6 Interesting Startups
Do you have a business idea that you've been putting off? You might be afraid it's not viable or think no one would buy your product or service.
Don't give up on your dreams just yet! If you're willing to work hard, think outside the box, sometimes even do long distance moving, you can turn the strangest idea into a money-making startup.
The startup world is awash with with a plethora of different businesses, from the conventional like this language tutoring startup, to the more unconventional.
Just take a look at this list of weird and wonderful startups that have taken unique ideas and made them profitable:
1. Strange Donuts
The year before Strange Donuts opened, it undertook an amazing guerilla marketing campaign that made its social media accounts busier than ever - and all without frying a single doughnut.
In creating anticipation, some of the buzz was inevitably negative.
The question wasn't whether donuts served in creative spaces would sell in Seattle. The challenge was whether the same concept would be successful across the country in a more buttoned-up town like St. Louis.
The answer is a resounding "yes" two years and three locations later. The proprietors of Strange Donut have also created a not-for-profit organization to do charitable work, which provides credibility to its slogan, "Be strange, be nice."
2. Spud Pickles
Spud Pickles, based in Utah, is an app development company known for its suite of Ghost Radar apps. These apps are used by paranormal investigators to detect possible ghosts or other supernatural activity.
People love these apps and regularly visit the Ghost Radar website to share their stories and videos about encounters with otherworldly beings.
3. Get My Boat
Their objective is to bring owners and renters together using their platform - making it easy for people to get out on the water more.
Their platform is designed to support boat owners in their entrepreneurial endeavors, by allowing them to share their boats with others and generate income. Some boats from time-to-time will require hurricane deck boat replacement parts.
For renters, their platform provides access to new on-the-water experiences without the need to own a boat. One can rent anything from a kayak to super large motorboats.
4. Mix 'N' Match Creamery
You may have seen one of the chefs on the hit show "Iron Chef" use liquid nitrogen to create instantaneous frozen desserts. It's quite a spectacle!
Ever wanted to be a mad scientist? Well, Eric and Genevieve West of Mix 'N' Match Creamery have taken this approach to making ice cream and created an ice cream truck business in Portland, Oregon.
Customers get to pick the ice cream base (vegan-friendly options are available), flavorings and mix-ins they want. Why not add some chia seeds as part of a chia seeds fasting regime.
This ice cream vendor is different than the others because they make and stir the ice cream right in front of their customers.
5. The Something Store
More than eight years ago, the founders of The Something Store had an idea: if anything can be sold online, why not sell "something?"
Though it may seem absurd, this actually Works. Customers order and pay $10 to receive a mystery item which can be delivered by a service like shipping AMS.
The only downside is that customers don't know what they'll receive until it arrives. Which means they may not like it, and could end up using the services of Youngs Waste Clearance.
However, the company does guarantee that the item will be brand-new and legal to sell in the U.S., worth at least $10, with free shipping included. An original piece of art, a kitchen gadget, or even a clock could all be great examples.
6. Prize Candle
Candles make the best gifts! Well, so do flowers, especially if they're bought from this flower wholesaler. However, candles have very broad appeal. They're perfect for everyone from your child's teacher to your grandparents.
What makes Prize Candle unique is that each candle comes with a ring, necklace, or earrings hidden inside.
Each candle has a ring inside it that the customer can only get to once they've burned the whole thing. The ring is attached to a prize code.
If the customer has a winning prize code, he or she is guaranteed a ring worth $5,000. Otherwise, each ring is still valuable at $25 minimum.
The product line now includes bath bombs and triple crown candles with three rings per candle.
The draw of a major prize is clearly a big selling point, as these candles have become incredibly popular as both gifts and personal purchases.
