3 Successful Business Models I've Seen Lately

So I'm working on this Railway Station Upgrade Project and the crane driver I'm with is not inducted for the site. I point to the safety guy and tell him to see him about being inducted. He looks across the gathering of men at our pre-start meeting at the safety man and asks his name - the crane driver doesn't have his glasses on. I tell him and, dang, if they didn't used to work together in previous jobs.

Smoko comes and my driver phones the safety guy and asks if he'd like to join us for a coffee. Accepted, Safety Guys points to a cafe and suggests we go there - it's one of two, close by the site. And so we go.

I'm sitting out front waiting for my coffee addict workmates to come out with their fair and I cannot help but notice the coffee shop is FULL of women. And they have kids with them.

Further investigation reveals... the coffee shop - called Breathing Space Cafe - has a Play Room with Child Minder. The idea being, mothers can come for a coffee with other moms, or just friends, and the kids are looked after. (McDonald's has had child play area for years - this is s slight variation applied to a coffee shop and it was working Very well.)

Onward.

Need a new desk and can't find anything I like in all the usual places. And reluctantly succumb to having a peek in Hell For Guys... IKEA!!! (Key dramatic music)

It was a Saturday and the place was a hive of shoppers. I was window shopping - needed measurements, was taking photos with my digital camera for reference. And noticed EVERYONE had something in their hands. Even if it was a dustpan w/ brush. (Oh, and again... women. Loads of women. Some with guys, some by themselves and some with friends. So single guys... if you want to see woman... go to Ikea. I know it's Man Hell all that Shopping and Looking stuff. {{shudder}})

The eating area In Ikea was packed to the max. And when you walk through the store they don't have just isles you walk up and down. Oh no. That'd be too user friendly. They have a Path that Winds through the different departments like a snake slithering away through the undergrowth.

Unless you know the Hidden Shortcuts through the store, to get to what you want requires you to walk past Everything. Yep, the only way to the check out once you enter is to weave your way through Every department (show rooms with little grab items, down to the Market Hall with only grab items).

Then at the check out... chocolate. Ikea chocolate. And outside the checkout... more Ikea Food and a Soft Server Vending Machine, with people lined up 20 deep to help themselves.

I was assured that during the week it is Much quieter. And specially later in the day in the early evening - 5pm to 7pm. But weekends are just crazy. And no-ones goes to Ikea to spend $20. Some people are spending Thousands at a pop.

Looking at Where the stuff is made I see... Denmark, France, Spain, China, Thailand and so on. Which tells me... Ikea designs it then obtains Quotes to make it from different manufacturers. Leverage.

Onward.

Remember one of the laws of Speed Wealth is... a change in Technology will make someone rich.

Ok. Australian's are Heavy users/buyers of cell phones. Outside of Hong Kong I think they are the second highest cell phone users per capita. And I see more and more people with In Car GPS Units. For most people... there is no point. But for people who go to different addresses on a daily basis - couriers, delivery guys, service guys, estimators, etc. Such things are a godsend.

Looking at Technology... check out this eBay store http://myworld.ebay.com.au/mobileciti_estore/
45,500 feedbacks with 400+ current items listed for sale.

Look at their GPS units. The Road Angel and Mio units are getting most of the bids.

Have a look at Prestige Communications www.prestigecom.net.au - an internet based retailer. I've spoken with some of the electronics retailers who Guarantee to beat prices, and they hear the name Prestige Communications and tell you Sorry, we cannot beat their price. They are a home-based business who sells mainly online and not the usual open-to-the-public retailer. (My research reveals they also sell on ebay under the name RadioSource http://myworld.ebay.com/radiosource/

In similar style is BatteryShack who sells other than batteries http://myworld.ebay.com.au/batteryshack/ and may even be a subsidiary of RadioSource as they sell the same gear - or use the same suppliers.

All successful businesses in completely different areas.

Michael Ross

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

Need a new desk and can't find anything I like in all the usual places. And reluctantly succumb to having a peek in Hell For Guys... IKEA!!! (Key dramatic music)

It was a Saturday and the place was a hive of shoppers. I was window shopping - needed measurements, was taking photos with my digital camera for reference. And noticed EVERYONE had something in their hands. Even if it was a dustpan w/ brush. (Oh, and again... women. Loads of women. Some with guys, some by themselves and some with friends. So single guys... if you want to see woman... go to Ikea. I know it's Man Hell all that Shopping and Looking stuff. {{shudder}})

The eating area In Ikea was packed to the max. And when you walk through the store they don't have just isles you walk up and down. Oh no. That'd be too user friendly. They have a Path that Winds through the different departments like a snake slithering away through the undergrowth.

Unless you know the Hidden Shortcuts through the store, to get to what you want requires you to walk past Everything. Yep, the only way to the check out once you enter is to weave your way through Every department (show rooms with little grab items, down to the Market Hall with only grab items).

Then at the check out... chocolate. Ikea chocolate. And outside the checkout... more Ikea Food and a Soft Server Vending Machine, with people lined up 20 deep to help themselves.

I was assured that during the week it is Much quieter. And specially later in the day in the early evening - 5pm to 7pm. But weekends are just crazy. And no-ones goes to Ikea to spend $20. Some people are spending Thousands at a pop.

Looking at Where the stuff is made I see... Denmark, France, Spain, China, Thailand and so on. Which tells me... Ikea designs it then obtains Quotes to make it from different manufacturers. Leverage.



Michael Ross

Yes, Michael, IKEA seems to have it down.

My question is how can the Regular Joe, (or Jason) turn a buck from their system????

It is no doubt that IKEA has products people want.
The 2 problems that I believe the regular Joe can profit from are:
1) Location (2 hours away)
2) some assembly required.

my suggestion for a profitable solution to these "problems".
You don't even need IKEAs approval to do this!

Run local classified ads that ask people to goto the IKEA site,
send their order to YOUR FROM.
You tack on a delivery and assembly charge and this is your biz.
A while back Gordon touched on assembling products for profit.
This is the same concept with the exception that you can also get paid to go pick the stuff up.

College kids love IKEA stuff, a mailing list of students could prove very profitable this August!!!!

Anyway, a million ways to go with this, my point is....
IKEA has it figured out...., use them and the name to make you a small fortune.
Best Wishes,
Jason

Jason,

Thanks for the added idea.

I know my local - is there such a thing - Ikea store offers Assembly for Kitchens. But dang, their prices are... rude. $150 just to put together a cupboard. Installing it is extra! So if you got ten cupboards they'll charge you $1,500 to knock 'em together. Something an experienced person could do in a few hours.

My local Ikea also offers Delivery - via a third party who has a Delivery Desk right next to the checkout.

Maybe something for women... Heavy Stuff. While I was Olympic speed walking to get the heck out of there as fast as I could before I died from starvation/dehydration and plain old lost-ness, I blurred passed a woman who was looking at a flatpack box and talking to the air, "94 kilos (206 pounds)? How am I ever gonna lift That?"

How indeed. Even a lot of Men would struggle with that - unless they know the Trick to lifting heavy things.

Another market... Stress Relief for Ikea shoppers and those at home trying to follow the dang instructions putting the blasted things together. And for those who call Support only to find they are speaking with someone in the Philippines who asks them to defy the laws of physics to get the thing together. The Ikea Shoppers Support Network for Befrazzled Ikea shoppers.

I do like the... send your order and we'll pick it up - and - deliver it - and assemble it, idea.

Michael Ross

Keep in mind going to Ikea is like going to a Trade Show...

I know people that hangout and Network their Expertise at places like Ikea...

Quietly, innovative with some Creativity and a box of business cards...

People who shop and Spend Money always need more Specialty products & Services...

Professional Decorators, trades people etc. etc...

Ikea and Big Box store Lead generation... Cross promotion business ideas...

Store managers are more open than most Think... Franchise or Not...

Phil

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

Jason,



How indeed. Even a lot of Men would struggle with that - unless they know the Trick to lifting heavy things.



Michael Ross

Pray do tell Michael, what is the trick to lifting heavy things?

The secret to lifting heavy things: Pay a couple guys to do it!
Robert J.

Cash4notes,

Thanks for wanting to know about lifting heavy things.

First, let me say, this is Not about lifting heavy weights at the gym. It is about lifting heavy Objects around the home - and moving them.

Ok. In the Ikea example, the woman was looking at it all wrong. In her Head she was trying to LIFT 94kg. But what she wanted to do was Move it. To Move it all she had to do was... reposition her Ikea trolley so it faces the short side of the flat box. Walk to the other side of the pallet of boxes and push it / slide it onto her trolley. Now it is on her trolley she can Move it - to the checkout (Ikea trolley is not like what a removalist uses, it is more like a typical shopping cart without a front or back but with sides).

Now she needs to get it into her vehicle. As this object was like 2 meters in length, it was not likely to fit In her vehicle but would need to fit On her roof racks.

If she had a Van, she could get it off the Ikea trolley the same way she got it on - slide it into the Van. At no point is she Lifting 94kgs.

If she has to get it onto her roof racks she needs a slightly different approach. The same approach I used to single handedly lift a 200kg buffet&hutch one piece unit onto the roof racks of a van...

Place a blanket on the corner of the roof. Lean the item against the corner. Lift the base and move it Out until you Feel it is at a weight you can manage - the further away the base is, the more Weight is transfered onto the corner. Lift the base to your thighs and rest there if needs be to get a better/different grip - a slight split stance with your weight leaning forward might be needed at this point if the object is quite heavy. Now step forward and lift as you go - stepping forward alters the Balance point taking more weight off of you and making it easier to Lift your end higher. It also Slides the items into position on the roof racks.

Using this Technique you do NOT take the full weight.

At home, if she did not have a removalist trolley, from the leaning against the vehicle position she could Walk it to where she needed to go - rock the item from corner to corner and push one corner forward and then the other. Again, at no point is She Lifting 94kgs.

Sometimes, though, an item might be shorter and have more depth - like a washing machine. In this case there are Two methods to actually Lift the entire weight. They are similar.

Method one. Stand facing the machine. Place your left hand to the back corner so your thumb is up and your right hand to the front right corner so your thumb is pointing away from you.

Method two. Same as method but standing to the left. So your are slightly straddling the corner. In this position your right hand will have the thumb up and you are grasping both corners.

Obviously, there are no handles to grab so what you do is... crouch down a little, pull it tight into you and stand a little while leaning back (make sure your hands are dry)

What's going on here is Interesting. And while it makes you look Strong, it's actually a play on... momentum and positioning and balance.

More easily explained with this...

If you are trying to move a long/tall thin object with some weight - lets say a piece of 8 foot long pipe or bit of scaffold http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaffolding a Standard or Ledger. And this is awkward and heavy to Lift as a Vertical thing. You Lean it back onto your shoulder around midway (the balance point) and let the momentum of it leaning over your should Lift the end that was on the ground. You are now Standing with a weight on your shoulders which you might have had troubles to Lift.

In the case of the washing machine. Your solid point is your stance and the point of contact is the corner and the inside of your leg (groin area). This is a Solid Position. As you lean back the weight moves in this direction. Your Lift was actually a transference of weight, using momentum, to a place where strength is not as important as Balance and Position.

One time when I had my removal business I was moving a washing machine for two women. One watched me take it to the van with the trolley, remove the trolley then pick it up and put it into the van - from which point I walked it into position. She was gobsmacked and exclaimed to her friend... "did you see that, did you see that, he just picked up the washing machine. He picked up the washing machine. Just like that. He picked it up like it didn't weight anything. Oh my god. He just picked it up."

As a child of 7 I once lifted my father off the ground - at school in front of my friends. A child of 7 does Not have the Strength to Lift his father. But with a semi squat stance and my father piggyback style way down low near my buttock, his Weight was Easily supported to the Amazement of my friends.

It is ALL about Positioning, Balance Point and Momentum. The same way the Ikea Box could have been Walked - from balance point to balance point with the aid of momentum.

You can use Brute Force and that requires tremendous strength as you are trying to Lift the entire thing and give it Upward Momentum at the same time. Or you can use Balance Points, Positioning and Momentum. How much of each depends on the dimensions of the object and where you want to move it to.

Also remember Archimedes' advice... use a Lever. Which Gives Strength dependent on the Length of the Lever and the Lever point (fulcrum). And a lever can be anything - a screw driver, piece of 4x2, crow bar or pry bar or Burke Bar.

And above all, remember my tag line - near my photo.

Michael Ross

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

It is ALL about Positioning, Balance Point and Momentum. The same way the Ikea Box could have been Walked - from balance point to balance point with the aid of momentum.

You can use Brute Force and that requires tremendous strength as you are trying to Lift the entire thing and give it Upward Momentum at the same time. Or you can use Balance Points, Positioning and Momentum. How much of each depends on the dimensions of the object and where you want to move it to.

Also remember Archimedes' advice... use a Lever. Which Gives Strength dependent on the Length of the Lever and the Lever point (fulcrum). And a lever can be anything - a screw driver, piece of 4x2, crow bar or pry bar or Burke Bar.

And above all, remember my tag line - near my photo.

Michael Ross

You're exactly right Michael.

Take the case of a heavy bag that you can't lift above your waist, but that you can swing. Give it a swing and then just guide it to the higher target.

I've been planning to move a 22' x 8' steel storage building, that weighs at least 5,000 lbs and probably more. I'm going to move it by myself, by hand, with no levers, no jacks, no cables, for a distance of about 20' and in the process turn it around 180°. Why? Because my friend said I couldn't.

I got the method here, but with a modification to make it even easier. He drags balance weights from end to end, and I plan to construct a tank on each end and pump water back and forth as needed to achieve the balance.

The guy at the above link left out some rather important details of his method, but by studying his photos and using a model I think I have it figured out. Once set up, the longest part of my move will be waiting for the water to transfer from tank to tank.

There is always a way!

Bozo,

Thanks for adding to the discussion.

I think there's a guy down Florida way that has also done some Amazing things with Very heavy chunks of coral and other stuff - all by himself. And this guy's story reminds me of it - where a truck had a delivery of a heavy concrete thing, they guy asked the driver to wait around the corner while he got it off the truck himself without any Crane - puzzling the truckie when he got back to his truck.

Also. Have you seen the Stunt by Pen and Teller (I think it's them) when they drive a real truck over one of them. The key was... the side opposite the guy on the ground had Counterweights so that the side that ran over him had no weight on the ground, and even the heavy tires on that side had been replaced with foam replicas.

Oh, and for those who are wondering, the Formula for the force required for a basic lever starts as: distance to fulcrum x mass.

Meaning with a distance of ten yards on one side and a downward force of ten pounds (10x10 = 100) I can lift 100 pounds on the other side if it is one yard away (100x1=100).

With the link you provided, I'd like to see a Current Update to his progress. So we could see how many Uprights he has stood and how many Top Stones he's managed to get into place. Because the photos are a few years old.

Michael Ross

I also noticed that his site hadn't been updated for 2 years. Given what all can happen when you're moving heavy things, he could be laying out there under one of those 20,000 lb chunks of concrete. Or maybe he's waiting to update until he has all the stones in place.

I did a study of levers for a special project, and learned that gears are also levers. I needed to move a sliding gate 15" but only had room to move my lever half that distance. I studied 4-bar mechanisms I found in a 1929 mechanical engineering handbook.

One of the mechanisms was called a stroke doubler. It had two racks with one pinion between them. If the bottom rack is fixed, and you apply your stroke to the pinion, the top rack moves twice the distance as the pinion. The top rack is the output link.

So I puzzled over that, and went round and round with it, until I sorta understood how it worked. But I couldn't figure out how to size the pinion. What diameter pinion do I need to get the 15" of stroke. So I went next door and asked the CAD guy at the machine shop. He told me, from looking at my diagram, that it wouldn't work so I didn't need to figure a diameter.

I made a model of it with popsicle sticks for racks and a coin for the pinion. The engineer couldn't believe what he was seeing when I demonstrated it. Turns out it doesn't matter what size of pinion you use, it will always double whatever stroke you apply to the pinion.

I'd give a hundred bucks for a copy of that book I had borrowed. Published 1929 by the University of ....wish I could remember, titled "Levers".