrons.

And....when I whipped out my Smart-Phone and aimed it at her and told her the guy with me AND I.....were Vets.....looking to raise a few bucks for our families.....she backed off.....gave me a "funny" look and went back inside.

So.....in 2 & 1/2 days.....we netted a little over $1,800 for our efforts.

NOW.....what to do next? My guy LOVED the idea of selling balloons so.... down the block from the PO was a Bakery owned by an individual (Tony) and not a franchise.

When the PO closed at noon on Valentin's Day we still had a few balloons left so.....I told my guy to follow me. We walked into the bakery ....found Tony and I held up FOUR (4) balloons in one hand and told Tony, "Hey Tony! I have a way for you to get MORE money for your Birthday Cakes and "Sell Them Faster"!

He responded with; "How's that?" I told him to offer 4 Balloons with each B'day Cake for $16 extra ($4 per balloon) I said I thought the Balloons would ADD to the pleasure of anyone buying a B'Day Cake and.....I would sell the 4 balloons to him for $2 ea.....so he'd make an additional $8 per Cake.

He looked at me....rubbed his chin.....looked at the Balloons.....rubbed his chin some more.....then.....said...."LET'S DO IT....BUT.....I'd like to offer a Choice so, can you make up some batches of 4 with different types?

"Absolutely!" was my response. I told Tony we'd be back tomorrow with 5 different batches.

So.....thus was started a business from scratch. There were 4 independent bakeries in town and 4 other in nearby towns for a total of 8.

So.....instead of buying balloons from Dollar Tree.....I took my guy over to a "Welding Supply" store where we found we could RENT "Helium Tanks" and Fill Our Own balloons.

We then found a balloon supplier online where the cost of each balloon dropped fro $1 ea to 20cents each meaning the NET would now be $1.80 per balloon.

My guy went about creating a "Balloon Route" AND.....even got into "BALLOON EXTRAVAGANZAS" for Weddings and Special Parties.

He moved to a larger city AND.....he will never forget the time he and I were standing in front of the PostOffice selling "Valentine's Day BALLOONS"!

Thanks for letting me "pull this off one of my Memory Hooks"!

Don Alm......who gotten GREAT satisfaction out of helping others earn money.

PS....the SowPub software only allows Photos up to 97kb. And if anyone would like to see a picture of ME....standing next to the "Balloon Delivery Van" with a bunch of Balloons.....send me an email to [email protected]

Might be an opportunity to make some extra cash. Prank call old girlfriends. Something like one of these calls: http://www.prankowl.com/

Regards,
Steve

OK.....it's Friday the day b4 VD. Here's what I told two of my "young students";

ALL.....I mean EVERY Florist in EVERY town in the country is "running their buns off" delivering flowers HOWEVER.....the florists that do not have a Mobilized Website are MISSING .....MANY orders for flowers!

Hey! Whether you believe it or not....we are in the MOBILE AGE! In my small town there are 5 florists. I'll bet only 1 is Mobilized.

So.....I happen to have a piece of software I bought from Dave Cisneros that can present an image of ......what their website looks like now and.....what it will look like when I "Mobilize" it.

So.....next Tuesday (Monday is a holiday).....I....and my "students" will be walking into florist's stores with our phones in hand.....asking to see the Owner (When asked "Why?"....we respond with, "to show him why he missed a lot of business on Val Day and why he won't have to miss any more!")

The owner comes out....I greet him and say, "I'd like to show you what your business looks like on a mobile phone!" as I whip out my phone that is already to show my Before and After image.

I point to the B4 image and say; "Here's what consumers saw on their phones last week!"

Then I say; "The image on the right is what they COULD have seen and..... what they CAN see on future holidays.....if you agree to let me make a "Mobilized Site" for you!"

I then WAIT.....PATIENTLY....for his response (first one who speaks now, loses!) His response will usually be, "OK...How Much?"

AND.....instead of quoting a price NOW.....I want "MORE CONVICTION" to having little ol' ME make a mobilized site for him so....I say: "Do you realize that you probably lost 10 to 30 flower orders or more last week because
"Phone Users" saw THIS (point to image on left)???????? (wait for response)

Whatever his response is I then say; "However.....Mother's Day, Father's Day and other Holidays are coming up. Do YOU....REALLY want to miss the orders you COULD get from "MOBILE Phone People"?

His response now.....if not Totally to pay you ANY AMOUNT so he doesn't have to MISS Future "Mobile" orders.....should be: "Yup....let's do it!" if not, reach out your hand....thank him for his time and LEAVE....this guy's either Broke or and Idiot!

Anyways.....thanks again Dien for having this Forum where "Real Entroopreneers (aka Doers) can toss in their "On The Field of Battle" experiences.

Don Alm......long-time Doer

Don, thanks for your bouquet of great ideas!

So, when the savvy florist takes you up on the offer, how do you create this mobile page?

What's the missing step here?

You subbing out the job on Fiverr or to a local techie, or ... ?

Thanks!

The "missing step" is 10 or 20 different WSO's or other programs that offer "Mobile Site CREATOR" programs (I like WILLR's or Quentin Brown's stuff)

HEY! Understand the "Basics of Sales".....YA GOTTA GIT AN ORDER.... THEN...FIGURE OUT HOW TO FULFILL iT.....and if you can't, refund!

"NOTHING MOVES.....UNTIL SOMETHING IS SOLD!!!!!!!"

I'll never forget an "Inventor" group I belonged to in Chgo. Every Thurs eve we met and discussed "Inventions and Invention Marketing".

Here were about 50 people (guys and gals) who had either gotten a patent or were "thinking" about getting one and.....this one guy tells us about this new "tool" he got a patent for and.....his primary target to sell to was.... SEARS!

So.....he goes thru "the channels"...gets his Patent (after about $7,000 outofpocket" for Lawyer fees).....gets a meeting with Sears and.....
Waits.....and Waits....and Waits....to hear from them whether they're going to buy his "Patent"!

So.....wind up is....Sears goes out and has one of their suppliers create a similar tool.....and puts it on the market....and....the guy with the "patent" sues and.....10 yrs later....he gets a "settlement".

Whoopee Fizz! The "settlement" probably covered his attorney fees.

So.....from this I learned that....regarding "NEW" products or services....
"THE FIRSTEST with THE MOSTEST" always wins!

Anyways.....there MANY places to find "Mobile Creation software".....again, the MAIN THING IS.....YA GOTTA SELL IT FIRST!

You do this by "making a MOCKUP of prospect's existing site...showing how it looks on a phone.....then....show how it COULD look....IF they pay YOU.

Geez Louise.....we are IN the "Mobile Age".....the best way to get orders is to GO VISIT biznesses who've already spent money for a website BUT....did not Mobilize it!.....and....the best way I know is simply to walk in...find the person who writes the checks.....show him how YOU can help him reach potential customers/clients/patients.....quote your price and....if he doesn't go ......walk away!

DON'T .....take advice from those who "supposedly"sell Programs or Reports telling you to charge $97 or $197 or $297 for Mobilizing existing websites, CHARGE $497 AND MORE!

Heck....I know 3 guys who ask for AND GET....$1,297 and up to mobilize sites!

Again.....thanks for allowing me to toss in some of my experiences.

Don Alm

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Steve MacLellan

Might be an opportunity to make some extra cash. Prank call old girlfriends. Something like one of these calls: http://www.prankowl.com/

Thanks Steve,

Wow, what a crazy site...!

It reminds me of a crazy business I wrote about once before...

Sending dead flowers!

Here's the original post... with info I got out of a 1987 newspaper...

http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=30078

-----
14 February 1987
St. Petersburg Times

Flowers with a twist

NEW YORK - It's the thought that counts, and sending an ex-lover a box of dead flowers for Valentine's Day says it all.

Manhattan entrepreneurs Bill Verderosa and Mark McConnell on Friday credited a lot of trampled feelings for a recent boom in their unusual business, Drop Dead Flowers.

Operators of the 6-month-old venture deliver a black lacquered box of very dead flowers, replete with dirt, taken from the dumpsters of local cemeteries, and wrap it all in a purple bow - all for $37.50.
-----

I did some more "sleuthing"... Here is a website which is doing this weird business today...

http://thepayback.com/getrevenge.html

Of course, forgiveness is better than revenge. But sometimes... you just can't help but follow your baser instincts! After all, you can always ask for forgiveness later, right, after you've had your fun?

Best wishes,

Dien

P.S. I can imagine this business would be very popular among jilted Klingons...

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Thanks Steve,

Wow, what a crazy site...!

It reminds me of a crazy business I wrote about once before...

Sending dead flowers!

Here's the original post... with info I got out of a 1987 newspaper...

http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=30078

-----
14 February 1987
St. Petersburg Times

Flowers with a twist

NEW YORK - It's the thought that counts, and sending an ex-lover a box of dead flowers for Valentine's Day says it all.

Manhattan entrepreneurs Bill Verderosa and Mark McConnell on Friday credited a lot of trampled feelings for a recent boom in their unusual business, Drop Dead Flowers.

Operators of the 6-month-old venture deliver a black lacquered box of very dead flowers, replete with dirt, taken from the dumpsters of local cemeteries, and wrap it all in a purple bow - all for $37.50.
-----

I did some more "sleuthing"... Here is a website which is doing this weird business today...

http://thepayback.com/getrevenge.html

Of course, forgiveness is better than revenge. But sometimes... you just can't help but follow your baser instincts! After all, you can always ask for forgiveness later, right, after you've had your fun?

Best wishes,

Dien

P.S. I can imagine this business would be very popular among jilted Klingons...

I'm tempted to buy a pack of their parking tickets. Can't tell you how many times I thought the parking space I wanted was empty only to see some jackass had pulled in enough to block 2 spaces.

Love the site.

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by sandalwood

I'm tempted to buy a pack of their parking tickets. Can't tell you how many times I thought the parking space I wanted was empty only to see some jackass had pulled in enough to block 2 spaces.

Love the site.

Hi Tom,

Using those fake parking tickets would be pretty funny...! Pity you'd probably want to "skidaddle" before they came and looked at the fake ticket (just to be safe)...

I like some of the sample "offences"...

Parking Like a Jackass
Driving a Hunk of Crap
Ugly Driver Violation
Parking too Close to a REAL Car
Inventing a Parking Space

I seem to come across drivers who commit these "offences" every day...!

http://thepayback.com/tickets.htm



By the way, Tom, I loved the latest issue of "Senior Moment!" That video you linked to is hilarious...

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to the actual issue... Anyway, here's the subscription page. It's definitely not just for "seniors" but is good for everyone...

http://www.senior2senior.org/newsletter.html

Best wishes,

Dien